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Daily Life in Londonderry -
Sallies and Skirmishes - Activity of the Jacobites - Duties performed
inside the Walls of the City - Brigadier-General Ramsay killed -
Pusignan, shot through the body, dies in consequence of inattention -
Ballyshannon relieved by the Inniskillings - Redhills surrenders to
Gustavus Hamilton - Ballynacarrig plundered and fired - Inniskillings
dismount the Jacobite Horse - An Extract from Mackenzie's Account of the
Siege.
The dangers of the siege
did not entirely put an end
to religious disputes and jealousies among the citizens.
Within a day or two after the commencement of hostilities
the Governor was obliged to interfere in order to settle a
dispute between the Episcopalians and the Nonconformists,
arising out of their rival claims to the possession of the
Cathedral, the matter being adjusted by the members of
the Anglican Church having the use of the building in the
morning and the Dissenters in the evening. The aspect
of the Cathedral was remarkable. Cannon were planted on
the summit of a broad tower which has since given place
to one of different proportions, and ammunition was stored
in the vaults.
On the 24th of April, Ash
tells us, the Jacobites began
to throw bombs into the city, a practice which in a short
time rendered the citizens familiar with these missiles. On
the day following, James arrived in Drogheda, from which
he proceeded after a night's rest to Dublin. Lord Mountcashel was
appointed muster-master of artillery, and James
decided to send several pieces of cannon to Londonderry
by sea. This project, however, was frustrated by the
appearance of some English vessels in the channel.
On the 25th, Colonel
Murray, with some cavalry and a
strong body of foot, which it was his custom to support with
dragoons, sallied out of the city and drove the Jacobites from
the trenches into which they had descended. Some of the
foot having followed the retreating forces too far, a party of
Jacobite horse suddenly forced them to fall back upon the
main body, who formed themselves in line behind a ditch
on the roadside, and fired with such effect upon the pursuers
that they were thrown into confusion and were obliged to
retreat. The Londonderry men then pursued them to Pennyburn Mill, and
pressed so hard upon them that their dragoons,
who themselves had just been beaten out of an old mill about
a mile higher up, found it necessary to abandon their horses
and relieve their distressed comrades at Penny burn. A party
of the besieged which went out at the close of the day to cover
the retreat of those who were engaged at Penny burn were
repulsed, but without loss, by a body of horse which had
been dispatched from the Jacobite camp, each horseman
carrying a foot-soldier behind him. Those who distinguished
themselves on this occasion were Major Bull and Captains
Obrey, John Kennedy, Archibald Sanderson, Michael Cunningham, William
Beatty, and William Moore. The fight,
both at the old and the new mill, was very severe, and lasted
for a long time. Mackenzie says the loss on the Londonderry
side was but two men killed and eight or ten wounded; Ash
asserts that Cornet Brown and three men were killed. The
loss on the Jacobite side is not stated. John Parker was
accused of behaving treacherously in this engagement, and
was threatened with a court martial, upon which he left the
city at night and went over to the Jacobites.
Hostilities were carried
on thus with unabated vigour on
both sides and with varying success during the month. Each
sunrise brought its hours of weal or woe for the besieged.
Cannon-balls and bombs
dropped in strange places, some
spreading death around them as they fell, some rolling aside
to burst where they did little injury, making men marvel at
the ways of Providence. Trenches were made and batteries
erected as part of life's daily duties, and the work was done
with the same exactitude and precision as if each of the defenders of
the city had been born and bred a soldier. The
citizens became inured to hardship, a full meal was a forgotten
luxury, sleep a perpetual nightmare, loss of life or limb
commonplace occurrences. But life's realities remained, and
for these they fought freedom of thought and liberty of
action and while these were to be enjoyed they held life
was worth living, and without them death was a deliverance.
In the night of the 5th
of May the besiegers drew a trench
across Windmill Hill from the bog to the river, and there
began to erect a battery merely to annoy the citizens, for the
walls were too strong for the guns trained on them. The
besieged, in merry mood, advised their adversaries at work in
trench and battery to save themselves time, labour, and expense,
inviting them at the same time to come in through the
gates and try conclusions with them. A little after midnight,
no doubt provoked by this banter, Brigadier-General Ramsay,
presenting himself before the windmill, dislodged the guards
there, and, occupying the place, completed before sunrise the
works there begun. The guard driven from the mill retired
to the Bishopsgate, and those who had driven them in entrenched
themselves on the ground they had gained by making
a double ditch across the high road. This ditch was levelled
upon fifteen of their dead bodies next day.
At dawn on Monday, the
6th of May, the besieged, fearing
that the battery erected near the windmill might injure that
portion of the city nearest it, determined to demolish it, and
on seeing a large number of the Jacobites approaching, fired
at the guards, thereby alarming the garrison. Walker, fearing an
escalade, which had frequently been threatened, at
once drew out a detachment of ten men from each company
in the city, and, having put them hastily in as good order as
their impatience for action would permit, sallied out of the
Ferrygate at their head. Another body, animated with the
same desire, sallied forth from the Bishopsgate, and the two
advanced impetuously on the battery. Some drove the
Jacobite dragoons from their positions, while others took
possession of their trenches. The Londonderry men pursued
their besiegers so closely that they beat them down with the
butt-end of their muskets. The dragoons and infantry took
flight in great confusion. Ramsay, in vainly endeavouring
to rally them, was killed on the spot, and the pursuit was continued to
the top of the hill. The ground contended for was
gained by the Londonderry men, who secured the colours,
with several drums, fire-arms, ammunition, and all the spoils
of war. Pusignan, who fought gallantly, was shot through
the body. The wound was one which a skilful surgeon
might have cured; but there was no surgeon in the Jacobite
camp, and communication with Dublin was slow and irregular. The French
commander died, complaining bitterly
of the ignorance and negligence which had shortened his
days. Other officers killed were Captains Fleming, Fox,
and Barnwell, with Lieutenants Kelly and Welsh, and
Ensigns Barnwell and Cadell. The prisoners included Lord
Netterville, Sir Garret Aylmer, Lieutenant-Colonel Talbot,
Lieutenant and Adjutant Newcomen. Colonel Gordon
O'Neill was wounded in the thigh. Lord Netterville and
Sir Garret Aylmer were badly wounded; they were treated
with kindness and the respect due to their rank, being confined in the
residence of Mr. Thomas Moore, where a guard
was placed over them.
In this skirmish the
Jacobites had about 200 men killed,
many of them shot in the face, forehead, and chest, over their
own lines, as they fired, with little or no effect, upon their
more steady and skilful opponents. Walker says that no less
than 500 of them were wounded, 300 of whom died. On the
other side some few were wounded, and but three or four
privates killed. Towards the finish of the fight some of the
garrison left the city and posted themselves judiciously between the
windmill and the strand, fearing that the Jacobites,
who were in great numbers on the top of the hill above the
river-side, might rally and get between their pursuers and
the city. Several of these men lined the ditches close to
the enemy to prevent them coming down, but they showed
no disposition to do so. The whole affair was over at noon,
and in the evening the Governors sent a drum to General
Hamilton, desiring that he should bury his dead. This was
done the next day in a very negligent manner, the soldiers
who were sent to perform this duty scarcely covering the
bodies with earth. General Ramsay was interred at the
Long Tower. He was reckoned the most efficient officer
in the Jacobite army, for Hamilton, the commander, had
no pretensions to be a general, and had never before been
present at a siege.
On the night of the
defeat of the Jacobites at Windmill
Hill, the Governor of Enniskillen sent to all the garrisons
under his command, ordering them to send him speedily all
the armed men they could spare ; and the next day, May the
7th, he sent Colonel Lloyd with about twelve companies of
infantry and some troops of horse towards Ballyshannon.
They encountered the Jacobite horse near Belleek, where they
soon routed them, killing about 120 of them, and taking
about half that number prisoners. All the Jacobite foot fled
towards Sligo and escaped, except a few who were taken in the
Fish Island, near Ballyshannon, with their Captain, one MacDonagh, a
lawyer, popularly known as Blind MacDonagh.
The victors secured two small pieces of cannon, several
serviceable horses, and some good arms. Thus was Ballyshannon relieved
by the Inniskillings, who on this occasion
took the field for the first time. The success of this their
initial undertaking greatly encouraged them, especially as
they returned to their quarters without losing a man.
Towards the end of May
the Governor of Enniskillen, hearing that there was a garrison of the
Jacobite army at Redhills, in County Cavan, who harassed Protestants
stationed
near them, and that another at Ballynacarrig, in the same
county, was equally troublesome, dispatched Colonel Lloyd,
with 1500 men, to reduce them. The report of his coming,
adorned by exaggeration, greatly affected the Jacobites, who
fled at his approach, and on his arrival at Redhills the garrison
surrendered upon quarter. As the house in which they
had posted themselves belonged to Colonel White, a Protestant, and at
the time in arms for King William, it was not
injured, and Lloyd proceeded with his army to Ballynacarrig,
taking his prisoners along with him. The castle at Ballynacarrig was one
of the strongest in Ulster, and had even held
Cromwell's army at bay, surrendering only when the whole
kingdom was subdued. It had at this time, however, but
a small garrison and little ammunition, and the news of the
taking of Redhills caused so much consternation that it
immediately surrendered, on favourable terms for the garrison, leaving
the castle and all that it contained in the hands
of Lloyd's men. Some pikes, about thirty muskets, a few
cases of pistols, and a little gunpowder were discovered.
After the soldiers had rifled its contents, the castle was fired,
and in a few hours was a heap of ruins. It was deemed
politic to destroy this fortress, as it could not be garrisoned.
On the 4th of June,
hearing that the Jacobites besieging
Londonderry had sent a great many of their horses to graze
near Omagh, the Governor of Enniskillen (Gustavus Hamilton) dispatched
two troops of dragoons, under the command
of Captains Francis Gore and Arnold Crosby, into the parish
of Kilskeery, ordering them to keep garrison at Trillick, a
house belonging to Captain Audley Mervyn, and about halfway between
Enniskillen and Omagh. "They had not staid
there above two days, when taking with them another troop
of horse and two companies of foot that quartered in the
parish of Kinskerry, they went in the evening about sun-set
towards Omagh, and before eight the next morning they
returned to Trillick with about eighty good horses, taken
from the enemy, and nearly as many more of smaller and
inferior horses fit for labour, and about three hundred cows."
By this action they dismounted about three troops of the
Jacobite horse, and might have surprised Omagh, had not
news of their coming preceded them, "which gave them time
to secure their position, but not to save their cattle".
Some conception of the
kind of warfare which was consuming James's army before Londonderry may be gathered
from the account given of the action which took place on
Tuesday, the 4th of June, as given by Mackenzie, an eyewitness of these
great events in the history of Ireland. [In Mackenzie's account the
followers of King James are designated "the Irish", and
in this he has been followed by all historians of Ireland; but inasmuch
as the gallant
defenders of Londonderry were also Irish, there being Irish inside the
walls as well as
without, I have preferred to use the term "Jacobites" to distinguish
those who adhered
to King James. I have also eschewed the word "enemy " as inapplicable
when referring
to the relations of one body of Irishmen with another.]
"June the fourth, being
Tuesday," says Mackenzie, "the
enemy approached to our works at the windmill, with a great
body of foot and horse. Our men ordered themselves so, that
in each redoubt there were four, and in some five reliefs, so
that they were in a posture of firing continually. The Irish
divided their horse in three parties, and their foot in two.
The first party of horse was commanded by Captain Butler
(the lord Mountgarret's son), and consisted most of gentle-
men, who, 'tis said, had sworn to top our line. They attack
our lines at the water-side, and the other parties of horse were
to follow the first. The one party of the foot attacks the lines
betwixt the windmill and the water, and the other (being
grenadiers) the lines at the bog-side, betwixt the windmill and
the town. Captains James and John Gladstanes, Captain
Andrew Adams, Captain Francis Boyd, Captain Robert
Wallace, Captain John Maghlin, and Captain William
Beattie, with their men, had taken their ground next the
water.
"The first party of horse
charged furiously, having faggots of wood carried before them; they came
on with a huzza,
seconded with a huge shout from the Irish camp. They came
by the end of the line (it being low water) notwithstanding
our firing constantly on them. Our men, viz., Captain James
Gladstanes, Captain John Gladstanes, with others next to
them, left their redoubts, and took to the strand with their
muskets, pikes, and scythes, and fell on them with that
vigour that soon spoilt the tune of their huzzas, for few of
that party escaped. Many of them were driven into the river,
and Captain Butler himself taken prisoner by Captain John
Gladstanes. The rest of the horse, seeing the first party so
warmly received, had no great stomach to come on.
"In the meantime the foot
(who had also faggots of wood
carried before them,) attack the line betwixt the windmill and
the water. They were as warmly received as the horse; and
whereas they imagined our men would fire all together, finding that they
fired successively, they soon wheeled about and
drew off; only a few came furiously to the back of our works,
and were either killed or hawled over by the hair of their
heads. In the meantime the other party of foot, being grenadiers, attack
our forts by the bog-side, and came on fiercely,
but were as vigorously repulsed by our men there.
"Colonel Munro did there
acquit himself very well; Captain Michael Cunningham (one of the
citizens that had been
always very active and zealous for the defence of the town,)
was at the bog-side with his company, kept our men to their
posts, and opposed the grenadiers with great courage. He
narrowly escaped with his life, a cannon bullet tearing up the
ground about him, and he had a small bullet cut out of his
back. Lieutenant James Ker, Lieutenant Josias Abernethy,
and Lieutenant Clark did good service, the latter being
wounded. Mr. Thomas Maxwell was killed about the same
time on the walls.
"This day governor Baker
showed both his conduct and
courage in ordering and bringing out frequent reliefs, where
the greatest danger appeared. Our women also did good
service, carrying ammunition, match, bread, and drink to
our men ; and assisted to very good purpose at the bog-side
in beating off the grenadiers with stones, who came so near
to our lines. The enemy lost a considerable number of men.
Most of their officers were either killed or taken prisoners.
When they retreated they carried away on their backs many
of their dead and mortally wounded with them (as was supposed) to
shelter themselves the better from the storm of our
shot.
"Those of note killed on
the enemy's side were: Lieutenant-Colonel Farrell, two French captains,
Captain Graham, Lieutenant Burke, Quarter-master Kelly, Adjutant Fahey,
Ensign
Norris, Ensign Arthur. The prisoners were: Captain Butler,
son to the Lord Mountgarret, Captain Macdonnell, Cornet
Macdanaghy, Captain Watson, a French lieutenant, Lieutenant Eustace,
Sergeant Peggot. We lost five or six private
men, and one Captain Maxwell had his arm broke with a
cannon bullet, whereof he died within three weeks after; he
had that day behaved himself with great courage. And one
Thomas Gow had all the flesh shot off the calf of his leg by
a cannon bullet; but the bone not being broken he recovered.
There were three of our Colonels out that day, Murray,
Munro, and Hamil; the last got a hurt on the cheek with a
small bullet."
Such were the daily
events which characterized this memorable siege of Londonderry. The
"faggots of wood" which
Mackenzie mentions were carried "for a defence against the
shots of their adversaries". |
