CHAPTER XXII

TREATY OF LIMERICK

1690-1693

ENGLISH SOVEREIGNS: William and Mary, 1688-1702

of the

208. First siege of Limerick. King William arrived before Limerick on August 9, 1690, and began to prepare for a long siege. The French general, Lauzun, and the Earl of Tyrconnell, who were in command of the garrison, at once proposed to surrender, but were opposed by Sarsfield, who did not share their view that Limerick was incapable of defence. Lauzun and Tyrcon- Departure nell retired to Galway with all the French troops French and a great deal of much-needed ammunition, troops. and Limerick was left with about twenty-five thousand Irish defenders, who determined, if need be, to emulate the heroism of Derry. They met William's summons to surrender with a refusal, and made vigorous preparations for defence, while a party under Sarsfield cut off one of William's convoys from Dublin, destroy- Sarsfield ing the siege guns, which were being brought captures for the attack on the city. Although the Eng- baggage lish had been short of guns and ammunition, they had begun operations when news of the loss of the siege guns reached them. Discouraged, they suspended the attack for a week, during which the defenders were able to strengthen the walls and add to the defences. Unfortunately, Sarsfield was not able to bring back the

William's

train.

cannons and powder he had captured, so he exploded the powder, and contented himself with taking the horses.

Limerick was the second city in Ireland, Dublin alone being more important. As was the case with many Irish

cities, it had an Irish and an English quarter. The English part was built on an island in the Shannon, and contained the cathedral and castle, while the Irish quarter was on the south bank of the river, and was connected with the other quarter by a bridge. High walls surrounded the entire town, from which the defenders fired upon the assailants in the trenches. Frequent sorties were made, during which every foot of ground was fiercely contested. William's guns demolished the high towers, and also covered the operations of the men in the trenches. He then concen

Bombardment begun.

trated all his force on one point, hoping to make a breach. Combustibles were hurled on the roofs of the houses, so that the city caught fire in several directions. The town was connected by a bridge with the Clare side of the Shannon, and across this bridge the women and children were sent into safety.

Finally a breach was made in the wall, and William determined to enter by assault. On the afternoon of August 27, he ordered a detachment of five hundred grenadiers, followed by ten thousand foot-soldiers and horse, to prepare for the attack. When the signal was given a rush was made from the trenches to- Assault ward the breach. The assailants were stunned made. by a hail of bullets and shot, but succeeded in reaching the opening in the wall, and forcing their way inside. Here they ran into a rude rampart of earth, from the top of which cannon-balls and bullets rained down on them. Retreat was out of the question, so the English pushed forward in spite of the cannon which mowed them down at every step, while the Irish steadily retreated. The townspeople, seeing the defenders thus falling back, joined in the conflict with whatever weapons they could lay hands on.

Bravery of the

Prussians.

Chief among William's foreign troops were the Prussians, who distinguished themselves by conspicuous daring. They had entered the city with the rest, and centred their attack on the Black Battery, which they took after a bloody fight. Owing to carelessness the powder-vaults exploded, and men and battery were blown to pieces. Steady fighting had been going on for four hours, without any great headway being made, when the English lost courage, The Engand began to withdraw. Suddenly they rushed lish retreat. in a panic back through the breach, leaving two thou

sand of their bravest dead inside the wall. The losses of the Irish were comparatively small.

William returns to

In this unsuccessful attack, King William had seen some of his best troops slaughtered. Besides, the wet months were approaching, with their threat of sickness. Thoroughly disgusted, he decided to England. give up the siege, and withdrew to Waterford, whence he sailed for England, leaving the conduct of the Irish war in the hands of his generals.

Severe

losses for the Irish.

209. Capture of Cork and Kinsale. When William embarked for England on September 5, 1690, he left Ginkel and Count Solmes, two of his most competent generals, in command, with orders to lead an expedition against Cork and Kinsale, two towns which afforded the Irish easy communication with France. Reinforcements arrived to aid Ginkel, and both towns surrendered after short but severe sieges, and their garrisons were taken prisoners. With the capture of Cork and Kinsale, the Irish lost much more than had been gained by the successful defence of Limerick. These two cities surrendered in the end of September, and nothing more was accomplished that year.

Tyrconnell had meanwhile followed his runaway king to France, and was entangled in plots and counterplots, the one clear principle of which was the future advancement of Tyrconnell. Louis XIV, who had reasons of his own for wishing to keep William's army locked up in Ireland, was altogether willing to advise and help a continuance of hostilities in that country. James seems to have recognized his own incapacity too clearly to attempt anything definite, or, as is more probable, was too irresolute by nature even to decide to give up the fight. The Irish army was thoroughly determined to fight to the end.

210. Disorder in both armies. During the next few months, desultory fighting went on in various parts of Ireland. The armies were partly disbanded, and partly in winter quarters. Some of the disbanded Irish formed themselves into roving bands under the name "Rapof "Rapparees," and roamed about commit- parees." ting acts of plunder and outrage. They burned villages, and killed the inhabitants, especially English settlers

and Protestants. General Ginkel did what he could to check these depredations, but was not able to effect much.

211. Aid from France proves disappointing. In January, 1691, Tyrconnell, the deserter of Limerick, returned