The Shasta courier., 1862-08-23

rule absolutely tell into the hands of Gen.
eral Sarsield and Of the French general,
D'Usson,
''On the day on which Tyrconnsl died, the
advance guard of the English army came
within sight of Limerick. Ginkell encamped
on thesa,ne ground which William had CO.
oecupi twelve months before. The batter
res, on which were planted guns and Lombs,
very different from those which William had
been for, ed to use. played day and night, and
soon roofs were blazing, and walls crushing
in every part Of the city, Whole streets were
reduced to ashes. Meanwhile several Eng
li>h ships came up the Shannon, and anchor
ed about mile below town.
Still the place held ont. The garrison
was, in numerical strength, lttlo inferinr to
the besieging army, AID it seemed not i'm
possible that the defence might be prolonged
I'LL the equinoot;al rains should a secund.' inc
compel the English to retire. G!nkell deter
mined on striking a bold stroke. No point
in the whole of the iortifications was more
important. and no point seemed to he more
secure. than Thomond Bridge. which joined
the city to the camp of the Irish horse on the
Clare bank of the Shannon. The Dutch
Generals plan was to separate the infantry
within the ramparts from the cavalry with.
OUT, and this plan be executed with great
skill. yigor, and success. He laid a bridge
of tin boats on the river. crossed it with Il
strong body of troops, drove befo him. in
confusion, fifteen hundred dragons who
made faint show of Resistance, and naaroh
e'l to the quartors nf the Irish horse The
Irish horse sustained but i'll on this day the
reputation they had gained at Ioynei in,
deed. that reputation had been purchased by
Il ., 3
r.cineats. Recruits had been, without
much difficulty, found but the loss of fifteen
hundred excellent soldiers was not to be re-
paired. The camp was abandoned without
II blow. Some of the cavalry fed into ths
city. The rest. driving before them as many
title as could be collected in that moment
of panic. re irel to the hills. Much beef.
brandy and hrness was found in the maga.
zines, d te marshy plain Of tho Shannon
was covered with firelocksand grenades which
the fugtivcs had thrown away
''rhe conquerors returned in triu mph to
their camp. But Ginkell was not content
with the advantage gained. He was bent en-
cutting off all communication between Linz
erick and thd county Glare. In few days,
therefore, lie again crossed the river at the
head of several regiments, and attacked the
fort gheh protected the Thomopd Bridge
In a short time the fort was stormed. The
soldiers who bad garrisoned it fled in confus-
ion into the city. The Town Major. French
officer who commanded at Thomond Gate
afraid that the pursuers would enter with
the fugitiyes. ordered that part of the bridge
which was nearest to the city to be drawn up,
Many of the Irish went head-ong into the
stream. and perisIed there. Others called
Lo11 L,, &c,
token Of submission. But the conquerors
were mad xith rage. Their cruelty could
not be Immediately restrained. and 40 pris-
oaers were made till the heaps of corps -
rose above he .rapets. The garrison at
the fort had consisted Of eight hundred men.
OF these only one hundred and twenty es-
capped into Limerick.
This disaster seemed likely to produce a
general mutiny in the besicgcd city. The
Irish ciamoured for the blood of til. Town
NJ. ijor, who had ordered the bridge 10 be
drawn up in the face of their flying country
men. His superiors were forced to promise
that he should be brought before court
Il tial. Happily for him, he had rcceiy d
il mortal wound in the act of closing the
! Thomond Gate, and was saved by soldiers
death from the fury of the multitude.
The cry for capitulation became so loud
apd importlnate. that the generals could moi
resist 1t. D'Ussop informed his Govern
III ID: that the fight at tho bridge had eff
fectually cowed the spirits of the garrison
that it was impossible to continue the strug-
gle, Some exception may, perhaps. be Ia
Ken to the syidencs.af D'usson; for un
i ulte /. he, like ssery other Frenchm !
WHO nrid any command in the Irish army
was weary of his banshment. and impatien
to see his country again. But it is certain
that even SarstialG had lost heart Up t.
this t me his VOICE had been for stubborn re
S.stance. lie was now, no. only willing, bu
impatient to treat.
On the evening of the dag which followed
the fight at Thomond Gate, the drums O
Limerick beat "a parey, and Wauchop, from
one of the towers, hailed the besiegers, and
requested Ruvigny to grant Sarsfeld an in
terview. The brave Frenchman, who was
an exile on account of his attachment to one
religion, and the brave Irishman who wa.
about to become an exile on account of hi.
attachment 10 another. met and conferred
| doultleSs with mutual sympathy and respect
Ghkell. 10 whom Ravigny reported wal
IN passed oasented t. a. armisiice; for COZ
S u tas his su :, eS had been, i hal made hin
@ ufe. II lie iauees we egTeatiy on ms side
yet it gas Eussible that attempt to storm
the city might fail, as a similar attempt hao
falsd Twelve months before. If the siege
should ha ;nrned into Il blockade, it was
probable that pestilence. H-hch had been ia
tai To the army Of Schomberg. which had
compelled William to retreat, and which had
all bIt prevailed even against the genius o.
| li Ai.r. borough. might soon ayenge toe earn
ageaf Aushrim. The rains had been heavy
rhe whole plain might shortly be an i'm
pea>c pool Of stasnant water. 1T would be
necessary tG MOVE the t,ooias 10 Il more
healthier situation than the banks of the
river Shannon, and 60 provide for them Il
warmer shelter than that Of tents. The en-
envy would he sale till spring. In the spring
French araly might land in Ireland, the II; .
tives might again rise iu;lrms from Donegal t.
Derry, and the war which was now all but
exlinguished, mi gss Maze forth fercer than
ever
Negotiations were e. once opened, but as
usual. there was disssion in counsel for
Sarsfed was for fighting, and Ginkell went
.ck t. his guns. A trait occurs here wor-
tay the ravery tn, Dutch General show
el during the siege, and worthy also of the
nrave foe he had been so long contending
against. Some words arose as to the carry
ing out of the treaty. Sarstield was accused
Vt putting one of his ofscers under arrest
The Dutch officer was Rraged at this. and
Sarstield went to him to eE plain the matter
Tne Notwithstanding akin to that be
tween Brutus and caSSiuS- Ssasr1 xhiit