The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1865-03-15

walkers nanuS. IL was letter from
Kirke, and. contained assurances Of speedy
relief. But more than a fortnight of in-
tense misery had since elapsed, and the
hearts of the most sanguine were sick with
deferred hope. BY no art could the pro-
visions which were left be made to hold
out two. days more.
Just at this time Kirke received a dis
patch from England. which contained pos
tive orders that Londonderry should be
relieved. He accordingly determined to
make an attempt which, as far as appears.
he might have made, with at least an equal
ly ialr prospect OF success. six weeks
earlier.
Among the merchant ships which had
come to Lough Foyle under his convoy was
one called the Mountjoy. The master,
Nicajah Browning, native Of Londonder-
ry, had brought from Englanda large car
go Of provisions. He had, it is said, re-
peatedly demonstrated against the inaction
of the armament. He now eagerly volun-
teered to take the first risk of succoring his
fellow.citizens; and his offer was accept
ed. Andrew Douglas, master of the Phoenix.
who had ON board great quantity of meal
from Scotland, was willing to share the
danger and the honor The two merchant
men were TO be escorted by the Dartmouth
frigate OF &c guns, commanded by Captain
John Leake, afterwards an admiral of great
fame.
Ii was the thirtieth Of July. The sun
had just set; the evening sermon in the ca
thedral was over; and the heart-broken
congregation had separated. y hen the sem
tlnels on the tower saw the sails of three
vessels coming up the Foyle. Soon there
was stir in the Irish camp. The besieg-
ers were on the alert for miles alsng both
shores. The ships were in extreme peril;
for the river was low and the only 'naviga.
BILE channel ran very near TO the left bank,
where the headquarters Of the enemy had
been fixed. and where the batteries we're
most numerous. Leake performed his du.
ty with skill and spirit worthy of his no.
bic profession, exposed his frigate to cover
the merchantmen, and used his guns with
great effect. At length the little squadron
came to the place Of peril. Then The Mount
JOY took the lead, and went right at the
boom. The huge barricade cracked and
gave way; but the shock was such that the
Mountjoy rebounded and stuck in the mud.
A yell of triumph rose from the banks; the
Irish rushed 10 their boats, and were pre-
pairing to board Ou; the Dartmouth poured
on them a well-drected broadsids, which
threw them into disorder. Just then the
PhGnix dashed az the breach which the
Mounijoy had made, and was in a moment
within the fence Meantime the tide was
rising fast. The MnunIoy began TO move.
and soon passed sale through the broker
stakes and floating spars. But her brave
master was NJ more. "A shot from one cf
the batteries had struck him and he died
by the mos, enyiable Of all deaths. in sight
Of The cits which was his birthplace, which
was his hone, . which had irst beer
saved by his courage and sel.devotion
from tas lnnst lrightlul form of destruction.
The night had closed in before the conflict
at the bnen began; but me fash Of tine
guns wa sren. aud the noise heard. b.
the lean aud ghastly TuItitude which CO.
.ered thy walls of me city. When tha
Mountin, grounded, and when the shout VI
TRIUMPH rose fran the Irish on both sides
Of The river. the hearts Of The besieged died
within them. One who endured the urut-
tersble angni.h Of that moment has tolu -
that they boxed fearfully livij in each
others e,es. Even after the barricsis
had been passed, there wa. terrible half
hour or suspense. II was ten o'cltck be-
fore fhe ships arrived at the qusy. Tie
Whole population was there TO welc me
then. A screen made Of casks filled ait'l
earth was hastil, thrown up TO protect the
landing place from the batteries On ite
other side Of the river; and then TIC work
Of unloading began. First were rolled on
shore barrels containing six thcus ~ IT,.
.hels u msal. Then came g.rai ths.sr.
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