Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1867-11-02
The Battle Fields CT Ireland "A Fine
Sketch.

The following is an extract from the
new work, entitled "Battle Fields of
ireland" just published in New York:
THE BRIDGE OF ATHLoNE.
The morning of the 9th broke over o
scene as startling as unexpected, for
in its light be (Ginckle) beheld that
the Irish battery above the bastion
had been repaired and strengthened,
and that the castle which he expected
to find abandoned had been put in
better state of defense than before.
An opening had been made in the
western wall through which rock and
beams had been conveyed to the top
of the breach and firmly imbedded
there, while its one solitary tower, the
Connaught Tower, still commanded the
broken arch, and still displayed its flag
as proud and defiant as ever. He was
therefore obliged to forego his intention
for that day, and direct his whole force
TO the total destruction of the citadel be.
fore risking an assault on the bridge. To
the FIVE batteries now at work two more
were now added, and an iacessant storm
of shot and she'll was directed all day on
the castle and the houses beyond it.
Three times during the siege the town
had been set on fire the populace had
fled to the suburbs, and nothing having
life remained within the walls but the
gunners behind their crumbling earth
works, and the soldiers laboring to check
the flames extending in all directions.
st. Ruth, believing that the tower could
not long Withstand the terrible fire
brought 10 bear on it, set to work in the
erection of earthworks 10 answer the
same end, and for this purpose he con-
veyed some guns outside the town, and
erected two batteries-one to the north
and the other to the south-both bearing
across the eastern angles of the bridge.
The fire soon drove the English gunners
from their batteries, and during the
cessation Of their FIRE two intrenchments
we're thrown up on high ground to the
right and left of the castle. The fire
from these dislodged the English mus
keteers from the walls near the river, and
from this time forward the contest became
duel of artillery. Ginckles heavy
missiles still bore down all distractions
the ingenious traverse and change of
position we're unavailing, nothing could
withstand the heavy guns of the be-
siegers but the Connaught Tower, and
that, though crumbling bit by bit, still
sent its shots with the same precision as
before. In this manner the conflict
ragged during the whole Of the 9th. The
bombs Of the enemy became exhausted,
but this brought no respite 10 the
besieged. Immente blocks Of stone
even more destructive than shell,
we're hurled into the Irish in
trenchmonts, crushing their fascines
10 atoms and breaking down all bar
uers. Toward evening a body Of the
besierers. moving behind an improvised Z
breastvork, stormed the bridge, gained
possession Of the broken arch and Sc
cured Themselves behind strong breast
work. The eeicnse was stubborn end l
cost beth oides dearly; FOR says The /
English annalisi. what We gained here I
was inch by iuch, as il we're, the enemy 1
sticking very close 20 i, though great /
numbers Of them we're slain By our guns, /
and the service cost us q great store Of
Ammunition" But ammuuItion vas oi ]