The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1871-02-05
From the Story of IrelandJ
The Defence of Athlone.

|
HOW GINCKLE BEsIEGED ATHLoNE. HOW
| THE IRISH "KEPT THE BRIDGE" AND HOW
THE BRAVE CUsTUME AND HIS GLORIOUS
| COMPANIONS "DIED FOR IRELAND"
| The Williamite army rendevOuzed at
Mullingar in the end of May, 1909, under
Generals De Ginckle, Talmash and Mackay.
On the 9TH of June they moved westward
for Atlilone, ''the ranks one blaze of scar
let, and the artillery such as had never be-
fore been seen in Ireland" They were de-
Ballymore Castle, heroically defended by
Lieutenant Colonel Ulick Bourke and a
force of 1900 men against Ginckle's army
of $4,000 men, and that artillery described
for us by Macaulay. On the 18th Ginckle
was joined by the Duke of Wirtemberg,
sau, with seven thousand foreign merccn-
aries. On the 10Th their full force appear
ed before Athlone and summoned the town
to surrender.
On the previous occasion, when besieged
by Douglas, the Governor Colonel Grace)
English) side of the town, and made his
stand successfully from the Connacht (or
Irish) side. The Governor on this occa-
sion-Colonel Fitzgerald-resolved to de-
| fend both the "English" and "Irish" sides,
st. Ruth having, strongly. recommended
|
soon with the bulk of the Irish army from
Limerick. Colonel Fitzgerald had not more
than three hundred and fifty men as q gar
rison nevertheless, knowing that all de-
pended on holding out till st. Ruth could
come up he did not wait for Ginckle to APP
pear in sight, but sailed out with his small
Fforce, and disputed with the Wlliamite
army the approaches to the town, thus sue
cessfully retarding them for FIVE OF six
hours. But Ginckle had merely to plant
his artillery, and the only walls that Ath-
lone posscssed-on that side at least-were
preached and crumbled like pastry To-
wards evening on the 18th June, the whole
of the bastion at the Dublin Gate, near the
river on the north side being levelled, the
(English) town was assaulted. The storm
ing party as told off were 1000 men, head
ed by 300 grenadiers under Mackay, and
with profuse support besides. To meet
these, Fitzgerald had barely the survivors
OF his $50 men, now exhausted after forty
eight hours constant fighting. In the
breach, when the assault was delivered, t,co
hundred of the gallant band fell to rise no
more. The remainder fercely fighting, fell
back inch by inch towards the bridge, press
ed by their 1000 foes. From the William
ties shouts now arose on all sides of "the
bridge tho bridge - and furious rush was
made to get over the bridge along with, if
not before, the retreatipg Irish. In this
event, of course, all was lost but the
brave Fitzgerald and his handful of heroes
knew the fact we'll. Turning to bay at the
bridge end, they opposed themselves like
an impenetrable wall to the mass of the
enemy; while above the din of battle as
. the shouts of the combatants could be
heard sounds in the rear that to Mackay's
car needed no explanation-the Irish were
breaking down the arches behind while yet
they fought in front! "1hey are destroy
ing the bridge" he shouted loudly: "On
Q on! save the bridget" Flinging themselves
4 in hundreds on the few score of men now
c resisting them, the stormers sought to clear
n the way by freely giving man for man, life
Il for life, nay four for one but it would not
q do. There Fitzgerald and his companions
!, stood like adamunt; the space at the
Y hridSe-end was small one man could keer
t five at bay and few PAGES behind, WELD.
= ing pick, and spade, and croWbar, like flu.
S rics, were the engineers of the Irish garri-
V son. Soon Il low, rumbling noise was heard
IL followed by crash and n shout of tri
Y umph broke from the Irish side; n yell o.
: rage from the assailants; Il portion, only
= of two arches had fallen into the stream
d the bridge was still passable Again n wild
e eager shout from Mackay. "On on! Now
= now the bridge !" But still there stood
!, the dccimated defenders, with clutched
r guns end clenchcd teeth, resolved to die
: but rot to yield. Suddenly a. cry from the
S Irish rear !: "Back ! back, men, for yOuy
p ttces J" The brave band turned from the