The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1909-07-24
PATRICK SARSF|ELD
A GALLANT SOLDIER
At the Battle of the Boyne
and the Siege Of Limerick
His Valor Was Displayed
Conspicuously in the Face
of the Enemy---Was Killed
in the Netherlands While
Leading the French Troops
Against the Enemy.

Patrick Sarsleld, the Earl of Lucan,
title drawn from that pleasant ham,
let in the valley of the Liffey where
Re learned to lisp the accents of patrio-
tism at the knee Of Anna O'Moore,
was born in 1645. He was the son
of a member of the Irish House OF
Commons, prescribed for his patriot
tism in 1641. His mother was the
valiant woman, Anna O'Moore, the
organizer of the Catholic Federation.
He served with credit in the British
army under Monmouth. and was with
the latter in the defeat of Sedgewick
The events which led to the rise and
Importance of Sarsheld in Irish af-
fairs may be summarized briefly.
Charles H., dying in 1885, left the
throne to James H., whose policy in
England led to an uprising against
the throne. which found it's compile
ment in Ireland. In the latter country
the tyrannica1 exactions and impolitic
y
head Of the Irish army, served to en-
bitter the Protestants of the land e,
a time when a more conciiatory pol
icy might have meant much for it's
pacification. James, being driven from
lis throne, where he hoped with the
aid. -.nf~an army of patriots to uphold
his cause against William of Orange,
vas invited. by the Protestant party
to assume the throne. with all it's
privileges. The war for the British
crown was thus carried into Ireland.
This famous conflict was memor-
ehle for two events of special import
ance, the battle of the Boyne. on July
/. 1890. and the Siege of Limerick.
1H90-1691, IN both of which the valor
of Sarsfield stands pre-eminent. OF
him it is written that, being a Cath
ciic in religion, he spoke Gaelic as
easily as English. and was brave, i'm
rulsive, handsome, and generous to Il
fault, like the men he led. In Tyr
1onnel's absence every sincere lover of
the country came to him with intelli-
gence. and looked to him for direction.
Early in November he learned through
his agents the intention of the Will
l!amites to force the passage of the
Shannon in the depth of winter
When the movement was actually
made the enemy found the indefati-
gable Sarsfeld fully prepared for
them, and were driven back to their
quarters at Parsonstown.
In the battle Of the Boyne the con-
fict was waged by the two opposing
kings, Of whom little need here be
said, as one was a usurper and the
other one Of the most cowardly men
that ever wore crown. In the dis
astrous encounter Sarsfield led the
cavalry under Lauzan. and in one i'm
petuous charge endeavored to save the
Bridge of Slane from the possession of
tho enemy. Although the odds in
numbers were against the Irish pa.
triots. there is little doubt that they
could have won eventually had not
James in his folly drawn off the
troops and fled to Dublin. The Battle
Of the Boyne was the defeat Of james
H.. but never of the Irish
The real field of valor for Patrick
Sarsf1cld was the city of Limerick dur
ing the siege that followed the disa =
ter of the Boyne. James had fed to
France; and even Lauzan had aban-
doned Limerick for the softer allure
rents of the French court. The brunt
of the whole defence fell thus upo,
that Irish chief from whom ever the
withheld. One of the mostt notable
honors Of command were fOolis:1ly
episodes of the siege was the exploit
OF Sarsfield in sallying forth from the
teleaguered city almost un 1er The
guns of the enemy. and with 4 band
o. five hundred sturdy Rapparees, sur
rrising the reinforcements coming lip
to the relief of William. The supplies
Of William were blown 20 atom: Ey
tie efforts of the successful general
who returned unhar1ned to the city
The siege of Limerick. u city which
battery of baked apples" lasted
for fully year. The perseverance