PATRICK SARSFIELD.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume III, Issue 127, 8 October 1875, Page 7

PATRICK SARSFIELD.

FROM A BIOaSAPHT. — BY JABIiATH. l|. The capture of King William's magnificent battering-train saved Limerick from destruction. "If I had failed in thia attempt," said Sarsfield, "I should have been off to France." As it was, he returned safely to his camp, When he entered the city the cannons boomed, the bells rang, and' men shouted, and women laughed and cried by turns, and children danced, and there was such a carnival of joy as never before convulsed old Limerick, when it turned out to greet its deliverer after his taking of the guns. William was not a man to be idle under his defeat. He sefc about at once to repair his losses, and to revenge himself on tho town by a vigorous bombardment. Two of tho guns which Sarsfield had captured were, on examination, found to be still serviceable. Two more were despatched from Waterford, while tfae small field-pieces which William retained were constructed into batteries. Shot and shell began to rain on Limerick without intermission. Sarsfield, at this juncture, ordered the women and children to leave the city. With one voice the women refused to desert their posts. Unanimously they declared their resolution to fight and die. They had worked like men in the construction of the defences, and they would fight Hire soldiers among them. The old crazy walls of Limerick trembled before the terrible shock, and at last breeches began to appear. On the 27th of August; William ina&e one last determined effort. Five hundred grenadiers received their ugnal for a charge at three o'clock in the afternoon. They fired their pieces, threw their grenades, and dashed into the town..; A hand-to-hand street fight ensued. The grenadiers were driven back street by street until they reached the counter-scarp.' 1 " They there made a desperate stand. Now was the pent-up rage and fury of, the citizens poured upon them. Missiles showered upon them from the house-tops. Bricks and broken bottles and stones were hurled at them by the women. Four hours did this terrible death-strugle last. The broad swords of Sarafield's horse were not absent from the fray. Dragoons had swept into the town, and flung themselves from their horses into the melee. " The crowning mercy " was to come. The air was rent by yells and screams of terror, which pierced through the deafening shock of a terrible explosion. In one moment a magnificent battalion of Bradenburgers were blown tip into the sky. De Boisseleau had fired a mine on which they stood. The shadows of night were falling tipon them when what were left of the besiegers, silent, sullen, and weary, slowly made their way back to their camp. Next morning King William determined to raise the seige, and as, humbled and defeated, he retired from Limerick, its old walls stood proud and defiant as ever. A cry went up from those walls, a cry of regenerate hope, a cry of thanksgiving and of victory. It was caught up to the East and to the West, to the North and to the South, and it spread through all the land, and the hoarse murmurs of the waves seemed to echo its sound. Tyrconnell heard it, and it filled him with shame. He was moved to jealousy of the man who had saved Ireland .vhen he had deserted her. As the viceroy of King James he nominated the council to whom he delegated his nominal powers — to one council the civil authority, and to the other the charge of military affairs. The Duke of Berwick was placed in chief command. Tyrconnell dared not leave out the name of Patrick Sarafield j as it was, it was placed last on the list. The remainder of the career of Sarsfield in Ireland may be summed up in a word. He was obscured by jealousy and incouipetency. . Tyrconnell almost ignored him, while by St. Ruth, the French general sent to command the Irish, he was doomed to a galling inactivity. It was not until Athlone had fallen and Aughrini had been lost, and the Irish hope again had been dispelled, that Sarsfield once more was called upon to lead a forlorn hope. Limerick again was the refuge of the remnants of a broken Irish, army, and Limerick again was to undergo a siege. The memory of the first siege was fresh in all minds. William remembered it, and had given to Ginckle, his general in command in Ireland, large powers' to offer favorable terms in' treating witli. the Irish. For some time a vigorous resistance was opposed to tho besiegers, but at length a cessation of arms was followed by negotiations, which culminated in the celebrated treaty of Limerick, concerning which suffice it to say that, without having been, as some would fondly believe, a grand charter of Irish liberties, it was a compact highly honorable to Limerick and its brave defenders. By the civil treaty a certain measure of religion was secured. By the military treaty the Irish soldiers were to have all the honors of war, to retain their arms, to march out with colors flying and drums beating ; and, further, they wero permitted to make choice whether they laid down their arms, entered the service of William, or exiled themselves to fight under the French. Such as chose to emigrate coiild go, regiments, companies, or parties. It was an exciting moment for English and Irish officers when the men marched oxit. •' Tho banner of Franco waved on one side,

while on thjg£ other the English flag invited, them. The first regiment thafhnarched forward was the Eoyal regiment, fourteen hundred strong. Fourteen hundred, all but seven, volunteered for the French service. The face of (3-inckle sank with mortification as he watched them. The next regiment moved off to a man to the English side. Thus, as the regiments marched past, were the two armies recruited which were to meet on many a European field. About fourteen thousand soldiers that day entered the service of France, while one thousand became soldiers of William. Some, about two thotisand, went to their homes.

Two days after the treaty a large French expedition sailed up the Shannon, bringing supplies of men, and officers, and ammunition. It was a strong temptation. However,' the aid was rejected. " Too late/ sighed Sarsfield. " The treaty is signed, our honor is pledged — the honor of Ireland. Though a hundred thousand Frenchmen promised to aid us now we must keep our plighted troth." There is one more scene to witness. Sarsfield has gathered his men for embarkation at Cork. Lord Macaulay has painted the scene : - " After the soldiers had embarked room was found for the families of many, but still there remaiued on the water side a great multitude clamoring piteously to be taken on board As the last boats put ott there was a rush into the surf. Some women caught hold of the ropes, clung till their fingers were cut through, and perished in the waves. The ships began to move. A wild and terrible wail rose from the shore, and excited unwonted compassion in hearts steeled by hatred of the Irish race and of the Eomish ftith. Even the stern Cromwellian, now at length after a desperate struggle of three years, left the undisputed lord of the blood-stained and devastated island, could not hear unmoved that bitter cry in which was poured forth all the rage and all the sorrow of a conquered nation." That wail which went up from the shore struck upon the hearts of those expatriated warriors". ' It haunted their memories when the last glimpse of their Lome had faded from their straining sight. It never departed from them more. -It rose and fell with the waves ; it was the burden of ihe winds. Everywhere did they hear " the women's parting cry ;" but nowhere were they maddened by its sound as on the "battle-field, front to front with their English foe 3. There, above the roar and din of strife, rose to them a loud r.lamorous appealing for r venge. It beat against their ears, and swelled into their hearts, and lashed their souls to fury. Then death gleamed in their eyes and leapt from their swords, as with whirlwind's rush (hey sped to give the vengeance due. So it was at Heinkirk. At Steinkirk lay the French troops under Luxemburg. About -ix miles away. at Lainbegne, were the headquarters of William and the allied powers. The allies England, Spain, and the United Provinces, and the Empire. Around the .French position the country -was intersected by numerous hedges and ditches, and was crossed only from Lambegne by narrow defiles Luxemburg received regular intelligence of the operations of the allies. -Helying on the security of his position aud the accm acy of his informer, he never dreamt of surprise. But William had contrived one. In the early dawn all the passes ware choked by horsed and foot, and artillery pressing on .to the French outposts. The surprise was complete. The first brunt of attack was borne by the Bourbonnais. Panic-stricken they fled. Confusion was spread through all the French ranks. In hot haste they h.d risen from their slumbers. One division was flying, and none was prepared for action. In a short time, however, Luxemburg had marshalled his forces and a bloody carnage raged throughout the field. Foremost in the fight were the household troops of King Louis, "the most renowned body of fighting men m Europe," and among them, holding high rank, was Sarsfield and some brave exiles.

The front of the allies was taken by the British, under Solmes. Ihe Swiss, who were distinguished soldiers, received the first division of these, Mackay's division, and were cut to pieces. So close was the struggle that muskets crossed. Eighteen hundred of the brave Swiss fell. A great emergency was to' be met by extraordinary means. The household troops were ordered to charge. They rushed on to the attack, muskets flung aside, and the" cry ranothrough the ranks, '< Sword in hand ; sword' in hand. No firingdo it with the cold steel." What could be greater glory to Sarsfield than such a charge ? "No firing, sword in hand,"— ay, and sword in heart of Ireland's foe.

Steinku-k was won by the French, and lost by the allies. Luxemberg, in his despatch, remembered the exploits of Sarsfield. It was at Landen that Sarsfield and the Irish Brigade were again to confront King William. The Landen is a little stream that runs near the village of Neerwinden. William had the odds against him in point of numbers, but he had with consummate skill raised up defences, and entrenched himself so strongly as at first to make the French pause. At length the battle beo-an. Neerwinden was the key to the English position, and was, therefore, attacked by the French. The left wing led the attack, under Montchevreuil and the Duke of Berwick, who had risen to oreat eminence as a soldier. The attack was unsuccessful, though the Duke penetrated into the village, and it was while he was gallantly rallying his flying troops that he was surrounded by foes, and taken prisoner. A second time the French forced an entrance into the village, and a second time were they beaten back in confusion. The conflict had extended meanwhile along the whole line of the entrenchments.

William still bravely and successfully held his own. ~The French were baffled and discomfited. They determined on a final attack of the village. Once more, as at Steinkirk, were the household troops brought into action. They flung themselves in one mass on Neerwinden, and took it. William made a terrific charge on the invincible troops, and they were broken and driven back. After some little time they rallied, and renewed the attack. The decisive blow was struck— victorious for the French, fatal for the English. The whole English line gave way. A bloody slaughter raged, in which some of the most renowned fell. William behaved as became a soldier. He was in the thickest fight, wherever danger pressed,

encouraging his men, and leading them on; but all his bravery and skill could not check confusion and night. He sustained at Landen a crushing defeat, while to the French was won a glorious vietory-a victory, however, which cost them a melancholy tribute of brave lives. Among the victims of that day was Sarsfield Struck down by a hall, he fell. He pat his hand to his breast to staunch -the wound. ■ Then, gazing upon it covered with his blood wZdlni?dear tMSWei>e ** lM >" »* Weat