A LETTER, FROM A person of quality in the Parliaments Army, in Munster in Ireland, to an Honourable Member of the House of Commons.
With a particular RELATION OF The taking in of the CASTLE of Dromannagh, the Castle, Town, and Garrison of Cappoquin, both lying on the Black-water: And the Castle, Towne, and Port of Dungarvau, being one of the Rebels principall Sea-Towns in Munster, by the Parliaments Forces under the command of the Lord Inchiquin, Lord President of Munster.
London, Printed for H. T. 1647.
A LETTER from a person of quality in the Parliaments Army in Munster in Ireland, to an Honourable Member of the House of Commons.
IN my last Letter I made a discovery unto you of some fears, that the enemy upon the many Alarms given unto them by our slight and inconsiderable parties, would have fortified their frontier Garrisons, to a resolution of defending them against us, and so have put us to a weary siege, for the reducing of those Holds, which at the first of the Spring might have been taken in with much facility: What I then conceived, was (I beleeve) at that time their intention, they received into each of those places, strong guards to secure them against any opposition we could make against them; but God, who hath the hearts of all men in his hands, hath bereaved them of theirs, disappointed their resolutions, and produced no other effects out of all their contrivements, but Glory to himselfe and Honour to his servants, for he hath already delivered unto our hands those Garrisons, which were a terrour to all our Quarters, Drummana, Coppequin, and Dungarvon, and without any great expence, either of time or bloud: It was Sir, I confesse, the subject of much admiration to us all, and I hope we shall continue the memory thereof amongst us, as an incitement to thanksgiving to our God. The manner of their reducing being notorious and publike, will, I doubt not, come to your knowledge by the Pens of many others. Yet I send you inclosed a particular of their severall proceedings, and may not omit to give you some account of the behaviour of the Lord President herein, whose vigilancy and forwardnesse was so great, that we may justly call his personall actions, the chiefest instrument, under God, of effecting those designes, though he were Generall of the Army, and had those others under him who could well answer the expectation of their own employments, [Page]in paying the Batteries, in drawing on their Guns, in observing places of advantage for our Cannon and the like, yet he thought it no dishonour to act their severall offices for the expediting of the service, knowing that the Souldier is more provoked to diligence and gallantry by example then by precept, I doe not hereby desire to derogate any thing from those who were his assistance in the worke, they must receive their honours in their due places, and may most of them (Officers and Souldiers, those of the new Regiments, as well as of the old) challenge a portion answerable to their employments; but I must not transgresse, I intend but a short Letter, and will not make it a Discourse.
Sir, God hath placed you amongst the number of those Worthies there, who have so charitably undertaken the mannagement of this un-questioned just War: We are now in a faire proceeding to effect somthing of consequence upon the enemies of the Church; as a poore Member whereof, I offer up my prayers unto God, that a timely assistance may be sent unto us in this day of opportunity; You have begun nobly, in Gods name goe on, and evidence to the world, that his Cause shall not be destitute of Patrons which will own it and abet it: Besides, what a dishonour would it be to our Masters there? what a discouragement to the Souldiers here? what an encouragement to the enemy abroad? to see us nipt in the blossome, and lose the hopes of our forward increase, for want of food to give us growth and vigor, which if seasonably provided, I dare confidently averre, through the providence of God, which we presume to promise to our selves, that this Sommer will afford such an account of the Warre in Munster (if it be not retarded by the interposition of particular designes of malice to breake us amongst our selves) thus the undertakers themselves will begin to account that their best husbandry, which they have expended upon this designe, I will not inquire your piety so far as to beseech your motion to the House for an expedient herein, your own inclination is a sufficient prompter to an action of so much charity and honour, I shall therefore trouble you no farther, but shall alwayes remain,
A RELATION of the taking in of the Castle of Dromannagh, the Castle, Town and Garrison of Cappoquin, both lying on the Black-water, &c.
ABout the 26 th, of the last moneth, the Lord President marched forth, with the Army towards, the Black-waterside, and sat downe before the Castle of Dromannagh a strong hold of the Rebbles which: hath greatly annoyed out Quarters, and having made a small brach in the Out-workes whereon an assault was given by our men who drove the Rebels to retreat into their Castle, The Officers considering the same to be a place of much strength, and likely to cost a great expence of blood, and some waste of time, their principall designe being upon Cappoquin (a Passe of greater importance) did condescend to accept the Castle of Dromannagh at the hand of the destroyers: upon Quarter only for life and their wearing apparell, and accordingly on Fryday the last of Aprill that place was surrendred to the Lord President, wherein was found very little booty, they having a long time expected a siege and disposed of all things which were of value out of their Castle wherein there were only foure barrels of powder, a proportion of Match one or two small peeces of Ordnance, some Murtherers, Sling-peeces and about 100 Armes, the ward consisting of about 60 men
From hence the Lord President, having intelligence of a fresh supply that night to be sent into Cappoquin, immediately dispatched away all the Horse-forces to face that Garrison, and surround it till the Foot drew up, which proved to be so seasonably done, that the supply of Match and powder being upon the way to that place under the Convoy of a Regiment of Foot, and three Troopes of Horse, was upon the appearance of our Horse force to retreat in some hast to Clomnell, this disappointment of their Munition (we afterward discovered) occasioned them upon the first Summons to imbrace a treaty, and the second of May to give up, upon Quarter, to march away with bag and baggage, except such of our owne men as should be there found and had runne from there Colours all which to the number of 23, were condemned to be hanged.
So as we gained that important Passe and the forementioned castle with the losse only of two men, and about six hurt, without any great expence of time or Munition: This place will be an excellent Garrison both in respect of securing our own Quarters, and annoying the Rebels, for which it is most commodiously seated, having a strong Castle to countenance the Towne and Out-works, and a Bridge also very well fortified with a defensible work at the furthest end from the Towne.
The President being possessed of this place drew the whole Army into it and the adjoyning Villages to shelter themselves from the violence of the weather, which then proved to be exceeding wet and foule, giving great impediment to our progresse, but for our incouragement it pleased God that about the same instant there arrived Collonel Temple with his Regiment of Horse, and soon after a Ship laden with Corn, and the Admiral with 5000 pound in Spanish mony. And now the Lord President being forced to spend a little time in the setling and disposing these new forces, which he had no sooner dispatched, but he ordered the remove of the Army from Cappoquin to Dungarvau, a Sea-Towne well walled and fortified, and one of the Rebels chiefe Ports in Munster, and a receptacle for their Pyrats and Dunkirk Friggots that our Coast of England as well as Ireland, In this removall his Lordship found very great difficulty, though the way were short not above seven miles for want of Carriages and draught horses and Oxen for his Artillery and Provisions, wherein hee was driven to that Exigency that he was inforced to hyre the Souldiers for money to helpe forward both the Ordnance, and other necessaries, heere his Lordship did even resolve to decline, harkening to all tearms or treatyes after the first Summons if the defendants should refuse to surrender: But finding that after foure dayes constant battery with foure battering Peeces, that they could make no assaultable breach, and that though we had taken one Castle by storme neere the Towne by which they secured their water, that these within did not appeare to be in any distresse, and finding also that through want of Carriages provisions grew so scant in the Army, as that divers of the men fell sick, and many faint, and that the crosnesse of the winds did hinder the comming about by Sea of those provisions that were appointed to come that way, and that to change the [Page]places of battery would be a work of much time and trouble, the Lord President did with the advice of the Officers accept the surrender of that place, on quarter, to march away with bag and baggage.
Upon our comming into the Town wee found the cause that induced them to give it up, was want of Munition (as at Cappoquin) which was also upon the way towards them by Sea from Waterford, but was prevented and drawn back by Captain Willoughby, and Captain Plunkets Frigot, who lay before the Harbours mouth on purpose by the Lord Presidents directions, we also found that if we had carried the Town by Storm, the Castle within it might well have been justified against us, and would have probably cost much bloud in the acquiring.
In this place was little of value left they having as at Dromanna and Cappoquin shifted away all they had in expectation of a siege, which we understand they begin to provide for at Waterford, Clomnell, Cashell, and Fetherd, all which places we desire to be dealing with, and would be of great advantage but want of Carriages for the trayne will not suffer us to march on so considerable designes, and to take in more Garrisons till our Army be more numerous will too much enfeeble it. In this Town we gained 12 Peeces of Ordnance, lost one Captaine and had a Major wounded, taken prisoner and released upon the surrender, about six men more were lost, and three horse shot, and of the Rebels about 100 slaine.
This Town and Harbour will be of great advantage to the Parliaments shipping, where they may lye conveniently to meet with any of the rebels ships as they come out of Waterford, or hover upon, or coast neer Yoyhall.
I had almost forgot to acquaint you, that in our march to Dungarvau, we tooke a Castle called Cornisleedigh belonging to one Philip, Which Cragh lying upon the edge of the mountaine between Coppoquin and Clomnell.
The Officers and Souldiers are singularly active and desirous to continue in action, and expresse great resentment at the thought of any impediments that should hinder them in their progresse and march: They are all unanimously affected both to the Service, and to their Commander in chiefe.