An ACCOUNT, of Major General KIRCK, And LONDON-DERRY; WITH A Geographical Account of the River he Sail'd down, and the Various Forts on it, Perticularly that of KULMORE.
Lycensed, according to Order,
THE Mouth of the River of London-Derry, lies about West and by South or West South West from Kintyre in the Highlands of Scotland, and is not above Fourteen or Fifteen Miles distant from it. As you Enter it upon the West is a Fort called Green-Castle, but is of no Importance, the River being so wide there that they can easily go in without the reach of this Castle: About Seven or Eight Miles above it lies another called Red Castle, but is of as little use as the former, the River likewise being of that Bredth there, that no Shot can reach them from this Fort. Above this, about Three or Four Miles distance is another called White-Castle, which is Situated between a quarter and half a mile from the River, which is of as little use to hinder Landing as either of the former; for though the River be Narrower than at the former Two, yet it being at that distance from the River cannot hinder the Entrance of any Ships. Betwixt this Place and the going in at the Fort of Kulmore is shallow Water, so that no Ships of any considerable Burthen can Enter but about the Spring-Tide; and therefore, though the Major General has Entred the Mouth of the River above Ten or Twelve Days agoe, yet upon Sounding the Depth of the River he found, that he could not safely go in, till such time it is High-water, unless he was resolved to strand his Ships. The Fort of Kulmore is about Three Miles from London-Derry, but it is not of such Importance as Papists and other Disafected Persons would make the World believe. For in the time of the late Irish Rebellion (since which time the Fort has had no additions of strength that we hear of) when the Town of London-Derry was Blockt up as straitly as now it is, and when there were not above 500 in Garrison in it, and endured a Seige of above Six Months, Coll.—was sent to reinforce it with one Regiment only, he was forced to wait for the Spring-Tide, before he could pass the Fort of Kulmore; though in the mean while the Beseiged keept Correspondence, by sending in the Night time some Persons that could Swim well down to him, who brought Intelligence back from him again to the Town till such time as he had Water enough to carry his Ships over; at which time, though he had but one Man of War in his Company, and there was a Chain over the River by Kulmore, yet he easily broke the Chain, and passed that Fort without receiving any considerable Damage. And no doubt the Beseiged keeps as good Correspondence with the Major General now, as those did then; and he having Four Men of War in his Company will Enter with less Damage then they did.
The Town it self lies higher than the Land within Shot of it, and is for the most part surrounded with the River and Boggs, so that they can easily defend themselves a considerable time against the Enemy. It has Four Gates, Butchers Gate, Ferry Gate, Bishops Gate and Ships Gate. In the middle of the Town is the Market-place, where is likewise the Guild-hall of the Town. It is sufficiently Planted about with great Guns for Annoying their Enemies: It has Provisions sufficient, there having several Ships got in thither within these Four Weeks from Scotland; so that we need not doubt, but what by the strength of the Town and the Valour of the Inhabitants (which has been sufficiently demonstrated by the great Havock they have made, as well of the Greatest of their Officers, as of the Private Sentinals of their Enemies) it will be able to hold out till such time as the Major General shall get in with his Soldiers, Ammunitions and Provisions for its Relief.