ON the 12th of Auguſt 1689 a numerous Fleet appeared off the Coast of Donaghadee in the County of Down, out of which two hundred men made that Night a deſcent on the land, and intrenched themſelves.

On the 13th Mareſchal de Scomberg who Commanded the Forces on Board debarquing his men, Horſes and Train of Artillery, ſet foot on shoar without oppoſition.

On the 14th he ordered the 200 men that first landed to March to Belfaſt, and the next day he followed in Perſon with the groſs of the Army, and refresh'd himſelf there till the 19th.

On the 19th he invests Carrigfergus and having Summond the Garriſon to ſurrender in vain though with offers of fair and honourable conditions, He drew out his lines and the next day played upon the town from four Batteries of Cannon, and three of Mortar pieces, beſides all the Gunns of the Navy to which the place stood expoſed with in distance, whilst he made his approaches by land, where he found the works, or walls most acceſſible, yet tho' he with Bombs (of which he threw in a thouſand) had lay'd all the buildings in Aſhes; and tho' the Garriſon could not reaſonably hope for any ſuccour, they kept it nine days, and even then reduced to one Barrel of powder made Soldier-like Terms, marching out with their Arms, Colours flying, ball in mouth, and other uſual ceremonies of War, to be attended by a convoy untill they were within three mile of the Newry; yet the Articles (tho' ſigned by Scomberg) himſelf, were nevertheleſs barbarouſly violated by the ſoldiers who without regard to age, ſex or Quallity diſarmed and stript the Towns people, forceing even women to Run the Gantlet stark naked.

On the 26th of Auguſt the King came from Dublin to Tredath attended with 200 of his Guards, and gentlmen Volonteers on Horſ-back, and found there no more then ſeven Regiments of Foot, and ſome few Troops of Horſe; a strong Party of the Cavalry being commanded out as Far as the Newry, under the Duke of Berwick.

The ſixth of ſeptember His Grace to hinder the Enemies advancement upon him, and render his march to the Newry incommodious, and difficult broke up all the Cauſwayes, and other defile's thro' which he must paſs, and to make all ſecure burnt even the Town, and retyr'd to Dundalk, where he found Monſieur D'esco with two Companies of Foot, and a Troop of Horſe ſent out from the Army to bring up his Rear for their Forces united were very inſufficient to make head against the enemy, who then preſſed their March; ſo they all fac'd about, and drew off together.

The King now in Tredath was informed by ſome Iriſh and one French Deſerter, that Schomberg's Troops were very much diſeaſed, and already in want of proviſions.

The 13th all His Majeſties Forces were come down to the Camp near Tredath.

On the 14th the King marched the Army from Tredath to Atherdee about 8 Iriſh miles, and there met with intelligence that about 12 Sail of the Enemies Fleet were the day before up with the Skerries, and fired many Guns, which drew the Militia and people in ſuch numbers down to the Shoar, that they durſt not venture upon it, but bore away large to the Southward, where they plyed too and agen betwixt Hoath and Bullock, with deſign as it is thought, to animate the malignant Party (if any ſuch were in Dublin) to riſe. But matters were ſo well ſecured there by the conduct and vigilance of Collonel Symon Luttrell the Governor, that diſappointed of all expectations, they vainly ſtood off to Sea, and were ſoon out of ſight.

On the 16th His Majeſty at the firſt appearance of day marched the Horſe and Dragoons from Atherdee to Allardſtown near Affayn-Bridge about three miles ſhort of Dun • lk, of which he poſſeſſed himſelf about twelve. By • d i • ht following his Foot-Guards came up to him, and • e Body of the Infantry by noon the next day. Having • rt fled the Bridge, he placed the Guards on the further • de of the River, and ſent Parties out to diſcover the E • emy. Towards the evening ſix Troops of the Cavalry • ade up to a ſmall advanced Party of fifty Horſe, and • ome few Volontiers that attended His Majeſties Army, • ho nevertheleſs receiving the Enemies Fire, immediate •• charged, and put them to flight.

On the 18th the whole Camp was formed with as much • egularity and advantage as the ground would admit of. The King in his perſon having travers'd it all over, after • ewing the Intrenchments, and poſture of the enemy.

On the 19th ſeveral Priſoners were taken, and ſome •• ſerters came with intelligence that Schomberg had ſet all • ands to work to ſecure himſelf by fortifying Dundalk, • nd ſeem'd rather to prepare againſt a Siege than a Batt • l

On the 20th the King drew out his Army, and marching in the Head of the firſt and ſecond Line, within leſs than Cannon-ſhot of the enemy, He immediately put them in order of Battel (according to a method agreed upon) with wonderful expedition and silence. The Lines •• tended themſelves ftom South-east to North-weſt along a ••• ge of Hillocks that front the Town; the ſecond Line ſhewed it ſelf between the intervals of the firſt. In this poſture they ſtood for three hours, the Souldiers tranſported with Courage, by the Preſence, and great Example of their King in the Head of them, could not forbear by ſhouting and other demonſtrations of Joy. to dare, and challenge the Invaders; who nevertheleſs could not be provoked, nor invited hy any means, out of their fortifications: And therefore the King, diſappointed in his hopes of deciding the War by a Battel, commanded his Troops juſt under the Mareſchals view, to march easily back to their Camp again, His Majeſty Himſelf remaining in the Rear of all His Army until He ſaw the laſt Souldier drawn off. Seven Priſoners were that night brought in by a detacht party of Dragoones from a Village called Haggardſtown on the ſea side The Captains O Neil and Murphy likewiſe with 50 Foot, Surprizing a party of 80 Dragoones behind a Mountain that cover'd the Enemy killed two o • the place (mong whom ſome French Hugonets refuſed Quarter) took six priſoners the reſt eſcaping by Flight.

On the 21th the King gave Orders for the Fortifying Atherdee with Ditches, Ramparts, and other Neceſſary Works; a retrenchment was likwiſe caſt up before the left wing of the firſt line.

On the 24th the King viewed the Country on all ſides reſolving when he found it neceſſary, or convenient to dislodge from the ground he then ſtood encamped on, and to pitch his Tents on the Edges of ſmall Hyllhocks that ariſe between the Rivers of Mapaſtown, and Atherdee, and therfore gave general Orders for preſerving the Forrage in all parts within Command of his Army.

On the 26th a Commanded party of Horſe-dragoones with 35 Companies of Granadiers, ſet fire to all the Forrage and Corn, on the other ſide of the Lurgan River for 3 miles along the ſea coaſt, and under the Enemies Noſe who nevertheleſs made a faint Sally, but were eaſily forc'd back to their Trenches again.

On the 28th towards the evening the discharge of the enemies Artillery three times purſued with as many Volleys of ſmall ſhot, and huzza's amused the Kings Camp for ſome wile untill diſabuſed the next day by a deſerter who ſaid all that noiſe was in celebration of a great victory obteined by thoſe of Iniskillen againk the Kings party at Sligo; but this mighty Action upon better intelligence proved a Skirmiſh between a ſmall band of that County Millitia and a Troop of Rebells, wherein 3 of the Loyaliſts fell, and that number twice told of the enemy.

On the 30th an Ensigne from mac Ca • y More's Regiment, returned to his Majeſties Camp with advice that 3 ſhips whereon were imbarqued Collonel Villiers Troop horſe and men were newly caſt away, that 500 French officers and Soldiers ſuspected to be Catholicks, and well wiſhers to his Majeſties cauſe were ſent a ſhip-board their place of confinment that ſeven Frenchmen, and a Captain were Hanged upon ſuspition of affecting the Kings party. That Four-ſcore a day at the leaſt were ſent from the Enemies Camp to the Hoſpital, and that all their Horſes were turned out to Graſs for want of Hay and other neceſſarie Forrage.

On the 31th 〈◊〉 Regiments of Foot were Commanded to Sligo, and the parts on all sides adjacent to it to preſerve the inhabitants under his Majeſties Obedience, and check the excursions from Inniskillen.

On the 〈◊〉 of October A party of 150 Foot were detached under the command of Lieutenant Coll. Stapylton and Captain H • gh Macnemarra to Relieve and bring off the 500 French that Schomberg had cauſed to be ſtript and carried by water to Carlingford; ſuspecting they had a design of changeing their party; The march was difficult and hazardous, For they could not avoid the Engliſh camp, but by a detour of at leaſt 30 miles, and that through almoſt impaſſable Mountains, nevertheleſs they Marched cheerfully ouer them to a vale within six miles of Carlingford, where making a hault to fix their Arms and cover their Primeing againſt a ſhower of rain that hung over their heads, a party of the Enemy came upon them, and being demanded whom they were For, they anſwered they were For King William, ſo are we ſaid ſtapylton with purpoſe to take his oppertunity of Surprizeing them, but the Zealous Souldiers ignorant of his Meaning declar'd loudly they were For King James and made good their words with a Volley, 14 they killed on the ſpot Seized all their Arms and made Eight Priſoners without Receiveing a wound.

On the 5th of October (Forrage becoming now ſcarſe) the King thought fit to return to Atherdee, and on the 6th very betimes in the Morning the Army was in a Redineſs to March, But the ſmoak of the Soldiers Hutts ſet on Fire by Command made their firſt ſetting out a Little Incomodious and Difficult, but that was ſoon over For when they ſaw Clear they easily fell into their Ranks and Marched in great Order, The Right Wing of the Horſe and Dragoones with 〈◊〉 Brigade • of Foot, the Canon and all the Kings Equipage by Mapaſtown bridge; The left Wing with the reſerve of the Foot and all the Baggage of the Army by the Road that led to the Bridge of Tallanſtown, and that Afternoon the Foot incamped in two Lines near Atherdee, having the River, and a long Moraſs before them. The Horſe and Dragoons for convenience of forrage, and ſhelter, were ſent to three Villages lying on the right of the Infantry, and the Brigade of Foot that made the Corp de reſerve to another Village beyond them. But the next day His Majeſty viſiting that part of the Army, thought the Corps de reſerve (as indeed it was) too far advanced, and therefore gave orders that they ſhould return to the Village where the Duke of Tyrconnel's Regiment lay, and ſent the Lord Dongan's Dragoons, with three other Battalions of Foot from the Camp, to reinforce that Poſt. He then ordered a Breſtwork to be made at the end of a narrow Cauſeway that paſſes thorough the Bogg, and a guard of 60 foot to defend it. Collonel Purcell's and Sir James Cotters Dragoons were poſted on the Left at Dowdſtown and Peppardſtown to ſecure the two Bridges. The Earl of Abercorn's Regiment of Horſe ſtood incamped at a ſmall Village between the two Lines. But the Horſes of that and Collonel John Parker's Regiment being very much harraſsed, and no danger appearing from the Enemy, His Majeſty thought fit to ſend them to their Winter Quarters.

The King having reaſon to believe that Mareſchal Schomberge would not eaſily quit Dundalk, called a Council of War, and propoſed the fortifying of Atherdee, to hinder his advance, and to facilitate the carrying on of the War the earlier in the Spring. Some of the chief Officers were of opinion againſt it; yet the Duke of Tyrconnell, who chiefly ſeconded the King's reſolutions of marching from Tredath with his Army, in order to engage the Enemy; to which, (under God) we owe all the ſucceſs we have met with, joyning in opinion with His Majeſty, the work was ſet on foot, and that place made ſo ſtrong a Frontier before the King left it, that tho Schomberge ſtayed for almoſt ten days after at Dundalk, where he loſt by Diſtemper above 1000 men, yet made no attempt upon the Party left at Atherdee under the Command of Major General Boiſelot, but was glad to make a ſafe retreat with the reviving part of his Army, leaving many ſick behind, and a number of dead Bodies unburied.