Under a heavy fire from the walls, they
struggled through the marshes and entered the river, which, even at low
tide, reached to their shoulders. Suffering heavily from the fire, they
pushed forward until they nearly reached the breach. Here the Duke of
Grafton, who commanded the British column, fell dead, with many officers
and men; but the rest maintained their order, and were about to make a
dash at the breach, when the governor, accompanied by Lord Tyrone, raised
the white flag.
After a short parley, it was agreed that the garrison should become
prisoners of war, but were to be protected in their persons and private
property. The city was to be preserved from any injury, and the citizens
and their property were to be respected.
Captain Davenant's troop had remained idle, during the siege, as there
was no work for cavalry. They were quartered near an infantry regiment,
which had been raised by MacFinn O'Driscol from among his own tenantry,
and was commanded by him. O'Driscol was a relation of Mrs. Davenant, and
the two commanders were often together. Both felt that the city must
speedily fall, unless the Irish army moved down to its relief; but they
agreed that, if it surrendered, they would make an effort to escape with
their troops, for they had no faith in the observance of any terms of
capitulation which might be made.
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