It was not until the end of August that he sat down with his siege train
in front of Limerick, and prepared for the siege. For the moment, the
party in favour of peace among the Irish had been silenced by the news
that twenty large ships of war, with a great number of transport and
store ships, were being pushed forward at Brest and other French ports to
come to their assistance.
Ginckle occupied the same ground which William's army had taken up in the
first siege, but directed his attacks chiefly upon the English town. As
before, the Irish communication was open with the county of Clare, and
the seventeen regiments of Irish horse were encamped on the Clare side of
the river. Ginckle pushed on his works with great vigour, and the duty in
the trenches was so severe, that the cavalry were compelled to take their
turn with the infantry; but, notwithstanding that the siege artillery was
much more powerful than that which William had at his disposal, but
little progress was made. The town was set on fire several times; but the
flames were speedily extinguished, and, as the inhabitants had all left
the city and erected tents on the Clare side, under the protection of
their cavalry, little harm was done to them.
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