The Siege Of Londonderry Flashcards
Why did the siege take place?
The siege was the first big event in williamite war in Ireland. While the gates of the walled city were immediately closed in December 1688, the siege didn’t begin until April the following year the siege lasted 105 days ending on the 30th of July 1689 when relief ships bringing an English army sailed commemorated yearly in August by the apprentice boys of Derry.
What were the conditions like during the siege?
The conditions of the city became difficult for the defenders and citizens inside the walls of the city, the weather was very wet and many people had to sleep in the open. Many were sick and wounded but food was the greatest problem.
They were in a lot of danger by bombs thrown in the day, it being more difficult to see them. The dread of them forced their people to lie about the walls and got the places remotest from houses. The cold, especially women and children added to their want of rest of food, caused disease, fevers of which many people died. They were under great need, that they had nothing left unless we could prey upon one another. A certain fat man conceived himself in the greater danger and fancying several of the garrison looked on him a greedy thought told him to hide himself for 3 days drink nothing but water, which he could not get without danger.
There women also did good service at the bogside, in beating off the stores the soldiers who came to the lines.
The end of the siege
Outside the city the Jacobites also suffered great hardship. They had poor weapons, were also lacking food and had few medical supplies for the wounded. Humiliated by the determination of the defenders many deserted. On Sunday 28 July 1689, williamite ships broke through the boom of the river and sailed up to the city, despite cannon fire from both banks. The inhabitants were jubilant. Three days after the jacobites withdrew and the siege of Derry which had lasted for 105 days, ended. The failure to take Derry and also the town of enniskillen was a bitter disappointment to James and his army. He had not gained control of Ulster as he had hoped, so he returned south.
