Authors: Nicola Pierce
The Frenchman’s sword was longer and wider but it failed to hit its mark. Adam was too fast and sharp to be caught as he twisted and turned in the saddle, avoiding the deadly blade, all the while waiting for the opening, that tiny gap in time and space that can change the course of any fight, depending on the fighter. Everything around him was a blur as he watched for his advantage. And here it was: Maumont’s horse took a sudden step forwards, obliging its rider to overreach himself in his impatience to kill the dark-haired Williamite. There! Adam plunged
his sword beneath the outstretched arm into the commander’s armpit, the part of him that was not covered by the expensive breastplate. Adam left his sword there and watched the man’s sleeve bleed dark red.
It was over for the Frenchman. Adam felt nothing as he watched the man recognise, with a silent gasp, that he had been fatally wounded. His naïve trumpeter rushed to help his superior while Adam instinctively snatched up the French commander’s better sword.
An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth and a sword for a sword!
Who knows, maybe Maumont understood his victor as Adam informed him, ‘Sir, I am taking this since you will not need it again.’
Daniel gripped the wall in front of him. ‘We’re winning!’
What must it be like to be smack in the centre of life and death?
He found it somewhat eerie to be watching such dreadful action from a safe distance. On the wall, those watching could hardly hear a thing.
For a few precious minutes it seemed that Adam and his men were indeed the winning side, but they were up against experienced soldiers. Even Daniel and James could see that the Williamite men had no time to reload their rifles for a second shot or they risked being run through by a Jacobite sword. But, of course, this was all part of Adam’s plan. Wasn’t it?
Adam began to draw his men back, slicing the air with
his sword and roaring, ‘Fall back! Fall back!’
His men obeyed and clapped their spurs against their horses’ ribs for the sprint towards Derry. Naturally, the Jacobites followed, taking care not to trample their fallen comrades.
So, back, all the way back to the road they fled – a road that was attractively lined with those trees and untidy clusters of brambles and bushes that hid would-be warriors. Robert Sherrard and Henry Campsie clenched their rifles and longed to flex their tensed-up limbs. They heard the thuds of the horses’ feet digging into the ground and heard the roars of the riders alongside the rattle of their swords.
Eventually, when it seemed it could be much too late, the order was given and out they leapt, to fling themselves upon their attackers. A roar from the walls of Derry goaded them to do their worst. Those with rifles knelt down, with shaking hands, to take aim, doing their damnedest not to injure their friends and neighbours.
Robert found himself assaulted by the smell of sweat, of both men and animals. He had never noticed the sheer hugeness of horses before. Surely they were as big as some of the poorer houses in Derry. It was hard not to worry about being stood upon in all the confusion. He had fired his rifle but knew not what had happened after that. Instinctively he got to his feet as he fumbled about
for more powder and a fresh musket ball, hardly looking down to check on his progress. There was too much going on at the same time. It was difficult to concentrate. Men shouted, some screamed in pain, while horses spluttered and whinnied hysterically, especially the Derry-bred animals who had only known about ploughing silent fields. And what was that other smell, apart from sweat and smoking rifles? It was all around him, so sweet and sickly. Blood! Of course it was. This was a battle after all and the wounded and dead lay side by side.
Adam, alone, took the time to read the situation and note the flaws. For all their passion and desire to win, his men were flailing in the face of hardened soldiers. The Jacobites knew how to manoeuvre, to coerce their enemy into place and also how to defend each other. Furthermore, they knew how to spare their gunpowder.
The Williamite men leaping out from behind the bushes should have staggered their shooting, ensuring that guns were always being fired while others reloaded. All Adam could see were his volunteers bent over empty rifles or else too distracted by swinging swords to think about firing again. He blamed himself.
I should have prepared them better. I forgot to tell them not to fire all at once!
He had to do something because he couldn’t afford to lose men. There was only one option and, though it wasn’t particularly noble, he had no choice. ‘Back to the walls!’
he roared, dodging enemy swords as he worked Pegasus in and around the fighters. ‘Everyone back to the walls!’
Governor Walker heard him and knew what was required. He ordered the cannons to be loaded and bellowed at his parishioners and the others, ‘Fetch stones, rocks and anything else you can let fly!’
Daniel saw the reluctance to move in the faces of the women; they didn’t want to miss a single moment of the action. No doubt many of them had sons, husbands and brothers out there and they wanted the luxury of being able to concentrate on them alone. But that is exactly what it was, a luxury and one the army could ill afford.
When there was nothing more than a sluggish attempt to move away, Walker raged, ‘Anyone who doesn’t do as I say will be hanged as a traitor!’
Well, that sent them sprinting alright, clamouring down the steps to grab rocks and boulders in a variety of shapes and sizes.
To the armed guards the governor said, ‘Keep your rifles ready and wait for my word!’
Daniel felt his heart shudder against his ribs as he struggled to master his breathing which was coming out in uncomfortable, harsh bursts.
James whispered, ‘Don’t worry, you’ll be fine!’
But Daniel was starting to panic. ‘What if they come into the city?’
James, who hadn’t thought of anything except what was happening in front of them, was puzzled. ‘Who? The Jacobites?’
However, Governor Walker overheard them. He had just been thinking the very same thing but could not betray his anxiety. With a stern expression, he loudly declared, ‘They will not get inside because we will not let them. Is that understood?’
Feeling mortified, Daniel wanted to fling himself on the ground and beg the governor’s forgiveness. He swallowed hard and, as confidently as he could, answered, ‘Yes, sir. Right, sir!’
James repeated Daniel’s words and then the boys turned back to see what was happening, not noticing the governor’s strained posture as he briefly looked about, wondering if this bunch of badly dressed and ill-armed boys, old men and women could possibly be enough.
Are we about to prove Lundy right?
The governor sent a silent prayer heavenwards.
Dear Lord, we need all the help You can give us!
Nobody around him knew his secret, that he and Governor Baker had just helped the scorned Lieutenant-Colonel Robert Lundy to escape the city. At this very moment he was on a ship that was setting out for London.
It was the right thing to do. Apart from the fact that Lundy had begged the governors for their help in leaving,
the only way he could have remained safely in Derry was to change his mind and do what Adam Murray had urged him to do: fight. But the lieutenant-colonel was not for turning. He remained adamant that their circumstances were utterly hopeless and he would not be responsible for the bloodshed he believed would surely follow. Furthermore, it made even more sense to help Lundy when he reminded Walker and Baker, ‘I’d just be another mouth to feed, should the people allow me to live.’
Whether Governor Walker liked the man or not, he was against allowing Lundy’s right to life to be determined by the likes of these smelly, stupid women and their kind, whose brains could be no bigger than a snail’s. The mob could not be allowed to take over. After all, Governor Walker was still a man of God.
I’ve never trusted the man but neither do I desire to have him swing by the neck in front of a baying crowd.
Now, here he was, watching Adam Murray quite possibly about to accidentally lead a dangerously angry army through the gates of a city that had barely anyone decent to defend it. That certainly was not part of the plan.
The two armies were coming closer and closer. Governor Walker could have painted the scene without looking upon it, using the shouts of the men, the sharp cracks of fired rifles and the thumping of the horses’ hooves to fill in the blanks. The defenders were fighting hard but the
Jacobites were closing in. Adam Murray was fending off two men from the back of his horse, swinging his sword one way and then the other.
It was time to act.
Governor Walker released his order,. ‘Make ready to fire the cannon!’ He had his pistol in one hand and his sword in the other. Tearing down the steps, his coat-tails flapping behind him, the governor brandished his weapons and called for the other guards to follow him. ‘Unlock the gate! Follow me outside to help Colonel Murray!’ He suddenly remembered what else he meant to say; he looked back, caught Daniel’s eye and yelled, ‘Start shooting!’
Daniel whisked around, took aim and fired but did not believe he hit anyone.
‘Reload! Reload’ cried James as he fired his gun. He too could not admit to injuring anyone.
‘Should we follow Reverend Walker?’ asked Daniel, noticing other boys streaming down the steps toward Butchers’ Gate which was being pushed open.
James was busy pouring in more gunpowder but took the time say, ‘No. We’re better covering them from here!’
Daniel nodded in agreement.
The boys were joined once more by the women, and other friends, who were loaded with rocks and stones. To his surprise, the newcomers looked at him and James, and asked, ‘Will we throw now?’
James whooped, ‘By all means, ladies. Let them have it!’
The women seemed to relish sending down rocks to bash in the heads of the Jacobites. High pitched shrieks of ‘Got him!’ were accompanied by bouts of hysterical screaming.
Meanwhile, Governor Walker and his followers had surged out with a triumphant war cry to rescue their neighbours. Adam was still being tormented by two different riders until the governor shot the one on the left. The man fell forward against the neck of his horse, who took this as a signal to make a run for it. How the women cheered his exit and the governor’s excellent shooting!
Daniel took aim a second time, making sure to find a target before he pulled the trigger. A soldier on the ground, who seemed to have lost his horse, was attempting to stab as many defenders as he could, including Robert, who had given up reloading his rifle and was using it now as a stick. He waved it about while dodging the swishing sword.
Taking a deep breath, Daniel lined up his rifle, and decided to aim for the space beside the soldier, because he was constantly dancing forwards and backwards. He simply could not allow himself to think about the smallness of the space between the Papist and his brother. An older, more experienced soldier might not have attempted it, which only goes to prove that sometimes ignorance can be a help.
All Daniel knew was that his city had entrusted him to protect her, and – at this moment – it was the only way he could possibly help Robert. He had no choice. Taking aim, he took a breath and sent a brief prayer heavenwards. The gun fired and Daniel, feeling only slightly guilty, saw the man clutch his right shoulder. Nobody else witnessed this marvellous shot. Daniel hugged himself with relief and rubbed beads of stinging sweat from his eyes, wishing his heart would stop its galloping. Robert was still brandishing his rifle, having no idea that his little brother had probably just saved his life.
A woman suddenly shouted, ‘Look, they’re attacking Pennyburn Hill!’
Several of the women screamed to God above to do something. Daniel was chilled at the sight of two Jacobite regiments riding full-tilt around the back of the hill.
There must be a thousand if not more!
The Derry soldiers, the second group of infantry, who had snuck out after the first group, were sitting pretty on top of the hill with just musket rifles to defend themselves, not enough against so many men on horseback.
How long would it take for the Derry men to spy the horsemen sneaking around the back? Daniel groaned to himself,
Do something. Run! Anything
!
To his dizzy relief, the Williamites noticed the approaching forces and did just as he’d willed them; they raced
down the front of the hill, making fast for the city walls.
While this was wonderful news for Governor Walker and Adam, the same could not be said for the Jacobite attackers, the ones who had foolishly followed Adam and his men. Not only did they have to contend with fresh fighters spewing out the gate to confront them, not to mention being pelted from above by the civilians of Derry, now they were the targets of the retreating Williamite men, from Pennyburn Hill. These men had yet to fire a single shot; their rifles were loaded and ready.
In the midst of all this a cannonball was fired into the city. The Jacobite behind the gun was too busy congratulating himself on his spontaneity to appreciate that he could be seen by the Derry men returning from Pennyburn Hill. They saw him alright, him and his cannon. Three of them ran to the walls and shouted up to Daniel, ‘Send cannon fire over there, at that mound!’
Daniel could not see anything but he took their word for it. ‘James, the cannon!’
But James had already rolled a ball into the cannon and pushed the women away for their own safety. A match was struck, ears were covered and the gun roared. As the noise of the cannon faded, someone nearby guffawed, ‘Sounds just like your Meg!’ There was no returning cannon fire, suggesting that ‘Meg’ had met her mark.
Then, just like that, this particular battle was over.
Rather sensibly, the Jacobites saw that they were in a tight spot. Wounded comrades were picked up, shoved onto the remaining horses and the order to retreat was given. The victors cheered and hugged one another. At long last there was the feeling that they had won something.
Feeling somewhat stunned, Daniel counted almost a hundred bodies on the ground, the ones that lay perfectly still, from both sides. So, it had been a real battle indeed. He couldn’t help thinking they had been lucky and then felt a little ashamed of himself.