| The Siege of Londonderry Lord Tyrconnell who was in command of Ireland for James II, after he was driven form the throne by Prince William of Orange, ordered that Lord Mountjoy's Regiment be suspended because of the Ulster Protestants in the regiment. This led to the thirteen apprentices closing the Ferryquay Gate to keep out the newly formed Regiment of the Earl of Antrim.This gave the city time to send David Cairnes, a lawyer, to London to ask King William for help. King William responded by giving Lundy a commission and sending Captain James Hamilton with arms and ammunition. The second act of defiance came when the City proclaimed King William and Mary. James II came to Ireland in March 1689 to make it the base from where he could attempt to regain the throne. Londonderry became the rallying point for Protestants and the city swelled in numbers. James II felt that the resistance from the Ulster Protestants was such a threat he must overcome them before attacking England and so led the attack on Londonderry. The first battle took place near Clady where Lundy was defeated by James II. This made the Protestants suspicious of Lundy and branded him a traitor, which was increased when he sent two Regiments of Williamites back to London. James II was instructed to keep his army away from the Walls of Londonderry while the two sides were in negotiations. However James II took his army to the Walls of the city and was met with gunfire and the siege began, 18th April.There were several attempts to take the city but the message from within the city was "NO SURRENDER". H.M.S. Swallow broke through the boom placed across the River Foyle, to stop the city from being resupplied and reinforced, on the 28th of July. This was the beginning of the end of the siege of Londonderry, within a few days the burning Jacobite camps could be seen from the walls of Londonderry and the troops heading to Lifford. |