A DIARY OF THE Siege of ATHLONE.  
GIVING A Perfect ACCOUNT Of the TAKING the Castle, Forts, and Irishtown.  
By Storm, On the 30th. of JUNE, last passed.  
WITH A Particular Relation of Their Majesty's Army Passing the SHANNON; and of Their farther Progress.  
By an Engineer of the Army, an Eye-Witness of the Action.  

LICENCED,  
July the 11 th'. 1691. J. FRAISER   
LONDON: Printed for Randal Tailor, near Stationers-Hall, 1691.   

A DIARY OF THE Siege, and Taking by Storm, THE Castle, Forts, and Irishtown of Athlone, etc.  
WE having Possessed ourselves of the English Town, by driving the Irish over the Shannon, on the 20th. of June, as you have already heard.  
The next day being the 21st. by Four in the Morning, we began to Work on our Batteries, against the Irish Town, and by Eight that Night we we had finished two Batteries, one of 6 Twenty Four Pounders, and the other of 8 Eighteen Pounders, and immediately after we began to batter the Castle, and the new Additional Works of the Town, on the other side of the River.  
On the 22d. Our Guns continued to play incessantly, from our two Batteries, on the Enemy's Works, and that with very good success.  
The 23d. This Day about Ten in the Morning, our Tin-Boats, or ponton's, arrived in the Camp, some of our Soldiers going among the Enemies Dead, in search for Plunder, heard a Voice, crying, boire, boire, that is in English, Drink, Drink, and making towards the place, they found it to be a French Lieutenant Colonel, who having his Back broke, and being wounded in several other places, had lain there ever since the late Action on the 20th.  
This Evening a Drum came to the General, from the Enemy's Quarters, with an Answer to a Message sent by the General, about Exchange of Prisoners.  
The 24th. This Morning about the Hour Six, our own Drum returned from the Enemy's Quarters, being kept by them till this time; all our hands (that could any ways possibly be spared from other Duty,) were employed in mending the Tin-Boats; others of our Men were working with all diligence in raising three New Batteries, one below the Bridge, another above it, and the third without the Town-Wall, by the Riverside, opposite to a large Bastion, the Enemy had erected, on the other side the River Shannon.  
About 7 this Evening, one of the Granadeer belonging to the Lord Lisburn's Regiment, perceiving a Colours of the Enemies floating on the River, just under one of the Arches of the Bridge, immediately stripped and swum thither, and though, I believe, above an hundred Shot were made at him, yet the Fellow brought it off flying, and presented it to the General, who generously Rewarded him with Five Guineas.  
The 25th. Yesterday, the Enemy were very hard at work, in raising three New Batteries above the Castle; the one of 4 Guns, on a rising Ground, at a small distance from the Castle, and the other two of 3 Six Pounders each, near the River, but the Annoyance they gave us was very inconsiderable, notwithstanding, with one of them they played very briskly on the Old Walls of the Town where our Men were, (but without Killings, or Wounding any;) with another, they Shot into some of our Regiments of Foot, who lay Encamped on the Bank of the River, which obliged our Men to Decamp, and remove farther off.  
About Four this Morning, our own Battery (below the Bridge) was finished, and 6 Twenty Four Pounders planted thereon, which began to play about Six, on the Enemies Breast-Work, on the other side, we continued to play incessantly all this Day, from our several Batteries; with the last mentioned, we beat down most of the Enemies Breast-Work and leveled it with the ground; as also, most of the Houses that stood in the Irishtown; and with the help of Six Mortars, we battered down the greatest part of the Castle, and laid the Enemy so open, that a great part of them retired to Sarsefield's Camp, others got behind the Castle, and other of their Ruined Works.  
The 26th. Four Deserters that came into our Camp this Morning, gave an Account, That the Enemy's Army, hourly expected our going over the Shannon; but they seeming very silly Fellows, we gave little Credit to them. Our Cannon and Mortars continued to play all this Day without intermission. This Day we could plainly Discover the Irish Army, as they lay Encamped on the other side of the Town. Our Men worked very hard this Day in repairing the two Arches, of the Athlone Bridge, and made up one of them in the Evening.  
The 27th. This Evening we raised a Battery in the Meadow below the Town, and planted Five Guns thereon, to stop the way the Enemy had on that side, coming into the Town.  
This Evening our Granadeer Burnt the Enemy's Breast-work, on the other side of the broken Arch, with their Granades, which in the Night (notwithstanding our great and small Shot flying like Hail) the Enemy very resolutely and industriously repaired.  
The 28th. Last Night and this Morning, we wrought so hard on the last broken Arch, in the Enemy's Possession, that our Beams were laid over it, and partly planked, which the Enemy perceiving, before we could make any Lodgement on the other side, detatched a Sergeant, and Ten Men, to run over their Works, with Design to ruin ours, but were all immediately Killed by our Men; and soon after a Lieutenant and Twenty more were sent upon the same Design, who all but two were Killed, who threw our Planks, and some of our Beams, into the River, and escaped amongst the Fire and Smoak.  
All last Night, and this Morning the Enemy were hard at work, in Repairing some Old, and in making some New Trenches in the Meadow opposite to our Batteries. All this Day our Guns continued to play furiously on a place called Connaught Tower, a solid Wall on the North-side of the Castle, that it took up more time to bring down, than any part of the Castle.  
This Afternoon a Council of War was held, wherein, after great deliberation, and long Debates, it was concluded, We should by Six next Morning, attempt passing the Shannon on the Bridge, and a Float to be laid above the Bridge, opposite to the Castle, without Boats below the Bridge, 1000 Granadeer were to be Detatched for the Forlorn-Hope on this Service, who were to be sustained by 15 out of every Troop of Dragoons in the Army, and those seconded by several Regiments of Foot, our Horse to pass close below the Bridge, over the Ford, where a large and open breach was made for their Entrance, and accordingly Orders were given for every thing to be in readiness against the next Morning.  
Monday the 29th. Before Six this Morning, our Men were ready marched to the Town, showing all imaginable desire to Engage where they stood at their Arms.  
Our Boats, Floats, and their Appurtenances, were drawn into the Town, by which time it was 10 of the Clock; all this Morning we plainly observed greater Numbers of the Enemy to flock into the Town, than formerly, but our Gunners plied them so well, that great Numbers of them were killed with our Canon Ball; their coming so made us believe they had an Account of our Resolutions the Evening before: A little after 10 of the Clock, the Granadeer of both Parties that defended the Breach, throwing Hand-Granadoes one at aother, the Enemy's Granades set fire to our Fasheens that lay close on the broken Arch, which suddenly flamed so violently, that our Men could not endure the Flame and Smoke that blew directly in their Faces, and though they laboured very hard to extinguish it, and did all that was possible for Men to do in their Condition, could not prevent that part of the Breast-Work from being thus ruined by the Enemy, but they preserved all the rest entire; and immediately after, all Hands possible were employed in throwing up another Breast-Work, just behind the former, which was raised in a very few hours, and made much stronger than the former, by this time it was somewhat after Twelve of the Clock, and the General finding the Attack upon the Town that way, was like to cost the Lives of great Numbers of our Men, they deferred proceeding further therein, till another Council of War was called: All this Afternoon our Guns continued Firing.  
The 30th. All this Morning till near Twelve at Noon, our Guns and Mortors have played continually from their several Batteries, and not without good Success; they Destroying great Numbers of the Enemy. About One a Clock, the General held a Council of War, with most of the Great Officers, wherein it was Resolved, that this day we should Attempt passing the River, and accordingly all things were Disposed against Four in the Afternoon, pursuance to the Orders given out by the General; about half an hour past Four the Attack was made by 1500 Granadiers, who were Chosen Men drawn out of the whole Army, who had Each a Guiney given them for their Encouragement, in so hardy an Enterprise, for all things were brought to that Extremity, that the Enemy rendered our ponton's useless, and broke the two Arches of the Bridge which we had with so much Difficulty repaired, and would have cost us Ten Days time to have refitted, so that nothing could be done without Wading the River. The Signal for our Mens taking the River, was the Ringing a great Bell, upon which the Granadiers entered the Ford.  
Captain Sands, Cmmanded a Party of 30 Granadeer, having two Lieutenants to assist him, in the first Attack, (the Brave Major General Talmash, who did not Command that Day, going with them as a Volunteer, and was the fifth Man that entered the Breach.) The Enemy at first made considerable Opposition, by firing very smartly, but nothing could withstand the Courage and Bravery of our Men; who, notwithstanding they Marched up to their Cravats in Water; yet with continual Huzzaing, advanced under the Shelter of our Cannon, and throwing their Granades, forced the Enemy from their Posts; and God be thanked, succeeded so well, that they entered the Town, and in less than an Hour, made themselves entirely Masters of it, and the River, in sight of the Enemies whole Camp, who durst not Attempt the Succour of their most Important Pass, but run away, leaving behind them near Eleven Hundred of their Number Dead on the Spot, and about Three Hundred and Fifty that were taken Prisoners, of which number is their Famous Major General Maxwel, one Colonel, two Lieutenant Colonels, six Captains, and great Numbers of Subalterian Offices; on our side we had not above Forty Men killed, and some few Wounded.  
We found in the Place, six Pieces of large Brass Canon, and two Mortars, with other small Pieces; Twenty Barrels of Powder, Twelve Hogsheads of Meal, etc. with other good Plunder.  
This great Action was performed both by the Officers and Soldiers, with all the Courage and Resolution Imaginable; the Major General's Tettar, and Mackay, and Brigadier General de la Meloniere, and the Prince of Hesse, Darmstadt, conducted the Attack with great Vigour, and the Duke of Wirtemberg, Lieutenant General, who was carried over the River upon the Shoulders of his Granadiers, together with Major General Talmash, Count Nassau, and Brigadier Belasis, greatly contributed by their Conduct and Bravery to the good Success of it.  
July the 2d. Our Men have been busied in Lining the Works of the Town, which remain Entire towards the Enemy's Camp, and Repairing some other Fortifications.  
Yesterday the General sent a Trumpet to the Enemy, about the Exchange of Prisoners, who came back this Day, and brought with him Major General Maxwel's Equipage, which he sent for by him. There Arrived an Express this Day to the General, from one of Colonel Woolsly's Captains, giving an Account that the Enemy had Deserted Streams-Town, and that he and his Party is therein. Deserters come in daily from the Enemy's Quarters, of Horse, Foot, and Dragoons, who gives us an Account of the great Confusion the Enemy are in.  

POSTSCRIPT.  
OUR sudden Storming the Town, was a great surprise to the Enemy, for as their Camp was sending their Recruits to the Town, they met with the Garrison flying, Rallied them, and came back; the Dispute continued near half an hour; some of the most forward of our Men, who pursued them out of the Town, was driven back under the shelter of the Walls, who being reinforced, drove the Enemy back to some Intrenchments, 300 Yards from the Town, where they still continued firing; and now have set fire to some Cabins, near the Town: They have another Pass, about half a Mile off, and another three Miles farther, called Mill-town Pass; it's thought they'll Dispute them both. Notwithstanding the Enemy have Decampt, at this Instant we see a Body of Horse, as we suppose facilitating the Recreating of the Foot: Their Horse hovers about the Hills, near the Town.  
As to the Number Killed, we cannot yet learn an exact Account; though I think, there never was a more Tragical Spectacle in so short a time, and small a place: One could not set down his Foot at the end of the Bridge, or Castle, but on Dead Bodies; many lay half buried under the Rubbish, and more under Faggots, and many not to be seen under the Ruins, whereby the Stink is unsufferable; but Orders are given for their immediate Burial: What occasioned the greater number to be slain, was that after our Army had entered the Town, the Irish Retreated to Redoubt●, and disputed every Inch before the Town, was quite clear of them: The Danes found many of them under Tubs, and in dark Corners, most of which they put to the Sword: Our Horse, and several Battalions of Foot, were drawn up on this side the Water, and strong Guards put on every Ford, lest the Enemy, from the Hills, should attempt any thing against our Camp.    

ADVERTISEMENT.  
☞ An Impartial Journal of all the Transactions, of Their Majesty's Forces, and Those of the Irish Rebels, both Regular Troops, and Rapparees, in this last Winter's Campaign, in Ireland: Beginning from the 14th. of Novemb. 1691, (immediately after the Taking of Cork, and the two Forts of Kinsale,) the Time of the Royal Army's going into Quarters▪ and ending with the Army's Taking the Field at Ballimore, June 1691. To which is added, An Exact LIST of all the Irish Rebels, that have been Killed, or Taken Prisoners in each Action; with the Names of the English Officers that Commanded, the Day When, and Place Where each Action was performed.  
Printed by Authority in Ireland, and Reprinted at London. Sold by most Booksellers, 1691.   
FINIS.