William
suffered the loss of over 15,000 men, while the Irish lost only
about 300. Although many of his commanders favored continuing
the siege the very next day, William knew that the unpredictability
of the autumn weather could risk the ability for him to withdraw
his artillery and struck his camp for winter quarters, capturing
Cork and Kinsale along the way.
William
returned to England from Waterford in early September. Lauzun
returned to France with Tyrconnell and reported the king's Limerick
cause lost. Tyrconnell, encouraged by the defense of Limerick,
said that there was a chance of success and asked for money and
men. In January of 1691, Tyrconnell returned from France with
money but no men.
In
May 1691 a French convoy arrived at Limerick bring much-needed
munitions and supplies, and the French general, the Marquis de
St. Ruth. St. Ruth arrived to replace Berwick and let Tyrconnell
see that he, St. Ruth, alone was in command of the army.
William's
Dutch general, Ginkel, was in charge or the new campaigning season.
He strategy was to force a passage of the Shannon upriver from
Limerick at Athlone. Ginkel, along with Dutch General Mackay pushed
back the small troop of Irish defending the bridge at Athlone,
but was unable to remove them from the Connaught side of the town.
After nine days of trying to bridge the Shannon, Athlone was taken
on the evening of 30 June by the best soldiers in Ginkel's army,
English, Danish, Dutch and Huguenots, who were able to ford the
Shannon in waist-deep water and execute a surprise attack on the
town.
Tyrconnell
and Sarsfield, never ones to agree, both favored the infantry
returning to Limerick. St. Ruth wished to stand and fight, which
is what they would do.
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