42 



General de Flobert, the latter, according to the formula of his pro- 

 fession, not wishing to pass by Carrickfergus without- reducing it ; 

 the former wishing to attack and occupy Belfast, from which, he 

 affirmed, he could have obtained supplies of all kinds and have 

 gleaned a sum of ^50,000, whereas the town of Carrickfergus would 

 not be worth sixpence to the expedition. Thurot, however, was 

 over-ruled, but he was quite right in his estimate of the affair, and 

 after the failure of Flobert's plan, was heard to swear that he would 

 have the officers of the land force cashiered so soon as they re- 

 turned to France. The French landed between 700 and 800 men 

 at Kilroot, and marched on Carrickfergus, the garrison of which 

 consisted of a small detachment of the 62nd Regiment, under the 

 command of Col. Jennings, wretchedly supplied with arms and 

 ammunition ; the castle was totally out of repair, having no guns 

 mounted, or provisions \ in this latter respect, so totally unpro- 

 vided were they, that on the defenders, consisting of a small party 

 of soldiers and some of the townspeople, retiring into the castle, 

 the mayor and some others of the inhabitants sent in their private 

 stores of beef, meal, &c, for the use of the defenders. The French 

 landed some of their cannon, and after forcing the gate, with con- 

 siderable loss, they assailed the castle, battering the gates and 

 walls, and forming in the latter a breach 50 feet wide. 



A very fierce assault was now made upon the gate, and some 

 severe hand-to-hand fighting took place, in which the French loss 

 was very heavy. 



The defending party, consisting of about 50 soldiers and towns- 

 people, headed by Col. Jennings, Lord Wallingford, Capt. Bland, 

 Lieut. Ellis, and some local gentlemen, repulsed the French, and 

 caused them to take shelter under some adjoining walls. The 

 garrison had now some time to consider what course should be 

 taken, and finding that the castle in its ruinous state could not be 

 defended, that their supplies were exhausted, and that the French 

 party greatly outnumbered them, resolved to capitulate ; this was 

 accordingly done, and the fighting was at an end. The chief 

 anxiety of the French was now to get provisions, and these the 

 town undertook to provide. 



