Derry and Limerick
moved, the bridge was finished; and at dawn the Williamites pushed across. His gross neglect —which he frankly admitted—would stamp him as a traitor, but for the fact that he went, afterwards, with the Brigade to France.
His troops, on foot, lined the hedges, but were quickly driven out, and the Williamites poured over the bridge, and advanced towards Sheldon's cavalry camp, on a hillside two miles away.
Near this, great numbers of the citizens, including the Irish Lords Justices, and many ladies and gentlemen, who had fled from the bombardment, were encamped in rude shelters made of sheets and blankets. Now these wretched people —awakened to find the enemy upon them— streamed in panic to Thomond Bridge. Had Ginkel's cavalry pursued, all was lost. Sheldon, however, showed a bold front and the Williamites retired across the river that afternoon, leaving a strong guard at their bridge.
Ginkel did not at once follow up this success. To do so by military operations was, indeed, so difficult that once more he determined to go into winter quarters. His "correspondence with the moderate party in town, who were for preserving their country by a submission," says William's biographer, cannot have been long formed. It was the 22nd before he crossed the
241
