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HISTOEY 03? ENGLAND.

The Irish army 'which had retreated to Strabane remainedthere but a very short time. The spirit of the troops had beendepressed by their recent failure, and was soon completelycowed by the news of a great disaster in another quarter.

Three weeks before this time the Duke of Berwick hadgained an advantage over a detachment of the Enniskilleners,and had, by their own confession, killed or taken more thanfifty of them. They were in hopes of obtaining some assistancefrom Itirke, to whom they had sent a deputation; and they stillpersisted in rejecting all terms offered by the enemy. It wastherefore determined at Dublin that an attack should be madeupon them from several quarters at once. Macarthy, who hadbeen rewarded for his services in Munster with the title of Vis-count Mountcashel, marched towards Lough Erne from theeast with three regiments of foot, two regiments of dragoons,and some troops of cavalry. A considerable force, which layencamped near the mouth of the river Drowes, was at the sametime to advance from the west. The Duke of Berwick was tocome from the north, with such horse and dragoons as could bespared from the army which was besieging Londonderry. TheEnniskilleners were not fully apprised of the whole plan whichhad been laid for their destruction; but they knew that McC-arthy was on the road with a force exceeding any which theycould bring into the field. Their anxiety was in some degree re-lieved by the return of the deputation which they had sent toKirke. Kirke could spare no soldiers; but he had sent somearms, some ammunition, and some experienced officers, of whomthe chief were Colonel Wolseley and Lieutenant Colonel Berry.These officers had come by sea round the coast of Donegal, andhad run up the Erne. On Sunday, the twenty ninth of July, itwas known that their boat was approching the island of Ennis-killen. The whole population, male and female, came to theshore to greet them. It was with difficulty that they made their