18/06/2026
It was on the night of the 18th June that the Defenders of Derry launched a boat raid upriver led by Colonel Adam Murray. Although Captain Ash records this event happened on the 13th, Rev Mackenzie and Gov Walker give the date as the 18th. Ash is mistaken as Londonderry didn’t have any boats, and a new one had to be built.
This craft was built by Lieutenant William Crookshanks (one of the brave thirteen apprentices) who attempted to use it to get a message to the fleet in Lough Foyle. Walker recording “They build a boat of eight oars a - side, and man it well, with intent to make to the fleet, and give the Major General an account of the sad condition we were in they set out with the best of our wishes and prayers, but were forced to return, it being impossible they could endure the showers of shot that were poured in upon them from each fide the river.” The boat was reused in the upriver raid and as the bulk of the fleet didn’t arrive to the 15th means Ash is mistaken in his date.
Having failed to communicate with the fleet the primary objective of this mission was to establish communication with Enniskillen. This was to happen under the cover of a raid on the fishery buildings at Newbuildings about three or four miles upriver.
Londeradios the epic poetic account of the siege describes the endeavour:
“To get intelligence we built a barge,
“Of wondrous swiftness, which was long and large;
“And placed a drake therein or two beside,
“When we had need to sail or row with tide.
“To know the truth, and let them understand,
“Our great distress: Great Murray did command,
“Some of the ablest seamen of the town,
“To man the barge, and sail for Donnelong.
“With him ascends near thirty officers, Besides the boys prepar'd for messengers.
“Noble and Holmes and the brave Dunbar,”
The line about a “drake” is an interesting reference to a type of small cannon (minions and falconets were sometimes called drakes) which isn’t mentioned in any other primary source. Although Ash notes “they had Wrake with them and Alex. Poke, the gunner”. Mackenzie records that in addition to those named in Londeradios the crew also consisted of 2 lieutenants and about 20 other ranks.
The boat was noticed, however. Mackenzie recording “But the enemy soon took the alarm, and as the boat passed by Evans's wood, they fired a great gun planted there at her, which narrowly missed her. As our men went further up, the enemy fired at them on both sides the shore.”
They went beyond Newbuildings to Dunalong closer to the modern village of Bradey. This experience so terrified the messenger boys that when the time came to put them ashore, they couldn’t move. Worse was to come for when they were making their way back downriver, they noticed the Jacobites had sent two boats with musketeers and dragoons after them blocking their return.
After both sides exchanged fire one of the Jacobite boats attempted to board the Williamite boat. But Mackenzie states “our men were as quickly in upon them, beat back some of them into the water, and killed 3 or 4 others, besides a Lieutenant in the enemy's boat, whereupon the rest threw down their arms and called for quarter. We took 13 prisoners in this boat. The enemy in the other boat seeing this ill success of their friends, made off with what haste they could.”
Londeradios describes the fight more dramatically:
“As we return'd the enemy mann'd out,
“Two large boats fill'd with some dragoons on foot;
“Th ' one starboard, the other us larboard haul'd:
“But Pilot Pogue with his wide drake them maul'd;
“For as they thought to board our barge,
“then he, Fir'd off small shot among their company.
“Which boat shear'd off with several persons slain,
“We board the other and them pris'ners ta'en.
“They fought us stoutly with their swords in hand,
“We slew the one - half, and their boat command.
“At sun - rising we land at Ferry - Key,
“And in their boat near thirteen dead men lay”.
Mackenzie’s account differs somewhat from Londeradios regarding the casualties (both sustained and inflicted). According to Mackenzie the only casualties suffered was Col Murray and one of the Jacobite prisoners. Londeradios being designed to be performed oratory no doubt exaggerates for dramatic effect.
Despite the fact it was nearly daybreak being encouraged by the success of this river action, once the raiders had unloaded their prisoners at ferry quay they went to raid the Jacobite positions in the waterside. Ash records “they went over the water with the new boat and the one they took from the enemy, thinking to surprise the cannon at Tamnimore, and to beat the enemy from the wood”. Tamnymore is a townland in the area locally known as the “top of the hill” lying between Gobnascale and Prehen.
However they were too late as Mackenzie records they “returned to attack a party of the enemy who were at that time drawing off one of their guns; but the enemy perceiving the resolute approach of our men, left her and fled: Our men pursued them to the top of the hill, 'till they perceived another strong party marching under covert of the hill, to get betwixt them and their boats, upon which they retreated, and had scarce time to recover her before the enemy came up.”
Murray was wounded by a bullet in the head but was saved by his “head piece” which was probably a type of metal skull cap designed to be worn under a hat called a secret. Nonetheless this injury indisposed him for some time.
Despite this morale boosting raid the garrison and people of Londonderry continued to suffer from the man induced famine and diseases that resulted from bombardment and blockade.
