The Spring Offensive, Hamilton drives North

Irish Roman Catholic Lieutenant General Richard Hamilton, having given his pledged word, had been allowed to cross from England on parole, in the hope that Tyrconnell could be persuaded to abandon his support for James. However on arrival, breaking his oath, he joined Tyrconnell and took command of his army. James II sailed from France in late February and landed at Kinsale on 12th March. Two days later Hamilton with 7,000 men and 5 guns drove north to bring the Protestants to heel. Lack of leadership and confusion reigned in Co Down and on the first clash at Dromore, the Protestant forces were scattered with considerable loss. Major Henry Baker, later to achieve fame at Londonderry, had his baptism of fire and withdrew. Tyrconnell already held Belfast and Carrickfergus Castles and Charlemont Fort and now captured Hillsborough Fort. He could thus press on without fear of a flank attack.

In Lord Macauley's words, "Then the flight became wild and tumultuous. The fugitives broke down the bridges and burnt the ferryboats. Whole towns, the seats of the Protestant population, were left in ruins without one inhabitant. The people of Omagh destroyed their own dwellings so utterly, that no roof was left to shelter the enemy from the rain and wind. The people of Cavan migrated in one body to Enniskillen. The day was wet and stormy. The road was deep in mire. It was a piteous sight to see, mingled with the armed men, the women and children weeping, famished and toiling through the mud up to their knees. All Lisburn fled to Antrim and as the foes drew nearer, all Lisburn and Antrim together came pouring into Londonderry.

Thirty thousand Protestants, of both sexes and every age, were crowded behind the bulwarks of the City of Refuge. There, at length, on the verge of the ocean, hunted to the last asylum, and baited into a mood which men may be destroyed, but will not easily be subjugated, the imperial race turned desperately to bay". Rev George Walker, Rector of Donaghmore, had raised a Regiment to hold Dungannon, but was ordered by Colonel Lundy to retire to Omagh, and then to St Johnstown. From there he advanced to take up a defensive position at the Long Causeway, half way to Lifford, where the road to Derry crossed a marsh. However, due to Lundy's failure to give any leadership or support, all the passes of Lifford, Cady and the Long Causeway, were abandoned and all retreated in disorder to Londonderry. On 25th March, Richard Hamilton reached Coleraine and received his first repulse. The town was defended by an earth rampart and had been successfully held in 1641. Not wishing to be held up by Coleraine, Hamilton turned west crossing the Bann at Portglenone. Fearful of being cut off, and while they still had time, the garrison and many of the townsfolk withdrew to Londonderry.