button to main menu  Gents Mag 1745 p.605
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Gentleman's Magazine 1745 p.605
they had taken the four light horsemen upon their return from Newcastle, who had been sent to conduct the quarter-master of the rebels, taken prisoner near Carlisle, to marshal Wade. Letters of the same date from Penrith at nine o'clock at night mention, that the rebels had approached so near Carlisle, that the garrison had thrown granadoes at them, and that the rebels had broke ground about 300 yards from the citadel, and at Spring-Garden, near the horse-race ground; and that they had been obliged to fetch provisions as far as Heckett, about five miles from Carlisle.
Nov. 18. Letters dated the 15th Inst. from Penrith, give an account, that a person sent from the governor of Carlisle to marshal Wade, reported, that it was agreed, that the town should be delivered up to the rebels, but did not know the conditions. The governor was determined to defend the castle to the last extremity, and had prepared every thing for that purpose. It was supposed that he will be able to hold out eight days. Letters from Shap of the 15th Inst. at noon mention, tht the city of Carlisle surrender'd at ten o'clock that morning.
Nov. 19. By letters receiv'd this morning from Edinburgh , of the 15th Inst. ...
From the Gazette, Nov. 23.
Whitehall, Nov. 23. Letters from Penrith, dated the 16th, bring a confirmation of the surrender of Carlisle the day before to the rebels, and give the following account of the occasion of it, viz. that for seven days before, neither the officers nor common men of the garrison had had scarce an hour's rest, being perpetually alarm'd by the rebels, and that many of them were so sick, thro' their great fatigue, that being out of all hopes of a speedy relief, they absolutely refused to hold out any longer, and multitudes went off every hour over the walls, some of which fell into the hands of the rebels, till the officers of many companies were at last left with not above three or four men; so that the mayor and corporation determined to hang out the white flag (tho' contrary to the opinion and protestation of Col. Durand) and made the best terms they could get for themselves; and that the colonel was thereupon oblig'd to abandon the castle, not having above 70 invalids to defend it, and most of them unfit for service, and the rebels threatening in case of refusal, to destroy the whole town by fire and sword. It is added in other letters of the 17th, that the garrison were permitted to go to their respective homes. Marshal Wade march'd on Saturday last, at ten o'clock in the morning, and was to go the first night to Ovingham, and the second to Hexham.
Nov. 21. By letters of the 19th from Penrith there is an account, that at three o'clock in the afternoon of the day before, a quarter-master belonging to the rebels, came to that town, and demanded billets for two squadrons, making 250 horse, that were to be there that night, and for 8000 men more, who were to be there next day. The horse came in that evening, and were counted by several people, but did not exceed half the number they were said to be.
Nov. 22. Letters from the North of the 20th Inst. mention, that the rebels entered Penrith on the 19th Inst. Letters from marshall Wade dated the 19th Inst. at Hexham, bring advice of the arrival there, on the 17th at midnight, of the army under his command, in order to have proceeded to the relief of Carlisle, and to give battle to the rebels, but having receiv'd advice, as well of the surrender of that city and castle on the 15th, as of the advance of the rebels to Penrith, and finding the roads, thro' the great quantity of snow that had fallen, in a manner impassable, it had been resolv'd in a council of war, to march the army back immmediately to Newcastle.
Nov. 23. It appears by letters just receiv'd from Col. Durand, commandant of Carlisle, that before the surrender of that place to the rebels, he had time to nail up ten pieces of cannon, from four to two pounders, that were placed upon the ramparts; that he had prevailed upon 400 men, (besides the two companies of invalids) to join with him in defending the castle, but that before eight the next morning they had changed their resolution, and had all left him to a man, so that upon calling a council of war, consisting of the officers of the invalids, it was unanimously agreed, that with the small force remaining under his orders, and which did not exceed eighty men, many of them extremely infirm, it was not possible to defend the castle.
Letters from Berwick ... ...
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