The regiment embarked from Scotland in the beginning of October, landed at Carlingford on the 9th of that month, and received orders to join the army encamped at Dundalk; but these orders were countermanded, and the regiment marched into quarters at Armagh and Clownish, where it was stationed during the winter.

1690

In April, 1690, the Thirteenth were stationed at Belfast, and they had the gratification of serving in the campaign of that year, under King William III., who commanded his army in Ireland in person. They had the honour to contribute towards the gaining of the battle of the Boyne, on the 1st of July, when the army of King William forced the passage of the river Boyne, overthrew the French and Irish forces under King James, and gained a decisive victory.

After this victory, the regiment advanced with the army towards Dublin, and it was stationed several weeks in garrison in that city, under Brigadier-General Trelawny.

In the meantime, considerable alarm had been produced in England by the defeat of the combined English and Dutch fleets, under Admirals Lord Torrington and Evertsen, by the French navy, under the Count de Tourville. After this disaster, England was menaced with invasion, and a body of French troops landed on the western coast, and destroyed a village; when the Thirteenth, and several other corps, were ordered to return to England.

After landing at Portsmouth, the regiment was encamped, for several weeks, near that fortress; and when the alarm of invasion had passed away, it was ordered to join the expedition against Cork and Kinsale, under Lieut.-General the Earl of Marlborough, (afterwards the celebrated Duke of Marlborough). It embarked on this service in the middle of September, arrived in Cork roads on the 21st of that month, and the co-operation of part of the army on shore having been secured, the troops landed on the 23rd, and besieged the city of Cork. A breach having been made, the Thirteenth regiment was selected to form part of the storming party, which advanced to assault the town on the 28th of September; but before the soldiers gained the breach, the enemy hung out a white flag, and agreed to surrender.

The troops marched out of Cork on the 1st of October, arrived before Kinsale on the following day, and commenced the siege of the two forts. The old fort was taken by storm immediately, and the new fort surrendered on the 15th of October.

After taking part in these services, the regiment was stationed in garrison at Cork. The health of the men suffered from having been employed in sieges during inclement weather, and in the official returns the regiment is stated to have had 462 rank and file fit for duty, and 216 sick.

1691

In the spring of 1691, when the army took the field under General de Ginkell (afterwards Earl of Athlone), the Thirteenth were left in garrison at Cork, from whence they frequently sent out detachments in quest of the bands of Roman Catholic peasantry who prowled about the country in arms, committing every description of depredation. On one of these occasions, when Colonel Hastings was out with two hundred men of the regiment, and five hundred militia, he was informed that a party of the royal dragoons was surrounded by a numerous body of the enemy at Drumaugh, and he instantly marched to their relief. On arriving at the vicinity of Ballycleugh, he found the hedges on both sides of the road lined with opponents; when the soldiers of the Thirteenth rushed into the inclosures, killed fifty adversaries, and chased the remainder some distance. On the following morning the soldiers of the Thirteenth drove the Irish from Drumaugh, and liberated the party of the royal dragoons at that place.