The accession of King William III. and Queen Mary, in February, 1689, was welcomed in England with anticipations of security to the civil and religious institutions of the country, and of prosperity in every branch of national industry; but in Ireland the majority of the people adhered to the interests of the Stuart dynasty, and a body of troops was raised in England, for the deliverance of that country from the power of King James, who had landed there with an armament from France. On this occasion Henry, Duke of Norfolk, evinced zeal for the principles of the Revolution, and raised a regiment of pikemen and musketeers, to which a company of grenadiers was attached; and the corps raised under the auspices of his Grace now bears the title of the TWENTY-SECOND, or the CHESHIRE REGIMENT OF FOOT.
Having been speedily completed in numbers, equipped, and disciplined, the regiment was encamped near Chester in the early part of August, and soon afterwards embarked for Ireland, with the forces commanded by Marshal Duke Schomberg. On landing in Ireland, the siege of Carrickfergus was commenced, and the garrison of that fortress was forced to surrender in a few days.
From Carrickfergus, the regiment marched with the army to Dundalk, where the troops were encamped on low and wet ground, and suffered much in their health.
While the regiment was encamped at Dundalk, the Duke of Norfolk was succeeded in the colonelcy by Sir Henry Bellasis, who had commanded the Sixth regiment of foot when it was in the Dutch service.
On the 7th of November the regiment commenced its march from Dundalk for Armagh, for winter-quarters.
1690
In the summer of 1690, the regiment had the honour to serve at the battle of the Boyne, under the eye of its Sovereign, who commanded the army in Ireland in person; and on this occasion it took part in forcing the passage of the river, and in gaining a decisive victory over the army of King James on the 1st of July.
Advancing from the field of battle towards Dublin, the regiment was reviewed by King William at Finglass, on the 8th of July, and mustered six hundred and twenty-eight rank and file under arms. It was afterwards detached, under Lieut.-General Douglas, against Athlone; but that fortress was found better provided for a siege than had been expected, and the regiment rejoined the army.
The TWENTY-SECOND was one of the corps employed at the siege of Limerick. Many things combined to prevent the capture of that fortress until the following year, and when the siege was raised, the regiment proceeded into winter-quarters, from whence it sent out detachments, which had several rencounters with bands of armed peasantry, called Rapparees.
1691