SNIPPET: In 1888, Victorian traveller to Ireland, Englishman Richard LOVETT, referred to an event in history as a "most brilliant exploit performed by Limerick's military hero, SARSFIELD." "When, in 1690, WILLIAM III was marching upon Limerick expecting an easy capture, it was only by SARSFIELD's energy and courage that the resolution was taken to resist to the last. Things looked gloomy indeed for the Irish cause. WILLIAM and his army arrived and pitched their tents; at some distance in the rear followed ammunition trains and supplies, together with some heavy ordnance, and a bridge of ten boats. SARSFIELD, with the skill of a true soldier, saw that his one supreme hope was to destroy the enemy's train. The incident can hardly be better described than in LORD MACAULAY's words: 'A few hours, therefore, after the English tents had been pitched before Limerick, SARSFIELD set forth under cover of the night with a strong body of horse and dragoons. He took the road to Killaloe, and crossed the Shannon there; during the day he lurked with his band in a wild mountain tract named from the silver mines which it contains. He learned in the evening that the detachment which guarded the English artillery had halted for the night seven miles from WILLIAM's camp on a pleasant carpet of green turf, and under the ruined walls of an old castle; that officers and men seemed to think themselves perfectly secure; that the beasts had been turned loose, and that even the sentinels were dozing. When it was dark the Irish horsemen quitted their hiding-place, and were conducted by the people of the country to the spot where the escort lay sleeping round the guns. The surprise was complete; some of the English sprang to their arms, and made an attempt to resist, but in vain; about sixty fell, one only was taken alive. The victorious Irish made a huge pile of waggons and pieces of cannon. Every gun was stuffed with powder, and fixed with its mouth in the ground, and the whole mass was blown up. The solitary prisoner, a lieutenant, was treated with great civility by SARSFIELD. 'If I had failed in this attempt,' said the gallant Irishman, 'I should have been sent off to France.' SARSFIELD returned to Limerick, WILLIAM was compelled to retreat, and it was not until the following year the SARSFIELD honourably capitulated to GINKELL, and retired with a part of his army to France. A fine statue of the general now adorns one of the streets of the city."