David Carnegie Andrew Agnew

“ I see by the case of Monsieur de Belcastel and young De Loches, that the French expect to profit by the small number of prisoners we have taken. They make a great noise about the Irish taken at sea. I am not fully informed as to that affair. But regarding the prisoners which they have taken, I shall say nothing about Monsieur de Belcastel, his merit being sufficiently known to you. Young De Loches is a captain of infantry in the English regiments. He is a most prepossessing youth, son of a father who is as good and honest a gentleman as ever I knew. ”

“ Pierre Belcastel first appears at the Battle of the Boyne, and after it he succeeded La Caillemotte as Colonel of a French infantry regiment. He opened the siege at Limerick in 1690. “About two in the afternoon of the 20th August, the attack began by 120 grenadiers, commanded by four captains, who advanced from the trenches to the fort, nearly 150 paces, and received the enemy’s fire from the counter-scarp and fort, still reserving their own till they came near enough to make it take place with greater certainty and effect. ”

“ But that expedition being nipped in the bud by untoward events, he obtained the command of the Dutch contingent in the Duke of Savoy’s forces. Marlborough says of him, “He is a very good officer, and I am glad he stands so well with the Duke of Savoy.” ”