James Houston the marksman from Castlederg famous for firing the first shots in the great siege of Londonderry.
As we once again approach the relief of Londonderry celebrations, one hero of that very important world changing siege that helped to attain freedom and liberty as part of a constitutional monarchy really does stand out and deserves a special mention and what a life story that is equal to a any bestselling book or action film.
That siege hero is James Houston who was born around 1660 at Garvetagh outside Castlederg, County Tyrone. The son of Christopher Houston who was from Galloway in Scotland and Mary “Nee” Spreull (Sproule) from Castlederg. James Houston was a famed marksman with his long barrelled fowling musket during the siege. His shooting feats was all the more remarkable considering he had previously lost an eye. Such smooth bore weapons were notoriously inaccurate at long distance, except in the hands of an expert who knew how to cast the perfect lead ball and charge their gun with the correct amount of gun powder to get the best results.
This was the case with James Houston who had joined the Western Protestant Army and helped in the retreat to Londonderry of Protestants loyal to King William and Queen Mary in 1688 from areas like Castlederg and the wider area of County Tyrone and Donegal. Many gathered in the heavily fortified walled city for refuge against the evil rule of King James II and his Jacobite forces controlled and backed by King Louis XIV of France. This war in Ireland was part of a wider European conflict against the aggressive territorial expansion and military dominance of tyrannical King Louis XIV of France who believed in the absolute right of a monarch to rule and thought of himself as a god.
James Houston’s skill with his musket was put to good use during the great siege of Londonderry that commenced on the 7th December, 1688 (old calendar) with the shutting of the gates by the brave thirteen Apprentice Boys. That skill was much in demand to repel later attacks from the walls of the city by Jacobite forces. It was also used to shoot wild birds and other game around the city that helped feed the starving and massively over swollen population. He would serve under Colonel John Mitchelburne in the siege who with the Rev. George Walker were joint governors in Londonderry from the 30th June, 1689 after the death of the previous governor Major Henry Baker.
However Houston’s true call to fame came on the 17th of April, 1689, when he fired the first shots as the main siege was commencing. With his musket in hand he killed the first standard bearer of King James’s standard, as it was carried from Ballougry hill on the city side towards the trenches dug around the besieged city by Jacobite forces. This was clearly not a lucky shot, but an indication of his true prowess as a marksman and crack shot. On two further occasions the replacement standard bearers were also shot down and killed and the standard lowered before they managed to reach the safety of the trenches around a mile away. The following day, the 18th of April, King James arrived at Londonderry asking for its surrender to which he was greeted with gunfire and the famous cry “No Surrender!”
During the 105 day siege of Londonderry that by resistance to King James and his forces the walls remained unbreached hence the name “Maiden City” it would prove so vital as part of the whole Williamite war in Ireland and the Glorious Revolution. However for those within the walls it would be at a terribly high price, costing the lives of over 10,000 men, women and children not by gun fire but mostly due to starvation and disease from the general unsanitary conditions. Almost everyone within the walls were affected by illness due to little food. Some of it was said to have be tainted by those loyal to King James. Towards the end of the siege food was so scarce that even a dead rat to eat cost one shilling.
James Houston would also become gravely ill and took to his bed as he was unable to stand, but luckily with rest he started to recover.
The defenders had noticed the daily ritual of a senior French Officer in the Jacobite forces on horseback at Prehen across the River Foyle inspecting soldiers and giving orders. They decided to put James’ skill with his gun to use. The French Officer believed he was safe from gun fire from within the besieged city at that substantial distance. James Houston was still so sick he could not stand or walk and so was carried on his sick-bed to the battlements by his defender comrades in readiness for when the French Officer would appear. Still being so frail he needed assistance to load, raise and hold his own musket and after taking careful aim while the French Officer had stopped to give orders. Allowing for the wind across the Foyle, giving higher elevation of the gun’s barrel due to the drop of velocity of the musket ball, he gently squeezed the trigger, while still keeping aim until the gun went off. About four seconds later the French Officer fell from the saddle of his horse after being struck and killed by the single musket ball. The distance being at least a mile, an amazing shot that has went down in the annals of history as one of the greatest ever long distance kill shots of the period.
As a typical Ulster-Scot and using innovation to advantage, I believe James Houston knew how to make the ideal musket ball and had possibly modified his musket with a bespoke sight and most likely by rifling to the barrel of some kind. A known, but little used technology at the time. This made the musket ball spin to help him achieve that perfect shot over such a long distance. Even so his marksmanship was simply outstanding and legendry unique for the time.
Lieutenant-Colonel James Houston as he became after battlefield promotions would make a full recovery. After the breaking of the boom on the 28st July, 1689 that brought food and aid to the city he was amongst those that signed the Londonderry Address to King William and Queen Mary on the 29th of July that was presented by Governor George Walker to their Majesties.
The 29th of July would continue to bring grief to many within the city as the suffering and dying continued because of disease, it taking a while to overcome the dire conditions. One notable death was Dr. Lancelot Frances Vance born 1625, who was a Surgeon and Colonel of a regiment of defenders that passed away on that day from exhaustion. Houston and Vance were lifelong friends and family relations from County Tyrone.
The besieging Jacobite forces would retreat on the 1st of August and the siege was lifted in what is known as the relief of Londonderry.
James Houston fought through other numerous battles as part of the Williamite war in Ireland where his marksmanship was put to good use on many occasions. After King Williams’s ultimate victory in 1691 that brought the war in Ireland to a close he moved to Tinklersford, in the Parish of Raymoghy, near Newtowncunningham, County Donegal.
Lieutenant-Colonel James Houston, the renowned marksman, siege of Londonderry hero, the man from Castlederg who fired the first shot in the actual siege of Londonderry and who signed the Address to King William III and Queen Mary II, died in 1702, the same year as King William III died.
Vita Veritas Victoria (Life, Truth, Victory)
Stevan Patterson, Castlederg, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland, UK