This Baldearg, or Balderick, O'Donnel, was descended from one of the branches of the Tyrconnel family; his ancestors having fled to Spain after the rebellion of 1607, he was born and educated in that country. The Irish, with their characteristic superstition, cherished an idle prophecy, that a descendant of that old family, who would be distinguished by a red mark, as this man was, would free their country from the English yoke. The coincidence of his family and name,--Derg, or Darg, signifying red, induced them to send for him from Spain, and he arrived at Limerick in September, 1690, when thousands flocked to him; but he disappointed their expectations, and achieved nothing worthy of record. After the battle of Aghrim, he was so alarmed, that he kept, with his followers, in the mountains in the county of Mayo for some time, and at length tendered his submission to the government of King William, and promised to bring a considerable number of men over with him, for a stipulated reward. When the INNISKILLING dragoons arrived at Castlebar, O'Donnel's men were found in a state of mutiny, many of them resolving to adhere to the interest of King James; but the commotion was eventually appeased, and they arrayed themselves under King William's banners. On the 4th of September SIR ALBERT CUNNINGHAM took post with part of his regiment at _Coloony_, five miles south of Sligo, intending to join O'Donnel on the following day, and approach nearer the besieged town. During the night seven hundred select men of King James's army, commanded by Colonel Scott, issued from Sligo, and, being favoured by a foggy morning, surprised the detachment of INNISKILLING dragoons in their camp near Coloony, at day-break on the following morning. The troopers finding themselves suddenly assailed by superior numbers, mounted their horses and galloped to Abbey Royle, in the county of Roscommon. The enemy killed about twenty men, took SIR ALBERT CUNNINGHAM prisoner, and captured the tents, cloaks, and baggage belonging to the dragoons. After the brave and humane SIR ALBERT CUNNINGHAM was made prisoner, an Irish serjeant approached him and said, 'Albert is your name, and by an H--albert you shall die,' and instantly speared him on the spot. 'Thus fell SIR ALBERT CUNNINGHAM, as gallant and worthy an officer as any in the King's service[12].' Part of O'Donnel's brigade arriving on the following day, the enemy was driven back into Sligo, and all the baggage, &c., was recaptured. After the death of SIR ALBERT CUNNINGHAM the Regiment was commanded, until King William's pleasure was made known, by the lieutenant-colonel, ROBERT ECHLIN. A body of troops was assembled for the reduction of _Sligo_, and placed under the orders of the Earl of Granard, and Colonel Mitchelburne, to whom this fortress was delivered up on the 13th of September.