The firing then recommenced on both sides.  Notwithstanding the efforts of the besieged to repair the injury to their wall, the breach daily increased in size.  Wirtemberg moved his forces round from the north side, to take their share in the assault, and at low tide the English and Danes advanced against the breach.  Under a heavy fire from the walls, they struggled through the marshes and entered the river, which, even at low tide, reached to their shoulders.  Suffering heavily from the fire, they pushed forward until they nearly reached the breach.  Here the Duke of Grafton, who commanded the British column, fell dead, with many officers and men; but the rest maintained their order, and were about to make a dash at the breach, when the governor, accompanied by Lord Tyrone, raised the white flag.

After a short parley, it was agreed that the garrison should become prisoners of war, but were to be protected in their persons and private property.  The city was to be preserved from any injury, and the citizens and their property were to be respected.

Captain Davenant’s troop had remained idle, during the siege, as there was no work for cavalry.  They were quartered near an infantry regiment, which had been raised by MacFinn O’Driscol from among his own tenantry, and was commanded by him.  O’Driscol was a relation of Mrs. Davenant, and the two commanders were often together.  Both felt that the city must speedily fall, unless the Irish army moved down to its relief; but they agreed that, if it surrendered, they would make an effort to escape with their troops, for they had no faith in the observance of any terms of capitulation which might be made.

Accordingly, as soon as it was known that the governor had surrendered, and that the gates of the town were to be handed over to the British, O’Driscol and Captain Davenant formed up their commands, and, opening one of the gates, marched boldly out.  The exact terms on which the garrison had surrendered were not known, and Marlborough and Wirtemberg were near the breach, arranging for the troops to take possession of the gates on that side.  Consequently, the besieging forces opposite the gate from which the little column had marched out supposed that, in accordance with the arrangement, they were coming out to lay down their arms.  They therefore stood aside as the column passed, being far more intent upon the plunder they expected to gather, in Cork, than on anything else.  As, a few minutes later, the gates were opened and the troops poured into the city, no further thought was given to the little force which had marched out; and the five hundred infantry, and the troop of horse, were safe from pursuit before the news of the audacious ruse they had practised reached the ears of the generals.