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BOVrfiLt, '*iKTELLIGBNGER" OFl'tCt ' ^ 1864. wiit^tff till km M^tH^ jiiiiiwl ,$ii^' . * i #»« ♦♦* )TJwiaaa:i!E yd aaoiraw lo : y'i:t^ir < ' ) sraT .1^1 tftiif sHt m I ♦<;,?^vfct*J3*M M ?(uJrtWMB^ mkmimM nu m nmmi. ^^hivht?!/. hit fm'X'iBi^ PaaP Oft ' ., ^ GEORGE OGLE MOORE, Esq., ptmber of I^JirUiimfttt for thr Cit]) of Sublin, &(. Sir, The two former editions of this Work having been dedicated to that able and uncompromising Advocate of the Protestant Cause in the House of Commons, your late lamented Uncle, the Right Hon. Gbouqb Oqlb, of imperishable memory, I take leave most respectfully to place this edition under your protection as his Representa- tive, and the inheritor of his public virtues. ^•i^ >"r-:^'-r,, 3ii lam, Sir, ^'V^^ --.---. --;•' ' * . « _ ■ ■ •' %■ ,. '» Your very obedient, And very humble servant, ^ K. GEORGE TAYLOR. ■IS! ■>'■¥■•> ;'•:'>'■; ;-■:-;...,„ r':^Hf' ^j.-^i'-^: r fC-t.it- «J» .rx •f^fr.AV'.i^^^jgour.'.r.. ,ml4u^r:. '•' ^r^ »t( » 'r >mUfn% )5i t»t»?3 •^»i at'M '.t. .iiujy r.'ti^ ©iWl «^ Jrra infb'f? jfi^iHi tvtv.*!- ovit?* i ■!;oai''>ttr i>.|ikilb-',rfs*|()fri ^4iUi- i-|:f4 .*f ■.H t»;rr'i '^l .•^it \ i'4 >; «4!'>, r M I f y it*. ,X'\t:iAii t itilMii^.tcfdj: .T>V>! vtAf;^ i\Svrt W* /X?« *»^ ' PREFACE. tull' to, a9iii<'tli«(% .Aav^v ^uv..^^...-- > ;** y^) <,-■ ^'' Hatino liad VanoQS bpporranities of Knowing Che pirogreM of the Rebellion in the County of Wexford ; being atao for some weeks ft prisoner among the rebels, snd several times during that period upon the verge of death ; many of my friends requested I would draw up a History of that Rebel- lion, as far as I knew. This I declined for various reasons, but chiefly on account of my want of talent for such an undertakmg. The repeated solicitations of my friends, and the assurance that a spurious Narrative of the Rebellion was to come out in my name, at leug«h prevailed on me to make my appearance m this public manner. In the undertaking, I have been assisted by some intel- ligent persons, who had much information on the subject. What I have related may be depended upon as matters of fact — for I would not for any consideration, knowingly advance an untruth, to extenuate the guilt, or aggravate the crime of friend or foe. ♦'■w.^i*"*" PRITAOB. Notwithstanding what I have said, I doubt not but several things related in the following Narrative, may, to some readers, appear not only extraordinary ^ but incredible; yet they are not more extraordinary than true ; which I can with safety aver, as many of them came within my own knowledge ; the rest I received from gentlemen of the strictest veracity, who witt^ piwe them if required — and I will add, that I have been so f^r from invei^ting stories, that had I related all the jcircumstancies, to which I mjfsself was witness, they would swell this History beyond its intopded. I pof with all humility send it forth into Ihp worid, hopii^ it may tend.to show how mjuc^ we are indebted to God, jud how thankful wie ought to be for that Constitution which affords US such privileges,. civil and reli ADVBBTI8BMBNT. TlM «xtoiislTe Ml* of the two fonstr •ditloni of thia UtUe Work hfti aflSorded the Aathor tho aoit ntitfiMtory proof of tht pobU« eonMeoce in the fidelity of hii itatementi; and eneooragei hfaa to Imoc » thirdi and mneh imprcTed edition, at a period when OTcry thbig eonnected with the Hiitory of Ireland mnet be viewed with more than ordinary intereet. .'■»•■ _, ^ - ,. ■ • -■•■:■^^ '^t'*H^ %.i'iv;^; ^^^-iVv' ■'^f • V4v •■: '•:; 4'M' I U )-• -;*'** . t I .f> :^ .^ '-,,, I-' ,« »,, , . ' i . . « * >-.'.<•( •*»f iI»aW ^irn! «|^f}.ta ':i»yi.4H Muficft ft*'! •wUlw «!«« •»'»{»o>»x» ^\\ n ^U0!> 3*^*11 x^")?* (j»4w.froi«>q fl *« ,»o*ti»>» J>*"?'m^Ai lA^m ■^^"tfArtJ s>i6««ilft* Ii9irf!|y'«^ |.8^iir»fett»t*'tl-^ta-rf:#imM-fif sift t*^ ^tfuf^u^ OC i^ {f^At thud * Jft^-^ Xrs4i Kw«<4f Jib JU 'W'^w t»t ' "^'^''^ •.v^f» HISTORICAL ACCOUNT, vifi"--' «^-Trn«* :#4ii'"'^ *.-»-pi»» t**^ ili / '.' ^ i'*>I>ftt>f MMihttait «ik;(4 ^^ -}W*iAinil J?^^iv^^-, Fob some yean preyions to the rebellion of 1798 the County of Wexford was partially disturbed by cr ■ ^ain InxiUes of men, who styled themselves in suocession, VThite-boys, Steel-boys, Oak-boys, Right-boys, and Defenders ; until at length they were all drawn into the great vortex of the United Irithmen. The White-boys, who were the first disturbers of this once peaceable county, made their appearance in the year 1774, and bemg members of the Church of Rome, they occasioned for some time a very serious a* urm ; but by the activity and per- severance of the magistrates and loyal inhabitants, they were foon quelled, and two of the ringleaders, named Owen Carrol, and John Daggan, were found guilty of some heinous offence, and executed near Newtown-barry, on the 28th of September, 1775. The practice of these depredators was to assemble in 10 HIBTOBT or THl UBILUOIT 11 I n ^ ^ ^t'^ the night, dress ihemselyes in white shirts, which were thrown oyer their clothes, seize all the horses thej could find, then set off at full speed m great hbdies to the destined place, and proceed to dig up the pastures, hum houses, bams, and stacks of com, drag out the pvbctoirsi ^t off lOK^r' lioste 4iid ears, horsewhip them nearly to death, and sometimes bury them * alive ; and all this to prevent their gathering the tithes. Amongst the spirited maglBtitttes whose exertions tended to restore tranquillity andtgpod order «tthis-alanBing'«ilri8, none stood more rconspionons than Isaae Ooraiio^, and the late Ves^y Coldougjb, Esqrs. Theae gentlemea, by jfMi^ firmness, teinpered wit3i , moderation ^d hnmaiMJ^, were \ at oiice the terror of the rde^rate and m&dmom sfiJoa hm The distorhanceswhichipfevailedratilHsttme, aadiheTeiOr smalln^taiy fi>i!oerin!tfae cooati^fl^aviB nae to the vokiiitetr associations, of which the counjty of Woxfoid is baid to haft h^^thlJ^rtb-pUce. Feobi 1118 Ut 17 ^Ifmittj&xifiii Tolnnteers, hoik eavalfy and Ir^MufaBj, "Vrere faiaed in ^tbs oounjljy ; th^ appointod their 9SuM$f polmhMed their l^tn \ ; ^- HI iim «ouiiyT 09 mmmmD. n uniforms, and mth the assistance of jperapiu| F^JP®^]/ qualified, assembled regularlj on parade, to acquire a knowledge of the military art. That npright senator^the late Bight Hon. George; Ogle, «iMrr- gotten service, the foUowingresolutiODS of thanks wftre received firooi both houses of ^parliament.; fit ( )h ij d-' 12 WUftOWt or tHI BIBIltlOlt r;*'^f Encouraged by the soccess of the French ReVolntionisify r numerous political dubs were soon formed throughout Ireland^ : and in 1791 they were merged into a general combination denominated United irishmen, which originated in Belfiist., For its regulation a code of laws was drawn up by Mr. Theo* bald WoUe Tone, an eminent lawyer, on the plan of the French affiliated societies. The avowed objects were, the abolition of all political distinctions between Protestants and Roman CathoHcs, and the establishment of a completely democratio house of commons ; and should they prove unable to eflEect th^ object in any other way, many of the leadmg members contemplated the employment of foreign aid to eflM a dismp*^' tion of the connection between England and Ireland. A (tirectory, established in DuUin, regulated the proceed* m^ of this well combined system ; and the press lent its moati energetic efl&rts to promote its grand objects. Th« effects became soon apparent, £as in 1792 bodies of amiel r~. ■i-i IP .'■■f ar \- BIBTCMtT' Off Tttl 'ftBBItA.tOir' flMft I afppealrecliii tili« < ittetroipollB^ iiiidei^ ike ' Firdneh denoii^ ufttioB of Ifiiii$md 0uard»y mening & gireen amform^ and ornamento, on which i ttppeared the harp without the crown** The vtgpur of the government hamg checked tiioee pro^ ceadingBya mamfteto waa published, signed j ** A. Hanulton Rowan, " calling on the volunteers- to rename their arms, and injdmating the neoeasity of calKng a General Convention, com- ppsad of men of every reHgious creed. For the part wMch Mb. Rowan took in thii humnesa, be wtte sentenced to pay a^' finie.of five hundred pounds^ and remain two years imprisoned ilk Kj^gate ; but Mrii Tandy^ another politica! agitator, fled fcom the country^ In^ the following year*, Roman Catfaofics Wiereadmitted to the eleetive franchise *, and the Protestants; ik' many places^ alarmed at the dangers which they now conceived threatened their civil atid religious liberties, entered into aesodations which they denonRnated Orangemen, as a means of cfaJBoking the proceedings of the United Irishmem About the same period a licentious band associated In various counties, under the name of Defenders, and bloody feuds unmediately commenoed •between the two parties; ^a^t;- '._■"-•'*,; * • I *• I I, . The Defenders soon made their appearance in this county, cemmitted many outraged, and occasioned great uneasiness. The! tewn^ of Wei^ord in particular witnessed the cruelty and 4 tn Tn^ oo/tmvt o« wsactom. im treioheiy of ihpiie pabtic duimliarBy and tlM JMtiM of betYttei iath^ir. pnniflhrnent. In tlia begianbg of July, 1708) the towiiir l and viciiiitf of EiinisGoitl](y w«r« gnaillj altnned al ihtirri appearaii^e,,; their number amwntUigitQ abont 1000, annad'r y with guns, pk^ &o- ; hv^ Uixoiigh. the actinty of tiie neigh* '> ^ bottring. gentbmen they weinimittedtoBm^ corthy castle, and <9ii th« fo)lQi«i^giday traoMnitted nndera^^ stcong gnar^ taitbia,ga()il li^.Wexfcrd.1 EnbragedliitheMniiiM^ o£ th^ asfp<4ate%,thp Diof^avideni deteminedito jrasoue themby^ fox^ if %)y W«|)» hq^ surrepdwrod ireelyk On the morning «f f ^ thjB 11th, ananoi^QQailojIrter nu reoeiyed by an inhabitaala of We^^fprd, denvingr^ thechief -magbtrate tav hare the prisonears Felea^i and ideckuing. that. in case 6t'j refoailya body of upwards of 8000 would advtanoe to th«« town, and reduce it 4k> 9a^4 Tbaa threat waa taken litttei>i notice of ; nor did the inl^^bitanta appear in the ieaat aianned, ^ not imagining they wodd.be so bold as to maJcean attack ov^ the town, which at that time waa garriaoned by a detachmenl^- of the 66th regiment of iniantiy , oomninided: by Mqor Valot^' toi^ an officer < of great merit and aodablei character, wlio had been first aide-da-oami^toGenenJ Elliot at the siege d Gibraltar. But about twc o'clock on the same day an expreai w fillVOftr 0> VM AlMClltOtf I 1 > i.^. arrived, infonning the lOagittrates that the Defenders hftd adTanced within a qtiarter of a mile of the town, and that they had tetained ai their prisoner and hostage, Lieut. Buckhy, who was quartered m Taghnion, and had been in Wetford that daj alone, oo military business* The alarm wfts now spread, and it was judged expedient to order out the military, at the sight of whom it wtu imagined they Would disperse. Accordingly about fifVf soldiers, with three magistrate's, headed by the brave Valotton, marched to meet the Defenders, who were now at the upper end of the town, on the great road leading to Taghmon, b number about 2000, armed with guns, pikes, scythes, &c« The humane disposition of Major Valotton would not allow tiie militaiy to act, without his finit expostulating with the mob ; but while he was in the act of harangmng them, and advising them to disperse quietly, and let the officer go to his command, one of the rebels presented a musket at him. Which the Major parried off with his sword, and for that time saved his life. As tile piece went off*, the Mi^r attempted to seise the villain ; but while he was engaged with hhn, aaoUier r^bel, with a scythe fastened on a pole, made a blow at the brave Valotton's head, which hud it open, and brought him to iho ground ; and at that instant he was stabbed with a pike in the thick part of his thigh, so deeply ■■?&'• \ ) Df TBI OOVNTT Of WIZTORD. 17 as to extend to the groin and enter into the cayitj of the abdomen. The soldiers, seeing their beloved commander fall, fired without the order of the magistrates, and, advancing on the rebels, put them to flight, the latter leaving nearly eighty of their associates dead on the spot, bemdes a number who afterwards died of the wounds they had received. Lieut. Buckby happily escaped, and, in the confusion, joined the military. Many of the Defenders were made prisoners, five of whom, — James Kenney, Patrick Flannery, Patrick Neil, Michael Carty, and John Crawford, — ^were found guilfy at the ensuing assizes, and executed. The loyal inhabitants of Wexford were deeply affected with the tra^cal end of Major Valotton ; and to show their respect for his memory, erected a monument m the Church, with the following inscription : '^ <«^- Sacred to the Memory of the late CHARLES VALOTTON, Esq., SSip^tv^^-s A MnJor in the Army, and a Captain i^i^fv^ W in the 56th Begt. of Infantry ; who, in the Subarbs, on the 11th of July, 1793, £. when sealouBly oo-operating with the Civil Powei;, insapportof the mild and beneficent laws of his country, received a mortal wound from a layage hand. i-<^' * 18 BUTOBT or THl EIBlLLIOlf y f I » Thai antimelf ftU this aeoomplithed OentleniAn ; not lets admired and belored for trttj •OOIAL QDALITT fhan bo wm emlnontljr dtstlngalthed on ererj oeeaalon, bj tbe oatorpriM and gallantry of a Soldier. Reader 1 lament with everj good Man, the irreparable loMy and strire to emulate his many Virtaei. THE CORPORATION OP WBXPORD, with becoming gratitude, erected this MOXUMUrT to perpetaate their bigh respect tor his inestimable Oharaeter. The Pefendeni wore headed that day bj a man of a very xesohate and undaunted disposition, named John Moore^ a fiinner, who resided within a £ew nnles of New Ross. This man, on the first fire from the military, had both his legs brok^i ; yet so very zealous was he in the cause, that he fought on his stump still he was left alone and shot. There was also a priest killed, in whose pocket were found the articles of the Pojnsh faith. 4^ the corporation of Wexford erected a monument to the memory of Major Valotton, so the friends of Moore, the rebel leader, raised a tomb to him in the grave yard of Camagh, near New Boss, bearing the following inscription : t nr TBI oouMTT or wizroBo. 10 nnd«riiMth thif itoae doth Ito The remaini of that noble boy, Who bj hit deedi mod actions brare. In Wexford hit bodjr wat brought tvthe ghtr*. Vow each Ohrlitiaa ftv Mm ahoakl prajr^ And to Heaven itraight direet hie waj^ ▲• on hii oath that day in tihtt did di*. It'f there he foaght niost manftill/. John Moore, ion to Jame* Moore and Margwret WbHe, of Robin'a^town, who waa killed by the army Uth July, 1193, aged 22 years. Lord hsite mercy on hU sottl. After this eyentfal day, a meeting of the freeholdem of the county wa» called by the high sheriff, who formed them- selves into an association, and Opened a eubseriptioD for the purpose of offering rewards for the apprehenmon and proseotl- tion to conviction of those daring violators of their country's peace. The Defenders, disheartoied at the defeat of ^eir associates, and the determination of the loyal inhabitants that the laws of the country shoitld not be trampled upon, never attempted afterwards to assemble in any number, though many felonious acts were still committed. Soon after the commencement of the war with Franc^^ a oorrespoiCidence was opened between the United Irishmen aq^ BISTORT 07 tm RlBlLtlOK the French revolutionwry goyernment. Jackson, a Protestant clergymen, who had heen convicted in Duhlin, in 1795, of the part which he took in this business, dropped dead at the bar (supposed to be the effect of poison), while receiving sentence ; and Mr. Rowan escaped about the same tone from prison. The sudden recall of Lord Fitzwilliam destroyed the last hope of the Roman Catholics ; and from thb moment the exertions of the United Irishmen proceeded with accelerated energy. An accredited agent was sent to the French capital, and arrangements were made for the subsequent attempt at invasion, by General Hoche, which was frustrated rather by the mterposition of Providence, than by the wisdom or vigour of the Irish government. «« The peasantry were at this time supposed to be generally loyal, as the plans of the United Irishmen were not yet fully matured for co-operating with their allies. But in the following year a new ambassador was sent to Paris, to arrange the plan of a second attempt at invasion. In the meantime the arm- ing and organization of the United I^rishmen proceeded well with increased vigour, and the affected were everywhere plundered of their arms. The government, though as yet unacquainted with the nature or extent of the conspiracy, adopted vigorous measures of counteraction ; but in the spring of 1798, the IN TBI OOUNTT OF WIXfOHD. 21 whole plan being discovered bj one of the conspirators) several of the leading agitators were seised with their papers on the 12th of March ; and early in Majr, Lord Edward Fitsgerald, after a desperate resistance, was apprehended, but he soon afler died of his wounds. These vigorous measures frustrated the plan of a general insurrection, which was fixed for the 2dd of May ; but actions took place oft that and on several subsequent days, between the insurgents and military at Naas, Prosperous, Monasterevan, Carlo^, and some other places. Having given this general view of the origin of the rebel- lion of 1798, it is now necessary to turn our attention more particularly to that quarter which was destined to be its chief theatre. About the latter part of the year 1797, it was discovered that the United Irishmen were carrying on their private meetings in the county of Wexford ; and to throw a better^ gloss on their diabolical schemes, false rumours were circu- lated by the agentj of the Irish Union, that the Orangemen were to rise for the purpose of murdering all their Catholic neighbours ; when in fact there was no such thing as an Orange association formed in the county of Wexford, until a few months after the suppression of the rebellion, nor were there any /, RnTOBT Of TRI RBBlLLIOlf (• i ! Orangemen in the county at its breaking ont except a few in the towns where detaohmenta of the North Cork regiment of Riilitia were stationed. The magistrates and gent1ea*ea of the ooantjr being alarmed at their proceedings, and dreading the consequences, were unwearied m their exertions to frustrate their pernicious designs. In the begining of the jear 1798 it was observed that the Roman Catholics were rerj much devoted to their chapv-iln ; treiy day mass was celebrated .throughout most partu oi' the oountry, whereas formerly it was rarely observed except on the Sabbath-day. The chapel of Ballyoanow was particularly well attended by a very numerous (Congregation, at both morn- ing and evening prayers. Michael Murphy, the officiating priest of that parish, ras a young man, strongly made, and of a dark complexiou. lie had been but a few years reu- dent in the parish and not long in holy orders, as the following letter of recommendation from the Rev. James Oaulfield,* perish priest of New Ross, to " Moniiieur L*Abbe Glynn, Oommunaut^ des Irlandois, aBourdeaux/' in his favour will show. .. if? ^ * Afterwards .the tituUir bishop of the diocese of Fmih, .residing in VTevfbrd. -jv ^ --T-jr^ nr Tn oofniTT of wixfoiD. «< Rom, OrtoitfT IS, \1U, ** Kit. Bib, — The ii«T. Miehncl M arphj, ft tabjtet of th« OiocMt, ftft4 •ff4ftlft«4 ft prl«it ;*•! WMisuntiif, bow boond for yoar eltj, fbr tiM p«rpoM of proMOuUftg bU nUidies of pbilotoptir Md UMologj, ctUfH ft lino flrom mo in hit f«?our to 70a. I can oftljr mj, bo is well r«coaiBMndod to mo M ft sobor, rogulnr, woll-bcboTod man ; ond if \i lo oonvonient t* 70U, r ■hall oitoom jour ftcoommodftting him for the above end. I bciiero he ii the last of the lot that applied to me, therefure I hope I iliftll aoi hftve oeefttion to troablo yon agftln fbr lome yean. e ' " I bftTO the honoar to be, Ac, " T41IM OADLrULD." ^ During Murphy's priesUy office in Ballycanow he behayed himself very well, and lived much in the esteem of persons of every persuasion, till the breaking out of the rebellion ; he was a man of such profound policy as not to be suspected of having any knowledge of their meetmgs and organizations, till it burst forth like a torrent, overwhelming our happy and delightful county with ruin. About this time several persons were apprehended on the information of a man named Cooper, for being sw^m United Irishmen, and were lodged in the county gaol of Wexford ; it was also discovered that the blacksmiths had been in the haint of manufacturing pikes fbr some time back : several were ^ I f % HISTORY or THK REBELLION detected — one in particular, in the parish of Balljcanow, who acknowledged (on his being taken bj Hawtry White, Esq., captain of the Ballaghkeene cavalry,) that he had been making them for upwards of a year before, without being Suspected. •' -■■•*'■-■-: ..•• - , >. .'■-.■■■■ k'^^'>^ The county was now very much alarmed, and the magistrates assembled in Wexford, Enniscorthy, and Gorey, to take into consideration the most advisable means to prevent the storm that was gathering over our heads. The Earl of Mount Norris was very apprehensive that the consequences would be fatal ; and being zealous for the peace, prosperity and welfare of the kingdom, he rode, accompanied by some gentlemen, to the neighbouring chapels, at the time the congregations were assembled, and, like a true friend to his- country, expostulated with them on the unreasonableness of their proceeding?. His Lordship pointed out to them the happiness resulting from the Constitution under which they lived ; that a man of any persuasion whatever, though his descent were ever so mean^ who should advance himself by honest means in the world, and from nothing acquire abundance, would be protected by it, and that it was very wicked and ungrateful to attempt to destroy those protectors of our persons, rights and freedom ; that the laws of the realm protected the poorest cottager from tlfa fc.-s. ^ JA'ii^ ; •• ., ; . ■ i.. , 5*/j-'wmr» The parish of Bolavogue refused at first to comply, a» the oath was found so strict ; but Lord Mount Norris, being displeased with their refusal, made use of some expressions, signifying, that if they would not be persuaded, and take the oath, he would have the country so strongly defended, by . quartering military in it, that they should then demean them- selves as peaceable subjects through fear, if they would not now do it for love. This alarmed them, and they also conformed with the other parishes. j On the 19th of January, 1798, the Rev. Michael Murphy, of the parish of Ballycanow, drew up his men, and marched them along to take the oath of allegiance, when Lord Moun t Norris administered the following : > ^^^ v ^, ^ i " I do hereby declare upon the Holy Evangelists, and as I it< wWP^ BISTORT OF THE REBELLION hope to be saved through the merits of my blessed Lord and Saviour Jbsds Christ, that I will be true and faithful to his Majesty King George the Third, and to the succession of his family to the throne ; that I will support and maintain the Constitution, as by law established ; that I am not a United Irishman, and that I never will take the United Irishmen's oath ; that I am bound by every obligation, human and divine, to give all information in my power to prevent tumult and disorder ; that I will neither aid nor assist the enemies of my king, or my country ; and that I will give up all sorts ot arms in my possession. All the above I voluntarily swear, so help me God and my Redeemer !" v : .- * y^/^ ; ■ ;^- , This oath was printed, and given to each person that was sworn, with a certificate attached to it, which ran thus : ' ^* The above oath was taken this 19th day of January, 1798, before me, by A. B., of Ballyoanow parish. 'f ; • *tI t'i'J,^ :«s4«e1 ' ly;.*- " Mount Norris." ,i .'^«i; Though the different parishes were how perfectly secure from, all suspicion, after taking such a binding oath, they continued busy in making every necessary preparation ; in appointing their captains, lieutenants, and sergeants ; in pro- curing and concealing fire-arms and ammunition.; in swearing IN TBS COUNTY OF WEXFORD. 27 such as were not already initiated among them ; in manufac- turing pikes, and planning their different appointments. Timber was constantly missed out of the gentlemen's nurseries ; and it was observed that the woods and shrubberies were gleaned, particularly of such as would answer for the purpose of making pike-bandies. This again alarmed thf loyal, as it was too notorious not to be observed ; and the country wore so serious an appearance, that on application of the magistrates to gov- ernment, eighteen parishes were declared to be in a state of insurrection, and a proclamation was issued by the Lord Lieu- tenant and Privy Council to that effect. "^ ' ^* ' In April, 1798, the Lord Lieutenant and Privy Council issued another proclamation, declaring the entire county to be under martial law. Several persons were apprehended in the neighbourhood of Arklow, Gorey, Blackwater, Enniscorthy, Wexford, Ross, Newtown-barry,&c., and committed to the county gaol, or detained in the different guard houses. The parishes again formed another cloak, to throw over their dark and deep designs, by making new professions of loyalty, and drawing up and signing addresses, which they forwarded and presented to the Lord Lieutenant; and so effectually did they succeed, by insinuating themselves into the good opinions of the government, that no military force was appointed to I! r i u 28 BISTORT OF THE REBELLION' keep the peace of the countj, bat what was already stationed in it, namely, part of the North Cork militia, and the countj yeomanry. f^ ' ; ^^ ; ' r, .* The following copy of the address from the parish of Bally- canow, will enable the reader to form some idea of the rest : ^* At a general meeting of the Roman Catholic inhabitants of the parish of Ballycanow, in the chapel of Bally canow, on Sunday the 1st of April, 1798, the following declarations of loyalty were unanimously agreed to, and ordered to be for- w;arded to his Excellency Earl Camden, Lord Lieutenant General and General Governor of L'eland : " May it please your Excellency : ^ . , *' We, the Roman Catholic inhabitants of the parish of Ballycanow, in the county of Wexford, this day assembled at the chapel of Ballycanow, holding in abhorrence the barbarous outrages lately committed, and seditious conspiracies now existing in this kingdom, by traitors and rebels, styling them- selves United Irishmen, think it incumbent on us, thus publicly to avow and declare our unalterable attachment and loyalty to our most revered and beloved Sovereign, King George the Third, and our determined resolution to support and maintain lus rights and our happy Constitution. And we do further pledge ourselves to co-operate with our Protestant brethren of IN THE COTTNTT OF WSXFORD. this kingdom, in opposing to the ^utmost of our power any foreign or domeatic enemy who may dare to invade his Majesty's dominions, or disturb the peace and tranquillity of this country.'* ^- i'^,ir'^i<^--ii ■■a/P-",'^^ ' :'-■ ,rf- ^■,.*AWf.:'^^M'■A ,: Tj " Resolved, that the above declaration be signed by our pastor, the Rev. Michael Murphy, and a few of the principal parishioners ; and that the same be sent to the Right Hon. Earl Mount Norris, with a request that his Lordship will transmit it to his Excellency the Lord Lieutenant. " Rev. Michael Murphy, " Coadjutor Priest, Michael Connors. Thomas O'Neil. Peter Hughes. John Beaghan. Anthony Roche. Michael Murphj. James Dealj, * "^ CUrko/thtday." "James Kenny. Patrick Fortune. John Murray. Patrick Roche. Thomas Kelly. Morgan Kavanagh. Thomas Reynolds. Py^f/I^ Lord Mount Norris having laid this declaration before the Lord Lieutenant, received the following answer : — ' J f.i- r I, ii 90 HIgTORT OF THX BXBILLIOIf "Dublin Cabtli, 16f A -4/)n7, 1798. " Mt Lobd, " I have the Lord Lieutennnt's commands to take the earliest oppor- tanity of acknowledging the receipt of the address which was presented to his Rzcellency, by your Lordship, flrom the Catholic inhabitants of the parish of Balljeanow. ' "His Excellency commands me to express to your Lordship the satisfaction with which h? has received their addres8,and his entire reli- ance on the loyalty and zeal manifested b;r the persons * who have sub- scribed it. . , ^ji*»4ii)?v^ii^;'4*tj^ ^' I have the honour to be, &c. " Castlsrbaoh." The following note from Lord Mount Norris to the Rev^ Michael Murphy, on sending him the answer to their address, proves how much his Lordship must have been deceived hj their declarations of loyalty : — ''^■•-'^*^^"' '''■■■-':'r '^>'-_/-*;> :■■:-■-■ - .-'•^-"■r- " Lord Mount Norris felt highly gratified by being employed to convey the address of the Oatholic inhabitants of Ballycanow to government, which was a striking test of their attachment to the Constitution, and which from his perfect knowledge of their sentiments, as well as from the proofagiven by their oath of allegiance, he is convinced they are as'anxious to support the Constitution as any other members of the communis :: should occasion require their aid, he means to call upon them, persuaded of their anxiety to preserve the public welfare. "Jpril 2Vh, 1798." * These very persons were more aotive than any in the pariah during the rebellion K-, nr TUB OOVRTT OV WIXVORD. 31 But notwithstanding tins Bolemnoath, and these apparently lojal resolutions, the Protestant part of the commimitj had still reason to fear. One circumstance, which rested very much upon their minds, and pat many of them upon their guard, I shall now relate. About this time a vast deal of red tape was bought from the different county shopkeepers, hut the quantity generally called for was not more than half a yard ; this was to be worn by the Roman Catholic children, botli male and female, round their necks. Had it been black, and con- fined only to females, it would not have been noticed, as black tape or ribbon was freqnently worn by the young girls; bnt so many persons purchasing this article, caused some to inquire for what use was all this red tape ? The reply to the question was, that a priest (more hdy than the rest) had dreamed that there was to be a great plague among all children under fifteen years old, belonging to their church ! The plague was, that their brains were to boil out at the back of their heads. Hs also dreamed that there was a charm to prevent this bloody plague, which was, to get some red tape, and bring it to the priest to sprinkle Holy wetter on it, and bless it, and the children were to wear it round their necks, till the month of May ; when they might take it off, as the disease would then have passed over. 82 J. ntSTORT or THl RCBlLLfON ^ This having transpired, priest Murphy was spoken to about it by a friend of mine, who was in habits of intimacy with him. Being asked, if he had dreamed such a thing, he declared he had not ; yet acknowledged that he had seen the children wear it, but that he knew not the reason, and said he would speak publicly against it from the altar on the fol- lowing Sabbath, which he certainly did. My friend replied he believed he might with propriety do so, as in his opinion the plague was in a measure allayed, the secret committee which sat in Bridgc^treet, Dublin, being lately taken up by order of government ; and he hoped that, with God's help, it would be a great means of doing it entirely away. It appeared further to him somewhat like a mark to know their own chil- dren by, as the blood of the Paschal Lamb was to the Israel- ites, when the angel of the Lord slew the first-bom of the Egyptians. I relate this to show that the Protestants were at this time beginning to be much alarmed, lest they should fal} a sacrifice to midnight assassination. /v< J .< ' During the month of May, several pikes were discovered ; it was also found that different smiths were employed in making more, insomuch that iron became prodigiously dear, OB account of its being bought up for this purpose. Several United Irishmen were apprehended, and lodged in the different m IN THX COUNTY Of WXZFOBD. 33 guard-houses; the yeomanry corps were or '''red upon per^ manent duty, and constantly patrolled the roads during the night. They were also, by order of the magistrates, under the disagreeable necessity of flogging several of the prisoners, to compel them to acknowledge where their murderous weapons were concealed. By this means, Uiough painful to humane men, many pikes were taken up through the country ; and many individuals who had been informed against, fled from their habitations. i h^t; siHti On Thursday, the 24th of May, Anthony Perry, a gentle- man of easy fortune, aiid late a lieutenant in the Coolgreny cavalry„waa arrested, and brought into Oorey. The c mntry now began to wear a threatening appearance, and the rebellion, which sat brooding in every comer of our peaceful cou itry, to rear its hideous head ; the gathering storm which was thickening over us, seemed ready to burst ^ound, and dispense • death in a thousand awful forms ! ^-^ **y:>r ^m Wh On Saturday the 26th, Beauchamp Bagnal Harvey, a gentle- man of large fortune and respectability in the county, Edward Fitzgerald of New-park, and John Colclough of Ballyteigue, were arrested by an order from government, and lo Iged in Wexford gaol; and now began that devastation which this county had never before experienced. The time arrived 34 HIBTORT OF TR1 MBKLLION when deitruction and aieamination laid the forsworn robe of deep hypocrisy aside, and stepped forth to quench the thirst of diabolical passions in the blood of Protestants ! .hiah , On the same night John Murphy, priest of Bolavogue, was the first that marched out to proclaim that ** the hour of liberty had arrived." He assembled his deluded flock, whom before he had often harangued in seditious discourses from the altar— and led them on to wreak their yengeance on all who opposed their disloyal proceedings against the king and Constitution. While they were assembling, Lieuteuaiit Bookey , of the Camolin cavalry, a man of great bravery and conduct, rode that way, with only seventeen or eighteen of hi« troop. Hearing the horses advance, the insurgents repaired inside of the road ditch, and lay in ambush : ibe lieutenant rode up, and called upon them to surrender their arms ; on which they fired on the cavalry ; it was instantly returned. A smart fire • was now kept up, with a continual shower of stones, one of which struck Lieutenant Bookey, and dismounted him, and in a short time he was miserably butchered : another of his men was shot ; and the remainder, finding it imposable to get through the hedge, and their officer slain, retreated to Ferns, leaving, as they afterwards heard, eight of the insurgents dead (HI the spot. -jj/i. .J. ■:•.".■, ;T^;J:=:■• '•».:! ' 'i^nihl^rU^'fjir IK Tni ootNTT ov wixro4i^ The robols now rejoiced in having put the cavalry to flighV and being spirited on by their holy commander, they rushed forward to Rockspring, the residence of lieutenant Bookey, whom they had murdered a few minutes before, with terrific bowlings, to gather the country people as they passed along. The house had been left in care of two Protestants^-^acob Ward and Samuel Hawkins,— ^and five Papists, the domestics of the late lieutenant Bookey. About one o*clock in the morning, the rebels approached, near 400 in number : three of the Papists stole away, two joined the enemy and left only the two Protestants, with four guns to defend the house. When the rebels advanced, they called out for the arms of the house ; the two Protestants told them they should have them) ' and immediately discharged the four guns, loading and firing as quick as possible. The assMlants now grew outrageous, surrounded the house, fired in at the windows, shouting and throwing stones, and afterwards burst open the door with a sledge ; but some were heard to say, *^ come away before more of us are killed." When they entered the house, they lighted candles, and assembled in the hall ; the two men above stairs ceased firing, and placed themselves on the stairs, to prevent their coming up. Priest Mnrphy ordered the men who held the candles to go up stall's, and see who were in the »,, 36 niBTOftr OP THI RIBlLLIOir f 1 i^ !i IB "I house ; they refused. He instantly drew his sword, and com* manded them to go up, declaring in case of refusal, ** he would cut their heads off." At this they ran up quickly ; when, on coming to the top, they were instantly shot, and tumbled down on their companions. The rebels now became desperate , went into the kitchen and set the house on fire, then surrounded it, being determined not to let Ward or his companion escape. Others set fire to some of the out-ofiices : but the two gallant Protestants continued their fire till they heard the floor under them crack, and presently give away to the devouring fiames, Ward and his companion just escaping to the upper story. When th J under-floor fell, the smoke and flames ascended with such violence, that those two brave men were almost scorched with the heat, and stifled with the columns of smoVe. In this situation they were not able to fire, but their spirits were unsub- dued, for Ward called to Hawkins to come to him that they might die together, rather than yield to such murderers. It was now near day, when a servant of Mr. Bookey*&, who had been sicky but found means to crawl out when the house was first set on fire, told the rebels that it was better for them to with- draw before the day appeared, as the many shots nwst have alarmed the yeomanry, who would be guided by the house on fire, and perhaps surprise them. Supposing that Ward and \ IN THB oorNTT OF WBxroin. 3T Hawkins were consumed, thej thought the counsel good, and immediately marched off to captain Comock's about half & mile distant, in search of arms. Wlien they were gone, the « servant called to the men thus wonderfully preserved to go through a window on the top of a stable adjoining the dwel- ling house, which was not on fire : thoy did so, and by the good providence of God escaped with their lives. The rebels now proceeded towards Oulard, shouting and whistling to gather the surrounding country ; while they robbed and burned all the Protestant houses in their way. In the morning (Whitsunday, 27th May) they attacked the house of the Rev. Robert Burrowes of Kyle, near Oulard, plundered it of arms, murdered him and five of his parishioners who had taken shelter in it, wounded his son , and consumed the dwelling- bouse. They were now ordered to assemble at Ballynamon- abeg, between Oulard and Wexford, where the country pre- sented a dismal appearance ; — the different corps of yeomanry burning the rebels houses on one side, while the rebels were consuming the dwellings of the Protestants on the other. They were pursued for some time by a few troops of cavalry ; via. the Gorey, commanded by the Earl of Courtown ; the Ballaghkeene, Captain White ; part of the Camolin, Xieutenant Smith ; the Castletown, Captain Knox, and the 38 HISTORY OF THB REBELLION ,^ if ^' I 1 I I ^ :i Coolgreny, Captain Beauman ; who came in sight of them at Balljnamonabeg, "mthin six miles of Wexford : they were then moving in two divisions, one commanded by priest Murphy, and the other by Edward Roche, of Garrylough, who had been permanent sergeant of the Shelmalier cavalry, and had that morning, with twenty out of twenty-four Papists who were in the troop, deserted to the rebels. Several thousand insurgents were now collected, and when they perceived the cavalry advancing, they opened to the right and left to receive them, and set up such a peal of shouting and yelling, as surpassed anything that can be ccmoeived. Captfum White, and the other officers^ seeing their great numbers, armed with fire-locks and pikes, while their own force did not exceed two hundred, judiciously resolved not to rush on their innumerable weapons, until they had obtained a further reinforcement. The different corps accordingly retreated to Gorey cm the same day. Another part of the Camolin cavalry, while /scouring the opposite side of the country, were joined by the Enniscorthy corps, Captain Richards ; the Healtbfield cavalry. Captain John Grogan ; together with the Scarawalsh infantry. Captain Comock ; and proceeding towards Lieut. Bookey's house, they saw him, and John Donovan,^-on© of his privates, — dead on the road, their bodies being mangled in a shocking manner: > r^^:^' , :%^ IN THI COUNTT Of WEXFOBD. 8f ;■ • i • in the pocket of the former were found seventy-five guineas in gold, a guinea bank-note, and his gold-watch, which, together with his body, were sent to his brother. Mr. Donovan's body was buried near where he fell. May the memory of these gallant men be dear to every lover of loyalty. On the same day about five hundred rebels assembled between Newtownbarry and Ferns, and attacked the house <^ Mr. Dawson, of Charles-fort, within, two miles of the latter place. Afler plundering the house, wounding Mr. Dawson, and murdering a Protestant named Willis, they proceeded to the house of the Rev. Francis Turner, of Ballingale, rector of Edeernunee, a gentleman of excellent character. He had but just baptized a child, when the rebels surrounded the house with their usual yells, and immediately set the out offices on fire. Mr. Turner, looking out at the window, enquired what they wanted ? on which they desired him to surrender hig arms : he refused to comply, and desired them to depart from his house. Persisting in their demand, he again replied that he would never- surrender his arms but with his life, on which they fired through all the windows. Six or seven Protestant*, who had fled to Mr. Turner's house for safety, now determined to defend themselves to the last, and for a considerable time they made a most gallant resistance by incessantly firing out ^^ y,: >«' t BISTORT OF THE REBELLION upon the rebels, who, now exasperated to the most extravagant fury, roared like beasts of prey. At length, Matthew Bulger, James Meagher, Denis Carty, and another noted yillian, with the greatest deliberation, waited till Mr. Turner came to the window to discharge his piece : the four levelled together and blew off the side of his face. The other persons within, seeing him fall, ceased firing, and in the excess of their grief, neglected to defend themselves further. At this time Michael Keough, Mr. Turner's own proctor, a man that had always received from the family the most distinguished marks of real esteem, and was raised by them from poverty to a comfortable living, burst through the back window, and being followed by two others, set the study on fire ; while those without cut down the hall door, forced an entrance, and rushed up stairs, whore they found the unfortunate gentleman senseleas, and covered with blood : they treated him with the most savage brutality, left him mangled to pieces, murdered nine of his Protestant neighbours, — two of whom were the sponsors, and one the father of the infant just baptized, — and then set fire to the house. The body of Mr. Turner was consumed, and nothing of him was found afterwards but his bones. His family, and the children of his brother, counsellor Turner, through the interposition of Providence, escaped. \. ^^ . ^;;^^ v4^ •i . * IN THE COTNTT OF WEXFORD. 41 Exulting in their sanguinary sucqpss, the rebels now plun- dered and burned all the Protestant dwellings round the country, and took post on Sleugh-boy hills, where the Camew yeomanry, under the command of Captain Wainright, and Lieutenant Bookey, brother to the brave officer who was the first victim of the rebellion in this county, attacked and dis- persed them ; but re-assembling afterwards, they joined the main body the same night, near Corragrewa-hill. ' All the Protestants of the county now fled to those towns in whicli military were stationed, as Ross, Wexford, Ennis- corthy, Gorey, &c. ; anguish and terror being painted on every loyal face. Gorey alone contained two thousand souls, wh6 had left all their property, and taken shelter there besides the inhabitants of the town. The streets were thronged with soldiers and yeomanry, the houses with loyalists ; and fire-locks were pointed from the windows, as every moment an attack was expected, while the trumpets were sounding and the drums beating to anns every half hour : they also sent to Arklow for a reinforcement, which arrived in the evening of Whitsunday. ■"■ ' '•■'' i-^^^c-iv-^;- >»:-*-t ■> After the yeomanry had retreated to Gorey, the rebels in Ballynamonabeg began their murders ; and among their victims was Samuel Maud, a fine old«man, who had attained the great Mi' ,•_. \.-ii;..,.*.l..l w^ HISTORY OF THE REBELLION -*- age of ninoty-six. Theyj)iked him in the throat and various parts of the body until he expired. n , ' The devastation committed through the country, and the . near vicinity of the rebels, who were stationed on the hill of ,;' Oulard, now filled the town of Wexford with indescribable > consternation ; it was therefore resolved Jbo send out a detach- ment of the military to reconnoitre, and disperse them, with the vain hope that as formerly twenty disciplined men would put hundreds to flight ; but now they were sworn and headed by tilieir priests, who were determined to fight hard. The detacb- ment consisted of Lieutenant Colonel Foote, with Major I^ombard, Captain Decourcy (brother to Lord Kinsale), Lieutenant Barry, Lieutenant D. Williams, Lieutenant Ware, m ensign, and one hundred and thirty men of the North Cork militia, with the yeomen cavalry of Colonel lie Hunte. ^^ When the rebels perceived the approach of the army, they lay in ambush in the ditches. The troops advanced to engage the body on the side of the hill, not suspecting an ambuscade ; but after firing a few rounds, they incautiously charged them, when they were instantly surrounded by the whole rebel force and out to pieces ; the Lieutenant Colonel and two privates only . escaping. How shall I attempt to describe the situation of W^exford, when the news arfive » 46 WrBfoRY OF Tl!« RCBflLLtoy driving before them droves of cattle to annoy the Army. They vrere received by a heavy discharge of musketry from the military and loyalists, who Were formed on the left of the yeoinen; and after a few well directed vollies, the rebels feigned to give away, and crossed the Slaney (which runs through the centre of the town to Wexford) above the bridge : this caused Captain Snowe to draw his men to the bridge to stop that pass,— -thus the yeomen were forced to retreat from where the action commenced, with the loss of thirty horse and foot killed and wounded, and about ten loyalists. "« j*^ The rebels, flushed with the preceding day's victory, foU lowed up the attack in an unpre(;edented and savage manner^ surrounding the town, and setting it on fire ; many of the rebel inhabitants applying the torch to their own houses. The place being now in flames in every quarter, the disaffected took advantage of the smoke, and flred on the army and yeomen from the lanes and comers of the streets. The 8itttar> tion of the royal troops now became so perilous that they could make no farther resistance; and after sustaining a loss of ninety men^ including Oaptam Pounden, they fled with many of the inhabitants through the flames to Wexford, in the greatest disorder, leaving (after an action of three hours) three hun- dred and fifty of the rebels dead.— >Now parents parted theii' f. '» tN TUB COtTNTT OF WSXroRD. ^^^k children, and children their parents ; husbaiidn their wives, . and wives their husbands, never to meet more ; for manj of the yeomen and Ic;'. .iists who were wounded would probablj have recovered, but that they were murdered by the merciless pike-men ; many more, whom the tender ties of nature cause to cling to thetir wives and children, hoped for mercy from some of their neighbours ; but alas ! there was no such thing ! no mercy for any man who bore the name of Protestant^ from the age of fifteen and upwards ! and some even under that age were put to death! The Rev. Samuel Haydon, rector of Ferns, a very old man, was murdered, and thrown out to be devoured by swine ; Richard Whealy, a lock-smith, near one hundred years old, also fell a victim to their cruelty. The massacre becaiAe general as soon as they got possession of the town : some were immolated in the act of giving them freely of their own Uquor ; as an instance, Edward Slye was shot by his neighbour, William Lee, while handing him a quart of beer : many were torn out of the arms of their wives, and murdered before them in the most barbarous manner, nor were those women even permitted to bury their slaughtered husbands ! " Smoke and flames, blood and slaughter, shouting and blas- phemy, now triumphed in the desolation of ^s unfortunate '% V • Mil RIBTOBT OF TnS REBELLION * Terrible was the alarm in Wexford when the unhappy fugitives arrived with the dismal tidings* An immediate attack on the town being looked for, every exertion was made for its defence : barriers of wood and stone were erected in all the leading passes; regular cavalry picquets patrolled the roads for two or three miles ; and all the ioyalista volun^ teered to defend it. They were stationed at the different barriers, with the Wexford infantry, Captain Jacob ; the Shelmalier infantry, Captain the Right lion. George Ogle, together with the remains of the North Cork militia. On this night the portcullis of Ferry Carrig-bridge was rendered impassable. .,-., t .v^j^-ur^i ■:rUs^6<;ii .;, t}j,:.v r v Messrs. Fitzgerald and Colclough were taken out of the gaol, and dispatched to Enniscorthy, to dissuade the rebels from their proceeding?, and to preserve the lives of the Protestants. Nothing could exceed the joy of the insurgents on their arrival, and Fitzgerald was styled by them Lord Edward Fitzgerald. Colclough, finding his persuasions ineffec- tual, retired with the intention of re-entering his prison ; but Fitzgerald accepted a command in the rebel army. Father John Murphy now marshalled his men, and led them up to Vinegar-hill, which rises in the form of & cone, and commands the town. Here displaying the rebel standard, he celebrated •„* in THI COUNTT OF WXXFORD. 49 mass ; exhorting his audience to a stead j lojalt^r, as the glorious epoch had arrived, to retrieve their ancient rights and freedom, and shake oflf the intolerable yoke of heresy and heretical government, under which they had groaned so long. The same evening he formed their camp on this hill, and ap- pointed himself, Fitzgerald and £dward Roche of Garryloughy the principal commanders. "' ' ir^^in- " ' «'* On Tuesday night, 29th May, they marched to the Three Rocks, within three miles of Woxford, on th& Taghmon road, Murphy carrying a large crucifix before him on the saddle. During this day various preparations had been made to oppose them, and a detachment of two hundred of the Donegal militia having arrived from New Geneva, under the command of Colonel Maxwell, for the present revived the drooping spirits of the poor loyalists : they strengthened the barriers, and planted their cannon in the most eligible manner. They also pulled down all the thatched houses, to prevent the disaffected party from follow* ing the example of their associates at Enniscorthy : and thus considering themselves perfectly secure, they waited the arrival of the enemy. ufH-J iJ 'v- firtfti ^^(ii»*m'> -^di 4Hi«i!?s.« <^:.)jiA'v?i« Early on Wednesday morning, the 80th of May, the picquet brought intelligence of the rebels being on the Three Rocks, and an account of General Fawcet, with the ISth regiment, f» Bnf OVT Of TBI BlBILLroir bting on bii mkrtlt from Waterf^rd ; fekif wat oonforlable, at llie •Minj WM 10 Mftr; b«l the 18th, which waa ontj i^ gkaletonof loM than a hundred men, lately retunied from the West IndSet, halted at Taghmoo, with General Faweet, whil» a detachment of the Royal Meath militia wan sent to the relief •f Wexford. To their great surprise, howoTer, they discovered that the enemy had intercepted their march by their position on the Three Rooks ; yet they were determined not to retreat tiU they had pvored their strength. IVy boldly marched on to engage tbem^ with three hewittBers, bat so treBendoos a fire opened upon them from the rebels, as the party eould neither withstand nor return, the rebels being abore twenty thousand, and the detachment but ninetyHNX men. The insurgenta then pouted down the rooks like a torrentyand seized the howitzers ; tlte few remaining soldiers made a preei|ntate retreat to Tag)h mon, with the loss of about twenty taken prisoners, and fifty lolled ; and fromi thence GencnlFawoet retired to Punoannoii if The garrison of Wexford, deeming it more advisable* to advance against the enemy, than to let them approach the town ; the Donegal militia, commanded by Colonel Maxwell, with tihree troops of yeomen eavslxy, commanc^'Ml by Colonel WatsoDya faiare old veteisn, manshed te the J^htee Bocki^ n TOi cvHJim 01* wBXMitK U not knoinng what had befUlen tha Royal Meath. The j foon forroed, and began the attack, hot to their aBlodahineiit, it was returned with a heavj diachvge of mutketry, and of the bowitsere which had been taken a Httle before. Knowing now that it would be bvt n waste of Mood to eontinne the engage- inent, both tnm the nindber of the enenj and their adran* tageous situntion, thej retreated in good order, withont any loss, save ene privnte, and the bmve Cehniel Wateon, whe unfortunately fell in the action. •- ^ t When the troops returned to Wexford, ■ ■ sir./n:■> Thus divided, the rebel army mored 4^ the Three Books at the same time for th^ d^Eerent stationa-^confident of ▼iotory from ilieir great numbers and ibrmer success. Harvey marched to Ta^^mum, and was greatly reinforced from that quarter ; he then formed hsa camp on €arrigbum, which was appointed head-quarters. The body under Doyle, Redmond, priest Redmond, and Keama, marched to Yinegar^iEj huiH * 1%» pailsk piftnUi did not in geMsal Attend the ouapt on duty, only en pleMore, bat UuBjr ionl their eumtes. i v' V '/tv .^^tj. .^j.;;^ i vi*'' 1/ \ ! nr TBM OOUMTT , amounting te v|. ar twenty-four thousand men^ after which many prayers were offered for their success. iy>out half their Ibiee ikem marched to Newtownbarry, situated on the horders' of the counties of Carlo w and Weacford. This place is beautifiil both' by art and nature ; it lies in a valley, watered ion one ude by the river Slaney, which rises out of the mountains near the Seren Churches, in the county of WioUow, and taking a southerly course, after passing through the towns of Baiting* glass, Ravilly, lullow, Newtownbarry^ and Enniscorthy, is lost in the sea a short distance below Wexford. The town is partly surrounded by hills, which command a most delightful view of the a^acent country ; and the ficje demesne of ' » '. \ BISTORT or THE REBELLION Lord Farnham^ (then John Maxw^l Barry, Esq.) colonel of the Oavan militia, heightens the beanty of the charming scene, 4rhich possesses every vjtriety of hill and vale, wood and water. The mi^' \^ry at Newtownbarry had been under severe and constaiit duty since the surrender of Enniscorthy and Wexford. Their strength was small indeed to cope with so numerous and powerful an adversary, being only two hundred and thirty of the King's Co. militia, with two battalion guns, commanded by Colonel L'Estrange ; eighty yeomen infantry, including thirty volunteers ; sixty Newtownbarry cavalry. Captain Kerr ; twenty of the 4th dragoons, and the Carlow cavalry, C&ptain 'Cornwall; to oppose a body of ten thousand men, hitherto victorious in every action. .ii'j^'io*?^ ^fi* » 'J hwivti-^. vi\irt -About twelve o'clock, a picquet, which was reconnoitering under Captain Kerr, brought intelligence that the rebels were approaching the town in two columns, on each side of the clliherjr. The army and yeomen were immediately drawn up in a strong position to receive them, and were determined on Belling the victory as dearly as possible. The rebels, having taken their station on a hill which coF>manded the town, began to fire with a brass six-pounder, a howitzer, and some ship swivels, but without doing the least injury. Perceiving this, they made a rapid descent from the Slate-quarry and IW THl COUNTY OF WEXFORD. 67 the hills adjoining, confident that the town would soon be their own. Colonel L'Estrange, without returning the fire, fell hack about a mile up the road leading to Carlow, ordering the cavalry to cover his retreat ; upon which the rebels entered the town, set the suburbs on fire, plundered the baggage of the army, burst open the cellars, and drank spirits in such abundance, that, becoming intoxicated, they ranged through the streets, shouting and yelling in the greatest disorder ; and this confusion was much increased by the loyalists firing from several of the houses, f«gainst which the enemy soon bent all their fury. The yeomen, who may be called the military saviours of their country, and the bulwark of the Irish nation, now entreated Colonel L'Estrange to return and attack them with his cannon, alleging that, as they were quite intoxicated, void of order, and unsuspicious of danger, they would soon be overpowered. The colonel complied with their earnest solici- tations, and, returning instantly to the town, gave them some discharges of his cannon and musketry before they could form. This threw them into the greatest confusion, which was soon increased by a fierce attack in all directions, heaf'ed by the gallant Captain Kerr, and the brave Major Marlay, who volunteered with the King's County militia. The rebels now fled in all directions, and the royal troops charged them BOTOMX or TBI ElBKLUOV jup the hills aearlj four milea, and put manj of them to th« sword. The slaughter would have heea greater, had the fugitives not scattered so much in their fl^ht ; however, thej lost near two hundred and fifty, without any loas on the king's side, save one man killed, and one of the Cark>w cavaliy wounded. Two carJoads of oaoisteiHshot were taken, with « Bumber of guns, {ukes, &c. ^, The praise of this victory is due to the yeomanry, who refused to retreat to Carlow. It proved of the utmost impor- ttance to the kingdom, as it prevented a junction with the Carlow and Kildare rebels, who were expecting to join them on the following day, and then to revenge thehr late defeat in Carlow; for had they gained Newtownbarry, the whole of the counties of Carlow and Kildare would have been in the pos- session of the rebels, who could then penetrate with an overwhelming force into the interior of the King and Queen's counties. The retreat of the troops from the town occasioned the loss of some property, but it gave the army an opportunity of surprising the plunderers, and throwing them into coit- fusion ; and the conduct of both officers and men, on this memorable day, was truly meritorious. The rebels, on their retreat to Vinegar-hiU, burnt many houses belonging to Pro- .testants. : y-'-v j^ -'fkm Sjr, IV TBS OOUNTT OV WIZTOBD. 59 Priest Murphy ^ Ballyoanow, Aocording to appointiiMnty led his divimoB through Oulard ; and, after filling the countrj with clouds of sm^e, arrived at Ballycanow on the Ist of June, where lie celebrated man, and intended to remain there that day, — encamp on Ballemenane-hill that di^, and begin the attack on Gorey, as before determined. Captain Elliot was still in Oorey with his handful of men, expecting reinforcements from Dublin, but none had yet arrived. A pioquet having been out reconnoitering, brought mtelligenoe that the rebds were in posseanon of Ballycanow, and that this body seemed destined for Oorey ; on which the drums beat to arms, the trumpets sounded, and seventy-two iu&ntry, commanded by Captain EUiot, with the BaUa^hkeen cavalry. Captain IWte; the Camolin cavalry. Lieutenant Smith ; and the Gorey cavalry, Lieutenant Woodroofe, marched out to meet the enemy. As the rebel scouts descried the troq)8 descending the Ballymenane-hill, they formed in a field outside the town, ten deep, several hiding behind the ditches, to fire on the army as they passed. Advancing about a mile, the rebels afterwards formed on the road, and opened a heavy fire cf musketry ; but it was returned with such eflfect, that numbers of them fell. An incessant fire was now kept up for almost an hour, when at length the rebels began 60 HI8T0RT or THK REBELLIOIT to be dismayed at seeing so many of their men being brought down ; and perceiving the troops still approaching in slow and regular order, they broke and fled, the cavalry charging and cutting them down in every direction. About one hun- dred and fifty of the insurgents were killed in this action ; and several of the wounded lay in the com fields, ditches and meadows, being unable to go further, till they expired. This gallant little army now entered Ballycanow, where they de- stroyed and burned many houses belonging to rebels : after which they returned into Gorey, with above one hundred horses taken from the enemy, some guns, pikes, and two green flags, without the loss of a man. Thus were the rebels defeated in two actions on this day, and it prevented the assault of the town on the next, as was intended. r ';ii?5ft5^> When Perry heard of priest Murphy's defeat, he was de- termined to force Gorey, knowing if he could effect this, it would open a communication with the county of Wicklow rebels. He accordingly sent an express to Vinegar-hill and Wexford, fot a reinforcement, as he thought it advisable for the two camps to form a junction, and their united forces to operate against Gorey. Priests Keams and Redmond adopted the plan, and twelve thousand men were instantly sent to Corragrewa-hill, where Perry himself had near eight thousand. IN THE OOirifTT OF WIXFOBD. # Though they were now a formidable body, messengers were sent through the country, desiring every person to re[>air to the camp. On the following day (Sunday, the 8rd of June), all the people between Gorragrewa and Wexford arrived, and along with them part of the Shelmalier cavalry, well mounted, who L5id deserted with Edward Roche, their permanent ser* geant, on thQ Sunday before. * '^'t^^ ii^ -*• ■ - ^u ^^ . On the same day. General Loftus arrived in Gorey with a considerable force, consisting of the Dumbarton fencibles, Londonderry and Armagh militia, tiie Tyrone and Suffolk light companies, a detachment of the Antrim militia, part of ^ the Ancient Britons fencible cavalry, with their commander, Sir Watkin Wynne, and the Arklow yeomen cavalry and infantry. Thus grea£ preparations wt^re made for the next morning. " ' '""'^ ^i;^i ' On Monday trie priests celebrated mass on the hill, and made their dispositions to march against Gorey, not knowing that a reinforcement had arrived. They distributed ball- cartridges in abundance, and then proceeded to the attack. The military were drawn up in the street very early in the morning, and about ten o'clock were marched out of town in two diviuons, to surround the hill ; as not having a reconnoi- tering party out, they did not know that the rebels were ■ifiTOty (MT Tn MllttLtOlf eoiiiing that way to imoi tbem* General Loflus kepil to th« left, with one thouMnd foot, two bftttalion-gnns, and some carps of yeomen oatalry, to encompaM the hill on one side ; while Colonel Walpole, taming to the right, marched through Clongh, wHh two hundred toot, three gmie, the Ancient Britons, and a few corps of yeoman catalry, to snntmnd it on the other. Thus divided, the army marched without an advanced guard ; which, in oases of thia kind, should not be neglected, as it prevents the troopA being surprised by the •neray till they are in readinesa to receive them, as tike event of this day wffi fuHy prove. The rebel scouts, on perceiving Colonel Walpolels ^vision, galloped back with the intelK*> • gence. Prieflt John Murphy, who was commander^n-chief, bstantly ordered a halt, and, placing all the gun'Mnen inside of l|tt ditches, he drew up his cannon in the centre of the roaigpBBg the arrival of his opponents, and confident of snccesB firoia his numbera, which exceeded twenty thousand. The army stiH advanced, apprehending no dangef ; but nothing coold equal their astomsbment, when the rebels started up around them, on each mde of the road, and opened Or most tremendous fireof musketry under eover of the ^Btchea. When liiollKslaon began, Edward F¥fcitgerald wa» a mSe behind ; he instantiy turned lus horse to the dhcb^ kaped iir TIB eotfntr or wixvom. 99 iitio tho fiekb, Mid rod* to the front of the action, procNuniii; M ho passed along, ** Now my boys, snrrouiid them, sarround them !" The loldiers fongfat ^lUuitly, and with their grape» diot killed above one hundred of the enemy m the fields ; h«t Colonel Walpole, early m the action, received a ball in the thigh, and in a moment anotiier through the head, by which means this br»ve soldier fell a victim to his own rashness. The troops, on soeimg the fall of tbehr com- mander, while the rebels woro surrounding them, now foo^t retreating into Gorey, leaving behind their cannon, the horses of which were killed ; but with difficulty they got off their baggage and ammunition carts. From thence they retreated without delay to Arklow, followed by numbers of men, women and children ; and on the same evening the rebels entered the town, and took their station o% GoreyMl. General Loftna had marched about two iOTi|: when be heard the firings He was accompamed by some yeomo a who knew the country ; and l^y informed him they thou^t by the firing that the army was retreating into Gbrey ; but he having no doubt that Cofenel Walpole woidd defeat the rebels^ proceeded ob his route' to intercept ^ehr retreat. Marching through Balfycaaow, and taking a civeuit of nine laies round to Gorey again, hefoond tho army had retreated ; 't I 64 HUTOBT Of THE BBBILLION and, arriviDg on the scene of action, he discovered what before he could not believe, the army defeated, and found the body of Colonel Walpole stripped to his shirt and flannel waistcoat, and about thirty of the soldiers mangled with pikes. None of the rebels who were killed were lying there, they being remarkable for carrying away the dead and wounded, lest the army should know how many were slain. Here General Loflus ordered many horses to bo shot, that were in the fields, lest the rebels should get them again. When he came in view of the enemy on Gorey-hill, he halted ; but finding them too numerous for his weak force, he marched to Gamew, and from thence to HacketVtown, in the county pfCarlow. .iiLWKi^ ii*,■»«««»■ , f* i" DetMhmentf of the 5th and 9th Dragooiu, eomniimded by Captain Irrine. «v»- Ji >-vf > r. «»i J^d-Lothian Fencible Oayalij, Lientenant-Oolonel Sir Jamei Fowlii. \^ U- Ur VHl OeUMTT Of WB^VOftD. 47 u. % Detachment of the British Hone ArUllery, Oaptaia Bloomfield. Detachment i>f Irish Flying Artillery, Oaptidn Thomhill. Tonrth Flank Battalion, Lieatonant-Colonel Stawart, of the 89th regiment. Detachments of the Royal Heath, Glare, and Donegal regiments of Mttitia. Dublin County Militia, Lord Monn^oy. Ross Teomen Caralry and Infontry, besides some small parties, bo- longing to country corps. K ajor General Johnson, Commander-in-Chief. Kajor General Eustace, second in command. The whole foree :** amounted to about fourteen hundred met. ^ New Robs is a considerable town on the eastern bank of a •large river bearing its own name, which is here very deep, and over which an elegant wooden bridge, 780 fe^ long, and 40 broad, was erected in the year 1795, by Cox, the Ame- rican architect. The town lies at the bottom of a very iMM^p hill, down which most of the roads into it are carried ; ft is not fortified — ^but there are some remains of an old wall which formerly surrounded it, now m a very ruinous state. > In the evening, the army picquet saw the rebels approach- ing, and takingf)ossessionof Corbet-hill : the Utter gave three cheers and discharged a field-piece at the picquet ; but as ihere were evening guns fired^ no i|otic$ was taken of it. The 68 mnovtf 09 fm bsbillion whole garrison was drawn up on the quay, at {fie etemng parade, when an express arrived to General Johnson from the officer of the guard, that the rehels were approachmg the town in great force. The whole brigade immediately marched off to meet them ; but thinking it rather late to commence an attack, the army was posted at l^e different passes, and a strong^ guard being placed to watch the motions of the enemy, they stood mider arms at their different stations, observing a pro- found silence. In the morning, the rebel general Harvey held a council of war, when it was resolved to summon the town, expecting that it would surrender as Wexford had done, and so become an easy conquest. The following summons was aooordin^y despatched to Major General Johnson : « - -^ u ««, * "M'. ^v» t ** Ab a friend to hnmanltj, I request jou will surrender the town or it&tr Rom to the Wexford fbrees, now assembled against it ; jom resistance will but proToke n^rfne and plunder to the rain Qt the Inno- cent. Flushed with viotoiy, the Wexford forces, now insurmonntableand irresistible, will not Ih controlled if they meet with resistuice. To pre- vent the total roin of all property in the town, I urge yon to a speedy •Urrendei^— a tnrrender which yon will be forced to in a few hours, witb lOM and bloodshed, as you are surrounded on all sides. Tour answer i» i-f- H if. IK THS OOUNTT Of WlZTOWu «9 required in a few hoars. Oitiaen Farlong eomei with tUs letter, and will bring the answer. z,,.^f Ki 'itis^ft^^i ■ «» I am Sir, Ac, itt. '- tt^^^ *" B. B. Habtvt, H. O. I .:h *' Camp, Corbet^iUf half pott 3 (feloek^ " Tiutday, 5tk June, 1798." When Furlong advanced to the guard with his flag of traoe, he was shot, his pockets xifled, and the summons found and forwarded. The rebels spent the night firmg cannon and musketiy, and now and then huzzaing, to keep up their •courage, and anunate each other. The small garrison of Boss was, on the other hand, much harassed and dispirited ; the situation of the Dublin County militia was peculiarly distress- ing^ as they were nearly worn down by hard mairohing, en- feebled with hunger and thirst, and without time or means to refresh themselves, they had to mtffch to oppose a cru^ ^;;.«nemy.|^^^ _^ggjjip,^?jl^^^ ,^^^^^ . - ^ Soon after Furlong was killed, the royal advanced guard >crept under cover of the cUtches to take a view of the rebel camp. They perceived that their appearance was n-^tdt disorderly ; some were walking about, some singing song^ ^and others talking, all apparently in a state of intoxication. When they had in some measure satisfied their curiosity, fvur ■ \ IRBTOBr OV THl BIBILUOlf an tineiq)ected volley, as caused them to start up and look about, but they could see no person. Hundreds of the rebels then fired m every direction, but knew not at what, the sol> diers having crept back unperceived. A messenger was instantly despatched to Harvey with information, that the army was surrounding the«ii ; that some of their men were killed, and others dying of the wounds which they had just received. The rebel chief now ordered them to pour forth, on all sides like a torrent; and they were near intercepting a party of the Mid-Lothian cavalry, (which had been out recon- noitering) iff their retreat to the town. '-' --(&* ^ ^ *^«is^ About five in the morning of the 5th of June, the attack commenced, when the picquets and out-posts were driven into town, keeping up a very smart fire on the enemy. I shall here insert an account of the battle, which was delivered to me by a person who was an eye-witness, and on whose- veracity I can with confidence depend : ^ . . f« " The rebels advanced, driving before them all the black Cattle they^ could collect through the country, to disorder our ranks ; which was in some measure prevented, by a few dis- charges of grape-shot. The action was commenced by tbe' 4th flank battalion; indeed such a close well-directed fire i never before saw. I was an idle spectator for upwards of W I Iir TBI OOUNTT or WIZTORD. n two hours and a half. At near seven o'clock, the army began to retreat in all directions. I had the honour to com- mand a nx-pounder field-piece. The rebels pouring in like a flood, artillery was called for, and human blood began to flow down the street. Though hundreds were blown to pieces by ' our grape-shot, yet thousands behind them, bemg intoxicated firom drinking during the night, and void of fear, rushed upon us. The cavahy were now ordered to make a charge through them, ^hen a terrible carnage ensued : they were cut down like grass ; but the pikemen being called to the •front, and our swords being too short to reach them, obliged the horse to retreat, wluch put us in some confusion. We kept up the action, till about half past eight ; and it was main-^ tained mth. such obstmacj on both sides, that it was doubt- ful who would keep the field. They then began to bum and destroy th3 town — it was on fire in many places in about fif- teen minutes. By this time the insurgents advanced as far as the main-guard, where there was a most bloody con^ct ; but with the assistance of two ship-guns placed in the street, we killed a great number of them, and beat them back for some time. The Dublin County regiment, headed by their colonel. Lord Mo^ntjoy;* now mvie another attac^. on the * This nobleman, when Luke Gardiner, Esq., was the first person who n \ i BIBTOaT or TBI BBBBLUON x&belfl, and the action b<;>ng reviTed in all quarten of the town with double fary, niany heroes fell, and among them the faraye Mountjoy : this so eaasperated hit rej^meiit, %ki,t they fought like furies, aad now indeed was ihe ^oet^.^ truly bloody. Our forces for the third time being oven: owere/'. bj the weight of such a bodj pouring down <\pon vt% we re- treated beyond the bridge, when General Joimson came gaiio)^g up, crying, " Soldiers, I will lay my boLas this day hi Eoss, will you let mo lie alone ?"^. ^ ^t ^- vrfr ■ «t»i; " Major Vcagey, of the Dublin County, the next in com- mand to Lord Mounlj'W, again led his men over the bridge^ exhorting them to rt?engc for th^ loss of their colonel. The whole brigade (except some who fled to Waterford) being led en by General Johnson, — ^as brave a commander as ever drew sword — ^werc determined to retake the town, to conquer or to die. Again we opened a tremendous fire on the rebels, which was as fiercely returned. We retook the cannon which had been captured from the king's forces in a former engage- ment, and turned thei;n on jihe enemy. The gun I had t^e introduced a bill into the Irish house of Commons for a repeal o^ the T- ui^rjr Code, and unfortunately felt the bitter eflfocts and inefficiency of his own system of conciliation. — Duigencmfi Pamphlet. ( » . A/ -1 ".» '• I ^ **)•* ^.i ;/ XM TBI OOVMTT Or W3XT0BD. 73 lionour to command being called to the mainrguard, shocking was it to see the dreadful carnage that was there ; it con- tmued for half an hour obstinate and bloody : the thundering of cannon shook the town, the very windows were shivered in pieces with the dreadful concussion. I believe six hun- dred rebels lay dead in the main-street ; they would often vcome withm a few yards of the guns. One fellow ran up, and taking off his hat and wig, thrust them up the cannon's mouth tiie length of his arm, calling to the rest, '^ blood-an ounds, my boys, come take her now, she's stopt, she's stopt." The action was doubtful and bloody from four in the morning to four in the evening, when they began to give way in all quarters, and shortly after fled in every direction ; leaving behind them all their cannon, baggage, provisions, and seve- ral hogsheads of wine, whiskey, brandy, &c., which we spilled, lest they should have been poisoned. It was past five before we finally routed them. The computation of their dead was, US near as I can furnish you — ju= t^- -^-^ . , , ;» » u Three thousand four hundred buried, iff^ >i)K>fe7 ml Sixty-two cart-loads thrown into the river. ,-.; tf^.o Sixty cart-loads taken away by the rebels. J " ,; <^ Some of them have since acknowledged, that those cars were brought to carry away the plunder of the town. In their i V HI8T0RT or TBI UBILLIOM flight, sevenl dead bodies were thrown into the honsei whiob were on fire, and oonaomed, so that it is almost impossible to ascertain their numbers: but from every aoconnt that I could learn, seven thousand rebels* lost their lives on this day ! I know soldiers that fired one hundred and twenty rounds of ball, ard I fired twenty-one rounds of cannistershot with ik4 field-piece I commanded." During the action. General Johnson was still in the hottest part of the fire — ^he had three horses shot under him ; if he saw any of the men too forward, he would ride up and s%y,. " brother soldiers, stay till v e aii go together." He would encourage those that were oeh'ad. Jeing once in a hot fire, one of the soldiers called to him to remove out of that, or he would be slain ; he waved his hand and replied, *^ That ball was never made by a rebel, that is to kill General Johnson.'^ Mr. Michael M'Cormick, an inhabitant of New Ross, fought gallantly on this memorable day, having on his head ^ brazen helmet. He was formely a quarter-master in the 5th Dra- goons ; his valour could not be exceeded — he rallied the men over and over during the engagement. Wherever a soldier * Some imagiae the oumbers slain did not araoant to more than two hundred, ezcluBlre of numbers wiio crawled awajr from the battle, and afterwards died of their wounds. > m TBI oovNTT or ^nnXFORD. 75 attempted to shelter himself from the heavy fire of the enemj^ he would sorelj find him out, and drive him into the action again — ^he was everywhere, and his conduct was truly praise worthy. Before the battle began, all the inhabitants fled over the bridge, into the county of Kilkenny, except Mr. M'Oormick's wife, who staid in town, and was employed during the whole battle mixing wine and water for the sol- diers ; which must have proved truly grateful to men debili- tated in the extreme, not only by hard fighting, but also from the heat of the day, and of the burning houses by which they were surrounded. MTUUI OV TBI KILLID, WOUMDID, AMD MIBIIHO Of THB TIOOPB, IHaAQUK AT ROtW, 0» TBI FIFTH OF JUKI, 1798. u'i- 'him ■ ,»-w^*,j, ^ OFFIOUd KUIBD. Colonel Lord Mountjoy, Dublin County Militia ; Cornet Ladwell, Rth Dragoons. WOUNDBD. Major Yandeleur, Clare Militia. H,4iG,^i* f^n\-^±t^^ 'i«*'.'^?tri;5j(3i W' ' Captain Sinclair, Donegal Militia. .^a^^^^f^ lOBBniO. Captain Warbnrton and Lie t. Flinter, Qneen'B Connty kUitia. Lieutenant Harford Kilkenny Militia. Lf^utenantB Blake and Butler, 89th, attached to Light Battalion. N.B. Quarter-master Ha/ Mid-Lothian, killed. ■fiz: '. \\ I .mJ^ 1 i ti HIBTOET or THB BIBUXIOM vov-oo tMnmoraD omong avd nrrkvu. .i/,n fifth Dragooni.— 1 Mrgeant, 26 nok and filt, 26 hones, killed ; 1 rank and flle wounded ; one Mii^'tant, 3 rank and file, 2 horses missing. ITfnth Dragoons.— 4 i-ank auc lie, S horses, killed ; 1 trumpeter, 4 rank and file, wor adnd. Hid-Lothian.-^ rank and file, 8 horses killed ; t rank and file, 1 horse, wounded; 1 horse missing. ^^f^^r ,;, -.i vmul 'Ross Cavalry.—! rank and file wonnded. British Hcrse Artillery.— 1 rank and file, 6 horses, killed; 2 rank and file, It horses, wounded ; 1 rank and file, 1 horse, missing. Irish nying Artillery.— 1 rank and file, 11 horses, killed; 2 rah 5le wounded ; 12 rank and file missing. -.i,t^jjji.i.ifm^st-im ,,T*f r? ik and Fourth Hank Battalion, ,.' .North Mayo.— 2 rank and file wounded ; I sergeant, 1 rank and file mistiing. Antrim.*— 4 rank and file killed ; S rank and file, wounded ; 4 rank and file missing .^w^ww* Kilkenny.— 1 rank and file killed ; 4 rank and file missing. ^o'lfM <)ueen's County.— 1 sergeant, 1 rank andffle, killed; 6 rank and file wounded ; 6 rank and file missing. ]) tf ■ ' . 1 ''■if ".'.^ ORONAHOa AVD iTOBU TAKBK FROM TBI R1BU8. One 6i inch howitzer on a ship carriage ; one brasa lix-poander, tied on a dray ; one iron four-ponnder, on a ship carriage ; one iron three- ponnder, ditto ; one iron two-pounder, ditto ; fourteen swiTels rarioua- ly mounted— total nineteen. ' Fourteen ihot of diifei^nt sizes, a quantity of muskets and other fire- arms, which were mostly destroyed ; and an immensity of pikes, which were broken as soon as taken, also a variety of standards and colours. '■'^u.uviiii 'Mi'i iTf •■m'.*m^:>h( 4 I W It imsso late when the action was ovet, "fiiat the dead cotdd not be buried. The next morning l^e towb presented ft hideous scene : it lay in ruins, and it was imposdble to walk wiHiout climbing over the slain. — ^The weather bemg ezoes- sively warm, and the unfortunate wretches were in such a perspiration when they were killed, that, when they were dragged to interment, the stench was intolerable, their oonn- tonances were writhed in a thousand horrible forms ; and aa \ \ If „i UUTORT Of T^M aiBBLUON many of them died drunk and infuriated, they had t tn^titful appearance. Nearly one thousand of those wretched men were thrown into one gravel-pit. On searching the pockets of some of the slain, the following oath was found in them : — ** I, A. B., do solemnly swear, by our Lord Jesus Christ, who suffered for us on the cross, and by the Blessed Virgin Mary, that I will bum, destroy and murder, all heretics, up to my knees in blood So help me God." A few days after the battle. General Johnson was honoured with letters from his Excellency the Lord Lieutenant, and the Commander-in-Chief, expressing approbation of his con- duct ; of which the follo¥ring are extracts :— 7 _^ .^^ ^jiiiw.i'-i '' Dublin Cattle^ 10th JuMf 1198. " Sir, « *^»^^ " I am desirous of impressing you in the strongest manner - with ike satisfaction I have received from your able, spirited, ^ ^d judicious conduct on the 5th instant, when your post at New-Boss was attacked by so numerous and so formidable a body of rebels. The cqpinion I have formed of that conduct is confirmed by the unanimous approbation of your brother officers. I shall not fail to lay before his Mi^esfy these ser- vices in the manner they deserve ; and I shall represent the aesistfuice wluch you received from the seal and abilities of ] u in THI OOHNTT Of WBXFORD. 79 Mijor General Eustace in that action, as well as the general good conduct of the officers and men nnder your command, in each terms as you have so folly authorised me to use. ^ ** I have the honour to remain, " Sir, &c., &c.. " M^jor Getural Johruon, ife. ".»* " Camden. *^ P. S., I must entreat you to make known the grateful sentiments I feel to those officers, whom you so particularly mention, as well as to the others, who made so gallant and successful a defence. /;••'>'<■ ■ . I » ' . , . , ** Camden." v^ -* * "Diifttoi, /un«9M, 1798. " My dbar General, ^^ It is with the most extreme satisfaction that I congra- tulate you on your late glorious victory over the rebels, which has rendered such essential service to the country, and gained the applause of every one. Your report of the behaviour of the officers and soldiers under your command, does them the greatest credit, and will no doubt meet the* entire appro- bation of his Mi^esty. If any thanks of mine can be thought I 80 HISTORT OF THE REBELLION •t \! worthy of their acceptance , I will beg of you to conmrani- cate them in the strongest manner possible ; and believe me with the greatest esteem and respect, ^ . " Most truly youi-'s, " G. Lake. " Major Oeneral Johnson, Sfc," On the morning of the action at Ross, between the hours of five and six o'clock, one of the rebels that had fled from the battle, came galloping to S*3ullabogue house, where 300 insurgents were guarding the poo* Protestants, who had been made prisoners. When he came within hearing, he shouted, ** destroy the prisoners ! destroy the prisoners ! our fnends are all cut off av Ross !" John Murphy, who was captain of the rebel guard, told him that it should not be done without written orders from the general. About an hour after, another messenger arrived, proclsdming, '^ our friends are all des- troyed, murder all the prisoners !" Murphy made him the same answer. About ten o'clock, a third express came run- mng on foot, crying ^^ the priest has sent prders to put all the prisoners to death." Immediately the rebel guards stripped off their coats, and prepared for murdering iihe prisoners, as deliberately as if IN THl OOUNTT Of WSXTORO. 81 going to their dailj emplojment. After saying their UBual prayers, crossing and blessing themselyes, they formed two divisions ; one party to massacre those in the dwelling-house, the others, all that were confined in the bam. The first party hauled out thirty-seven fix>m the dwelling-house, and were employed shooting them, while the other division surrounded the bam in the most outrageous manner, placed ladders against the walls to stand on, and set it on fire in every direc- tion. The unfortunate Protestants within entreated with the most lamentable cries, for mercy, and pressing forward to the back-door, caught hold of it, endeavouring to force their way out. The rebels, however, crowding to that quarter, cut and mangled their hands in such a dreadful manner, that for some time they were prevented. At length the weight of the people behind, pressing upon their mangled friends in the front, made the door give way ; but the mer- ciless rebels, as the poor Protestants rushed out, thrust them in again with their pikes, while others were busy in tying bundles of straw, and forcing them into the bam to increase the fire and the pains of those innocent sufferers. During the horrid scene, some of the rebels were loading and firing in upon them, while others were wantonly piercing their burn- ing bodies through with their pikes. This was a mercy, H f !! «» ni3T0»T OF Tl^l RSSE^UON tfco^ not iuteivled «8 such, as it put a speedy pericMi io t^ ipsexiea; qv, if it w^ so intended, it only con&mB ^ li^t^ljpu^e of Scppture, that ^< the tender mercies of the i;ipked are cruel." • • - i »t !J!!fyene was a wonuyd in ihe bam, who had been wife to one of ^ Nj)rth Cork militia, who was killed at OuI^rd-^hiU ; ^ding no way to escape the flames, she thought, if possibly, to save her child. She accordingly wrapt her cloak about the infant, and threw it out of the bam ; but one of the san- guuM^ pike-men, thrust hie weapon through the helpless hfth»> ^^i giving ft great shout, cried "d— n you, you little heretic, get in there !" aod instantly flung it into the fire. Another child, about two years old, (whose parents had been either shot or burned,) crept unperceived under the comer of the door, and Ij^y outside the house, close to the wall : when the fon&mion had in sojcne degree abated, the child W80 discovered ; and a rebel thruating it through, it gave a Solent shriek, and expired in dreadful convulsions. After they had finished their bloody business at the bam, <^ey hastened to the dwelling-house, to make the tragedy more complete. Dead bodies were already strewed round the lawn before the hall-door ; others were on their knees crying for mpi;9y4k but i^ vain : huniamty hfkd fled the pl^ce^ s^i W^^J IV TJOB fiovNinr or wmtwouD, was not knoiim. Of two hundred and twentj-foor prisoners, thirtj-seven were jjl^t, one hundred and ei^ty-four bmmed to death, and only %ee, viz., — Richard Grandy, Loftus Fria- zel, and 'Lett, wore suffered to live. Among those un- happy victims, were twenty women and children. The following list contains the names of many who suffered at Scullahogue ; the rraoainder I have not been aible to find out: ii Box, Joshua,* Box, JauMf,* Bjron, Edward, Boyce, George,* Brophy, John,* Qn^nip^n, Samuel, Ghamley, John, Oardine, James,* Cjopke, Robert, Cruise, George, Cruise, David,* Carew, George,* Di^ffi»ld, J^hn,* ^ufiSeld, Jamea,* Dalton, John, Dobli^n, Patrick, Dobbyn, Patrick, Davis, Riobard, Doub7n,-Henry, Dobbyn, James, DQlibyn, William, Dobbyn, Patrick, ■Dmj^ Sarah, ; Daly, William, Daly, James, English, John, Eakins, Thomas, ISlOdBS, John, Field, Owen, Fisaania, William, Finley, Holland, Gray, Andrew, Gray.Waiiam, Hannard, Joshua, Hannard, Mary, Hurley, Edward, J nnson, WilUam,t Kelly, Thomas,* Lewis, Richard,* Monk, Edtnond, Monk, Francis, . Miller, Robert,* N«il, William,t Neil, Daniel,^ Power, James,* Power, Thomas,* Power, Oliver, 4 84 EI8T0B7 OF THE BIBELLION X Power, James, . - Piersor, John,* Preilj, Jame^* ' Preely, Anne,* Pyne, William, Pendergast, Pat,t Reel, William,* Rooke, Henrj, Rillagb, Edward, Ryan, Willtam,t Restrick, Bdward, Ryan, Eleauor,| Ryan, Mary.t t^u Simmons, Samuel,. Simmons, William^ Slye, Bdward, Smyth, George,* Shee, Thomas,! Tweedy, John, Trimble, John, Thomas, Anne, Usher, Mary, Wilcock, John, Wade, James, Williama, Margaret Younge, Elizabeth. N. B. On Saturday, the 9th of June, one hundred and eighty-four skeletons were cleared out of t^.'> bam, thrown into a ditch near the place, and slightly covered with clay. Amongst ihe foregoing, those marked thus (J) were Bomanists. Thomas Shee and Patrick Pendergast were servants, who would not consent to the massacre of their Protestant masters, fpr which they were put into the bam, and suflfered wi ii them. William Ryan had a daughter, who,, for some time back, was a favourite with a gentlemen in Dun- cannon : the rebels sought for her, supposing she would com- municate every matter she could leam of their affairs to this- gentleman ; but not finding her, they all agreed that her Bister Eleanor would be equally dangerous to their cause \ they therefore marched her off to Scullabogue. Her father / / IN THl OaUNTT OF WSZ70RD. 85 flhorJy after followed, to entreat the rebels to liberate her ; they would not listen to him, but thrust him into the bam : his wife, a poor old woman, being uneasy at ihe long delay of her husband and daughter, followed them ; they put her also into the bam, where they all perished together. Wil- liam Johnson was a very old man, and made out a livelihood by travelling about playing the bag-pipes ; but unlbrtunately, among other tunes he was amusing the rebels with, he un- thinkingly played the popular one of " Croppies lie down ;" for which he was put into the bam, and suffered. William Neil was a native of Camolin, in the county of Wexford, and by trade a tailor ; a few days prior to the breaking out of the rebellion, he went, accompanied by his son Daniel, to see another son of his, who was employed as a tailor in the garrison of Duncannon. On their return home, they were i/aken by the rebels, and having Major General Fawcet's pass in their pockets, they were shut up in the bam, and both perished. William and James Daly were very young lads, and sons to Sarah Daly, but their being Protestants was the only charge alleged against them. The following persons with sixteen more, were shot in the front of ScuHaboguc dwelling-house, during the time the bam was in flames ; they were all men of respectability.: ^ ^ :r. ■«•* 8e MwttMt 09 ttn nttxtitiion^ Bojce, Samuel,* Obttom, Ebunixel, Oottonit Jobn, B*kinS| William, QMEbrd^ Milwaid, Bbrniek, Philip,. Jonei, Saarael,. JoMK, John, Moran, John, WDmaAif Thomas', Pr«ljr, DarU;* Panlow, Thomaa,. Tknlo% John, Baaioii, Benty, Sleator, Thomas, Thonitoii, EdwMrd,. Tarnor, Samuol, Vadgbam, Miles,* Wbiiaey, John, Whitney, Thomas. I" \ \ \ TlKMie persons with a star Umm (^*y aHer their natner^ tl^?o«gh — '*■■■ 88 BisToar or tri rbbillion others armSy among the ashes of the timber of the house ; while their bodies looked frightful, being burned to a cinder. He turned from the scene with horror, wrung his hands, and told those around him that '^ as umocent people were burned there as ever were bom, and that their conquests for liberty were at an end/' He then said privately to a friend, '^ I see now my folly m embaridng in this cause with these people ; if they succeed, I shall be murdered by them — if they are defeated, I shall be hanged.'* Now convinced of the sanguinary feelings of his followers, he was determined to put a stop to it, as far as in his power lay ; and that day he wrote the following proclam.'^.tion, had it printed, sent many copies to Vinegar-hill, Wexford and Gorey, and dis- tributed them throughout the county : — ... At a meetmg of the General and several Officers of the ' United Army of the county of Wexford, the following Resolutions have been agreed upon : , , . 'A' " Resolved, that the Commander-in-chief shall send guards to certain baronies, for the purpose of bringing in all those they shall find lurking and delaying at home or else- where ; and if any resistance be given to those guards so to IN THC GOUNTT OF WIXFORD. m lie sent by the commanding officer's orders, it ia desired and t>rdered that such persons so ginng resistance, shall be liable to be put to dt^ath by the gurrds, who are to bear a commis- aion for that p'l pose ; and all such persons so to be found loitering and delaying at homo, when brought in by the guards, shall be tried by a court-martial, appointed and chosen from amongst the CL^tmanders of all the different •corps, and not to depart therefrom under pain of death, unices authorized to quit by wiitten orders from the Com- r*ander-in-chief for that purpose. ? , " It is also ordered, that a guard shall be kept at the rear of the different armies, with orders to shoot all persons who shall fly or desert from any engagement ; and these orders to be taken notice of by all officers commanding in such engagements. ^, " All men refusing to ol ey their superior officers, to be tried by a court-martial, rnC punished according to their sentence. ^' It is also ordered, that all men who shall attempt to leave their respective quarters when they have been halted by the Commander-in-chief, shall suffer death, unless they shall have leave from their oficers for so doing. " It is also ordered by the Commander-in-chief, that all RI9T0BV or nm mhiilliom per8 i-.j.;,- ^r--.' " By order of i , / u " B. B. HabyBT, 0, >->.^c IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 I.I |jo ^^~ mhi ■u Uii 12.2 lit IIP r^^ 1 '-^ i'-6 ^ 6" ^ Photographic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STRUT WiBSTER.N.Y. 14S80 (716)S72-4S03 mSTOBT OF THl BXBBLLION pioQoiu manner, coUeoted seferal bnlleiB, which, he assured Uiem, he had caught in the battle of Boss, and distribnted ieToral to his brethren, when in the heat of action, who loaded theur pieces uith them ; and he asserted, that this was what no other army could boast of. He would also, he said, give them such gospels to hang about their necks, as would make the person who wore it proof against all the power of here- tical artillery ; but that notwithstanding their extraordinary utility to the Irish army, they would be of no avail unless they were purchased. The price to the better sort of people was half a crown ; but as the poorer sort were so zealous in their glorious cause, he would only ask from them sixpence a piece. Thousands. of these were made, which were speedily sent round the countiy. .^ ^ .^ . ; A copy of priest Roche's Protection or Gospel ! i.\ IN THE JTAMU OF GOP, INRI t I H S AMUK AND 01 THE BLESSED '''No gun, pistol, sword, or any other offensive weapon, IN TBI OOUNTT OF WBZfOBD. can hurt or otherwise injure the person who hai this pi^r in hiB poBsesaion ; and it is eamestlj recommended to all women with child to carry it, as it will he found an infiiUihle preseryalion againat the fatality of child-hed. ** No. 7601. BOOHB." I^ne of liioBe gospels was taken from oif the nook of John Hay, a rehel chief, who was executed at Wexford a few days after it was taken retaken hy the king's army — ^they were generally sewed to a brown coloured tape. While the rebels remained on Slieve-quilter, they com- nutted several outrages on the persons and property of the surrounding inhabitants, particularly on a respectable old gentleman, Francis Glascott, of Pill-town, Esq. This gentleman and Mr. Harvey, prior to the commencement of the rebellion, were on very intimate terms ; on which Mr. Glascott (who was totally ignorant of Harvey*s bemg de- posed of his command in the rebel army), wrote to him, requesting he would send him a protection. Mr. Harvey returned him the following answer : ♦•%■•, o ■ * >■- u « Dbar Sik, ftAt*» *< J received your lette.r, but what to do ^r voa I ■f Imownot. I from i^y heart wish to protect all property; I can scarcely protect myself, and indeed my situation is much to be pitied and distressing to myself. I took my present cdtuation in hopes of doing good, and preventing mischief: my trust is in Providence. I acted always an honest disinterestcjl part, and had the advice I gave some- time ^inoe-been taken, the present imflddef eeuM never have arisen, li I can relire to a privttte station again, I wffl immediately. Mr. ^ettei^am's rcftising to speak to ^ geatieman I fient mto Roes, who was madly shot hy Ithe S€4diem,wM. very unfortunate ; it has aet tiie people ma/d with rage, ^sad there is no restrammg them. The person I sent in had prifate instructions to propose, econcffiation, bnt^tod Imowsffhere this bumnemji^ end ; but end how it ma^s tiie good men of both parties will be mevitably ruined. 5'.' *' I am with recoct, " Dear Sir, ^ #• u " Yours, ^c. &c. &c.; ,-♦ "I *' SUtve-quiUeTf June m^ 1798." « B. B. Habvby. *.j- ■ ** IN i9f ooinivY or ifwuoi^. 9i mnUI^'Ibe Mbote v0BMiMMd on the hill of Slieve-j^pnHeirt A . parfy of them attacked his Mi^esty's gwMxM^ thoIi(rai«a» «jk;^her'9*tew99r0ii,hir way with dwfMi$Bs^m WaAe^Mrd to Rowiyiiid luUed Mr, Bohert Hajland* the master of 4h0 Ih^, and Ib^eee of tiw sa^xs; a»d /P«M>)j would h«»Q, talMiirhAr^^ad oot^^oiher hoine n]^ to her 4MSis(»ucf . On theJU).^ of JiuvB> the imaiiiho^ of the rebelii left Jihiapoit .aDd<^iKWved that eyemg on JLacken-hill» wiihMi Iwp milw of |iU)(98, l^amg a Btooi^g giM«d 4bt Slkve^pHter. OnJhe m^wwng of the 1^, Alaiy^be^y of the refeela faQ«i.I4^ oiq[>reps,was sent to JOiennyfor reUef ; hut h^fove J4^i^ General 3ir CSh^rles ^^giU, and £»\a hwdi^ed tioofMi .could arrive, they set the town on fire, and attacked Mr. Kavanagh's house, but were repulsed with some loss by the brave mia who were stationed there. Nothing could surpass the deter- mined gaUwtiry of these heroes. The rebels effisoted thmr ofK^pe back to I^cl^^A-hiU) m^ here we «iha|l fw the preieiit 96 HI8T0ET OF THI RKBILLION leave them, while we take a view of their aflbirs at Wexford, Vinegar-hill, and Gorej. No sooner was Wexford in the hands of the rebels, than they began to refonn the state. A grand National GommitUe was instanllj formed, with a Council of Five-hundred and a Council of Mderij and the dwelling of Mr. John Gnllimore, a respectable merchant, was converted into a Senate-house. Matthew Keughe was appointed governor ; and all the Pro- testants around the country, who had not escaped when the army retreated, were arrested and thrown into the gaol. The priests and friars were busily employed in baptizing the Protestant women, and such of the men as were admitted into the rebel ranks. They then granted them passes and protections, of one of which the following is a copy, ^ven by Father John Broe, a friar, to a person whom he had b Md ^n^p^alppg their ipcv^^ >>' ^ ^JbwriQli'^yfkrd. , JTo 9QQii|0r ^M ibe rebeliseni^ ^, t)iiui thejr w^re Aeti»c- XQ^^ pp ^e di98tmqi»i>n of w^ as d)4 pot fikvpur tMir (Hm^. Qpe Mw^9 ft lt«mftn Qa^olict) whfi M l^e^t .g^d^^ jiK> Mr. E4ww4b of WyWr^i ww at tfMs ,tin^ ^fiu^ ymjfmyBiodhitpi^ tp Wepfoi4. ^ h9A,,fomedj been a witness against one Dixon, a priest, a notorioos ,tiwi^r, who was sentenced to transportation, for administering the rUaited i>a11i to^seveiaL peipons. 'iEor-tihis crime the- vaforta- nato'Mvi^j^'Wia sentenced Uyha ahot, on Sanday tiie^third of Jane ; and such was the detestation of him entertained by the rebels, that in order to increase the ignominy of his death, they had him executed by Protestants, who were also prisoners in the gaoL liGddleton Robson, a goager ; Robert Pi^ott, a surveyor of Excise ; and Richard Julian, a guager, were the persons appointed to execute the sentence. After cele- brating mass and receiving their directions, Thomas I^on, a near relation to the priest, was appointed to conduct this awful bufflness. He was the most barbarous man to defence- lese persons that ever existed; but a greater coward in battie could not be. He had the prisoner brougjht to the Bi Tn 0OIWVT «f wmacKD. ^ MMig, «Dt llr. RoUoi being ordered to fire» tke fplor jtadaAe ro/Uk feU detd ; when Dhm rm ftnd tliniil Ue evovd in the biok of hie »eek, then drawing it fiarth, heU it fip 46 the view of the mfi^t deaizing them to << Behold the blood «r a Mter !" At th^s time John Sdiruds^ » Proteetnnt, and leoMiOwerd to the ehoTO Mx. EdwendB, wee h-'Might into tho erowd to he mnrdered, bat Dizon, to riiow hie hatred jto HLwpfhy^ ^< d«obffed upon hie honoor^ no other man ehonld poii^ iM day.'' Robeon) Figott, and Julian were oompeUed ::to drag the hfeleee body to the qnaj) and throw it into die nyer. Bobson and Edwards were maBsaered on Wexford' bridge the 20th of the eame month, bat the other two «Boap!Bd. i Mother man of iA)# name of Marphj^ a Papist, who had ^f en information agaiist some United Irishmen, was bro^gjbt into town ^d him. Mf. Pigott, ona hk commg into gaol, being apprehensiye he ehonld be loUiged toehoot him, sent Sov William Kearney, who snpe^ intended the pmOf told hjon hie fears, and reti fortah ■nat^eacikpedv''"^^^-^^ ^"'^"'^ crn;:?;!;^ I na iiudiui .';ovh ' ' l^inl^ waa Wittbh inla^iSe lettei^ eii ^t of tho'dbora in Wexford, and many of the windowa were adorned with green branches. Ev^r]^ eyedi^ otoWdb flo^kM^^ennd' 4ihe priaon door, demanding ^ntriihde, thkc^&^jr ii^^'Alirdidr the Protestants, who they said, eat np all t^ 'frito^rlsyna-'fn (town. T^niliam Kearney, however, behaViBd tolerably'^ wall to the prisoners; Patrick Fiirlong, also', who was superii^ tendent at the markeMiouse; where forty-^ight prisoners were Confined, though hi often reproached them for thmr heretical jMnnciples, gave them enough of potatoes, browns bread, and putrid meat. The gaol and market-houae not being sufioient, the buradt waa alao converted into a piiaoa; A. »: ■", IN qouuTT or wizfoia 101 for Um number of maleProiestaata destined for the iltaj^ter, aoKNinted to two hundred And sixty I , ^.^f^ tey ^ff^ It has been observed in the beginning of this history that ^ there was no military force in this county, save part of the ^ North Cork militia, their head quarters being at Wexford. V Lord Kingsboroagh, who was colonel of the regiment, being , in Dublin when the rebellion broke out, hastened to joun'^ them, taking with him a reinforcement of the Dunbarton ^ fencible infimtry, with two battalion guns. On their coming to Bray, they were informed that the rebels were in force at ^ Newtown Mountkennedy, in the county of Wicklow ; they accordingly marched thither to attack them, which they did on the 80th of May, and defeated them, leaving a number killed on the field. Lord Kingsborough then proceeded to Wicklow, and hearing there that the communication from thence to Wexford was totally stopped, he determined to wait for the Dunbarton fencibles, and sent an express by sea to Wexford to order the garrison to hold out, and that he with a strong reinforcement, would march to their asnstance as speedily as possible. Mr. Woodroofe, a revenue officer, and a few chosen men, were ordered on this expedition, and ombarked immediately. On coming into the harbour of Wexford, to thek astonishment, they perceived the rebel u Iter RUTOftT Of Ttfl WUKMttMW ^ flagi ll]rhig in aR partt of %» Iowb. ^ rebolis Miwuinff one of their oroiiert, pnmaA BIr. K^oo^bnofo wA Mb oom> pnioDS, tSn they eamo in rfgjhi of the Welih eottt, when thej gate over the pnrinlt, and Kr; lVk>odfoof^'ivMi a> gnai deal of trouble and fitignt, got hito Wioklvfp the nett. nwn^g. Lord BjBgeborongjh m the mean Ifikae eane W AMtmf and bmng equally ignorant that Iha rehoAi^ had> poasearion of Wezfbrd, took a fldibg-boal, and lafi^d §» that port ; hnt he waa nnfortonately met by the endier liNdi pmrsued Mr. Woodroofe, and taken priaoner : and^ after hv was landed in WexfiMrd, so Kttle did' the rebels reapeot hia rank, tfiat they oonftied< him Id a oommon draoHdiopy • where he waa daily exposed to repeated inaults hem th» raibUe. ' On Sunday, tihe 10th of Jmie, the Ibllo^gi proolaniilioii was read from the altar, and a moat lively^ exhortatioot delivered by Father Reehe, chai^un' to Bishop Caidleld ; in whieh he told CI PROCLAMATION OF nn ;.u PBQPLIl 09 THE COUNTY OF WBXVOBIX ai **^WHauuB, ifcrtiiadymiinifaitJy Botoaon thit Jiim B*■■ ■U ^« -^ y ,41a »T«-#\ t , T *^XV ^^i-'-aM fX.^ <* Oaths to be taken by the United Army in the most public ^fjhiJ'Smf^ 'lo .fs. J. _ 1 and solemn manner. TBST OATH. ^^ I, A. B., do voluntarily declare, that I will persevere in endeavouring to form a brotherhood of affection among Irish- men of eveiy reli^ous persuadon ; and that I will also per- severe in my endeavours to obtain an equal, full, and adequate representation of all the people of Ireland. I do further declare that neither hopes, fears, rewards nor punishments, shall ever induce me directly or incUrectiy, to inform on, or give evidence against any member or members of this or dmihir societies, for an act or expression of theirs, done or made collectively or individually, in or out of this society, in pursuance of the spirit of this obligation. *' So help me God. }» V m TBI ooviffr o> wistfoMi). 10ft m PaiVATV*8 OATH. r%P ■'^'ih^iLmmi ^M < ^* I, A.B., do solemnly and sineeiiely swear, and take God and his only Son our Lord Jesos Christ to witness, that I will at all times be obedient to the coimnands of my officers ; that I am ready to lay down my life for the good of my conntiy ; that I have an aversion to plunder, and to the spilling of inno- cent blood ; that I will fight courageously in the field, and have mercy where it can be given ; that I will avoid drunk- -enness, as tending to disorder and rum ; that I will endeavour to make as many friends and as few enemies as possible ; that above ail, I detest cowardice, and that I will look upon him as an enemy, who will stand back in the time of battle. V. . , JK*yi?mf9i^^M-'^^>^ I^*ft8f>#*if^i^>^ " So help m^ God." OFFICER S OATH. f„. ■'i\m << In the awful presence of God, who knows the hearts and thoughts of all men, and calling my country to witness, I, A. B., officer in the——, do solemnly swear, that I do not consider my life my own, when my country demands it ; that I consider the present moment calls for a proof of the Biiioeiiiy of that sentiment, and I am ready and desirous to stand the test, and do aver, that I am determined to die or sV BfiWOM OP TV» BIBHAIO* lead to viotoiy ; and that all my actioiiB shaU be directed U> the pioeperitj of the common cause, nninflnenoed by any inftriox motife; wilfinthflr dvolwe' aif vHet avtnloff to all. alamifeti^ wokntkmtSknBf wtA owranli, and ttf Mipeel flyi;obedienoetoitlwiCOBm»nd»of]i^0O]^oiribrefficiif; «^ <' 9e l8Bl|ii mo Oidl «< i>bne at {/He Cotmeil-ehafnlier in Wexford^ June Hthy 1T9H» " By order of the Cooncil^. ,....^.,^. ^.^ ? ►"ZiTlT*^, »• '.^^Jit*.;; ■ r „,li? It iqppears by the abote pi^caKion, that Bfr. Han^sat a» {oeindeiit alter he was deposed of his command. There was another oath taken by the Papists, which the^ disaffected Protestants and Presbyterians knew nothing of ;; Hus WW cafled the JBUmh Tetity and wm aa^ Mows'r - <)( Eveiy loyal Irish Protestant Heretic, I shall murder,, and this I swear." . . Siioh aa bound themselveflr under thi»oatli, had a pe«-word^ by whiok liiej? knew eadii other wherever thejf should maA^ Thisi pass^word was the initials of the^ several woidti itat 1ii» .:l-.: or ns mama or IW ■^ to oldagj9^: and ameag. mangy oC iJua dMCxiplicBi Wieie WiiUam Bijany of Oooboky. neav Balfycano^y agad ae?ent3if ; and Wffiiani Atkins^ ai Cnrraolo&g^ near Wezford, aged eigjil^* SmhaS Act Ptoteatenta as/oonid eaeape, aivafled tfaeoiBdveff d tfke eppoctombiry attd fled fiMMu varie^a parte to Ha^ fortified towna Addoir gave eheltei to hnndrede of theee poor fefugees, and ilie small town of Widclow to no leaa than ono Ifaensand and aizty ! Mai^ who ooold not lea?e thdr familieai were in a pitiable ffitu«kio&; dajf after dny the men were tonn from- the arma of iMr beloved wivea and ohUdf^ or ^a- tracted mothers and sisters, and murdered befitue thor eyesL The widow Ckckysy near Caatfebridge, and the widow Grindly^ nea« Kflnm^aridigey ave woeful witnessea of tins melanoholjr truth* ^- ^mw^MW^^ M- ^■' ^' ■'-'-*' ^mm '^'m, ;, * lia this OftBip< all manner ef aboniaaitiQDa were OOmmitted^ and aa it awaitted with women of ili^-fione, thej set no boimd9 ./" 106 rutoet or thb euillioh to tiieir lewdnefls ; and yet each was the blindness of their minds, as to imagine that the eztraordinaiy fine weather which continued so long, was sent .by the Almi^iy to &TO!ir their cause. They would say, '* God is on oar side, the heretics have had dominion long enough, but our time is now come." It was also their opinion, that no rain would &11 until they had finally conquered. Though they were expert at the pike, which in general was firom nine to fourteen feet long, they scarcely knew any thing of the musquet ; often when they cocked their pieces, they knew not how to uncock them again. They would labour to push down the flint, and if it did; not yield, would shoulder their musquet, and march with it in that dangerous situation ; and often on their marches has this great ignorance of military exercise nearly proved fibtal to themselves. It has been known likewise, that in battle they have been so unskilful or inattentive, as when loading to bite the ball end of the cartridge. — Such was the wretched crew that formed the camp at Gorey. ^ At length their commanders began to think they were too long inactive, and knowing that if they could capture Aiklow, it would open a communication with the Wicklow and Kildare rebels, and thereby prepare the way for an immediate attack npon Dublin, they resolved to make the attempt ; but fearing V IM Tm OOmiTT Of WIZfOID. 1^ ihej had not fdBoMnt Bk sngth, menengen were deeptlehed to Wexford and Yinegar-liiU, for farther reinforoementB, whfle eoorien were sent round the oomitiy, ordering all persoDS to repair to camp withoat delay. 1 On the 8th of Jnne^l^e rebels sent a picqaet to Goolgreny, idiere they saw a parjbjr of the army reoonnoitering ; and they fetomed immediately to Qorey, with information that a large hody of the King^»;^fcre<^ were on their march towards the ,lown. In conseqnenoe of this, the larisoners (twenty-one in Avmber) were ordered np to the camp to be massacred ; bi^ profidentiaUy for them, Bagnal Harvey's proclamation &€m. .Oairig-bam<^arriTed, which for that time firostrated i]ieir •bloody deaigns. AdyiceS having been receiyed in the eveninj^ that Arklow was veiy weak with regard to military, it was deemedr ih^ most prudent plan to attack it on the following (- /Ear>7 en the next moming, June the 9th, the camp was crowded .from ev^rj part of the country, and masses were celebrated hj^^ priests. After this ceremony, some of the rebels, iiritatled at not being permitted to massacre ihe Protestants, melted a great quantity of pitch, and besmear- ing the inside of caps made of coarse linen and brown paper, put them on the heads of nearly all the prisoners. About ■ f 110 VnTMT or TBI MBIIAIOir l> twdtre «^doek Ibey mftrdied ^ A;ricloir,^ihii^lbiir iiMonttd fltrong ! iriiJh three pieees of muuiMi) vader tihe •oenBumdi of Anthony IPOny^ Bsmond 'Kjsn being "OAfiitain of ^e aitiflmy. When they arrived within two B^sof AMMr,^y were ordered to halt by Jrey, Ooolgreny, and Oastletown y6omaiHsa;valDy, witii a number of legalists in o<^i]red clothes, making m tiM 1 ( IK vBi ooumrr or iomvobd. lU \:- mkch «l>oat Hft^Mi tolled m^* Miiior-GeiMBil Needham j«^ ficiiBflQMd^MlHjluQf of the gmaMi. ^^ rAvicloir;i»ift «wt BM^port toim,iii the oeunly of Wkddow, thirty-fire miles from Dublin. It is an open iind dofonMleas j4i9i9rligr!M!0%4itiiatQd on a smaU riveir, wlueh iasiioa ^m ihe >n^^^iinpg 9K>ipktoi^ and diaobangM ita^lf into ibe ocean hose, mtdor a «^o;ae Inridge of oig^teon Vohee. ' .^hoat InFO o'oA(K^ advioo utas iroooiyod, ihat the enemy ;vm8 itppiroaehwig the town ; t^s was jo tiMe credited, ithat Hihe , g^rpMPy which J^mI h)Mn ordered wder ^rm^ (waa jnat giw^ to be cUpmM^) when a dviigoo^ came gMhipog fv^^ lAtoll^gl^nqe from Oafit^ Elliot of the Aq^trim Militiay that liho xiehclB wiQre iit , h^d. Iiiupiiedif^t^ly the dngp >h^ to . fifmr th^ itmi?^peits 4on|ide49 ^ A^ps ^w to their 4$^9i!QAt sMim^ laiod j)sepiacati9Q8 wore 19^0 . to receive th^-enooy. |f^jj(^jg;ew^ J^^^^vl drow .i^pMo^ii^^c^ in ^imost judi- iuo^sjpuiiQiuir. !]]home yo^ ]v;^d^,%c9ppiai4 of Col^ Hl^xw^,; (now Xidi4 l^WB^imO jp;i|^i)4oiMia Knerfromthe conitro 9f the toiipi tolhie I'iflhei^, yp.^ the.soa on thcii^loft. On theright, the Diprh^pi f enciUes wm d;^^ up iafr!09t of th^ encaiopQienly wx^ Ipo^^ield- m9m 49t^t«meiMiB of the Annaisjh and other xeppffatB ^9st ^^l^ej} rO^ .their right ai the high road, and tfie Aatn^n ^, 112 HI8T0ET Of TBI UBILUON With some other detachmentB, and all the lojalists in ooloored clothes, were stationed in Ihe harraok. The dragoons and yeomanry corps were stationed heyond the bridge, on the Dublin road. ^,.,. ,^ .., -^, .-i^^,;-...^ .._;..,,.„:„^.:;,,,.,._ ^..^-t^* When the rebels advanced to the Charter-school, (Captain Elliot haying retreated into Arklow,) Esmond Kyan drew the cannon to 'the right, on an eminence that commands the town. The Dunbarton Fencibles were now ordered ont in firont of the Armagh, to line the ditches on each ride of the road, where the enemy were advancing. The rebels soon made their appearance, with their green flags flying, and fired on the Dunbartons, which was briskly returned. When they had exchanged about a dozen rounds, the advanced party re^ ceived orders to retreat, and join the Armagh, which was done with seeming confurion. About this time the rebels set fire to the town in many places, in order to amioy the army witlr the smoke, but the Almighty caused the wmd to shift, so that they were confounded in their own devices. On the retreat being ordered, the rebels pursued with loud huoaing, and one of their officers waving his hat, called out, '* my boys come on, the town is our own ;" but he suddenly found him> self surrounded by soldiers, his horse was shot, and himself wounded, on which he fell as though riain ; when in a little .Tft IN TBI OOUNTT OF WBXFOU). 118 time ouriositj oonBtraming him to look about, he waa peir- «ei?ed,and instantly shot dead. The rebels pressed after him, bat on receiring a dreadful fire of musketry and grape-shot, they fell back a considerable distance. They then extended in a long Hne in front of the Durhams, in order to turn the left flank ; but the soldiers keeping up an incessant fire, they could not put their design into execution. Some of the rebel musketers, getting under shelter of the ditches, annoyed the army very much, and their field-pieces played, briskly on the town ; but sergeant Shepherd, of the Royal Irish Artillery, (who was taken prisoner at the Three Rocks) being obliged to manage the cannon, elevated them so high, Jhat the balls went over it ; and once having loaded with grape, he turned the gun a little on one side, and swept away about thirty of the rebels. Dick Monk observing this transaction, galloped up, and would would have killed lum, had not Esmond Kyan resoluted interposed, insisting that it was the army-oannon which had done ihe execution. Kyan.having ordered sergeant Shepherd to load with round shot and demolish the town, rode elsewhere, but Shepherd watching his opportunity, loaded again with grape, knowmg it could do no injury ; and this he did as fiist as posnble daring Kyan's absence, that he might waste the ammunition. Dick Monk and John Hay, being '* ^k 'W V^V' ^*f "^ x-if^v^Wfri •- ■r-r.i.- 1 v-i^-^**^*' iw*y .^ fcurt*?** \v m ^I^X9HT OF T^ mW¥>^. ft4l^ Oq^ivwoed that •U wV».iV*tTi^«sJ^F wMc^4^ ^xjBf?f»- tjlOF^of U^ir oamuni) 9o4ft94ing tba^ 3^plMrd wil9 JOPt ^Mfonr- ii^ ib^eir oauae while loiwUi^g wHh gr^i o)i)IigiBd him ^ lo^ ,11^ raxmd shot, b«t the )t>j^ ^^fir ^ #« h|eyo|f4 ^ pf^^i oaii(h|ah Kyan lerelled the Qannon him«elf| fM^d ope pf ihcp in such a direction, that the ball sim#hed tbe carriage of pae of 4he Durham guns to shivers, and apotherstrupk thi^ tppof the imj. Li^ !Mi>jim' J'- . they w^e 4«- f^ffM iu this ^^[^oeu^nre also, goqie of ^bevi att^m^j^d ,tQ pedthisi^f^^ but there inevitable de^h aw^t^d ,^m. ?ji^ Murpjhy, of Pallyqajnow, had stepped in Cf;i^J|p^];|y^ <^^d, pi^ pro^wding towards ArkJIpwhe m^t vomj pfr#\f fl^m? Xf^ajtV^; he d^ye thpml^p^i^ him ifp U>e h^t^e ag^, M^ ^W>e WPI1I4 M*ift?R» ¥fi^. J^jdu^^ pf^.t^^l^f^^. ;^ , fts hp advanped with a l^ge par^, ip pj^er J^Q. tf^f^p » f|f^Vl[^n pt^fwed npar the barrack, his bowels w,^ |qi^ pu^ w# |fp^st^i^t;. The rebels t^t $)llow^4 him fl,e.d ;^W yJi^l,^ quarter, swearing that the priest himself was down ! Uf TBI OOUMTT OF WBXTOAD. V?, The foUpFm^ (pticif » .9f PpplA Ifjjh if^ro fe^^m ,t|M> pf^t of Prief t Murphy, nho wm kfUed at the ))|itt^ of Arklow : . ., .jti^ka i^iui .TMUed Bm 1st. When we aaiemble, we crois ourtrWe*, lAjing, " We acknowledg* these oar article! ia the preienoe of Chrlit's Vicar, oor Lord Qod th« Pope, and in the presence of the holy Primates, Bishops, Monks, Friars, and Priests." > 4^-- ^ ..«•,- j .,--r« i-^ ... ...-.— . u--*~^.j.^ j^t^j^j^,, 3nd. We acknowledge they can itaake Tki Virtue, and Virtut Vice, ae- •ording to their pleasnre. (Falling flat on their faces, they proceed in this manner speaking to the Host, and saying — " Holy, glorioos, and admir- able Host, we acknowledge it according to oar good father the Pope, wa mast all fall down before the great eflBgy of onr Lord God Almighty.*^ 3rd. We acknowledge the supremacy of the holy father the Lord Qod the Pope, and that he is Peter's successor in the chair. ' !i-'^'i^..(^i:W>^m 4th. We acknowledge that Peter has the keys ot heaven, and thai ha will receive those only who acknowledge his supremacy. • • > '" ' ' ' '*'''' 6th. We are bound to believe that the late holy massacre was lawfhT, and justly put into execution (against Protestflnts, and that we should continue the same as long as we can do it with safety to ourselves. Yth. We are bound to curse, ring the bells, and put out the cAndkf' fsor times in each year on heretics. "^- 8th. We are bound to believe that heretics can never be saved, tinieat Ihey partake of that holy sacrament. Extreme Unction, ^'^'■^'■■■m^r^ f th. We are bound to believe, that those who elope from our holy re- VgloD, are under the power of the devil, whom heretics follow. ■■9 AA:i/ 116 HISTOIT 0¥ THB BIBILLION ^ lOth. No flftlth If to b« ktpl with bontlet, thoogh boand by tbo aoii MMrtd ofttbt ; fbr, taji o«r bolj fkihor, tbtj h«TO followtd dftmnfttloo, and Latb«r, Mid Oalfin. mti.^ ^ llth. Wt aro not to bellere their oatbf , for their principles are daut. nation. ^ llth. We are bound to drlre heretici out of the land with fire, sword, fag fol, and confusion ; as our holj father says, if their heresy prerails we are ftUl to become their slaTes. Oh I dear father, keep us hvm that. (Here the holy water is shaken, and th*y say the Hail Mary three times.'' ISthrWe are bound to absolre without any reward, all those -itbo imbrue their hai|ds in the blood of heretics. Uth. We are bound to bellere that Ohrist's Vicar, our Lord Qod the Pope, oan absolre all men (heretics excepted), and has given the like power to all his Inferior clergy. 15th. We are bound to belicTe all the articles commanded by our holy chureh. ,,( 16th. We are bound to beliere the Virgin Mary has more honour in heaTen than any of the Angels. Itih. We are bound to pray to the holy Angels, that they may pray
>kt<&r/ saerifice kbr the living and the dead. IN TBI OOUNTT Of WIZPOBP. »• T 1»' ■ f fit- 21ft. W« art bouod to btlkr* that tbtra ar« ftmr pUoM of pwrffttorjr, —▼is., Limbuf lof intan, LimbM PAtrant, M««dowi of Kam, oad F«if*- tory. sand. W« aro to botltr* thatOkriit vm throe lUyi In LtiahM Potram . whort the Mali of holj faihori go, till they gel « pM* with then to tbo bolj Potor. 33rd. Wo are boand to belloTO that the loali of ohUdren uir'japUMd go to the Ltmboi Infantam, until original lin it well p«id away, by the belp» of holy maiiei laid for them. 24th. We acknowledge the loali of Ohrletiant go to Purgatory and remain there till we pray them out of it, that tbey may hare power t» walk the Meadows of Bate with safety, till U pleases holy Peter to open the gates of glory for them, where no heretic shall erer enter. 2Sth. We are boand to keep Lent, aeoordUg to our Clergy's pleasvN,, and to maintain the work of supererogation. 36th. We are bound to acknowledge the Lake in the North to be holy,, called Lough Darragh. V':' ^* 3Tth. We are bound to pray to no other saint on that day bnt themi to whom it is dedicated. "■" «^''^' " <^>^* -»*»' *^<» • •# t* aSth. We must baptise bells, and consecrate ohapeli, and the man t» entar into the 'ioly oflBce of a priest, only he who is known to be a After the harlot Joan. : . . i..^ ,,iel 39th. We maintain seven sacraments essential tc salraUon, tIs t Baptism, Gonfirmation, Eucharist, Penance, Extreme Unction, Boljr Orders, and Matrimony. f "'* ■ '*" ''' '^^ ^'' aoth. Wemaintun weoan transubstantiate the bread and wine into ih» real body and blood of Christ. . 'MS h i&m ft^*i in ^ '< i mv ^r l\^ BISTORT OP THl EEBELLION 31it. We belieTe that heretics eat their Icind of sacrament to their eternal damnation. 32nd. We believe that Christ is everywhere, but especially in oar a weiek ; and lastly, that the Holy Church can never err. ..^-i • .^ ^ ..' .\ .ot.ff ..t<, ti. . • iiJi ii The heat and burthen of (be aetion fell on Colonel Sketret, oFiSSli^' IM^ain ; who^ vaGaiit conduct on this day was aidinnr- able. Colonel Maxwell of the Cavan also acted in the most spirited and determined manner, as did all his officers and men. The engagement continued from four till half-past eight, at which time the rebels retreated back to Gorey. The military stood to then* arms till ibur the next morning, when tlSfy c^t eiitrenchm^nts round the camp, expecting ah6th<6r attack. It was dreadful to view the field of battle; men and horses lay dead together ; heads and limbs were strewed over the fields. It is thought that not less than one thousand re- bels could have fallen that day. Of the army there fell only ik tkS (^tjs^V cA^ ^ikirdib. m 0)ii>tibi Kkiox of tl^e Ckdtletow)i cav&try afid two ot^ ni^ii itf dlii(^g(ttg ty rc>t^6l« ; otte tfiergeaht, six privates of militia Iibid' ftoOAt No^ att^d somo of hid troop in viewing tiie sbi^i^ df actt6u, ^HiMtheYiiodjbf the peating, aii4 told them that he knew they #)il1d'be defi^ated ; yet they would not take his advice. After /.;>.. V Si "4 . * There were three priests that boasted of this power,~John Morphy, Michael Murpbj, and Philip Roche. . > ■>.■,. t Sergeant Shepherd has escaped, and his extraordinary fortitude ftad «er?ke8, deserve to be noticed by his country. j:ii> 120 HISTORT OF TBI RKBSLLION SI i' this they were more moderate to their prisoners. On the Wednesday following, however, Captain Redmond, nephew to priest Redmond of Ferns, had them tried ; those condemned were sent to Wexford gaol ; but all who were acquitted, were compelled to go to their camp. While the rebels re- mained in Gorey, they shewed great aversion to the church by breaking the windows and otherwise injuring it. They had an intolerable hatred to Protestant prayer-books ; all they could get they tore to pieces ; they even carried the leaves of the church Kble on their pikes, shouting, ^^Behold the French colours ;'' and to complete their impiety, and their contempt of the established religion, they put two Protestants to death in the aisle of the church. In other parts they made saddles of the Bibles, aiid rode about on them ! In short, they con- tinued exercising every kind of wickedness till the 19th of June, when the main-body marched for Vinegar-hill. A party of the rebels joined by some of the Kildare, Wicklow, and Carlow insurgents, now formed an encampment on Limerick-hill, near Gorey; and on the 17th of June, they proceeded to a place called Mount Pleasant, near the village of Tinnehely, resolving next morning to commence an attack on Hacket*s-town, six miles distant, which at that time was only protected by about four hundred yeomen, and thirty of U i m TBI OOyNTT Of WlXrOBD. 121 the Antrim militia. The King*8 troops, firom their different stations, were now in motion, by order of the Comnuuider>in- chief, (Lieutenant-General Lake) in order to sorroond and entirely out off the rebel forces, which it was imagined would concentrate in one place. For this purpose a large brigadcr u^dei* Lieutenant-General Dundas, arrived in HacketVtown, and shortly after, an express was brought in, that the rebels had taken post on Mount Pleasant, and were burning Tinne- hely. Application was made to the General to relieve it : he declined going himself, but directed Colonel Lord Rodden to take the command of his own cavaliy, and a few yeomanry^ and to reconnoitre the position of the enemy. On Lord Bodden's approach, the rebels discharged some field-pieces at his party, on which he sent to the General for orders : he immediately desired his party to retreat to the town, lest they should be attacked and overpowered by their numbers. The rebels in the night, instead of assaulting Hacket's-town^ marched to Kilcavan-hill, near Oamew, where they were attacked on the following day by the forces under General Dundas, assisted by Major-General Loftus's brigade, but with little effect. The troops, by order of Lieutenant-General Lake, who had just arrived, then retired to Camew for the night, and the rebels evacuated their post, and fled with precipita- tion to Vinegar-hill. ',^; 122 tf^dit of Tttg itBctxtosr ^! ■■ tiKiihi^tf 1!&^ tree of libMy witlh sIioM ot <« Vive ik Repi^ I, afiid cdhtintied every day mok dr H^ f^t t^idUff^'^ days ; li di^, . Jm^Ui tf! to prayers : three paters, and three aves to be offered to God and( tlie Btessed Virgin Mary, for our glorious cause ; for the further dispersion and extirpation of all heretics, for oiu* glorious church militant on earth, and triumphant in heaven. Kneel down and kiss the ground ; our captain has slain a man.' >•!;• .■if* -f ■ ■'► 'ii'v.^V- ♦?/?'«'. 124 HMTOBT or TBI UBILUOII A large tub of water was then brought, which one of the prieatB immediately blessed; ordering the rebels to kneel round about, he with a whisk of heath or broom sprinkled them with the water, repeating the words of the Psahnist again and again, ** Thou shalt purge me with hjrssop, and I shall be clean: thou shalt wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow." — (Psal. li. 7.) A Protestant, on whose veracity I can depend, furnished me with the following narrative of his captivity on this hill ; he was made a prisoner by the rebels on Whitsun-Monday. " When I came to the prison door, I was seised by the breast, and thrown in among the rest of the prisoners, where I remained in the deepest sorrow and affliction, believing death to be inevitable, as I was placed among the condemned^ Seeing a man in the prison who had been piked tiie evening before, with signs of life (he was probably left for dead) his coat off, his shirt and breeches covered with a cake of blood, and his cheeks full of holes, which were made by the dreadful pikes ; I drew near and enquired what had happened to him? He told me that he had been piked the evening before, but had crept in firom among the dead who lay before the door, to avoid the heat of the sun. Looking out, I saw the .rebels^ leading up a prisoner, whom they soon after shot ; then look- Ill TBI OOUNTT or WIXTOBD. tSS 1$ rat at the opposite door, I saw, as nearlj as I can judge, between thirty and forty lying dead at about three yards dis- tance, some of whom I knew, having been in confinement with me, and one of them was my brother-in-law. Shortly after, a man coming in, nnder the pretence of searching onr pockets for arms, robbed ns of all we had, and went away. Then came that sanguinary monster, Luke Byrne, of Oular- dards, who kept a brewery in Enniscorthy, and enquired how miii^ piisoners were condemned. Being told twenfy-seven, he answered, * If any one can vouch for any of the prisoners not b^g Orangemen, I have no objection that they should be discharged ; ' — no answer bemg returned, he added,—-* Is there no one to speak ?' There being still no reply, he ordered six guns to be brought to each door, intending to destroy us at once, and not spend the night in watclung over us. But &e guards, knowing that they would be in danger of kilfing eiMJh other, obtained permission fix)m Byrne to bring us out, and shoot us one by one. We were then ordered to kneel down, and each of us to be brought out in our turn. Three rebels stok)d at the door with pistols in their hands, and as the prisoners were brought out and placed on their knees, they were shot and thrown among the dead. Three of them, expecting diat ihibj should escape death, by renouncing the Protestant ..' 4^ |2Q HI8T0BT OF THE BIBILLION • ••'■: • ••■; : 1 -I • '■ reli^pD, and turning Papista, called for the pri^t. John, ll^urphy immediatelj arrived, and )ay^g his handi; on their heads, repeated some prayers in Latin. Scarce! j were his ^^ds gfi their heads, when one of the executioners, who l|f|d ' a grudge to one of the prisoners, fired at him ; the ball entered the unfortunate man^s ear, and killed him : he was instantly > c.svri^•' )M»-rr. ^keip, bj scourging them with lasbea mado -^ l^r^ if;^e, ap4 twisted m whip-oord : George Stacj,,who rece|y^ \yfo h^sk- ^i fi^i 0% lashesy and a Mr. Whitney, with s^yerall pf^ers, f^9Q bear Vitneas to the truth of this. Bat thej did ifi^t i»fop hf}re ; piking them, but not mortally, was firequcu)^ d^e, for ^f ^pi»/rpp^ of keeping thoip in ipifejy. Som^^es .J^j^y^ ihey chosen a stone, with one end SD^l a^d tfie pthf^r I^ge, f^d putting the small end into the mouth of ^e expiring Ti<}t^P) they would std^ip on it wi|)h t^e heel of the |S)^oo^ till JHJ3 Jifvs View e^te^ded to the utmost. This barb<^]^ irap i#9*^ W fle^' fl^^tipn, ^pujjy Poi^trievo of,|lnfufc^^ Jtji^, f^d thi^t not less %in four hundred Pf^t^t^njts ^^re flPf^i^ed jn j;ni^«i9o^y,^d vp YJ^^fur-J^^tJie j^^^pl ^^?>i»>7 W»Jw?d dj^nn$ ^veral di^?; an4,^u;(?frjy,f8 1^ W«lSy 9^ *e )ro})ojs, tljat^hey ^wid jf^f^^ B]^T,^}vfjiXf^ ftl»P«|l jl^ P^rfoiw the last, Jj^tpf %?5iaip(i^,,|^9|-^j?y^nJ(^k^^^ pii^my the sfi^o w.er? ^J^^^*"^ .*^jP?^^y HP9;» ;w^f^ ^^ f^'*^? pd /Beyei!^, ^j^gh tjie \vi^^)jjon j|i,^at^f Ji^ ^ea^^j ^f)d r^dwced to such a st^^ ,of putrofi^tjoii^ t^af; aJ^ \Wl^ ^> 128 HIBTOBY or THE REBELLION #; threw others into the river, in whioh, ior a long time after, they flouted with the tide. From this fatal hill, these sanguinary wretches frequently went off in plundering parties, taking with them horses and cars, to convey back the property of their Protestant neigh- bours. Amouget others they visited the house of Edward Hawkins, of Ballycoursey, a man well known to be of the most kind and obliging disposition towards the lower order of the people. They first called for something to eat tnd drink, and after they had satisfied themselves with such &8 «ihe house afforded, they tore him out of the arms of his beloved wife, who was upwards of sixty years old, and had lost her sight about a year before ; and notwithstanding all her tears and entreaties, they instantly murdered him at his own hall door ! then loading their cars with everything valuable in the houde, iliey set it on fire, and left the poor old woman to grope her way out, through fire and smoke ! Not satisfied with tins, they murdered four of her sons in a barbarous manner — a fifth had fiillen in the battle of Enniscorthy on the 28th of Bfay. They also went to the house of one Oroshea, in the parish of Rosdroit, to wluch they set fire, and, as he endear voured to escape, shot him. ^ three sons, who lay concealed m ib bog near the house for two days, were at length discovereai XH TBS COUlfXr 07 WBXtu«1>. ^^^m ^4 brought to a gravel-j^t not Ut 4**tAat: hei^e the hjfjk heBTt^{^jff]^}A ptpiff^ Uy«P if at^^ jm^^ di^overy of anns, thie hope of wJuch m^ueod them to give thiB infonoatioD they desired ; b^t havuig obtained it, ih^pj Q]|>liged them to stand arm in ann, \uitil bjr word of poQ^najad th^y were fired at. The ihree biothers instantly fell, and were dragged like dogs to a pit, into wMch, (notwithstanding their being still alive) they iiifere cast hf these bloody deceit* fal villsdns, and covered with such a qu^tity of ear^i, pB ren|iej;ed it bn^sible for tji^m to r|u^e i^ .3;)ifi 4i8r%(J,^d mother came in the anguish of her soul to seek fpr h^r children, but the rebels with great cool^e^s, shpvf^ hpr where jt^ey lay, telUng fier she mi^tipfiaJce he^lf oa9y^.f» thej were already buried for her. In ^bort .^ey (iair^. (eft a. Protestant, house in the pansh of .i^i^^it, t^t ^tbey -^d not .bu^ ; nor, sparce a iProtes^nt <[|n vbom tjiey cf^u^d..l||y , h^inds^ that tbey did not murderr In other p^ of ,t|ie cpuij^, th^ir Popish nei^bours ; but A^e no f^|yf|ip|fp^ t^ prosc^l)f)d nfie could be found; nay, they woul^ j9Cf^Cjsly permif^ a pijipo^er to jf^ throjigh, wjthoiit )^iwg tbe plea^^re.,pf thrusting a pike at him, to^ irhich, |^ey :^^Te farthor t^fiiiiiffA jby the hope of an eternal reward. They said they woiUd' let 180 HUTOKT or THl UBILLION the women and children live, as they might yet beoome true ' Ghrifltians, when they had no heretics to protect them. ^ That the rebels were not only destitute of faith, but like-, wise of gratitude when the success of their religion required Mt, may appear from the following tragical relation: Mr. ' George Homick, a wealthy inhabitant of the parish of Kill- Anne, had some years before granted privilege to have a ' Popish chapel built on his ground, and rendered it as conve- ' nient as possible to the congregation, by making passes through every part of his land to it. Tet, he was not shewn the smallest favour for his liberality ; as it was remembered ' that in the year 1774, he gallantly withatood an attack made ^ upon his house by a party of Whiteboys, and with the assist- ' ance of his only brother, beat them off, killing three of them. ' When the rebellion broke out, his Popish neighbours marked lum out as one of their first victims ; and Priest Roche, of Poul-Pearsey, having headed a body of insurgents, proceeded to the house of the Rev. John Richards of said parish, to ' demand him and all the Protestants who had taken refuge '^ihere. The house being well adapted for defence, they ;'tesolved not to surrender. Roche then told them, if they would deliver Homick to him, all the rest should be spared. J. This tliey also refused — ^upon which the priest rode off threat- m TRl OOVNTT Of WIXFOAD. ISl «ning to bring oannoHf tnd to level the house to the ground. In the interim Homiok and his oompanions with difHeolty effected their escape to Ross ; but they took yengeanee for this disappointment bj murdering two of Mr. Homiok*s sons, who then lived in Ennisoorthy, the one a clergyman, and the other an apprentice to an apothecary. The circumstances attending the death of the latter were of the nKMt barbarous nature. On his being taken by the rebels, they prevailed on him to write to his father for his arms, and to inform him that he was an hostage till they should be sent ; but these ferocious monsters, knowing nothing of truth, gratitude or compassion, would not wait for the father's answer, but soon after led him forth to the slaughter. They first shot, and«then piked him, -stripped him naked, and threw him among the dead. Some life still remaining, he, under cover of the night, stole off the hill, an^ crept home to his father's residence, in hopes of meeting his figonily ; but alas ! they were gone, and the house burned : he then vainly expected to meet some humanity amongst his neighbours ; but as soon as the savages perceived him wounded and naked, they brought him to a gravel pit in the bloody parish of Rosdroit, and there murdered him in the most horrible manner. His uncle, Philip Homock, was one of those who suffered by tUeir cruel hands kt ScuUabogue. II •'-V' ■' ,' 182 BlfTO^^T or TB9 BXBIHiLipN ,«.■! Jt is not a lititle e«traor,.,. .-, ,. ^ . ? ...,,.., 0^; ' ^e following circumstances which happened on Yinegar- l^, and Enni^orthy, are too remarkable to esc<^e notice. '^fhw^es Davis, a glazier, was seized by the rebels, apd i^Hfoqdsed his liberty, if he would renounce his reUgion as a i^rotestant, confess to the priest, and receive his baptiaip ; iwi^lJl of which he refused to comply. In consequence 'of #49, he was pked in severad parts of the body, till he became in Jippesjrance dead, and then thrown into a field, and covered .xlf^iSQds of earth. Some of his friends who had previously Bubnutted to the ceremony of baptism, begged his boify for : Ju^^»,nnant, which was granted ; but upon r^ing hpa from under the sods, sofne siigns of life happily appeared ; he was ts*^. IN TttV doOMiir or w«xv^k». 13S privately oonyejed home, and after necessary assistanoe liad been administered, he providentiaOy recovered, and is now a^living' nitaesB. of i^ horrid enielty above mentioned; BBs broihiffsuhlaw, ThomaB Hall, paialer and glamer, was lashad tb'daatiiicitk a oatK>^nine4ai}8, made of bras^^whre. '^^^^ ^t^' lirejoiee^ however, toatate, that there were some brij^ oi^oeptMns t(^ ihe general character lor cmeK^ which mashed the coiidaefc of the Bomanista at this dreadfcd period; Mr. Shaiiv, an. halfwpny ofi^r, a man of nx feet high, conoealed'- hims^ on .a< lofti over a^ necessacy, only four feet square, atid not four, feet high, for the apace dT twenty-three days, and was there thpee days before any of his ^ends knew what becama of him ; nor did any person- knofw it bat a boy and' giri, (both Romanists,) who told his wife where he was cook' coaled; andaho, under pretence of goitig there occattonally, oonVeyed him. some sostenance through the loft, where they slaited a boafd for that purpose, i**^***- *,*».♦ i-* '^ Edward Roche^ of Garrylough, took upon himself the rank of gen^iM \ he was a notorious rebel, but had not the character of a tiiUtderer. After taking the command at Yinegai^hill, ha iflstted the Mowing prOQlamation, wlu^ was printed and <«h?Atffttcd through the ^aamf : -'^ M^'^^-^f^m d^^o-u^t v^iimi yj .*j h*r:fi*h »->Hii rf%ki ^nrt lijuU 'J»ilb ,wn- imm^:i*i.if- 134 i HUTOIT Of TBI BlBBLLIOtr :,V *^ DiAB Fbllow-Oitxzbnb, ■^^>ii^ ^'i'-v "■*,*'• "The world with aetonishment beholds, and fatore ages will record, the wonderful and brilliant victories achieved by men almost wholly unacquainted with military tactics, and hardly able to find men to lead them on to conquer. But what force is there can withstand the arms of citizens fighting for Hberty! You see that by our exertions, almost the whole country is m our possession ; but, a few more struggles, and the day is our own. Your brethren in different parts of the kingdom have only been waiting for the signal, and you will see them flocking to the standard of liberty by thou- sands. Unanimity is what I have chiefly to recommend to- you, with subordination and steady obedience to the com- mands of your officers, by which means you will insure success,, and soon will see the downfall of that government which has long being tottering under the weight of its own crimes and enonnities, under the torture and burthen of which you have so long groaned ; but, at the same time let me beg of you to be particular in your conduct towards your prisoners ; remem^ ber, numbers' whom you have in your possession may not be- guilty through principle, but through necessity ; remember they may have been forced to appear against us, for the sake m TBI OOVNTT OV WlZtOBD. 13& of getting their bread, when their hearts have been with ua; '7." S remember that this is not a war for religion, but for liberty, that there are a great number of men, whp are Piptestants, V. who wish well to the cause in which we are engaged. Let the speech of the Protestant bishop of Down, in the Irish House of Lords, when the famous Roman Catholic bill was sent in, never be forgotten, but sink deep in all your breasts.'* hwty.-:fr iff •^folHr^dffioo Uu) '^'■'''"BdwABD RocHE. '^ l^fU T > « Q^j^^^ ^f ^^ United Army of the '^^' ' •'^ * » " County of "Wexford, fightmg m ; " The cause of Liberty. " Vinegar-hUl Oamp." rS^^^ ,'-^^:k ft^M ^<^| mm ^^^' "I^M^M ;*^^.»i_^,.i ti. la-i . t.A . f ^ .f..d.' -. J?A *-- -^ "%■■ -.-.-'■ ■4^- "^ -■' -.'.J.^^'"/:4 After the battles of Ross, Newtown-barry, and Arklow, the ; rebels lost their brilliant hopes; for had they gained Ross> the insurgents of the County of Kilkenny and Waterford would have joined them, nor could all the militaiy force then ^ in those counties have stopped their progress, until they had f. them completely in subjection ; and had they been victorious , at Arklow, nothing could have prevented their march to Dublin, (there being no military force in Wicklow,) where multitudes of rebels were only waiting for the signal ; and had they reached Dublin, the fate, of that city must have been 1# . U ii '.' i ^. a ' • ■ ^' I ■ . V -^ . . . i . . J HI8T0BT or THS BIBKLLION ai^, noWiilislazki&g i^e Bm spirit iW numerovB^afiiid w^ ' dy^punc^ yeonuilu^^ reacty for all ahJ4riEi^, 4iid'' etJ^UM^ik' ^a^lilce #e brcTest vetera^, tintii tlie ^itlM^' ' miii^ of ^^(iind voMteeredi in our counirjr's c^u^/kdii^ ' Wlu!e generat' priest' ItdcKe, wtiO lay at £a^ien-)ii]I, n^'icir Rons, wal^ mii!mg a vast sum of money fy the sai^ df l£&i ' proctecH^ wishes ; we have before us a message frbm citizen Hughes, ^ii IN TBI OOUNTT Or WIXFORD. iW ^1 tilpnmngjowr wiimio have au the men m Forai and JSargjr in your oamp : taking that demand in its full extent, we id iri'- eaiinoi domplj with it; there are' many reasdns againsi it; for iiistiuioe, tiie protection of the coast, proyisions, &o. We haVe, lioweVer, now issued orders, desiring all unmarried men to'Tepaiii* io caihp uninediately: we did so before, bui ^ey were hoi fiiHy obeyed : at the present time particular obedience I • '-if wiH !>e enforced, and we trust you will shortly find at your camp a number of fresh young fellows, as 'well appointed luia provided as our best efforts can accomplish ; aiid we trust you will find in them the meand of gratifying your wishes on the subjeot. We wish you every success in our glorious .kg/^1^a..,i^f^^-- "By order of the Council, *^ jfi^^^iij ^mm^ -^fir*^!^ i^^h r , ' '-mi M.a,7}.«rt«,«fei** "Nicholas GiuY, Sec. ,,^ " Council Ohamber, Wexford. l^i$ h04}^: 1i ^^ P. 8. The appearance of the armed vefjdels off our coast win enforce the necessity of keeping themanied men at home ]^ until a fresh occasion calls upon them.*' /,-:/ I _('i» .. 138 EISTOBT or TBI BIBILLION The garrison of Ross, havmg some intimation 0/ this new project, surrounded the town with barriers, and put themselves in a much better state of defence than before. The Roscom- mon regiment of militia, and a brigade under the command of Brigadier General (the late lamented Sir John) Moore had also arrived, which so much strengthened the garrison, that they now bid defiance to any attack the United army could make ; and the arrival of three fine battalions of Foot Guards at Waterford, about the. same period, greatly damped the further hopes of the rebels in this quarter. . (^ , . On the 19th of June, the garrison of Ross, consisting of about seven thousand men, under the command of Major-Gen. Johnston, marched for Lacken-hill — ^the Loyal Cheshire fencible infantry arriving, and taking the tovm guard. The haziness of the morning impeded their progress, so that they did not arrive at th^ hill till nine o'clock. During the march, which was only two miles, they saw the rebels formed into several extensive lines, standing firmly under arms, as if ready to receive them, and they continued in that position until the troops approached within a few hundred yards of their post ; when not a single man was to be seen on the hill, the enemy having fled towards Wexford, and joined the encampment on the Three Rocks. The flank companies and ■ \-. Uff THl OOUMTT Of WSXf ORD. 139 .«y: -%-, Hompesch's huflBan soon mounted the summit in pursuit of the flying horde, and they got possession of a vast quantity- of plate, lead, provinons, and some of their guns, which they could not conveniently carry off in their precipitAte retreat. m The army encamped that night at Old Ross, where they- hanged several rebels, whom they had picked up in their march. When the intelligence reached Weidbrd that the rebel army had fled from Laoken-hill to the Three Bocks, the town was thrown into terrible consternation, the shops and windows were ordered to be shut, but in half an hour all was quiet again. ' s. General Moore's brigade, which consisted of the second flank battalion, two rifle companies of the 60th regiment, a troop of Hompesch's mounted hussars, and a small train of artillery, taking a direction to the right toward Fooke's mill, encamped that night on the lawn of the Rev. William Sutton, of Long Grage. The place chosen for the encampment was in a line with the front of the house, which was protected on both flanks and in the rear by a thick wood, outoffices, &c. The next morning the rebels left the Three Rocks, and moved to Long Grage, to attack General Moore who had ordered a strong detachment under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Wilkinson, to patrol towards Tintem and Olonmines,. , ji-:**j^.':. .'jtj.iiiA...'.i.'^.;-_-' -■,.'.i-"iV*lirk-*...-^.rfii*..v,i'.-> u6 HISTORt OF TH^ ftXBlBLLlON with a view to scour the oouhiajr, aAd to communicate i^ the troops whom Major General Johnston had ordeired to join him from Duncamion-fort. Lieiitehanl Colonel WiUdiiton returning without any inteUigence of tnem, and Cren^r^ ^oore despairing of their arrival, began his mairoh to Taghmdn, about thre6 o^clock in the evening, ihe rebels, ttoia tife "time they left iheir camp on the Three Rocks, WCire gi^allly reinforced, insomuch that their column extended fduT tblhis, fining ^e road all the way !* Th^jr' i^^hed ^ii^^ UilsMg of their strength, and expressing their desire to be up with the army ; and scarcely had General Moore marched half a mile, when he saw the lebels advancing towards him. He I promptly adopted the most judicious measures to receive their attack, with his small force of about twelve hundred men. He first sent his advanced guard, consisting of tbe two rifle companies of the 60th regiment to sHrmish with them ; whilst a howitzer and a six pounder were drawn ,'■/-'.■« * C^enenil lfo6re, in his ofBcial ftoeoant of the action, mentloiiB the Mbel •imf to> b« a(boai fire or six thoasand ; but Qeneral Priest Bocbe teldr the Qenerali when the former waq a prisoner ia Wexford, that thej w^ more than eighteen thoasand in number, which was afterwai^s found, to l>e nearly correct. IN TBI OOtTNTT OF WEXFORD. 141 / to a cross road above Goffers bridge^ where some coi^panies of light inf^'* Tj formed on each side, under Lieutenant Oolpnel Wilkinson. The rebels attempted to attack the guns^ but thej were repulsed by such a tremendous fire oCmusketrj and grape-shot, as made them retreat in confi)sion oyer the l^idge ; while these were fljing, another large l^y moved t0|ifr(^ds the \p&, ; but majors Aylmer and Daniel, wit^ ^ve Q9;a(ipanies of light infantry, and i^ six pounder, were detached ag&inst; them. The 60th, finding mpre opposition inrfi^ont., pow incUned to, t)ie l|efb, to support that wing ; and j^ep^ the action soon became very bloody, as the jreb^ls COBfided'in their nu^qnbei^, and were well armed with pikes and muskets. The conflict was at length so sharp, tl^t Qepcral Moore was for some time doubtful whether he i^ould Ij^aj^le tp keep t^e fielfl, as the flpwjer of his brigajoie ooii^d not, spline into action, biding obliged to guard the.ammumiipn Pb4; b&ggage. The steady fire of the troops, however, spon mm^< ^^^ ^ntogoniste to wav^^ ; and a party of ^e rebels peiceivingHompesch's hussars bearing down on them, dressed ijgi green, — which was their uniform,---«(}me jof them hupaed ii^;%e rest, thinkii^ that their friends were coming tp i^^ i^pstance, but they were soon convinced to their post of ^e 142 HUTOBT or THl BIBILLION ( ^. a half, the enemy dispersed and fled, the greater part to Vinegar-hill and Wexford. Their loss could not be fuUj ascertained, as the dead lay scattered over a considerable tract of !knd ; and had the situation of the country admitted of a charge from the cavalry in their retreat, many hundreds more would have fallen. Of the royal troops. Major Daniel, of the 41st regiment, and Lieut. Greene, County Dublin militia, were the only officers that fell : the loss otherwise * was inconsiderable. — General Moore took post on the field of battle that night, (it being too late for him to proceed to Taghmon) and soon after the action he was remforced by the 2nd and 29th regiments, under the command of Lord Dalhousie. ,.^ On the day upon which General Johnston's division left Boss, the garrison of Arklow, consisting of the Oavan militia, Durham, Dunbarton, and Suffolk fencibles, detachments of J" tiie Armagh, Londonderry, Antrim, and Tyrone militia, . Ancient Britons, 5th and 9th dragoons, and of all the yeomen h oavahy stationed m Arklow, — ^in all about three thousand eight hundred men under the command of Major-general Needham, were put in motion, for the purpose of attacking the rebel camp on Gorey-hill ; but the onemy, on the approach of the army, abandoned their post, like their brethren at &. IN THl OOUNTT OF WIXVORD. 143 Laclcen, and fled with precipitation to Corragrewa, where they encamped that night, and the next tiaj fled with still greater haste to Enniscorthy and Vinegar-hill. The troope from Arklow were quartered that night in Gorey, where they found various articles of value, which the rebels had left behind them ; also a howitzer and a ship-gun which were ordered to be spiked. They took some prisoners in Gorey, among whom was priest Francis Kavanagh, who, on the court-martial of a rebel the day before in Arklow, was proved to be a most disaffected man, though one of the oldest and most respectable of his class in the county. The next morning the troops marched for Oulard, taking with them priest Kavanagh, who was there discharged, through the interference of some neighbouring gentlemen. The appearance of such a fine body of men, accompanied with so much artillery, ammunition-wagons, baggage, and 'bread-carts, passing through, terrified the rebel inhabitants to such a degree, that they fled in every direction towards Yinegar-hill. General Needham encamped at Oulard that night, during which he received orders from Lieutenant- general Lake, the commander-in-chief, to repair to Vinegar- •hiU, as it was his intention to attack it in the morning. This post was now the only refuge of the rebels, and from -ff 144 ^^ BISTORT OF TBI RIBfLUplf the strength of the situation, thejr supposed tl^tall the troops in Qreat Britain and Ireland would not he ahle to ^odge them from it. However, on the evening of t^e 20^ of June, thsjj wore astonished on beholding his Mi^'estj*s forces advancing in two directions : — a CQliunn from j^o^ im^^r the command of Major-generals Johnson and Eustace, encamped on the right of the hill at about a mile distance. The rebels peeing this, vauntingly cried, ** Thej are not a breakfast for us ; we will soon put them to flight :" and they accordingly advanced with a field-piece, and a column of musketeers, as though they would carry all before them. A sl^rmish took place, but no lives were lost, for the rebels were afraid to go too near, and General Johnson* knew his duty too, well, to remove from his station till the appointed time. Anotlfer j;.J»J'; !V ,'. ■i!L'j!J.. ■■.J'^.Ji-. ,>JJIJ. Lfff Ocoeral Jobpion, (aow Sir Henrj Johnion, O.OwB.) may be Mid io the r«i^}lion of 1788, to have been the militi^rj savioar of.IreI|^d. ,Hit •erTices were ardently acknowledged bjpar late re^Tere(^ loyeireigp, Oeor|^ III, who coo/erred on him the commaDd oftheSlst regim^i^i^t, and afterwards that of the 5th, and appointed him one of his aidei-de- etmp. He still lives to wear bis well-earned honoars and not long • 'jb^fbre the death of the venerable M'Oormick, he h an aflboting inter' view with his brave autiUary in the defence of Rosb, whim h^ fluniliM^j Je^gnat«d aa his friend ^it^ thfi^^r^e^l^t^, ^^^^,. ^^ ,^ IN THI COUNTY OP WIXPOED. |ii vvT . ,..v. \l,* column, coramandedbyLieutenant-goneral Dundas, onoamped about two miles from the hill, on the left of the Slanojr, supported on the right by a third column, under M%jor- generals Sir James Duff and Loftus. Duiing the night, General Needham^s column took its station ou another side of the hill, and all the field-oflScers were employed in recon- noitcriug and forming their plan of attack on the following morning. The whole of the royal forces amounted to about fifteen thousand men. ^ ^ ., . , .^ The different columns surrounding Vinegar-hill manifested the greatest impatience for battle, and at half-past five o'clock on the 21st of June, a gun was fired from the right, and an- swered from the centre and left columns, as a signal for a general attack ; which commenced with a terrible discharge of artillery, and was incessantly kept up for an hour and three quarters. — ^The position of the right column, when the firing opened, being on a rising ground at the west end of the town, and Vinegar-hill on the East, they pUiyed on the rebels with six-pounders ; at the same time the column, covered by the fire of their own cannon, attacked them in the town, and though they had taken the most advantageous positions in the streets and houses, the rebels were obliged to yield, if not to numbers, to the superior bravery and skill of his Mi^esfy*i .If',/ i.y *«"*4**'"«<"-»'* W^ v"'**"" m ^TSrOtt OF f HS RiCBiLLION IE ttodpB ; i&nd the slatfghtdr siiiioiig tWm was very great. Thejr ib^ etideavoured to J9y to fhe 'h'^, t>ut before they could gain Hie top it Wto cl^ated by the centre column, which had fondied ^eirMdon kriidhg gi^und oh ihenorth side oftheeminenc^^ where the rebels had raised a breast-work. Here they were cannonliflkded by six-pounders and mortars, and on seeing the ihetts, they were driven into the utmost confusion, as they could not conceive what they were, some shouting in a kind of delirium (as shell followed shell) '* they spit fire at us **— others, " we can stand anythmg but these guns which fira twice.*' Indeed ^e carnage occasioned by them was very great, and rnlly answered the end. Perceiving the effectB of ^e shittsy'theyfted from iheir stronghold, and took another pwi&oii on me lower Ml, on the east side. The King's troops now mounted )ihe summit, tore down the rebel standiurd, which., Iras bn ihe top 6f the old utindmill, and displayed the ftoyU: 'tiiumeni, towmch^^e rel)eis agaih'b^ defiance, and iflaating 'iiiemselves behind ihe^itbhies, which served them for entrench- ments 2iul1b»read^wdr^, Ciiey kept up a very heavy fire otL tihe li^t'^ngade, commiEimled l>y Colonel Campbell ; but nothing . eouti reaird ihe prt^^ress of these brave troops, %ho i^hed ^ uiem uke Ifunes^hargihg Ihem in tHeir entrenchments^ U&I, WI& ue aissistance of ^e left column wlucli flanked tlieia^ X-n^r .'?:::^i^ v% .v ; V, r\^r...y ,n Of 'mt oouifVT or wjufohd. 1i«7 lib^y |SK^ put them to the loute. llmr own MlUKin Were 4i»,w tumod on them, which threw them into the glwalect ook- fiision ; the Oftyahy then pursued, and mowed tiiem dolm like 4Sra88. Among the slain was priest ISiomas OHnch, a nolo- xious and rresobite rebel ; and their whde loss was estinaM at about five hundred. Throughout the whole of this arduous undertaking, the troops, who were filled with the true spirit of loyalty, displayed astonishing courage and perseverailce. ,Bttt ahis! just after ^e battle, wMle the soMiers were ^et fHted iii^tlh ^ge, a few {k)or loyalists that had encountered the i^kttotdlMbuliies to escape the merciless hands of lihe rebels, and who were transported at the approach of the arn^, unthMik- ingly ran to them for protection, but being in coloured clothes, were shot by their deliverers, before they had time to make known their distress ; in this 'tho soldlen were-Uamelelss, ndt being able for the moment to dij^crimlh^te l)^tWeen the ii^l and the loyalist.* '•*. I .ia"'\u« ■ I .w,-n ' I« tWM ATTAOK OV TIHIOAB-HILL AMD imiiaMWkT, JMI 31, 1798.] Li«tttea»at Sandji, Lwgf^ tnlUOa, a^Mhtd to lit bfttitallitt ; ' tiaaat BaraM, 13th foot, Attached to 4th bftttalion. . ^.-Wi?^ 148 ' '^ HISTOBT OF THE REBELLION While these important events occurred at Enniscorthj and Vinegar-hill, Wexford was a prey to the most horrible anarchy and bloodshed. On the 19th of June, the Protestants in Wexford received the heart-rendmg intelligence that all the .prisoners were to be murdered the next day. That night Major Vesey (now Golonel Veaey), Dublin coanty Militia ; Oolonel King, Sligo militia ; Captain Dunne, iTth dragoon guards ; Captain Shaadea, dOth regiment of foot, 5tb battalion; Lieutenant Barker, Kildare .militia, attached to 4th battalion; Lieutenant Hill, Mid-Lothian fenoible caralry. f«y '*W' ■^•'.'■k*'* PBIVATKS. Ninth Dragoons— 1 rank and file killed. '"■ : 3? .\:r'}^ f^Wi:s*i Mid-Lothian— 1 rank and file wounded. ^.^^^ ^^j/ ^^ ;^,,^^ ■<^^4 Hompeicb's Hussare — 2 rank and file wounded. * j^i|^ ? fj^ Dunlavin Yeomen Cavalry — 1 rank and file wounded. 49th Regiment of Footr-1 rank and file killed, lit battalion Light Infantry— 1 sergeant wounded, 2 rank and file killed, 18 wounded, and 3 missing. :t# t/ Royal British Horse Artillery — 1 rank and file wounded. Sligo Militia— 2 rank and file killed, 2 wounded. Suffolk Fenoible Infantry— 2 rank and file wounded. IN THX OOUNTT OV WBXVOHD. 14» also, one of them, while sitting alone in silent sorrow, heard the death-bell toll as loud as ever she heard it, and much more awful. On the following morning, the never to be for- gotten 20th of June, Thomas Dixon rode to the gaol door, and swore that not a prisoner should be alive against sun<«et ;. 5th battalion 60th Regiment— 1 lergeant missing, 5 rank and file killed, Swonnded. . «• . u iji^'fy 4th Light battalion— 1 sergeant, 3 rank and file killed, 22 wounded, I missing. .:^i*-i>if-T-7jr,-,-,-*'-V;r^^i-Tr' _ ^,,---j*-»i>^,-t; . ♦a^-^-ri'i yp-.rT*^,,**?*- f^*«r-- Royal Meath Militia— 1 sergeant killed. •4 ^':,*^4i->in)W' > ' Roseommon Militia — 1 rank and file wounded, 1 missing. |j^ W^^ifA Dabljin Oountj Militia— 2 rank and file killed, 6 wounded. ^ •. . ■■ > ■%■ '.tfc-. ■"fff , i.-'i^t Ut .i,-f*> * ■■<-^.*m4 ■#,%' y (j^ *-' ^ ^ ft' RBTURN or ORDNANCE TAKIN PROM THE RCBILS. jr.: Three brass six pounders, one three pounder, seven one poundert, on* five and a-half inch howitzer, two four and a>half inch howiteer- totall4. • ^m^tm^^T' * , > I ROUNDS OP AMMUNITION. Seventeen six pounders, thirty one pounders, eleven five and a half incL howitzers — total 58. Note — A cart, with a great variety of balls of different diameters, had been thrown down the hill after the action, and immense quantities of lead and leaden balls were delivered over to the Dunbarton fencible- infantry. >s mmm' op^ mw isBBi&ioir liur4hiliii44 nt 4a[W9} fnd trt^ » gUasof wine," adding «* thatljhe p^i^pile fJMii^ hf ^tifi^J" The captain, however, indignantly refi^ i^f invitation, ai^d» filled with abhorrenoe an4 difttreaa of mii^, waj&ed dilenUy away. AU thi^ tj|ne> the sanguinary pike-mve^ CQn^n(^4 9^!)^ i^g the poor Proidstantson the bridge ; some thej perforated in places not mortal, to prolong and increase their tortnre ; others they would raise ak^ on their ]Hke8, and while t)ie m^rable victim writhed in the extreme of agony, his bjpod 8t|[;eanuBg down the handles of their pikes, they exulted roi^^ hi^ wi|)h savage joy. In the midst of this terrific scene, 0|$neral Edward Roche galloped up in great haste, 1^4 cofl^pjifmd^tlje dfuifttf)-^ to arms, declajripg? ** th^t Yw ^r-hill was nearly surrounded by the King's troops, and that all should repair to camp, as reinforcements were wanting/* This express had a wonderful effect : the assassini instantly closed i|ie bloody scene, and fled in all directions, leaving three of the prisoners on their knees, namely, WilUam HafPil- ^, William Q'Oonnor, and Charles Jackson. Some of the \v 152 BISTORT or THB BIBILLION .1 rt bel guard returned soon after, and conveyed back to tlie gaol the prisoners, who had still continaed on their knees,, without making the least eflbrt to escape, being stupified with terror. But that sanguinary monster, Thomas Dixon, return- ing, he soon evinced that his thirst for Protestant blood was not yet satiated, by ordering otit the remainder of the pri- soners from the gaol and prison-ship, the greater part of whom were tortured to death in like manner as the former. He then proceeded to the market-house, and having fixed his vulture eye on others, dragged them to the fatal bridge for excution. After butchering these, a lot often more was brought forthwith and barbarously murdered. The third tame they took out eight- teen, and were massacring them, when Dick Monk rode into town from Vinegar-hill, with his shoes and stockings off*, and shouting, " D — ^n your souls you vagabonds, why don't you go out and meet the enemy that are coming in, and not be murdering thus in cold blood ?" Some Protestant women followed him, and asked him, '^ what news?'' he replied, "bad news indeed, the King's forces are encamped round Vinegar- hill." He then rode towards the convent, and perceiving the women (who were anxious to be more fully informed of thi& matter) following him, he drew out a pistol, and swore,. " that if they came any farther he would blow their brains ».N IN THB OOVNTT OF WIXPORD. Wl5St ,V\ out.'' Shortly after, Priest Corrin was seen running toward» the bridge. There were six of the poor Protestants killed out of tho last party that were taken down before he arrived, namely, Philip Bacon, Samuel Gordon, William Stedman, Thomas Rigiy, James Dowzar,and Thomas Shaw; and it was with great difficulty he prevailed upon them to spare the rest^r-- for after using, all the arguments he possibly could without effect, he at length took off his hat, and desired them to kneel down and pray for the souls of the poor prisoners before they put them to death ; they did so, and having thus got them in the attitude of devotion, he said, ^' Now pray to God to have mercy on your souls, and teach you to shew that kindness towards them, which you expect from Him, in the hour of death, and in the day of judgment." This had the desired effect ; he then led them off the bridge without oppo- ation, and they were sent back to confinement. The massacre of that day ceased about eight o'clock in »!ie evening. Out of forty-eight prisoners who had been confined in the market- hquse, only the following person?, escaped ; ..,,^^_^fmnu^m-^^< n Matthew Kellj. William Kennedy. James Hamilton. Benjamin Warren. Matthew Fenlon. William Kelly. 4*}i^l if-^'< ^It'i- John Combes John Kendrick. Joseph Bavistor. James Patchel. Peter Jadd. William Shepherd. mi BISTORT OF Tl^f RBHILUOH WUlUm HarrU. John Makaj. Sfutdwith Martin. Robert Styles. Robert Ifekaj. Oeorgt Tnjlor.* i'Tij a ii • The reiy awftd appearance of tlus eremng, and the bloody «cenes of the day, alarmed the renuuning Protestants, and terrified them beyond description; for the rebels declared 'Openly, that they would put every Protestant man, woman, and ohihl:, to the sword on the Mowing morning. J When tlie fngiiiTes from Yinegar-hill arrived at Wexfbrd A 156 IIIBTORT Of THE RBBKLLION When General Moore received these proposals, he dis- patched them to Lieutenant-General Lake, who returned the following answer : vw.'i^fl- ** Lieutenant General Lake cannot attend to any terms offered by rebels in arms against their Sovereign; while they continue so, he must use the force entrusted to him, with the utmost energy for their destruction. ^* To the deluded multitude he promises pardon, on their delivering into his hands their leaders, surrendering their arms, and returning with sincerity to their allegiance. .ir^'M - ',j),h'^^' flc^f'i (Signed) ■w " G. Lake." Eaniicortby, 22nd of June, 1*798. 2V'0'^*' i-'T'f ^^ri^. Vi '-^■>j;'»n n t After this embassy was sent off. General Priest Roche endeavoured to persuade the rebels to go out and meet the army that were advancing towards the town, telling them, ^* it was better and more honourable for them to fight to the last, than suffer themselves to be cut in pieces by the King's forces." All his entreaties were in vain ; they absolutely refused to go on any account. The popish bishop then or- dered them all to kneel down, till he would give them his bene- diction ; and in about half an hour the drums beat in retreat. \»u%!.»;.; i'x - v r,u ■%• IN TUB OOUMIT OF WEXFORD. li? Oenerai Roche and his men fled to KilUnio, in the barony of Forth, where they encamped that night, and early the next morning went to the borders of the county Kilkenny. Perry and his men fled over the bridge towards Kilmuckridgo. General Moore^s brigade arrived at the Windmill-hill, above Wexford, about five o^dock in the evening, and sent a detachment of two companies of the Queen's Royals, to take possession of the garrison. Captain Boyd of the Wexford cavalry, and a few of his troop were the first that appeared ; they came (amidst innumerable blessings,) galloping up to the gaol door to see the prisoners. Many a tear was shed on this happy occasion by the overjoyed inhabitants ; but Captain Boyd cautioned the prisoners not to come out till the arrival of the army, lest on their coming into town they might be taken for rebels, (not having military clothes) and put to death ; shortly after the Queen's Royals arrived. Des- cription fiuls in attempting to set forth the emotions which arose in the breasts of the poor Protestants, who had been doomed to destrucMon. The entrance of the army was pecu- liarly striking ; for instead of rushing in with all the violence of enraged men, as might be expected, they marched along in such solemnity and silent grandeur, that not a whisper was to be heard through all the ranks. Many wept with joy 158 mSTORT Of Tflk RIBirXIOK ■•i to MO their deliverers, who soon opened the priflon-doorli^ " and set the prisoners free.** Thus wtw the town of W^- jford recovered from Popery's porseeutmg reign, on the 21st of June, 1798, after bemg in possession of the rebols tirenty- three dijrs. Had the army arrived a day soonct, they wo^ld hare saved ninety-seven Protestants, who were cmelly butcfh- ered on the bridge. Indeed the shocking acts of barbarity prfttftised dnring this period, would make as many pictares of inhdmanity as are to be found in the history of the martyrs. Lieiitenftnt-Gener^l Lake now issued a proclamation for the iippfehension of all the rebel leaders ; assurmg the dekdeid ttRdtittide, that audi as would come forward aitid deliver up their arms, should ^nd mercy tmd pr6tec^tion ; he also iMttt^d igeneral ei^eirs that no person lAtould be put to dealh, ttiileto lie had been tried and condemned by a eonrtmatrtial ; Wia he ^ifb«ilde 'OiKt tibyMMMt^nt, ofr othisr pehkm '^hot^d be iiidl«l8tod, strictly ohiirging the ^Idlcfs ndt to take aWay ihliiriide from tny iddividiiai ^witihout h«>teg ftMt^Hfor it. a%e'd«tf^f«ryfeW'4Hnili %^i% broa^t iti. I* Vt* y .i;.'.v n ^^^* IN TBI OOUlfTT Of WBXfORD. 15» Perry and 'bis menfled towards Kilinuclmage, and on tlie nejct-day, Friday the 22nd of June, they pasHed through Gorey, '^here they surprised some of the neighbouring yeomanrf and loyalints, who that day had come from Arklow, for the purpose of seeing the situation of the country. The yeomen and such of the loyalists as had arms, gallantly withstood tfiem, till perceiving the rebek endeavouring to surround them, they retreated to ArkloW| and were pursued by the 'teoels; the following with six oih: rs wer ^ slaughtered by the Way. That day lias since been known by the nr.r i ? of *' Bloody Friday." ■ ■^^':'>-" ■• ' "''\ ";':-:-'-'-"-^'-^' ;f|: Bates, William. Biitos, R\i if,k' /n Belbro I jtroceed^I iHaU tiike the libwHy ef iecwfl% liie extraordinary case of James Bowsome, which aaflforde HISTORY OF THE REBELLION . W iFM'*-J-'\'th'^ r* r ^t r-i. %' ^^^- -w-; ■.* ™- •^ d^oUi^r instance of the sanguinary spirit of Popery. On the retreat of the loyalists from Gorey on the ahove melancholy were appre- hended and oonveyOd to Wexford. Harvey*s trial ODm- menoed on the same evening — ^he appeared to be mvch iir TRi wtmrr or wkXFORii. 1«S ik^tattc^, and 8p<^e Httlc. It appeaored in eridenee thai lie acted as comlliander in-chief of the rebel forces, at the WUe ' of Rotf^, on the 5th of Jiine ; and a letter to the commahdlMr- in-chief of the King's troo^js, mgned tvith th; naxne of B; B. Hah^, summoning hxih to surrender tiie to^ to the rebeilti, was prodacod in evidence on the trial, and acknowledged by Mt. Harvey to be his hand-writing. The unhappy man pto- duced many witnesses in his defence, but none to contradidt the mun facts — ^he did not deny his having acted as oonii- mander of the rebel forces, but endeavoured to exten^te Itis conduct, by saying, that he accepted the command W prievctit mkiih. grCatcir evils, which would accrue from itt' falling into other hands, and wi<& the hope of 8i]ttTenderiiBg th^ command, one day or othet, with gre^ater advanitftg^ to Mtmnty. He ha*: tiV i6<^fems^, attd after a trial mfeiob^ laiited nuBsary to the robel army ; but being conyicted, he also suf- fined, as a traitor. ' ■$wym > Matthew Keughe, the robel governor of Wezforf!, had fonnerly been a drummer in his Mi^esty's 88rd rogiment of fool, and by his extraordinary merit was advanced from that u: i4t"^]ai2tt^ ■'■■ .; nr THB oomiTT or wizvobd. station to the ratik of captain in the 8im($ M^^ttt. Hatmg married in Wexford, he retired on half-pay, which he aetnally received at the breaking out of the rebellion. - Ee was abont fifty yean of age, rather above the middle sise, and might be called a well looking man ; his head was buld in front ; «nd he wore his hair, which was remarkably white, tied ^hind. Some years back, he was appointed a magistrate of the connty of Wexford, but his commission was afterwards taken from him for some political ' oasons. On the alarm being given that the rebels were rising in tiie county, he volunteered in one of the yeomanry corps ; and on Whit- Sunday, was employed in establishmg fortificatione j repulse ihe insurgents. On the following day, he was appointed to command a party of loyalists, who were to guard one of I3ie entrances to the town ; yet on the rebels taking possession of Wexford, he joined them, and was chosen governor ; in which cdtuation he continued till it was recaptured by ike Toyal troops, when he was taken prisoner, convicted on the clearest evidence, and executed. .«^l \ Esmond Kyan, rebel captain of artillery^ was the youn|iit son of the late Howard Kyan, of Mount Howard, in the •county of Wexford, Esq., and his mother wcs lunt to the pre- «ent Sir Thomas Esmond, Bart. He was about fifty years u aae VBtem: w BIBILUOII ol $^, fiye lor% after the army Uiok possessioTi of ^o lown, i^ oi^^n^ tto d)UPTender bimsdU\ but being met by the picqxiet gnai >^ Im^ .WftS &ko icaiid fToUty and h&nged. t^«f% wc > ^ >; /^^nr «'?;*ir Edward E 'e>ia) the rebel general, had boen a middling ft^emr arid ma: taier near Wexford ; and, until thift time, never l^peared in any conspicuous character, except that he was piermi^ijtent sergeant of the Shehnalier yeomen cavahy, com- uHittded ^y Captain Le Hunte : he was about five feet seven inches high, rather corpulent, about forty years old, and had liio more the appearance of a general than any other man, except that he w<»r6 two large gold epaulets, and a ulk sash «)lld belt, in which he was tried, and sentenced for transport tation. He was accordingly sent to Newgate in Dublin w^^b other convicts ; but before the vessel was reacfy to convey them to their destination, he, with some others di«d sudden^ ; and it was thought they had taken poison. ^ ^ . '^ ^' s* .^i«*"^>^ Bichard Mona^han, alias Pick Monk, » r^bmas Dixon, rebel captain, was the son of a pubfican in Oastle^bridge, near Wexford ; in Ins youHi he was bound as an i^pfentice to a tanner in New-Ross ; but not liking that business, be went to sea, and in some thne was appcnnted master of one of Us brother*s vessels who was an opulent merohant in Casde-bridge. During the rebellion, as our preceding pages have shown, be was noted for cruelty and cowardice, and had been the means of shedding torrents of Protestant blood. His wife, if possible, was more sangmni^y than himself ; but wherever they secreted themselves, they never could be found, though a large reward was ol^red iw their apprehension. <';<^" 168 HIBTOBT or TBI BUILLION j.The rebel forces having at length been expelled from thie unfortunate county, it now remains to inform the reader of their conduct, from the retaking of Wexford by the King's troops, to their* total 8ep)t^ration. But previous to my enter- ing upon this, I shall insert two other instances of their cruelty; the first attested upon oath, the second delivered by a person of the strictest integrity, who suffered by their barbarous hands. A few weeks after the battle of Vinegar^ - hill, an affidavit was made before Alderman Fleming, then lord mayor of the city ^ 0;^> lin, by Richard Sterne, a man about seventy years of tigv . And in old inhabitant of Ennis- corthy, to the following purpcrt : v.wm> .^ '^ That he iit his flight from Enniscorthy, was overtaken by a great party of rebels, on their way to Wexford, near the seat of Mr. Ogle ; that they were headed by priest John Murphy, on horseback, who carried before him a large cru- cifix ; that he was accosted by one of their officers as an Orangeman, and asked if he would turn Roman Catholic ? that he replied he would not ; for having lived all his life a Protestant, he could not think of turrii/)g in his old day ; that upon his deoiaring this, he was threatened with instant death, but that life being sweet, he on recollection asked, if he should ticrn would his life be spared ? tliat he was answered ^ \- 1 ( Iir THB OOmfTT OP WIZPORD. 169 ' / in the negative ; but tliat in mercy he should be ahof; ; if he did not turn, that he should be tortured to death with jnkes ; that he then enquired, why they would kill him though he should turn ? they answered lest he should after- wards torn heretic agun ; that he then begged hard, that application might be made to the priest in his behalf; and that when the priest was asked, what should be done with him ? he replied, what they liked ; that he then told them if he must die, he preferred being piked for being a Protes- tant, to being 'shot after denying his faith; but that he requested they would bring him before Father Murphy, which 1iiey did ; that because he did not instantly fall on his knees and bow to the crucifix, he was n'oruck on the head with a spade-handle, sbcd with iron, and left for dead ; that when he recovered he saw Aone of the rebels ; and judges that he lay on the r^.^ad senseless for some hours ; that he found he had been stabbed ir various parts of the body with pikes, and was so sore that he could hardly rise ; that he received one stab which passed entirely through him, from the right to the^vift side, and thinks it was WiX'h a cane-sword, or some hc*)! weapon, the orifice of the wound being small ; that he ky so long, his wounds stopped bleeding, the blood being congeG.<^a, and he was so faint he could hardly walk ; ..«*»:■ w 470 BISTOBT OV THl BBBBLUOW t)^^t thio Stroke he received on his head hud dinhM him m^oh ; that with the little strength he had, he cre]»4 off the road, and went t'^^rtir'^s the Slaney, (ahont half a mile cBe- taiit) expeotis*^ betbre he should be obterred, to g^ Mr. Ogle's house, the landnsteward of which he had had a long aoquaii 4UAce with, hoping thertHv to get assistance in his deplorable condition ; that when be got to the wnr, and cavLc to the Pill, (a place like a canal, to keep the boats in) wLO;re stood two women at the other nde, wJio, when they »aw him, rin and drew the boat to their side of the water, 8£ jing) * 1^0 matter what becomes of you, for yon have not long to live,' (he being honid to look on and ahnost covered with blood) ; that he now went np the PiU, seeking a passage, oat conld find none, and returning to the boat looked wdst^ fuliy at it, and regrettod he ha^d not in his youth leanied to swim ; that though it was but about two yards fieom him, it ,|i4ght as well, he thought, have been a mile ; that he teool- looted however, while there is life there is hope, therefture resolved to use his utmost strength, and endeavour to get to it, so ventured into the water fui<^ teached the boat, ooxitrary to his expectations in a few efforts, and got safe to Mr. Ogle's ; that bis friend i><» ct *ward behaved kind to him, haiVing nourished buu three or four days, and procured him IN TTIB OOUMTT OF WB«fOU). in j| |p88 b«ck to Buusoorthy ; that tke ptas howovw, Uid ntt avfii], 18 he was there put into priaoo, where he retoAuied i^ome days ; that he was aikrward brought up to Vinegar- hUI, with ijoany more Protestants, to end their wietohed exisl- ^nee ; that all his fellow priBoners were murdered, but that he was spared, by obtaining a protection from an old firiend in power, brother to one of the prieste/' Thus this poor old ipm pn^videntiaUy esci^d, to make the abore affidavit of ^e barbarous treatment which he received. ; . The following distressing account was delivered by Edward ^ttfijoi Mangan, of whose veracity there can be no doubt : . <* That on Saturday, the 16th of June, 1798, four rebels came to his house, on entering which, they fired a shot, and a^ed why he did not rep^ to their camp ? thai he replied, he was an elderly man and inactive, and that he had a large family which required his attention at home ; that the rebels would admit of no excuse, but after setting the house on fire, dragged him away ; and being joined by another rebels they conducted him to a large marl'-hole, wbloh was fqll of water, ^d asked him could he swim ? t(t which he replied in the negative ; that they then said, we will give yoii your choice, ^ither to leap in the marl-hole, or kneel down and be shot ; i^Vhe replied, hard sentence, but that he was determined ■f-^r^: 172 ■fStOlT or TBI ElBILLIOP r^: toot to be aoooasarj to Ug own death; tbat he hoped how- ever, thej would be so honourable as to take him to their oamp, and try him aooordmg to their law, and that if there was any thing in his conduct worthy of death, he refused not to die ? that instead of consenting to this proposal, they determined upon his death ; that they led him a little farther, when one said to the other, Sinnot, are you a belierer T Sinnot replied in the affirmative ; tUat he then turned to Mr. Stacy, and asked, what do you believe in ? that he answered, in the Lord God that made the heavens and the earth ; that they then asked, do you believe the Virgin Mary is blessed above all other women ; that he answered, I do ; then they asked, what makes you believe so ? that he replied, because it is left upon record. * Henceforth shall all generations oall me blessed ;' that they then damned him, and said, how do you know what is left upon record ? adding, don't you know that though you are now alive, your soul is broiling in hell, and all of your sort ? that he replied, he did not believe diat ; that they then enquired if he went to mass since the rebellion ? that he answered in the negative, as thinkmg it more prudent to keep away, lest they should say, he went through fear, and that he was determined never to embrace iheir doctrine ; then said they, you must die ; to which he IM TBI COUNTY OF WlXfOED. 17$ MMwered, I fear not what mo*', viut do onto me ; that they then ordered him to kneel down, declaring he thoold lire no longer ; that he obeyed, and was scarce on his knees, when Edward Sinnot, who was then one of his neighbours, went behind and discharged his piece at him; that the ball entered about the small of his back, and came out at the lower part of his belly ; believing they had killed him, they went on their way to the camp ; that though so badly irounded, he had presence of mind to lie still, concluding that if they returned, and perceived any signs of life, they would put lum to death at once ; ^i .=*v . '\iM'f »A» fV^ /v f*r • *-- "f ijt .^.nf ' I shall now procoed to notice the farthef movements of the rbbds afi»r their flight from Wexfbird and Vinegar-lull. Hiou^ ilio;^ fohnc^d a junction on the 22nd of June, in the' mountsiaB b^tweeih tho counties of Wexfbrd and Kilkenlta^V thciir intlsiition w^ to sot)arato: for which purpose, they formc^d &eir fbroes into two divisions; one commanded by gonerii! RocJhe, EdW'&M Fitzgerald; and priest John MurptT;^/ to matth into tihe ootmity of Kilketmy ; and the other party j^ undet tfittjy priest Reams, Garret and ^'^^am Byrne, to occupy thd moiiiitAinOus part« of TVlbldow. For this end t^e body nll<9er gc&dral Koohe beg&n their mlurch early in ^e idgtit' df iSiit day, aild on the following inotning made •I ^ TIK JW OQITIiyr OF WBXFOBD. 175 their appearance opposite GoreVbridge, a village on the' river Barrow, in the ooiwty of Kilkenny. The royal forces stationed -there, oonaisfced only of one troop of the 4th Dra- goon Cruards, and a compi&ny of the Wexford militia, who prepared to stop their progress ; and for that purpose took possession of the bridge; but the army, on perceiving ihe rebels' planting their cannon on the opposite side, and fording" the river in considerable n>imbers, thought it more prudent' to retreat. Ail the dragoons escaped ; but twenty-fouh of the Wexford militia were taken prisoners ; and eight of €iem^ bein^ Protestants, were murdered on that and the foUowing< day. The intention of the rebels were now to form a junc-' tion with the Colliers, and after taking Castlecomer to pro- ceed to KHkenny on Monday the 26th. •. ■ r' r - - f^' ."noi fVom 6ore*s-bridge the rebels proceeded thfou^KeHy^' mounts (plundering as they we&t akag) to a hHl five imiel> £rom Castteoomer , in the range of moufitains called Ihe Ridge ; where they encamped tha^ ni|^t, detenmning to altiuek Oa**' tleoomer on the following morning. The Protestiants of the c6Uiiitry being terrified at the appearance of the rebels, and' knowing that if they staid at hokne their lives would be in dan^ get, tHistened to OastleeomeiP. About one o'clock, i^'ti^p' <)! ^e 4th Dtngecta Guards, a company of the Boyil IMim^' ■ Xi ■;-. ':_i^^?.ii(-Li=i-irtiitA'.-:L."'_- 176 HISTOBT OV THl REBILLION |. nhire Militia, and a few yeomen, arrived from Ballinakill ; tHese, with a troop of the Rojal Irish Dragoons, two com- panies of ihe Waterford militia, and one troop of yeomen eayahy, about two hundred and fifty in all, made up the entire of the military force. ^ ^ After hearing ma^ from priest John Murphy, the rebels quitted their encampment, and marched towards Castle- comer ; the nulitary at the same time marched out of town to meot the assailants, who advanced in the most daring manner, and in tolerable order, with their gun's-men in fi^nt. The engagement began between six and seven o'clock, with a gmart fire, which was briskly kept up on both sides for some time ; but the army at length gave way, and retreated to the town. The military now took possession of the bridge, where there was a hot action for some time, when the commanding (Acer ordered a retreat. The cavaliy and some of the is&ntry instantly obeyed ; but about twenfy of the Waterford militia absolutely refused, declaring, *' they would prefer death to dishonour." On the retreat of the army, the perfidious inhabitants set the town on fire, and the few mili- tary who disobeyed ordetB, with about thirty loyalists of the iawn, were all that now remained to engage the enemy. M%jor (General Sir Charles Asgill, however, arrived at this juncture^ ijnfli a reiiiioifcet^eiic of nine liunarecl men ; and ine rebe^, peVceiving sueh afi army, sheltered themselves in the woods, aitfd fired on the military. But eighteen rounds of grapenshot soon dislodged them, when they were attacked on all sides ; and about four in the afternoon they retreated, leaving Hj^wAt^ of fHvir hundred dead, while the loss on the side of the royal troops was very inconsiderable. For the safety of Kilkenuy, l!he trobps were obliged to return there that mght, aAd six hundred loyalists fled with them. They left the greater part of their property behind, which a party of the ■ r rebels, who returned, carried off. After the defeat at Oastlecomer, the rebels kept hovering about the mountains, not wishing to remtun long m one sta- tion, till they collected their forces, which were very lAtlih. scattered after the action. They again formed their camp on the ridge, where they remained all the evening of the 25llh of June, when they left that situation, and advanced towftrds Kellymount and Gore's-bfiuge. ' ' . .- On the 24tu, this troops in Maryborough, consisting of a part of the Royal Downshire Militia, under Major Matthews, with their battalion guns, and the Ballyfin and Maryborough yeoniftla cavalry, under the command of Captain Pole (how Lord Maryborou^), were put m motion, and marched I! il^ BISTORT Of TBI BXBKLLIOIf towards the Collieries of CasUecomer and Donane, by order of General Sir Charles Asgill. On the road they perceived CasUecomcr to be on fire, and, advancing still to Moyad, saw the rebels in great force on the rising grounds above Donane. They now received intelligence that Sir Charles had that morning engaged them at Castlecomer, and that his force was at lear)i nr ij\ theirs, but that he had for certain reasons returned to Kilkenny. Major Matthews, thinking it rather late to attack them, fell back to T^mahoe, where an express arrived from Sir Charles, desiring the Major, with the troops under his command, to return to Maryborough. This was answered by an express from Major Matthews, proposing to Sir Charles to attack the enemy the next morning, oc the road from Donane, and that he would engage them o*:. the road from Timahoe. To this Si" Charles refused to agree, as his troops were fatigued ; but he left it to Major Matthews to attack them, if he could with safety, or return to Mary> borough. The Major chose the former ; and, having made proper arrangements, pursued the rebels to Moyad the next morning, where he had last seen t^iem. They soon moved from this station to the Ridge, to which they were followed by Major Matthews, who was again disappointed in bringing tliem to action, as they had marched to Gore's-bridge. The IN THB OOVNTT OF WIXFORD. 179 ■i eavalry then went to Old Leighlin for intelligence, from which place Captain Pole sent an express to Sir Charles, who lay in Kilkenny, informing him of what they had done, and their intention of attacking the enemy wherever they found them. Here they met with great kindness from Mr. Vigors, a gentleman of high respectability, who supplied the troops with horses and oars to carry them, as they were much fatigued, and accompanied them himself, giving them every assistance in his power. The whole reached L^ighlin-bridge about twelve o'clock at night ; and, in two hours after, an express arrived from Sir Charles, desiring the troops to meet him at Gore Vbridge at five o'clock on the following morning. They instantly marched ; but on the road Major Matthews received such intelligence as induced him to alter his route, i>\ order to get between the rebels and the mountains. At the same time, he sent intolligence of this movement to Sir Charles, who had marched with detachments of the Wexford re^ment. Colonel Lord Loftus ; the Wicklow, Col. Howard and some regular and yeomen cavalry, under the command of Major Donaldson, of the 9th Dragoons. Major Matthews cama ii> view of the rebels, advantageously posted on a rising ground, in an exteD3ivd flat, at Kilconey "Bam Goi'eVbriug;e, and, discharging a field-piece at them. ISA HISTbEt Of TfliM IXBitLIO^ ti'ii3ki m b 9Kk»< A^y TtWeS i\mX a mile to ftmn their line. The »nfty f^en pttraned in column, and, by the time the rebels iiad fontted, Sir Charles attacked them on the other side of the hill ; and being joined by Major Matthews, charged them i^ ^ v / \ manner ai soon broke their line, when a terrible 9> .;^hter ensued. The two bodies now uniting, pursued ike rebels into th;«i - y i^iiliJ -^ii'>; Fifth Dragoons— one horse missing. '. v '^ ■ - . < i ru; j> . Ninth Dilagoons— one sergeant wounded, one horse killed. >' -^ % -' * i Hompesbh's Hussara— one rank and file wounded. . ^ « Maryborough Oaralry—one rank and file wounded, four horses killed. f«' ' MTUftN OF OBDVANOB, COLOURS, AMIIVNinOV, AMD 8TO.HB8 TAKBH. One colours, five four-pounders, ijTe uae-pounder, four swiveto, #ftw guns, and a number of pikes, which were destroyed as soon as takes ; a number of shot, of different sizes, with a quantity of shot and moulds. 5fore«— Black cattle, one hundred and seventy ; sheep, one hundred ; horseSi'seven hundred. Total, nine hundred and seventy. Also i tittt qua&tity of bedding, blanketing, and wearing apparel. IN Tffp OOUNTT or WJMJNN^. m 'A V 'I •When it is known that the rebel aimy would not hafe h«(e& brought into aetion but for the exertions of the Uttle eorps under Major Matthews, who pursued a large body of them, at least five thousand strong, with ten pieces of cannon, fca* nearly forty miles without orders or directions from any gen-^ eral officer whatsoever ; and that except some broad they got at Leighlin-bridge, not a man of them tasted food for forty- four hours, it must 'oe allowed that they did their duty, and that they deserved well of their country. General Perry, Priest Reams, William and GanretByme, of BaUymanus,and the party under their command, remained for a few days on the Wicklow moimtsdus, from whence they marched to attack Hacket's town, in the county of Oarlow, early on the morning of the 25th of June, where the garrison consisted of only fifty of the Antrim militia, lieutenant Gardi- ner ; fifty Upper TalbotVtown cavalry, Captain Hume ; twenty-four Shillelagh cavaby. Lieutenants Bradwell and Taylor ; forty-six HacketVtown infantry, Captiun Hardy ; and thirty Coolattin infantry. Captain Chamney ; a small number indeed to engage upwards of four thousand rebels. The town was assailed about six in the morning by mnlti- tudes, who got round it in such a manner as made it impos- sible with so small a force to defend every approach. Lieu- y\ M ^;% :i'/ m HISTOBT OV TBI RBBBLLIOIT tenant Gardiner perceiving that their intention was to sur- round him, drew his men into iihe barracks, and in this retreat Captain Hardjr fell, bj which a most valuable life was lost to his country and his friends. The rebels now pursued with loud huzzas, and set the town on fire ; and the rear of the barracks becommg the principal scene of attack, it was well defended bj the Rev. Mr. M^Ghee, and a few good men, who were posted in a house advantageously situated on an eminence, and completely flanking the barracks. The eiugagement was obstinate and bloody ; the contest lasting without intermission in the midst of flames, till between three and four o'clock in the afternoon, when the rebels slowly drew off their force, carrying away many of their dead and wounded, though numbers of their bodies were thrown into the houses while on fire. From the total want of shelter and provision, as well as the apprehension of a fresh attack, it was now resolved to abandon the town, and march for Tul- low, eight miles distant, where the troops, arrived safe in the evening, and experienced every comfort the liberal inhabi- tants could bestow. The discomfited rebels next day burned the barracks and stores, and laid waste the houses of the loyal- ists for many miles round. vf -t.^- v^j ^:4' 't r^n.)' : :Ui':Aiti'^r jtn^M: »»Vf'>5^ ■,■ ^ « ■ >;' ^rif" {'^■:KWW'^-"M!f: 4 IM THE OOUNTT OW WIXTOU). 193 mnauM or thi killbo, vtcitsjid, ajid mibi»o, or aia Muwnta TBOOPI t* TH> DWiaOl or liOUT'S-TOWV, JDNI TU 25tb, 1798. <— ',0% r.^r,::^*^. orrioni ullid. 'Captain Hardy, Haoket'a-iown Yeomen Infantry. Upper Talbot'a>town Oavairy. ■! rank and file killed, I wounded. Antrim Detachment— 1 sergeant, 4 rank and file, wounded. Hacket's-town Infantry- 1 rank and file killed, 6 wounded. > Ooolattin Infantry— 8 rank .ad file wounded. Supplementary — 2 rank and file wounded. ;iiifi'^ •'y*>i''ir'. 'j vT; The rebels now became much weakened, and were chased through different parfc» of the country by the army and yeo> manry ; however they istill kept in bodies, almost dead with I hunger, and the great fati^e of running from hill to hill. ' On the 30th of June, information was brought to Gorey, that the insurgents wi e advancing in some force towards Oarnew — a small town on the borders of the counties of Wicklow and Wexford, but situated in the former. General Needham, with the tr ♦t)s under his command, was then en- camped on Gorey-hill, and being apprised of this circum- stance ordered out a rCcOnnoitring party of the Ancient Brit- Tfflk cavalry, and some of the yeomanry. After marching a few 184 HISTORT or THB RIBBLUON Tnilctf) they were joined by a detachment of the 5th dragooni goards, and son other troops under the conunand of Lieu- tenant Colonel Puleston of the Ancient Britoir , which made them nearly one hundred and fifty strong. As the patrol advanced, they met a woman who informed them that the rebels were near Bally EIUs, and that they had not much ammunition. The colonel, turning to his men, swore he would cut them hi pieces ; and, making all speed, he descried them coming along the side of Kilcavan-hill. When the rebels saw the cavalry advancmg in so rapid and incautious a manner, they instantly quitted the high-way, and lay down under cover of a hedge, till the army should come up ; having to all appearance abandoned their horses, baggage-cars, and wonnded, whicli they had brought from the battle of Hac- ket's-to^^ii Iho ditch, behind which the rebels laid to the right, was very high, while on the left was a wall, with a deep dyke between it and the road. When the patrol came up,, tho rebels opened on them a tremendous fire of musketry, while they were so securely sheltered, that the cavalry cou^d do no execution, bemg obliged to gallop stooping under cover of the hedge. Not being sufficiently cautious to avoid the cars, they rode agaiiist and over«'^ew some of them ; those jia tj^e tm pf^a^ing ^**orw^4 at the si^e time, ajid being al^p> \ IN THE COUNTY OF WyXFOlU). 18& obliged to stoop, could not look before them, Dor •uddenly atop ; they therefore tumbled, men and horses, oue oy«r the other whilst some of the horses* feet got fastened in the shafU of the cars, so that the road was strewed with mfon and horses, plunging and tumbling a^'>ut. The rebels taking advan- tage of this confuf.ioD r n them, piked and shot twenty- five Ancient Britons, ''the 5th dragoons, andoight of the yeomanty, with .lists who went out with the patrol, besides wounding many. The remainder parsed on through Camew, and, by taking another route, got back ta Gorey. During this transaction, the Wingfield dismounted cavalry and infantry, under the command of Captain Gowan^ came up with the rebels, and having no particular uniform, the enemy thought they were part of their own forces ; but the yeomanry, seeing their opportunity, attacked them with great spirit, killed a number of them, and then retreated to Gorey, without the loss of a man. By the defeat of the patrol, the rebels acquired a supply of arms and ammunition; and, knowing that Camew was in a feeble state of defence^ they resolved on attacking it ; but after an uninterrupted con- test of two days, they were repulsed by its gallant yeoipanry, who killed a number of them, and drove the rest into the country. The town of Camew was however destroyed. n '.K---:'i ._ I i^. «, .^^1^ ■^-v^. IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) // inrJ^ ^ 1.0 !.l UiUTA 125 US mm Jim ^ Uo 12.0 u u& P|U|i^ ^ 6" ► Photographic Sciences Corporation 23 WIST MAIN STREiT WEBSTER, N.Y. 14SM (716)t72-4S03 6^ ^ 188 HISTOET or TBI ■IBILUOH After iha defeat, the rebels fixed their encampment en a large moontain oaUed the Whiiie4ieaps,whio1i separatee the ooonties of Wexford and tVlcklow. Here they remained till the mordttg of the 5th of July, when two columns of tiie King's tnkups, under the command of Oenerals Sir James Duff a&d Needham arrived, with an intention to surround the hill atid make a general attack. The rebels, having recmved intelfigence of their purpose, moved off the hill early in the mommg, but they were met by Sir James Duff's column, and alter a few cannon shot, retreated. Sir James pursued the flying enemy, but General Needham*s column was at too great a distance for his infentry to assist ; however, his cavalry ^whieh were chiefly yeomen) joined in the pursmt, which continued for twelve miles, when they were stopped by some rising grounds; but the regiments under bi James Duff oonung up with their curricle guns, the rebels, after a short contest, were again put to flight, with considerable lo8s,aiMl' dispersed all over the country. The loss of the army wj» six men killed, and s*.xteen wounded. The chief part of the 4^tSBmy fled to Corrigrua hill ; but they had not been there quil^ an kiM£^'#)i^^ey were dril^eii^ftom that station by the Kiiig's Oottiity miUtia, commanded by Colonel L'Estrange, which was at that tinje encamped at Ferns, about four miles from i' / m Tm covMTT or wixfobd. 187 /■ lh« hill. From Oorrigma the nuun body of the rebels re- treated to amoantain called Slieve-bnoy, near Camew, where the J formed a sort of camp ; but here they diet with eiich hardflhip, that numbers of them died from absolute wantaoid fktigiie, while many of them deserted the standard of rebellion, and, availing themselves of the merciful proclamation, issued by the Lord Lieutenant and Privy Oouncfl, returned t6 tilieir homes, to enjoy the blessings of that constitution which they had laboured to overturn. Perry, despairing of doing any mbre'executibn in Wexford, as it was now so well defended by military, directed his route to Ihe county of Kildare, and there joined a strong body of insurgents under the command of Michael Aylmer, colonel of the Kildare rebel army, hoping that he could thence pene- trate into the North of Ireland, where he expected to be assisted by a numerous force. But Aylmer prevailed on him to abandon this intention, thinking it more advisable to attack Otbuafd, (a town on the confines of Kildare and Meath, and situated on the river Boyne) as there was but a small force to defend it ; the nmarch by Kilbeggan to the Shannon, and surprise Athlone ; where, from its being the centre of the kingdom, hejDxpected great reinforcements. This plan was accordingly adopted ; and their united forces beidg flow about m HIBtOftT or TBI tmULION fa«r thooBand, they pioeeeded on Ijhe 11th of July, to pal their 4eng|i»8 mto ezeoution. UiemiKtMy at Olonard conaitted onlyof aeorpi of yeomea e%:ff^iy, oowmaoded by lieutenant Tyrrell, a gentl^nuin who had nerer served in the anny ; yet i^pon this occaaion he evinced a degree of skill and bravery, which would have done honour to a veteran. When he received intelligence of the enemy's approach he made every necessary preparation for their reception^ which his very limited force would admit. He placed six of the yeo- men, including his own son, (a lad only fifteen years of age) in an old turret, at the extremity of his garden, which com- manded the road the rebels were to come. Such was the rapid- * ity with which the latter advanced, Ijhat the firing actuf commenced from this quarter upon them,, before the entire guard could be collected, and the gate leading into the court* yard was under such necessity closed, to the exclusion of several, so that when the Lieutenant came to ascertain his strength, he found he had only twenty-seven men, including his three sons, the eldest of whom was but seventeen years cid! Such a critical situation required all the coolness of a xam inured to military dangers, and the skill and firmness of an experienced soldier. But although Lieutenant Tyrrell hfMl Ifl TBI OCTDMYr Of WlXfMD. 1^ Tini ettjoyed Aeie adfiiitagee, his good sense sappKed Ike want of experience, and his natiye courage funushed reMHrOM iideqnate to tiie perilens emergency. He found his men as sealdM as Mmself, detennmed to w»intain their post, wd to disohaarge their dvty to their king and country, or fall in the g^orioud cause. After sending a supply of ammunitien te the advaiiioed post at the turret, and stalaoning out-picqtMti, he retiMd uAn his dwelHng-house, with the mam body ; fhrtn which he seleoted the best maitemen, and plaomg them «t particuhtf iHndows, gaTC directions that they should not Are wHhfMt hamg thdr object covered ; he had the rest of tin men seeured behind the walls, and incessantly empkiyed in kNUlmg muskets and c«rbiiiet for the marksmen at the win- dows. The firing, as has been observed, commenced from the turret. Aoout tiuree hundred of the rebel cavalry^ oom- oMidedhy Oi^iiti^ FarreU, formed thmr advanced guartf, and iif^proaiohed In a mattt trot, wtthiout apprehen^ng any dingef . The fiMt shei, which was fired by young Mt, Tynett, mQ^ • taify iNMmdeil Fu^fell ; the rest immediately ^Bscharged their pieces on lie i<6bels, and threw them inte such confoimMi, libiit they ft«l out of reach of the firing. The rebel iufimHy, ubw ccmkig tipf passed the turret under cover of llie iritf'; «mI iumlwfrft wefe posted beimd a thick hedge, on ik0Vpf$- 199 HI9T0&T OF THl RIBKLLION fite nde of the road, from which thej kept up a smart fire agsanat the turret, but to no effect. After this divtsion had passed the turret, they were joined bj another which came by a cross-road, (for their pUn was to surround the house, by advancing in diflferent directions,) and they immediately stationed a guard upon the bridge to prevent any reinforcement arri/ingto the garrison in that direction. In a few minutes, ten or twelve of the gvuird were shot by their marksmen from the windows of the house, upoB which the rest fled ; and not one of the rebels appearing afterwards on the bridge, communication with the western road was, in a great measure, preserved—- the.importance of which, to the little garrison at Olonard, will appear in tiie sequel. ■ .h(#?;;^^4, > . ^$stxmi- iiiid^m;4.^ni%isx-:'mi^.l^''iH^'fv!ri The enemy being thus defeated in their first onset, at both points of attack, became exasperated to extravagant fiuy, and determined on the most savage revenge. A large party contrived to penetrate into the garden by the rear, and some of them immediately rushed into the turret. The braye men stationed there were on the upper floor, and they had ^ precautioo to drag up the ladder by which they ascended : the rebels endeavoured to climb up on each other, so sa to j|MM3h the higher story, but they were killed as fast an thsj u Of fBl OOUMTT OF WBZfOID. Tfl appeared ; others ran pikee into the ceUing, ind fired throim^ iiy bat withoat effect ; and the confliot was ao oSiatmate and bloodjy that tweuty-eeven of the rebeb lay dead on the- gnmnd floor. At length they brought a quantify of aCraWt and set the turret on fire, on which two of the yeomen endea- Yonring to force Hhwr way thfoagh the smoke and iames, were instantly put to death; the other four escaped, by leaping from a window twenty feet hi^, into a hay^yardy fron^ whenoe, under cover of a wall which ^?ided it from the garden, they fortonately reached the house. Having succeeded so well by the eflfect of conflaglration, the enemy now set fire to the toll-house, and some other cabins on the left near the bridge, for the purpose of enlibar- rasang and confusing the garrison; and during this <^ra- ftion* they were seen throwing their dead into the flames for . the purpose of evading cUscovery. The unequal conflict had now lasted nearly six hours ; when about five in the evening the approach of succour was. descried firom Hie house, and the hopes of the brave garriscm were so elevated, that they * fought with renovated vigour. One of the yeomen who had been excluded by the suddeit shlI^mg of the gates in the morning, finding he could be of na use in defending the house, repaired to Kinnegpid) <^ ^ Its HIITDftr or THY RiHiLUOIfr 0^ repretfaifted the atamimg sitiiatiof!i whiek^ beitig dofiBsted, retired to Ihe moutit; Itoi^'a IM THB OOUMTT OF WIXFOKD. 193 1" \\ irann action ensved, the enemy appearing detenmned to maintain this advantageous situation; but the yeomen, though fatigued with the heat and burden of the day, and mx of them badly wounded, persevered with the most undaunted courage, and maintained such a steady and well- directed fire against the mount, that the enemy were at length dispersed : in their flight, the Northumberland Fen- cibles and Kinnegad Infantry made great havoc among them. Thus, through the favour of Providence, was accomplished ■as glorious ttTi achievement as had occurred during the whole rebellion ; for which the gallant lieutenant Tyrrell and his men can never be too much applauded. It was the first ngh, who, iifter reconnoitring the enemy posted on a hill, attacked, and gave them a dgnid defeat. They fl^ in great oonftudon, leaving all thoh^ booty of cattle, store, &c., in the hands of the army, and were fbU bwed by Miyor-general Myers, with a detachment of the Boyal Buckinghamshire nulitia, and some 6f the Dublin yeoinaniy, who^drove them towards Slane, in the County of lieath. iVom thence they proceeded, nnder cover of the mght, to the river Boyne, aiid passed it^ but Were afterwttfd» jpiirsued by two divisions, mkdox^ Mkjor-geneitd' Wemyiss, aiid Erigftdier-geheral Meyrick. The nbds again foMnod in a^ ^•farong position on the tM to Ardee ; but assoon as the Biitherland (now the 98ild) regiment with their b)ftttiBlioa guns, arrived, the enemy were thrown into such 'diso^er, Ihl^t Ihey broke and fled m Itll'direidtiofis. The eat&hry and ' yeomanry cha^^'them in i^ most gllllant nUUiiiJdlr,iutal drove '4ein into ft bog, where' they Were^i;ut to j^eces, ftliti a quiui- •i' <• !i^ m PPWF 9f wmrn- i«» ti^y of gani, j)ik<|s, ^q., pth tjf o tU9d of j| ^ | y p , wen Cl^tund by 4^e TiGjton. • . ^ part of ^p4e who e«Gi^[|e4 P^ ^^^ A'^^, in t^ cpq^tjy of IfOf^tjhy whUe the renftinder retr9i|ted OYor U10 Bqy^^y.tp^Hjidfl Garrot's-town in the ooi^ify of j^eath, whe^ they were bj^ .^taoked by de^ph^If^ \^ t^ Fenpanag)! and Carlow nulitia ; the Suforda yeoma^ infiatry, and abo^t one hf^dred ei^i[ahry, oonmating of a de^johment of the Dnin- ^jd ({opniuid of Capt^ Gordon of ijhe Pom^es. Xh0 ^b^lai being i^ fSf^^9^ inoimted, Cjf^tam G<^on ordered jpafitof 1^ qi?a|^tojpi^ue]l^«n; jt>u,t 9^1 j^eir adyancjng^ l^e ,enep|^ d^^^/V^^ ,*^? i#*^*!y di(jp^f)^ed, not |ed on t|^^ ^t jii9C^ge. Qne hundred ao4 jfifty of ^^e j^btela fe]l (^n ^ day, ,i|f^t^ut ^y Iq^ai on the pf^rt ^f Jg^^} m^M ^W^'^^ *^ Mp fi^iM^if^^y f W!f* pj^^ip, ^ of ^;r«|l?^(^twi life,, |;:e^ed,hff|ne» f^ hj m9^ ^'if^, . jui^,%fr f^fs ^0^ j^g^ % 196 HUTOBT OP TBI EBBILLION Perry lb prieit Kearns mtde their eeotpe into the King*i eoontj, and remained there but a few days, when thej were taken by twd of the Edenderry yeomen, brought prifonen to Edenderry, and after being tried by ooort-mar- tial, were executed on the 2l8t of July. Ayhner and Fitsge- raid, with tlurteen other rebel leaders, gave themselyes up, on condition of being transported, which accordingly took place. Garret and William Byrne of Ballymanus, also surrendered on the above condition ; the former was trans- ported, but as it was proved that the latter was concerned in various murders during the rebellion, he was tried by court-martial in Wicklow, found guilty, and sentenced to be executed; which took place in Wicklow, on the 26th of September, 1799. Many of the insurgents, dreadmg the fate that awaited them, were afraid to return home ; and some of these joined ft noted rebel named Holt, who waa formerly a sub-constable in the county of Wicklow, and who now infested the moun- tamous part of that, and the adjoining county of Wexford. Several bodies of yeomanry and other military marched fre- quently against them, and were generally successftd, where- ever they could come up with these desperadoes. Another party took shelter in the woods of Killaughrim and Monart, ':-:<■*■ IN THl OOUIITT Of WBZfOlD. 19T in the ooiinty of Wexford, and commiHed nightfy robberiee and murden. At length the army was drawn firom Bo«, Newtownbany, and Femi, in order to larronnd these woods, which thej did, and killed a number of the rebels, many of whom were found to be deserters from some of the militia regiments. Numerous atrocious murders were at this time committed on the person of poor Protestants, who had returned too soon to their dwellings, not thinking that the rebels would again disturb them. So frequent were these murders, that the yeomanry proclaimed through the different parishes, ** that for every Protestant that was put to death, they would kill the priest and twenty Papists, in whatever parish such mur- der should be committed." This had the desired effect; there were no more assassinations, though the robberies were as frequent. as ever. R Holt, tired at length of a rebellious life, surrendered him- self on condition of being transported, which accordingly took place. Hacket, the next in command, stood out for some time longer, conmiitting many robberies, but at length he lost his life in attacking a gentleman's house near Arklow. •: Such was the activity of our soldiers, that in all probability the country would soon have been restored to perfect tran- I rt m mraMT of Tfli mi£Uor «• ifiiQHty, hid not tbe ttopea of tfa« diidfec^cr bee^ i^^luti te^ vWed'byili^ hnding of a ftiir Fr^tidb tiobpb atOIiQa^iii iho eooatf of Maffo, on the 22!&d of Atrgoit; 1798. Ott thou^ fhkmg poflseB^on of ^e toim, Gtiieiyil Himib^ili ^l^btlt^ ih« Mowing hand bilto to the popuUice, deelilritt|| himAf and hiB anny to be the friends of the Irish people, ahd tliltif deliveren from oppic^eMion. ■■*'' ft^tin 'ijr:kT':.^in.h.f-Ti*t ci7»'»' iinttitT-t-.t iV^ <^5tfikiiiffl! Aliste fRAtiMrt* *<) Ttti i^iEe*''tife Oi ittfiL^MD! ■ *o.- '.li^^.F-r Im>^^ Hie greai nation hsis sent me tb yon iritii a band of heroes, to d^UVer yon from the hisaidB of ^franti^. Fly to oak* standtods, and share with ns {he ^Ibty of snbdning ihe irorid!. We will teaeh yon ihe a^ of war^ and to despise the M pursuits of toil and industry ; you shall live on the spdfi of war ahd the labours of others. The acqnirition of weMk is the a^nisiton of misery, and like enjoyment of ease is in^lo- riooi^. We have made all the nations we have co^eM hippy, by arresting their property, by applying it to the conlmoii eanse, and consecriting it to the champiofii of lib- ve^[upi^n|,,fO(Dk exalt you into the ra^ o£ those cqwa^oee which wm «d^ ^e heneiit^ <^ Erench fratemiigr* tiet i^ii thotiup of kin4ied, the sddqct^ of ease* or any otii^K W^ miB^ ^Aimbm^i to the cctoifQi;!^ <^ li|», toaqli jfim J^, neglect ^Imdly c|Jl of your coantryman ai4le]^w-di|ii9|u Lieut. Geii.»*» l:i,d\ijji:^ imm^t, vmm'fi^mm^''^imm'A^'^m^iii^MWiiy'^ n^ m' 4. ~ ^_ ,~ ,^ VUTOtr OF TBI BlBlLLXOlf i^?*,^- •J",: :m: "LIBERTY, EQUALITY, FRATERNITY, UNION? tifilrs "Ibishmxn, ^ " Yon have not forgot Bantry-bay ; yoa know what efforts Fi^oe has made to assist yon. Her affisction for you, her derire for aven^g yonr wrongs, and ensuring your inde- pendence, can never be impaired. "After several unsuccessftil attempts, behold Frenchmen arrived amongst you. ^ iju^^cj ^^ They come to support your courage, to share your dan- gers, to'jbin their arms, and to mix their blood with yours in^ the sacred cause of liberty. li ^ uiMm the French ; recollect the pluns of Honscoote, Toulon, Quiberon,and Ostend; recollect America^, fr^e from the moment she wished to be so. '■*.; 202 H|9TI>I^ Of TBI BmHaOOH « The contest between jon and jour oppresson ownoilM long. "Union! liberty! the Irish Republic! — rooh is our thonti let ns nMuroh— our hearts are deyoted to jw. ; our ^017 k in your hapjnnesi. <^ --"v Iff TSl WBVTT Or WlXidlD. ^V i are come, and the roysl brate who held the iron rod of despotic tjrannj, is expiring — ^no longer shall one govern four. The MKb^ ¥^gyyk shall he rii-eiDabCsbed in lihis house, an^ the fiitrtlh dhSu no li6ttger b^ l>iirthei^ed wiih Vlaoiiy herdtetj who, ilnder tUb pi^t<»ttliice, »nd htkp w« will dif plaji '^ "Wliii^f7i^theraUei8hiaimoirtd«riiiWcIiiij.'' !^ BKVKNQB ! KBVISNQB ! BBYENGB ! "^^^*r« f^^>?"^i*» '-iSMWila**- !;■ During the time the French remained in Ireland, the rebel inhabitants of that part of the county of Wexford, along the coast between that town and Gorej, known bj the name of the Mackamareiy thinking themselves loyal subjects, from having ta&en iihe oath of allegiance, and obtained protections, sent the foUbwing letter to Captain Iltsgerald, (then brigade m%jor of ^6 county of Wexford yeomanry, who had also raised some recruits in this part of the county), requesting of him to preset the following address to M^or^enend Hunter, who commanded the garrison of Wexford, offering their services to march against the mvading enemy. t^ /^ ral^to give us pardon and as you tould us that if there was an occasion joud expect that weed fite for our king and country and as ever willin to be up to our word we send this paper about the bisness and if your honor ill give us leave to fite weel do eveiy thing your honor bids us and we minded nothing else to morrow but to fite for the king's officers against the French and hopes your honor will excuse this haste as we wish to lose no time and excuse our not nowing how to write to such generals but if your honor will get a memoral drawn rite your honour may depend on us and put our names to it for us as in the inclosed. X- m f '^d-w K'd* *' " !*'*'♦ *^ * ^'M . 1^ «< O'Brien, "Walsh, and " Sullivan." iS'T^.. ^m i,-\:- " To the 0«neral Hanter, or Qoyernor of Waxford, belonging to Kin^ George the Third. ik^ r\4:? ■f.^'imi:i'a;if'no.,r»xiv/ .1:t;)miif '* We the Macamore boys was in the turn out against the Orrange-men and to who your noble honour gave your most \V IN TBI OOUNTT OF WBXfORD. 205 graaooB pardon for wo never desarved any other if we war "let alone and being tould that the French was cumeing to take this cunttrj from his Royal Highness the king who we swore to fite for and in regard to our oath and to your lord- ships goodness in keeping the Orrange-men from killing us all weel fite till we die if your honour will give us leave and weel go in the front of the battle and we never ax to go in the back of the army your honour will send wid us and if we dont beat them weel never ax a bit to ete and as you gave us pardon and spoke to the king about us as the breggaddeer magar tould us and as we tould him weed never deceive your honour tho the black mob says weel turn out a bit again but weel shew them and the world if your honour will bid us that weel fite and wont run away from the best of them and if your honor will send down the magar that was wid us from your lordship afore or the honourable magar Gurry or the Lord Sir James Fowler general of the middle lothin sogers in Waxford and let them lave word at Peppers castle and weel march into Waxford go where your honour bids us do any thing atal to fite for your honour and weel expect to hear from your honour what weel do or if your honour will order a signal to be made with a red flag weel dri^w up and inarch as good as any sogers and as far as one or two though- I m ^^^|sw 9M ^^^xiaadqm jttifpd good atout.lxQrB go^ i^eel Jte for your ,|^ov^ 1>)» .J^t SMD und weor smre iiU ^ ^Nlf^js ill do t^ejMnejf jpu jrjll giye them h^ve. '^ Signed by the desire <^ ftll the parishes ^ ' in the Maokamores. «*0'BRiBir, ^^^^ f« .^ or ri\^iior:mi, "Walsh, and ■'•■ Wn «* SULUVAK. •* Anguit aftb, 1798. ■**?.»' Whother they were nj^y lojfbl, pr jsof^t jm 9ppQrtan^ ^ of joining their fneods, 9fi Ij^ey paPm^ie Jl^iiqh,, ,tl^e i;^^^ may judge, but i^ep $>r^p98^ w<^ not i^e^^i^. The loyal inhabitants of fte .cpwjiiy ^f ]f{,^(fjf^9£ ^y^ dwnp^on, haye:,§i#r^d y^xyj^u9h f^ f»,l>wpf?FtyJ|)y <^e i;ebellion, mjQch iiioye tt^fMoi 1^0 )l^^n asiPPi^ta^d. , p.jgipp^Pirs •s . nv nn fioffwn ov wbzfoid. 807 tfiete wts a ftuid riiied bj said Bocieij Ibr Hmt t^^rpose. ^nj ftmifies niiO) before tiie rebellioik, were in oomfortable ritostioDs, tre now redaeed to soanlj means ; and many, of anotiier description, who were in abject want ai its breaking oat, are now in sfflnent oirenmstanees. I shall conclude by bying before the reader an exact copy of the confession of James Beaghan, who was executed on Tinegar-hill, on Batorday the 24th of Angyst, 1799, taken before Christian Wilson, Esq., high sheriff of the county of Wexfotd, and John' HenixLyster, Esq., one of the justices of the peace for said county : '}*•/' ,1 "I, Jaubs Bbaqhan, acknowledge and confess, that ') am guilty of the crime for which I am to suffer ; but that 1 did not commit it fix>m ill-will to the people that were mur- dered, but from the ofders of Luke Byrne)* I could not ^Siisbbey him^^no person dare refbse to obey the orders of 4he commanders. 'I am sure that any person in command '^"^ould sate ihe Htos of Ihe poor ; CTcry man that was & Pro- testsnt, was called an Orangeman, and CTcry one was to-be ' killed, from the poorest man in ihe countiy. Before iihe * A commander of th« rebeli. •?&, 1M>8 HISTOET or TBI EOBLLION rebellion^ I ne?er heard there wm any hatred between Roman Oatholioa and Protestanta; they always lived peaceably to- gether. I always found the Protestants better masters, and more indulgent landlords than my own religion : during the rebellion, I never saw any one interfere to prevent murder, but one Byrne, who saved a man. I think all that were pre- sent were as guilty as those that perpetrated the murders. It was thinking that we were all guilty that prevented me from flying the country. The women were numerous, and were as bad as the men. The rebels treated the prisoners with great severity, Very different from the way that I have been used in gaol. They thought it no more sin to kill a Protestant than a dog ; had it not been that they were so soon quashed, they would have fought with each other for the property of the Protestants. They were beginning before the battle of Vinegar-hill. Ever since the rebellion, I never heard one of the rebels express the least sorrow for what was done ; on the contrary, I have heard them say, they were sorry that whilst they had the power they did not kill more, and that there were not half enough killed. I know that the rebels were determined to rise if Uie French should come ; and I believe they did not give up half their iir vfli ootniTT Of wnvoui. m arils* fblm srv ^ui, bfty f^nnv hr'j-. ,:>• ».*«4'i;ir.y:jii^..a Havmg now come to the conclusion of my history of the rebellion in the county of Wexford, it may be desirable to my readers to have a correct statement of the strength and •Si ■ ^4u 1 1 s^i Myfrflfiy V . f Fr«m thit nmck Be«glura tpoke wiihoat haTing been aritod wijr ^eationg, and spoke with.an earnestaeas, aad i» a manaer that ihowed his linceritj. ,<^ V 910 ■mOBT Of TWM BBBILUOW Bombert of the rebel f which I reoei?ed from ihm United men themielTee, nnoe the pnbliahing of the fonnev ^ditioni, and which I consider t more tathentio loiiree of information, m to their strength and nnmberi, than Ukf aoconnt that I could recei?e from any other quarter. It haa appeared very extraordinary to many that the county of Wexford, containing such a Protestant population, should have suffered so much, and be taken so soon by ihe Roman Catholics, and the Protestants obliged to fly to the different towns before them. Bui the facts of the case stand thus : The Roman Catholic inhabitants of the county of Wexford conducted their measures so silently and secretly, and th^ ▼arious parishes took the oaths of allegiance so readily before the neighbouring magistrates, that the ininds of the Protee^ tants were lulled into security; and the county wore the appearance of such industry, peace, and good order, when compared witii the rest of the kingdom at that time, until a few days previous to the breaking out of the rebellion, ^ ^\ the reports of the magistrates to goyemment of the ger ^.•^ tranquillity of the county were so favourable, that a small nulitary force was iionsi" ri tii iM^Bs^^:iiAji ^tipm^^^ ■90': m^^ ,j/„ «/\,„. AN ACCOUNT m^n'^tir W^^ ' ^^^''girjfem^:^ kt^ismyo ovxtdp dl*' —i^t^'m THE AUTHOR'S CAPTIVITY AND DELIVERANCE. mi ur iia*y!f ..' Viiit"). ii> ■triS^ HlJH~ but now I dared not attempt it, for rebels were rising in every IN THl OOUNTT Of WlXf O&D. 2» part of the countiy ; and I knew I would be Sn afl ^eaC (cfohg^ ■of being shot between the place I was in and Arklow as l>etween it and home. Not knowing what might be the con- sequence if I staid at the house, I went into an orchard, to ^conceal myself, being fullj determined to go home that ni^, let the consequence be what it would. When I went into the orchard, I bowed before the Lord, and prayed fervently to him to bless me, to keep and direct me for the best. While in the act of supplication, it was warmly impresses on my mind to go home in the open day, and not to be afraid of man ; and that the greater danger God should bring me through, the greater glory would redound to his own name. I returned immediately to the house, and told them my intention, and after praying with the family, I set out in the name of the Lord, with my mind sweetly staid upon him. I passed through many of the rebels, saw a great number of Protestants' houses burning between me and home, and heard many shots fired round the country, which I supposed to be levelled at the poor inhabitants who were escaping from the flames. I proceeded, however, without meeting any opposition, until I got within three miles of my mother's house ; just then a man followed me, whom I knew not, and called out, ^^ Where are you going, joung Taylor ?" ordering me to stop. I obeyed, and thus m ^wmffi^f Of va JUKBwudom t)ie ^th of Jvne. I was tl^n tafccm to Qorey, And ocnfinfid in the ^narkdt^iiae : at iMgli^ ijJie gofM^ thfit wQre pliMQfld (^V(9r UB, a^ our %aQ0 lieMl, aci4 9ai)ftM4 119 ^ oertain \niimda whioh we shotild Qot jm». The Mnpie «?«filng they bvocight in f^pther priBoner, whem the mecoUeaB wnetohes aiutt Boxt n^onMog ^1 the 9troet ; 1 9^w him W, m^ was rimksd it 11^ fight, net Ju^owipg how soen it w9^14 he pp^ pwn oMe. Next flfiy wp ])ad ;ii|jei^ to 1^ ^e mm was about fasif a mUe from ^e ftown^ on .^ eminence which eomQMm4«e done precipitately. I now found the yeiy great neces- liiy of applying to my moat powerful friend — the Friend of enners, iat strength sufficient to stand in the evil day ; and I Jbegan to think of the martyrs of <^d ; I prayed for their faith, .their love, and liieir zeal ; I sought the Lord for all their for- ititude, and for all their strength under the cross and in the flames, that I might he enabled to seal the testimony of my ibedeemer with my blood ; and I bless His holy name, J had a divine rfisignation to his heavenly will, and for the most part of the .time enjoyed peace and an assurance of his favour. ^""While A prisoner here, they brought in a yeoman of the .Claatlejtiown cavalry, whom they had just taken, and without jdlowing more than ten mmutes to call on the Lord, shot him •in i^ fttreet. Mr. Perry, the rebel commander at Gorey .camp, would ^ve him no longer time to prepare for eternity ! ** The mercies of the wicked are cruel." -* - *'- -*«' A few days after my being taken to Gorey, they stripped me .Qf ^ suit of black, and gave me a soldier's old jacket, waist- COf^t and small-olothes ; they also took from me my hat, neck- cl<:>th and shoes ; and having thus plundered me, they left me ;'. ili ■II 218 HISTOET or THB RIBBLUOH to meditate on what was likely to follow : all the priaonen were served the same way. Haying thus stripped ns, they led us forth to the camp to 'be shot. ProvidentiaUy, two days prior to this, Mr. Harvey, the commander-in-ohief of the rebel forces in the county of Wexford, issued a proclamation firom Oarrigbume camp, one of the articles of which was, ** It is also resolved, that any person or persons who shall take upon him or them to kill or murder any person or persons, bum any house, or commit any plunder without special written orders from the commander-in-chief, shall suffer death.'' ivi ' Just as we were ranged on our knees, and our executioners in their appointed places, with pikes and muskets to put us all to death, a man came into the camp, with the above prodar mation ; which was immediately read, and proved the means, under God, of saving our lives. Nevertheless, we were near being sacrificed by these bloodthirsty men ; being so enraged with disappointment, they would hardly let us return to our prison alive. Some they stabbed, at others they fired : one man received five wounds from a pike, and had three ribs broken ; another was shot through the shoulder ; and I, being arrayed with the soldier's coat, was struck several times, and received a stab in the back : and after being thus abused we were ordered to the guard-house. Blessed be God, I can 8ay» ^A' nr THB ooimTT of wixford. 219 that through the whole of this trying scene, my mind wis staid upon him, and at peace with all mankind. I cannot ascertain the number of rebels that were in the camp, which was so extensive that it covered many acres of ground. It was distressmg to see no military force then in the country sufficient to engage them ; it also distressed me to see their colours flymg, and to hear their drums and trum- pets, not knowing where it would end. At night when the prisoners were about to lie down, I asked the guards would they give me leave to pray with them, as people of every persuasion should pray if they ex- pected to be saved ? with which they complied ; and I prayed with and exhorted them to keep their hearts engaged with Obd. Though Papists, they appeared affected and seemed much attached to me, nor would they admit me to sit among the prisoners any more, but made me go among themselves, and sent in a good character of me to their officers. God was indeed very kind to me here ; for the next morning they cut the hair off the prisoners' heads, and put pitched caps on them all ; but they meddled not with me ; though even a minister of the Church of England, who was a fellow- prisoner, was served the same way. On Saturday, the 9th of June, the whole body of the rebels prepared to attack "i I 220 fJUnOBT Of TBI BBBBLLIOll V 4 « I ^ AriElow ; and as they marohed from the camp through the town, the guards thrust the prisoners half out of the windows, that the insurgents might see their heads shorn and pitched ; at which they shouted so loud, that it seemed to pierce the' very skies. ';';,' . During my confinement many and great were ihe exer- cises of my mind on the present state of the country. I was frequently afraid that God was going to let the wicked loose ^ to sweep professors of religion away, because they were not glorifying God ; and these thoughts occurred the oftener, in consequence of the reports of the rebel captains, who still told us that they were everywhere victorious ; though we found afterwards that they had met with great defeats ; for !while prisoners we could never learn the truth. But though these thoughts occurred, still I believed that a merciful God would not suffer his praying people to be cut off by such blaspheming, blood-thirsty creatures. In the midst of all, I was constantly engaged with my Maker to support me, and enable mo to adorn the gospel of our Lord Jesus ; to bless our gracious sovereign, and all his forces both by land and sea — to establish his throne for ever, that his children, and his children's children might sway the British sceptre till time should be no more, and be nursing fathers to the Pro- * * %' in THl OOaNTT OF WIXFORD. W testabt religion. I was then persuaded, and am still of the ciame opinion, that these islands shall see such days as will make them weep with shame, at the reoolleotion of all the mercies of the Lord ; and that in a very few years there will be iuoh an increase of holiness, such an in-gathering of souls, as was uever heard of — ^no, not from the beginning of time. Our bed in this place was only a truss of straw, and that bestowed with a very scanty hand ; which notwithstaiiding might have aflforded some refreshment, only that it Was Swarm- ing with vermin. Oar food also was very scanty ; tio ihan got as much in twenty-four hours as would suffice for one meal ; but this I say, they treatisd me with more attention than the rest of the prisoners. nn On Wednesday, the 18th, the officers came to the guard- room to tty the prisoiiers ; and those of whom they got good characters were received amongst them ; but such as were of^posed to the Catholics, (as they called themselved,) or were thought to be Orangemen, were sent to Wexford, and confined in the gaol. When my trial came on, I w&b in a short time acquitted, and place among those that were to go to tiie camp, to fight agamst the government. Oh, my tbulj! what a conflict hadst thou here ! Me ! appointed to fight agsiiBt that King who always gave us liberfy of oon8cieii«0wom out with hungbr a&d fAtigue, and uniible to nm awAy, had I even the opportomtjr. Thus pinioned end coupled 110 befbre, we were ordered ibrward, baring still t«n miles to go. There were nineteen of ns, besides two offleeis of the Antrim Militia, who had been taken prisohers at ^e battle of Tabbemeering ; on the 4th of June, however, theee were permitted to travel on horseback. When we had got about fbur miles, we were ordered to halt at the house ef Bdward Fitigeradd, a rebel commander, to get something to eat. A little food was now « ory acceptable, not having tadcen aiij nouriihiiieat from breakfast-time on the preceding day. I was favoured with a piece of barley-bread, but the nsnt of the prisoners ^t stirabout and bad small-beer. Bttvinjg ft liCtle refreshed ourselves, we set out, and arrived in Wexford about 11 o^olock ; all the windows w^ adorned with green ; and' tfife rebeis iHumphed over us, as though they had taken great SpioH. ;■,-';''■ ''■'iv^rf^? ;'-fMf*f« l».-fc.'i( -i I ■ *4K(f*<>.-'{ iXSiififttyJjf it On our entering the prison, thb gaoler took dothk our namesj and tiien we were conducted into the bick-yafd. Here I washed my feet at the pump^ iAnoh. afforded me some relief; after wliich I lay down before the son to tiike a little rest. lh$A not been l»*:&■'■ IN THB OOUNTT OF WBXfOKD. 227 ^ We were now allowed plenty of straw to tie on, and were better served with provisions than in Gorey or in the gaol. At night, wiien mj fellow-prisoners were preparing for sleep, I asked them to kneel down, that I mi^t pray with them. The guards, on hearing this, were so enraged that they swore they would send a brace of balls through me, if I attempted it agun. This menace so intimidated the prisoners, that they could scatoely be prevailed upon to join in prayer for some time. Nevertheless, they had my silent breathings. In the morning, one man said to me : ** If your tongue had been between my teeth last night, I would have bit it off.'' I asked him why. He replied : ** Tou are going the way to have us all murdered." <* No," said I, '* but I am going the iray to have you all preserved ; for now is the time to ciy to the strong for strength." We were now given to understand that all the people in Wexford and its vicinity had turned Papists, and that, if we did not follow their example, there was no probabiUty of our escaping death. In the evening, one of the guards coming to the door, ordered out the metho- dist preacher (as he called me). I instantly came out (not indeed without apprehenmons), and inquired his bunness with me. He then told me he wanted to know what sort of doctrine I preached. I spoke as jdain to his understanding 228 RISTORT or TBI BlBXLLIOlf as I could, and explained repentance and remission of nnSy and the impossibility of entering heaven without them. Wie were now joined by many of the guard, who wished to know if I would tnm Roman Catholic. I told them not ; for I knew too well the liberty wherewith Christ baa mado us free, and WM resolved to stand fast in it ; and that if they were Iw going to take me to the mouth of the canhon for the truth, I would seal the testimony of my Redeemer with my blood ; for, through his grace, I would ntii deny Him that never denied me. I said much more ; and I Mess God for the strength he gave me. I would probably have been put to death at this time, had not the Lord inclined the heiurt of the man Who ordet^d me out, to ask me questions of this kind, befiire he would take me down stairs for the purpose of shoot- ing mie. Just 'as I wad concluding, the officer of the gu»fd canto up. It apt>eared -to me that he thought his mto were etigaged in a fnendly conversation with me, for he aj^ared ▼6^ angry j and asked how they dared presume to converse v^th-ai^ of the prisoners ? I was then ordered in; attd thus by/the mercy of God escaped death this time also; Gx^tkt wOre the trials of fiti^Ai I had of this niature. Oh! how good iiS'^tili^ liOrd! <-:^^'^m'^k'i^^'t|^|kger. He then led us away, and as he was coming ]>y me, I stood up and kissed his hand, saying, ^' Blessed are the ijserciful for they shall obtain mercy." On our npm^ \ ur TBI oouiiTT or WBzyoiD, 288 we met Uiat tjmmical rebel, Thomas Dixon, who aiudoiiBly desired to know why we were brought bfM;k ? Mr. Oorrin told him he had begged us off for the present. Dixon was very much displeased with Mr. Gorrin, and intimated he would have satisfaction of us every man. In this critical juncture, as our church most beautifully describes,^*The peace of God which passethall understanding," kept my heart and mind in the love and knowledge of God ; and the blessing of God Almighiy, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, was with me of a truth. I thought long before this I should hear the harpers harping with their harps, and see the face of Him whom my soul loveth, without a vail between: but my warfare in this vale of tears is not yet over, therefore I need the prayers of the children of God, to keep me without spot or blemish against the appearing of the Son of Man. When we were brought back, I wept from the fulness of my heart, and prayed for .those who were thirsting after my blood. The Lord was my deliverer ; but the poor old man who could have bit my tongue off, was shot on the bridge on this sanguinary day. Out of the forty-eight prisoners in the market'house, only eighteen were left ; and as they did not think it worth ^/hile to keep a guard over so few, they brought vm back to the gaol; but took the greatest care to have 234 HI0TORT or TBI RIBBLUON the door and yard well secured. I passed a very restless night, and at the dawn of day, to mj great surprise, I felt the floor and foundation of the prison shake ; starting up to know what it could be, I heard the roaring- of cannon. I concluded there roust bo an engagement, and knowing that the rebels had many field-pieces, I was greatly afraid it was only a few soldiers who had come from Ross, or elsewhere, to engage them ; and that they would be driven back by the infinitely superior number of the enemy. The doors being locked and bolted, I could not get, aa I desired, to one of the upper cells, where a few religious friends were confined, that we might wrestle with the Lord in prayer, for the success of his Ma- jesty's arms. But although I could not get among them, I prayed by myself, while those that were in the cell with me were fast asleep. I afterwards heard that my friends in the upper cell, on hearing the cannon, betook themselves to prayer also for a blessing on his Majesty's arms. Our lives were now in jeopardy every moment, for all the town was in the greatest confusion, and many of the most bloodthirsty wanted to murder us, before the arrival of the army, in revenge for their various defeats ; but although they thus raged, Oo4 sat above the water-floods, and confounded their devices. I cannot describe the feelings of my soul, when news came nf TBI OOUNTT or WIZIOED. 88fr in that the rebels hacl retir' 'ed, that the King's anny was coming into town, and that the English colours were hoisted at the quay. I cannot paint the transports of the people that were libf r^jted, — those delightful scenes which I now witnessed, women coming into the prison, embracing their husbands, fathers, brothers, friends, and all weepmg together for joy. It could not but affect me — it appeared to be a time so solemn, so sacred, and so acceptable in the sight of the Lord. At about five in the evening the army came in, opened our prison doors, and set us free. Now we tasted the sweets of freedom, and we gave them a hearty cheer. I then went to the house of Mr. William Gurley, where a few of the most serious in town assembled, and sung^i— K'S »1^ ^iw;? ^^^ praise my Maker while I've breath, And when my Toice is lost in death, '^ ^ Praise shall employ my nobler powers ; |!'3i|i!^t|^«Str My days of praise shall ne'er be past, ■ff»^i..f'i-* •"'i'.ii.^. While life and thought and being last, Or immortality endures. Happy the man whose hopes rely On Israel's God : he made the sky, And earth, and seas, with all their train ; His tmth for ever stands secure, He sares th' oppressed, he feeds the poor, And none shall find his promise vain. .i'f,. 236 HUfOBT or TBI BIBBLIiION The Lord poiin ejealght on th/bliad, Tiie Lord support! the fainting mind, And sends the lab'ring eonscienoe peace ; J^ J\ Re helps the stranger in distress, / The widow and the fatherless, And grants the pris'ner sweet releale. * * V . i I'll praise him while he lends me breath, And whe n my roice is lost in death, Praise shall employ my nobler powers ; My days of praise shall De'er be past, While life or thought or being last, Or immortality endures. ■^i. -..£i -.^. iWe then kneeled down and returned thanka for our deliver* unce, and a^rwards we wenteout about the town. I, with two more, by Lord Kingsborough's directions, took up all the arma, guns, swords, pistols, bayonets, and pikes, in the south ward of the town ; whilst his Lordship sent others to the north, east, and west, to bring in the rest ; and the next morning we got many pikes, the handles of which we broke and burned. Thus by the blessing of God our deliverance was accomplished on the 21st of June, 1798. On Sunday, the 24th, I went to church, and once more offered my praises in the sanctuary of the Most High ; the morning prayers and the psakns were very applicaUe to the time ; the congregation wept much before the Lord our God, in gratitude for their return to His %• IN TBI OOVIITT OF WBXfOlD. 237 house, from which they had been exiled for three weeks and three days. Now, Lord God most holy! Qod most mighty! Most gracious and merciful Father, let Thy divine blessing rest on these nations — let Thy Word run and be glorified amongst us, and make us a church and people whom Thou wilt delight to bless. Bless all great men and make them good men ; and all poor men, and make them holy. Ifake us all faithful subjects to our King, and he and us fiuthftil subjects unto Thee, and bring good out of this great evil, for Jesus' sal:e. Amen. GEORGE TATLOB. Dublin, Wh July, 1798. IV 1) THE END. .|P*»