History of the Rebellion in Ireland, in the year 1798, &c., containing an impartial account of the proceedings of the Irish revolutionists, from the year 1782 till the suppression of the rebellion. With an appendix to illustrate some facts. 2d ed. with considerable additions; and a pref. containing a reply to the observations of Sir Richard Musgrave, upon this work

Each story keeps the passage it was read from. Open one to read the passage as the book has it, and, where the companion has written its own telling, that too.

1. The Wexford Bridge massacre of loyalist prisoners

   Wexford · town · Wexford · 1798

   On 20 June 1798, Thomas Dixon led a great massacre of prisoners in Wexford, with victims marched under a black flag to be piked to death mainly on the town's wooden bridge, watched by cheering crowds including many women, until stopped by Father Curran's intervention at news of danger near Vinegar Hill.

   Read the passage

   each parcel surrounded by its guard of butchers, and preceded by a black flag marked with a white cross, to the place of execution, where they were variously put to death, one after another, but mostly each by four men at once, who standing two before and two behind the victim, thrust their pikes into the body, and raising it from the ground, held it suspended, writhing with pain, while any signs of life appeared. Some were slaughtered at the gaol, some at the market house, but the great butchery was on the bridge — a magnificent wooden fabric, ill adapted, from the beauty and gaiety of its appearance, for such hideous exhibitions. As an entertaining spectacle, in fact, it seems to have been regarded by a multitude of wretches, the greater part women, assembled to behold it, who rent the air with shouts of exultation on the arrival of each fresh parcel of victims at the fatal spot. — The wife of Thomas Dixon, already mentioned, a worthy associate of such a man, requested that the prisoners, instead of being slaughtered at the gaol, should be conducted to the bridge for the purpose, that the people might have the pleasure of seeing them, Dixon himself is said to have prepared his immediate followers for their bloody work by Whiskey, and to have taken possession of the town and gaol while the main body of the rebel garrison was, on its march against general Moore,

   182 HISTORY OF THE

   Internet Archive historyofrebelli00gorduoft, Chapter 92

   As the companion tells it

   As you pass through Wexford, this town was the scene of one of the darkest episodes of 1798. On 20 June that year, Thomas Dixon led a massacre of loyalist prisoners, who were marched in parcels under a black flag marked with a white cross to be killed with pikes. Some were slaughtered at the gaol, some at the market house, but the great butchery took place on the town's wooden bridge. The victims were put to death by four men at once, who thrust their pikes into the body and raised it from the ground, holding it suspended while any signs of life appeared. Dixon's wife had asked that the prisoners be brought to the bridge so the people might have the pleasure of seeing them, and Dixon himself is said to have prepared his followers with whiskey beforehand. A multitude gathered to watch, the greater part women, who rent the air with shouts of exultation at the arrival of each fresh parcel of victims. The killing went on until Father Curran intervened at news of danger near Vinegar Hill.

2. Arrest of Lord Edward Fitzgerald in Thomas Street

   Thomas Street · street · Dublin · 1798

   Lord Edward Fitzgerald was seized at the house of Nicholas Murphy, a merchant in Thomas-street, Dublin, by magistrate Swan, town-major Sirr, and captain Ryan. He put up a desperate resistance with a dagger, wounding Swan and fatally wounding Ryan.

   Read the passage

   Lord Edward, who was brother to the duke of Leinster, and married to a French lady of the royal blood of the Capets, a daughter of the last duke of Orleans, was eminently qualified for the excitement and direction of revolutionary commotions, being a man of daring courage, a most active spirit, considerable abilities of mind, and being of a family highly respected for its ancient greatness by the lower classes of the Irish. In consequence of a proclamation issued on the eleventh of May, accompanied with a promise of a thousand pounds reward for his apprehension, he was seized on the nineteenth, in the house of Nicholas Murphy, a merchant in Thomas-street, Dublin, by William Bellingham Swan, a most active magistrate, town-major Sirr, and captain Ryan, a yeoman officer, a gentleman possessed

   Internet Archive historyofrebelli00gorduoft, Chapter 44

   As the companion tells it

   Along here on Thomas Street in 1798, Lord Edward Fitzgerald was seized in the house of Nicholas Murphy, a merchant. A proclamation had been issued on the 11th of May with a thousand pounds reward for his apprehension, and eight days later the authorities came for him. Magistrate Swan, town-major Sirr, and Captain Ryan closed in, and Fitzgerald put up a desperate resistance with a dagger, wounding Swan and fatally wounding Ryan. He was brother to the duke of Leinster and married to a daughter of the last duke of Orleans, a man of daring courage and considerable abilities, respected by the lower classes for his family's ancient greatness.

3. Miraculous survival of Charles Davis at Enniscorthy

   Enniscorthy · townland · Wexford · 1798

   Charles Davis, a glazier of Enniscorthy, hid four days in a privy sink surviving on a raw cock before being caught, shot, piked, and buried alive on Vinegar Hill; his dog uncovered his face and he revived after twelve hours, later recovering fully.

   Read the passage

   A few persons, after being supposed to be slain outright, recovered so far as to attempt an escape, but were apprehended in the attempt, and finally dispatched. The recovery of Charles Davis of Enniscorthy, a glazieiy was extraordinary. After having remained four days concealed in the sink of a privy, during which time he had no other sustenance than the raw body of a cock, which had by accident alighted on the seat, he fled from this loathsome abode, but was taken at some distance from the town, brought to Vinegar-hill, shot through the body and one of his arms, violently struck in several parts of the head with thrusts of a pike, which, however, penetrated not into the brain, and thrown into a grave on his back, with a heap of earth and stones over him. His faithful dog having scraped away the covering from his face, and cleansed it by licking the blood, he returned to life after an interment of twelve hours, dreaming that pikemen were proceeding to stab him, and pronouncing the name otv

   IRISH REBELLION. l6g

   Internet Archive historyofrebelli00gorduoft, Chapter 88

4. Death of Father Michael Murphy at Arklow

   Arklow · town · Wicklow · 1798

   Father Michael Murphy, priest of Ballycanew, believed by his followers to be invulnerable to bullets, was killed by a cannon shot within thirty yards of the Durham line while leading his men in the final assault on Arklow.

   Read the passage

   « We cannot hope for victory otherwise than by *' preserving our ranks : if we break, all is lost1, " and from the spirit which I have seen displayed " at this awful crisis by the Durham regiment, I " can never bear the idea of its giving ground." By this magnanimous answer of the colonel the general was diverted some time from his scheme of a retreat, and in that time the business was decided by the retreat of the rebels, who retired in despair, when frustrated in their most furious assault, in which Father Michael Murphy, priest of Ballycannoo, was killed, by a cannon shot, within thirty yards of the Durham line, while he was leading his people to the attack. This priest had been supposed by the more ignorant of his followers to be invulnerable by bullets or any other 'kind of weapon; to confirm them in which belief he frequently shewed them musket balls, which he said he caught in his hands as they flew from the guns of the enemy. Though I was well acquainted with the extreme credulity of the lower classes of my Romanist countrymen, I could not give credit to this account until I found it confirmed beyond a doubt by various concurring testimonies. The same divine protection was believed to be possessed by Father John, the famous fanatic already mentioned.

   This battle, though not altogether the most bloody, was perhaps the most important of this war, since it probably decided the fate of Ireland.

   Internet Archive historyofrebelli00gorduoft, Chapter 86

   As the companion tells it

   As you pass through Arklow, this is the town where one of the most important battles of 1798 was fought, a battle that probably decided the fate of Ireland. The rebels made their most furious assault on the town. The general had been considering a retreat, but the colonel of the Durham regiment refused to give ground, saying they could not hope for victory otherwise than by preserving their ranks, and that if they broke, all was lost. That answer held the line long enough for the business to be decided. Father Michael Murphy, priest of Ballycannoo, was killed by a cannon shot within thirty yards of the Durham line, while he was leading his people to the attack. He had been supposed by the more ignorant of his followers to be invulnerable by bullets or any other kind of weapon. To confirm them in that belief, he frequently showed them musket balls, which he said he caught in his hands as they flew from the guns of the enemy. The author wrote that though he was well acquainted with the credulity of the lower classes of his Romanist countrymen, he could not give credit to this account until he found it confirmed beyond a doubt by various concurring testimonies. The rebels retired in despair when the assault failed.

5. Death of Lord Edward Fitzgerald from his wounds

   Dublin · city · Dublin · 1798

   Lord Edward Fitzgerald died in agony on 3 June from wounds received during his arrest, having been shot in the shoulder by major Sirr.

   Read the passage

   of gfeat courage; but his lordship made so desperate a defence, with no other arms than a dagger, that Swan was wounded, and Ryan died of his wounds eleven days after. Lord Edward himself expired in great agony on the third of the following month, from the effects of this furious conflict, as he had been wounded in the shoulder by the shot of a pistol from major Sirr. On the nineteenth and twenty-first of May, several other arrests were made, and among the arrested were Henry and John Sheares, brothers, natives of Cork, men of great abilities, and lawyers, who had made a visit to Paris in 1792, where they had imbibed very deeply revolu* tionary ideas ; had, on their return to Ireland, been active in the united conspiracy, and had, as we have good reason to belie vre, at last been, raised to the fatal eminence of the directorial committee. From a belief of his being an United Irishman — a belief doubtless impressed by some dextrous management on his part, and the hope of his co-operation in the business — they confided the secret of the time and plan of the insurrection to Captain Armstrong, of the King's County militia, who had procured an introduction to them through the medium of Patrick Byrne, bookseller of Grafton-street, Dublin. The intelligence occasionally received by this officer, who had procured his introduction for the service of government, was regularly con-\

   78 HISTORY OF THE

   Internet Archive historyofrebelli00gorduoft, Chapter 45

   As the companion tells it

   Dublin, and 1798. Lord Edward Fitzgerald was arrested here after a desperate fight. Armed with nothing but a dagger, he wounded Swan and killed Ryan, who died of his wounds eleven days later. Fitzgerald himself had been shot in the shoulder by Major Sirr, and he expired in great agony on the 3rd of June. The book calls it a furious conflict, and from the effects of it he did not recover. Several other arrests followed on the 19th and 21st of May, among them Henry and John Sheares, brothers from Cork, lawyers of great abilities who had visited Paris in 1792 and returned full of revolutionary ideas. They had risen to what the source calls the fatal eminence of the directorial committee, but they confided the time and plan of the insurrection to Captain Armstrong of the King's County militia, who had gained their trust through Patrick Byrne, a bookseller of Grafton Street. Armstrong had secured his introduction for the service of government, and the intelligence he gathered was regularly passed on.

6. Mutilation of Father Michael Murphy's body after Arklow

   Arklow · town · Wicklow · 1798

   After the battle of Arklow, soldiers of the Ancient British regiment cut open the dead body of Father Michael Murphy, removed his heart, and roasted the corpse, using the grease to oil their boots.

   Read the passage

   I sincerely believe the Irish to be naturally as compassionate as any other people; but ignorance and bigotry debase as yet the minds of the great majority in the south and west. Many instances might be given of men, who at the hazard of their own lives, concealed and maintained loyalists until the storm passed away. On the other hand, many might be given of cruelties committed by persons not natives of Ireland. I shall mention only one act, not of what I shall call cruelty, since no pain was inflicted, but ferocity, not calculated to soften the rancour of the insurgents : Some soldiers of the Ancient British regiment cut open the dead body of Father Michael Murphy, after the battle of Arklow, took out his heart, roasted the body, and oiled their boots with the grease which dripped from it!* From the facts related^ in foregoing

   ." the leader of a mob is almost invariably the man that outgoes " all the rest in wickedness and audacity." Page 77*

   Internet Archive historyofrebelli00gorduoft, Chapter 125

   As the companion tells it

   As you pass through Arklow in Wicklow, you are on the ground of a battle fought in 1798. After the fighting was over, something happened here that the author of one history of the rebellion called not cruelty but ferocity. Soldiers of the Ancient British regiment cut open the dead body of Father Michael Murphy. They took out his heart. They roasted the body. They oiled their boots with the grease that dripped from it. The writer notes that no pain was inflicted, since Father Murphy was already dead, but he says the act was not calculated to soften the rancour of the insurgents. He also says many instances could be given of cruelties committed by persons not natives of Ireland, just as many could be given of men who risked their own lives to shelter loyalists until the storm passed away. He mentions this one act only.

7. Wolfe Tone's Trial, Self-Inflicted Wound, and Death in Dublin

   Dublin · city · Dublin · 1798

   Theobald Wolfe Tone, captured aboard the Hoche, was tried by court-martial in Dublin, requested to be shot as a soldier rather than hanged, and upon refusal cut his own throat in prison; despite Curran's habeas corpus motion, Tone died from the wound.

   Read the passage

   On board the Hoche, in the action with admiral Warren, was found Theobald Wolfe Tone, whose activity and talents had contributed to give life to a formidable conspiracy, which received a deadly wound by the miscarriage of the French armament, and which can hardly be said to have survived his fate. Tried by a courtmartial in the capital, he rested his defence on his being a denizen of France, an officer in the service of that country, and pretended not to deny the charge against him, nor even to excuse his political conduct. Found guilty, he requested the indulgence of being shot as a soldier, instead of being ignominiously hanged as a felon ; and, on the refusal of this request, cut his own throat in the prison. The operation being incompletely performed, hopes were entertained of his recovery ; and on the next morning John Philpot Curran, Esq. the famous barrister, made a motion in the court of King's Bench for a writ of habeas corpus in his favour, upon the ground that ' courts-martial have no jurisdiction over subjects not in military service while the court of King's Bench is sitting.' After a full discussion of the subject the plea was admitted ; but, from the condition of Tone, his removal from prison, according to the writ, was deemed unsafe, and he shortly after died from the self-inflicted wound.

   With the reduction of the ravaging bands in

   Internet Archive historyofrebelli00gorduoft, Chapter 166

   As the companion tells it

   Dublin, 1798. Theobald Wolfe Tone was brought here after being captured aboard the French ship Hoche in action with Admiral Warren. Tried by court-martial in the capital, Tone did not deny the charge against him. He rested his defence on his being a denizen of France and an officer in the service of that country. Found guilty, he asked to be shot as a soldier rather than hanged as a felon. The request was refused. In prison, Tone cut his own throat. The wound was not immediately fatal, and hopes were held for his recovery. The next morning the barrister John Philpot Curran moved the Court of King's Bench for a writ of habeas corpus, arguing that courts-martial have no jurisdiction over subjects not in military service while the Court of King's Bench is sitting. The plea was admitted after full discussion. But Tone's condition made removal from prison unsafe, and he died shortly after from the self-inflicted wound.

8. Fifty-four executed at Carnew without trial

   Carnew · town · Wicklow · 1798

   In reprisal killings following the rebellion, fifty-four men were shot in the small town of Carnew over the course of three days, with no quarter given to those taken as suspected rebels.

   Read the passage

   their sacral engagements with the military, were vastly less than they were stated to be in the bulletins and other public prints. I have reason to think that more men than fell in battle were slain in cold blood. No quarter was given to persons taken prisoners as rebels, with or without arms. For one instance — fifty-four were shot in the little town of Carnew in the space of three days, and thirty-nine in one day in the town of Dunlavin ! How many fell in this manner, or were put to death unresisting, in houses, fields, and elsewhere, would be as difficult to state with accuracy, as the number slain in battle.

   Though by slaughter in battle, executions with and without trial, and transportation from the kingdom, the population was perceptibly thinned in some districts of the county of Wexford, and still more in several parts of the county of Wicklow, the former county on the whole amount seemed scarcely to have sustained a sensible diminution of its peasantry ; but the marks of devastation, and the absence of the gentry, cast a melancholy gloom, where a cheerful aspect had so lately prevailed. By an inquiry of immensely more labour to the inquirer, than importance to the public, the numbers of those who have disappeared from each county, by death and transportation, might be calculated to a degree nearer to accuracy than of all those \vho were congregated to the standards of rebellion.

   Internet Archive historyofrebelli00gorduoft

9. Vinegar Hill as scene of religious butchery

   near Vinegar Hill · hill or hills · Wexford · 1798

   Vinegar Hill, with Enniscorthy at its foot, was held by rebels for over three weeks from 28 May. Protestants captured in the area were dragged there, subjected to sham trials or none, and shot or piked; nearly four hundred were killed on the spot.

   Read the passage

   This now1* famous eminence, rather infamous as a scene of religious butchery, had, with the town of Enniscorthy at its foot, and the country far around, been in possession of the rebels above three weeks from the 2Hth of May. During all this time the face of affairs had been indescribably hideous. Horrors and incessant apprehensions of death attended the hapless protestaait* who had not effected their escape from the devoted ground : — they were every where seized ; a few put to death where they were discovered, but most of them dragged to Vinegar-hill, where, after a sham trial, often without any form of trial, they were shot, or transfixed with pikes ; many lashed, or otherwise barbarously treated before the final execution. To state with indubitable accuracy the exict number of .men thus butchered in this fatal spot I will not pretend to §ay; but it appears from unquestionable documents to have Men little short of four hundred.

   IRISH REBELLION. '16>7

   Internet Archive historyofrebelli00gorduoft, Chapter 88

   As the companion tells it

   Up ahead is Vinegar Hill, with Enniscorthy at its foot. In 1798 rebels held this ground for over three weeks from the 28th of May. Protestants who had not escaped were seized, most dragged to the hill itself, where after a sham trial or none they were shot or transfixed with pikes. The number killed on this spot fell little short of four hundred.

10. Battle of Ballynahinch

    near Ballynahinch · town · Down · 1798

    Rebels took post at Windmill Hill and in the demesne of Lord Moira at Ballynahinch; on 13 June a fierce battle occurred while the town burned, with the Monaghan militia driven back before the Argyleshire fencibles helped turn the tide.

    Read the passage

    mill-hill, and at the house and in the demesne of lord Moira. Oa the 112th, general Nugent, marching from Belfast, and colonel Stewart from Downpatrick, formed with fifteen hundred men a junction near the Windmill-hill, of which they gained possession, together with the town, which lies in a valley between this hill and the high ground in lord Moira 's demesne. On the latter the rebels (four or five thousand in number) were posted or encamped. Both armies spent the night in preparations for battle, which commenced early in the morning of the 13th, while the town was in flames, the troops having wantonly set it on fire. The action was maintained about three hours with artillery, with little or no £ xecutkm — the cannon of the insurgents being small, and tied on the backs of cars ; while the shells thrown from the mortars of the royal army were furnished with too short fusees, so that they all burst in the air. At length the Monaghan regiment of militia, posted with two field pieces at lord Moira's great gate, was attacked with such determined fury by the pikemen of the insurgents, that it fell back in great confusion on the Hillsborongh cavalry, who likewise fell back in equal disorder. The want of discipline in the insurgents lost what their valour had gained. The disordered troops found means to rally while the Argyleshire fensibles, entering the were making their attack on another

    Internet Archive historyofrebelli00gorduoft, Chapter 99

11. Battle of Granard - yeomen repel rebel assault

    Granard · townland · Longford · 1798

    Captain Cottingham's small force of yeomen took a defensive position on the hill on which Granard is built, then retreated closer to the town where, protected by banks and fences, they repelled a five-hour rebel assault, killing many hundreds of the attackers without losing a single man.

    Read the passage

    observing that the rebels, who had at first advanced in one column, divided into three to surround his little army, he retreated to another position still nearer to the town. Here, protected by a bank and other fences, the yeomen awaited the onset of the enemy, who driving before them a multitude of cattle, which the defensive party turned aside without falling into confusion, advanced very close to their line, and received a destructive discharge of musketry. They persevered however in their attempt, with long intervals of pause, during five hours, from between nine and ten in the morning till between two and three in the afternoon, when they fled, and were pursued with slaughter. The number of their slain is, in the captain's official account, said to have exceeded four hundred, and in an anonymous account nearly twice as many are asserted to have fallen ; while of the royal party not one was killed, and only two slightly wounded. The gallant officer, whose conduct on that day, with that of the men under his command, gave a conspicuous proof of the effectual service of yeomen infantry, was, in proportion to his actual merit, less inclined to exaggeration ; I cannot suppose that so many as two hundred could have fallen. Beside the officers, three gentlemen are much praised for theirbehaviour on this occasion, Andrew Bell, of Drumkeel, and Moutray Erskine^ who volunteered, and Ralph Dopping who c!e~

    Internet Archive historyofrebelli00gorduoft, Chapter 143

12. Esmond Kyan predicts his own death by rescuing a protestant in Wicklow

    Wicklow · townland · Wicklow · 1798

    Esmond Kyan, a brave and generous rebel commander, rescued Richard Dowse, a protestant gentleman of county Wicklow, from assassins, but told him his own life was forfeited regardless of the rebellion's outcome; he was executed under martial law exactly as he predicted.

    Read the passage

    others who should prove obnoxious to the relgriing demagogues. In the local and short-lived insurrection in the county of Wexford, this tendency of affairs was so evident to Bagenai Harvey, and other protestant leaders, that they considered their doom as inevitable, and even some Romish commanders expressed apprehensions. Thus Esmond Kyan, one of the most brave and generous among them, declared to- Ilichard Dowse, a protestant gentleman of the county of Wicklow, whom he had rescued from assassins, that his own life was irredeemably forfeited ; for if the rebellion should succeed, his own party would murder him, and if it should not succeed, his fate must be death by martial law ; which happened according to his prediction. Even Philip Roche, whose character, as a priest, might be supposed to insure his safety with his own followers, made a similar declaration to Walter Greene, a protestant gentleman of the county of Wexford, whose life he had protected*

    To suppose that the insurgents were all alike sanguinary or prone to cruel deeds, would be as little conformable to truth as to probability. Many of even the lowest were men of humanity; but amid so wild an agitation, so furious a commotion., the modest and feeble voice of compassion was drowned by the loud and arrogant clamour of destruction to enemies ! revenge on the bloody e range clogs! Among the loyalists, whoever

    Internet Archive historyofrebelli00gorduoft, Chapter 124

13. Executions after Carlow defeat, including Sir Edward Crosbie

    Carlow · townland · Carlow · 1798

    After the rebel defeat at Carlow, about two hundred were hanged or shot under martial law, including Sir Edward Crosbie, condemned as a United Irishman despite doubts about his guilt and irregularities in his trial.

    Read the passage

    leader of the rebel column ; to have conducted the assailants into the town, and on their ill success to have abandoned them. He had certainly in that crisis taken his place as a yeoman, and joined in the slaughter of the assailants. Sir Edward, at whose house the rebel column had assembled, but who certainly had not accompanied them in their march, was condemned and hanged as an United Irishman. I can say nothing from my own knowledge of this unfortunate baronet, with whom I had never any acquaintance ; but his friends have affirmed with truth, that he fell a sacrifice to the confusion which necessarily attends a trial by military law, in the rage of a rebellion ; and that his innocence would be manifest if certain circumstances were made public, which they chose to withhold for a time through respect to administration, then dangerously situated. The whole of his guilt could only have consisted in his having given way to a tide of theoretic politics, which many speculative men had not sufficient clearness of judgment to correct, or duplicity to conceal, though they might utterly abhor the consequences of an attempt to reduce these theories to practice by force of arms.

    Since the publication of my first edition, a pamphlet has appeared, stiled, " A Narrative of " the Apprehension, Trial, and Execution of Sir " Edward William Crosbie, Bart ; in which the

    Internet Archive historyofrebelli00gorduoft, Chapter 53

14. Massacre at Prosperous barracks

    Prosperous · town · Kildare · 1798

    Insurgents under John Esmond surprised the small garrison at Prosperous, setting fire to the barrack and killing twenty-eight of the Cork militia including captain Swayne, plus nine Ancient Britons cavalrymen billeted in the town.

    Read the passage

    The attack of Prosperous, a small town in the county of Kildare, intended for a seat of cotton manufactures, seventeen miles distant from Dublin, was made an hour after midnight, on the night of the 23d, or morning of the 24th, by a large body of men, supposed to be conducted by John Esmond, a Romish gentleman, first lieutenant of a troop of yeoman cavalry. The small garrison was assailed by surprise. The barrack was fired, and twenty-eight of the city of Cork militia, with their commander, captain Swayne, perished in the flames, and by the pikes of the enemy. Nine men also of a Welch regi^ ment .of cavalry, stiled ancient Britons, were ; slaughtered in the houses where they had been billetted, and five were made prisoners. Many of the perpetrators of this atrocious butchery were, by the trembling loyalist inhabitants, recognized to be the same who on the preceding day had surrendered to captain Swayne, and, in the presence of a Romish priest, had expressed the deepest contrition for having engaged in the conspiracy of United Irish, and made most so-> lemn promises of future loyalty— a melancholy instance of dissimulation, practised elsewhere in

    Internet Archive historyofrebelli00gorduoft, Chapter 49

15. Planned burning of protestants at Killan church prevented

    Killan · townland · Cavan · 1798

    A mob in the parish of Killan gathered protestants of both sexes intending to burn them alive in the parish church, making 'an orange pye' of them, with faggots prepared, until yeomen from Kiledmond and the advancing army from Ross stopped the plan.

    Read the passage

    of a second insurrection.* The Rev. Samuel Francis, my predecessor, and his family, after being once brought to the Romish chapel, were permitted to remain at home ; but were in danger of perishing for want of sustenance, until victuals were sent them by the same priest, and by a Roman catholic family of the name of Fitzhenry. Mn Francis, however, died five months after the rebellion, perhaps in consequence of the agitations of mind which he had suffered. We may naturally suppose, from the then prevailing temper of the multitude, that the fate of the protestants of Killegny was- only suspended, and that a longer continuance of the rebel force in this quarter must have involved their destruction. A ruthless mob were collecting the protestants of both sexes in the adjoining parish of Killan, with intention to burn them alive in the parish church, or, according to their phrase, to make an orange pye of them : for which purpose a sufficient quantity of faggots was prepared, when a body of brave yeomen from Kiledmond in the county of Carlow, and the march of the army from Ross, prevented the execution of the infernal design.

    This army, together with all the troops already mentioned, commanded to march from different quarters to surround the rebel post of

    Internet Archive historyofrebelli00gorduoft, Chapter 88

16. Thirty-nine executed at Dunlavin in one day

    Dunlavin · town · Wicklow · 1798

    In the town of Dunlavin, thirty-nine men were shot in a single day during the suppression of the rebellion, an instance of summary killing without trial.

    Read the passage

    their sacral engagements with the military, were vastly less than they were stated to be in the bulletins and other public prints. I have reason to think that more men than fell in battle were slain in cold blood. No quarter was given to persons taken prisoners as rebels, with or without arms. For one instance — fifty-four were shot in the little town of Carnew in the space of three days, and thirty-nine in one day in the town of Dunlavin ! How many fell in this manner, or were put to death unresisting, in houses, fields, and elsewhere, would be as difficult to state with accuracy, as the number slain in battle.

    Though by slaughter in battle, executions with and without trial, and transportation from the kingdom, the population was perceptibly thinned in some districts of the county of Wexford, and still more in several parts of the county of Wicklow, the former county on the whole amount seemed scarcely to have sustained a sensible diminution of its peasantry ; but the marks of devastation, and the absence of the gentry, cast a melancholy gloom, where a cheerful aspect had so lately prevailed. By an inquiry of immensely more labour to the inquirer, than importance to the public, the numbers of those who have disappeared from each county, by death and transportation, might be calculated to a degree nearer to accuracy than of all those \vho were congregated to the standards of rebellion.

    Internet Archive historyofrebelli00gorduoft

17. Thomas Dixon incites mob against Le Hunte over 'orange furniture'

    Wexford · town · Wexford · 1798

    Dixon's wife found ornamental fire-screens in Mr. Le Hunte's house near Wexford and Dixon claimed they depicted plans to burn Catholics alive; Le Hunte was dragged into the street and nearly killed before being saved by rebel chiefs Hay and Carty.

    Read the passage

    catholics were to be put to death by these conspirators; that they were to be first deprived of their sight, and then burned alive, without the exception even of children; and particularly that the seamen of this communion were to be roasted to death on red-hot anchors. Le Hunte, who had hitherto been permitted to remain with little molestation in a private house in the town, was instantly dragged into the street by the rabble, who would soon have torn him in pieces, if he had not been saved by the exertions of two of the chiefs, Edward Hay,* and Robert Carty, who hurried him into the gaol, under pretence of bringing him to trial, and parried in the crowd the thrusts of the pikes, two of which, in spite of their endeavours, wounded him slightly in the back.

    In so perturbed a state of affairs, among a mob so absurdly credulous, so imflammable and ferocious, a general massacre might justly be apprehended ; and if partial massacres had frequently taken place we could not be surprised.. On the 6th of June, the day after the battle of Ilpss, perhaps as an immolation to the departed souls of Romanists killed in that bloody encounter, ten men were selected for execution by a rebel guard sent for that purpose from Enniscorthy.

    Internet Archive historyofrebelli00gorduoft

    As the companion tells it

    As you pass through Wexford, you are in a town that saw a ugly moment in the summer of 1798. Thomas Dixon's wife had been inside Mr. Le Hunte's house and came out saying she had found ornamental fire-screens that depicted plans for burning Catholics alive. Dixon spread the story that they were to be deprived of their sight first and then burned, with no exception even for children, and that Catholic seamen were to be roasted on red-hot anchors. Le Hunte, who had until then been left mostly alone in a private house in the town, was dragged into the street by the rabble. They would soon have torn him in pieces, but two of the rebel chiefs, Edward Hay and Robert Carty, hurried him into the gaol under pretence of bringing him to trial. They parried the pike thrusts in the crowd, but two still got through and wounded him slightly in the back. On the 6th of June, the day after the battle, ten men were selected for execution by a rebel guard sent from Enniscorthy.

18. Battle of Arklow

    Arklow · town · Wicklow · 1798

    Around 27,000 rebels attacked Arklow, defended by 1,600 troops including the Durham fencibles; the fishery quarter of thatched cabins was burned, and yeoman cavalry fled swimming their horses across the river in panic before the rebel assault was repulsed.

    Read the passage

    who after the defeat of Walpole's army on 4th of June, had wasted their time hi burning the town of Carnew, in trials of prisoners for orange-men, the plundering of houses, and other acts of like nature, at. length collected their force at Gorey, and advanced to attack Arklow on the 9th, the only day in which that post had been prepared for defence. Their number probably amounted to twenty-seven thousand, of whom near five thousand were armed with guns, the rest with pikes, which gave them in some points of view the appearance of a moving forest, and they were furnished Avith three serviceable pieces of artillery. The troops posted for the defence of this, at that time, most important station, consisted of sixteen hundred men, including yeomen, supplementary men, and those of the artillery. The rebels attacked the town on all sides, except that which is washed by the river. The approach of that column, which advanced by the sea shore, was so rapid, that the picket guard of yeoman cavalry, stationed in that quarter, was in extreme danger, a party of the rebels having entered and fired what is called the fishery, a part of the town on that side, composed of thatched cabins, before they could effect their escape, so that they were obliged to gallop through the flames, while the main body of this rebel column was at their heels. So great was the terror of this troop of yeomen that most

    IRISH fcEBELLIOST. 155

    Internet Archive historyofrebelli00gorduoft, Chapter 85

    As the companion tells it

    Up ahead is Arklow, a Wicklow town that held a key position in June 1798. After defeating Walpole's army on the 4th of June, the rebels spent days burning Carnew, trying prisoners, and plundering houses before gathering at Gorey and advancing on Arklow on the 9th. Their force probably numbered 27,000, near 5,000 armed with guns and the rest with pikes, giving them, as the source says, the appearance of a moving forest, and they brought three serviceable pieces of artillery. The defence of the town rested on 1,600 men, including yeomen, supplementary men, and artillery. The rebels attacked from every side except that washed by the river. The column coming along the sea shore moved so fast that the yeoman cavalry picket there was nearly trapped. The rebels fired the fishery quarter, thatched cabins on that side of town, before the cavalry could escape, forcing the yeomen to gallop through the flames with the rebel column at their heels. The yeoman cavalry fled in such panic that most swam their horses across the river, and in the end the assault was repulsed.

19. Battle of Castlebar: French rout the royal army

    Castlebar · town · Mayo · 1798

    Despite superior artillery and fresher troops, the royal army at Castlebar was seized with an unaccountable panic and broke on all sides, fleeing in extreme confusion through the town toward Tuam, even though the French had suffered heavy losses and general Lake's order to retreat was reportedly the real cause of the rout.

    Read the passage

    forces in the weight of artillery, and the numbers and freshness of the men, who were free from fatigue — while the French had been laboriously scrambling their way through mountains, near twenty-four hours, without repose, might seem to promise an easy victory to our army. At the commencement of the battle appearances were favourable to this presumption. The royal artillery, which is universally allowed to have been, excellently managed under the directions of captain Shortall, made such execution among the French, that they were checked in their progress, and recoiled a few minutes. These veterans however meant not to retreat, though their Irish auxiliaries were as yet of little use to them in combat. They filed away in small parties to the right and left, as if they meant to assail our troops in flank, and some of them are said to have advanced on the Frazer fensibles in the left, so as almost to reach the points of their bayonets. As yet, however, the French, who had lost many of their number, principally by the fire of our artillery, had fired only a few shots, when the royal army, seized with an unaccountable panic, broke on all sides, notwithstanding the utmost exertions of their officers, and fled in extreme confusion through the town on the road to Tuam. I am informed by good authority, that the French officers, at the first view of the number, and excellent arrangement of our troops

    285' HISTORY OF THE

    Internet Archive historyofrebelli00gorduoft

    As the companion tells it

    Up ahead is Castlebar, the Mayo town where one of the strangest routs of 1798 took place. The royal army had every advantage. They outweighed the French in artillery, and their men were fresh, free from fatigue, while the French had spent close to twenty-four hours laboriously scrambling through mountains without repose. At the commencement of the battle, appearances favoured the royal side. The royal artillery, excellently managed under Captain Shortall, made such execution among the French that they were checked in their progress and recoiled a few minutes. These veterans meant not to retreat, though their Irish auxiliaries were as yet of little use in combat. They filed away in small parties to the right and left, as if to assail the royal troops in flank. Some are said to have advanced on the Frazer fencibles on the left so as almost to reach the points of their bayonets. The French had lost many of their number, principally by the fire of the artillery, and had fired only a few shots, when the royal army was seized with an unaccountable panic. It broke on all sides, notwithstanding the utmost exertions of the officers, and fled in extreme confusion through the town on the road to Tuam. Good authority reports that the French officers, at their first view of the number and excellent arrangement of the royal troops, had themselves been discouraged.

20. Father Murphy's execution at Tullow

    Tullow · town · Carlow · 1798

    Father John Murphy of Boulavogue, leader of the rebellion since its outset and commander of the column that ravaged Carlow and Kilkenny, disappeared after the rout of Kilcumney but was apprehended in flight and executed by martial law at Tullow.

    Read the passage

    Redmond, of Clougli. The former, already noticed, had been leader since the first moment of the insurrection in his county, and had alone been considered as such by some thousands of rebels, over whom other chieftains held a nominal authority. He was nominal as well as real chief commander of that great column which made an incursion through the county of Carlow into that of Kilkenny, and caused such devastation in that quarter. In the rout of Kilcomny he disappeared from his followers, who generally imagine him to be still alive. He was, however, apprehended in his flight, and conducted to Tullow, in the county of Carlow; where, being recognized, he was executed by martial law.

    Of the rebellious conduct of Redmond, coadjutor to Father Francis Kavenagti, in the parish of Ciough, of which I was twenty-three years curate, I can find no other proof than the sentence of the court-martial which consigned him. to death. He was accused by the earl of Mountnorris, of having appeared as chief among a party of rebels who committed some depredations at his lordship's house ; while he alleged that his object in appearing on the occasion was to endeavour to prevent the plundering of the house, in which he had partly succeeded. Coming into Gorey on a message from the earl, seemingly unapprehensive of danger, and unconscious of guilt, he was treated as if manifestly

    Internet Archive historyofrebelli00gorduoft, Chapter 112

21. Slaughter of rebels at Killala battle

    Killala · town · Mayo · 1798

    During the battle at Killala, about four hundred rebels fell, many killed while fleeing in all directions, pursued by cavalry and driven toward the shore where a cannon on the opposite side of the bay did great execution.

    Read the passage

    " The two divisions of the royal army were " supposed to make up ahout twelve hundred " men, and they had five pieces of cannon. The " numher of the rebels could not he ascertained. " Many run away before the engagement, while " a very considerable number flocked into the " town in the very heat of it, passing under the " castle windows in view of the French officers " on horseback, running upon death with as " little appearance of reflection or concern, as if " they were hastening to a show. About four " hundred of these misguided men fell in the " battle and immediately after it. Whence it " may be conjectured that their entire number " scarcely exceeded eight or nine hundred."' To account for "so great a slaughter, we are to observe from the same excellent narrative from which I have already transcribed, that they met with death on every side where they attempted to escape; for, when driven from their post outside the town by a flanking fire of the soldiery, they fled in all directions, they were furiously pursued by the Roxburgh cavalry, who slaughtered many in the streets, and were either intercepted at the other end of the town by the Kerry

    * A narrative of what passed at Killala, by an eye witness^ supposed to be the bishop of Killala. Dublin, 1800.

    Internet Archive historyofrebelli00gorduoft, Chapter 146

    As the companion tells it

    As you pass through Killala, you are on the ground of a battle fought in 1798. The two divisions of the royal army made up about twelve hundred men, with five pieces of cannon. The number of rebels could not be ascertained. Many ran away before the engagement, while a considerable number flocked into the town in the very heat of it, passing under the castle windows in view of the French officers on horseback. They were, in the words of the source, running upon death with as little appearance of reflection or concern, as if they were hastening to a show. About four hundred of these men fell in the battle and immediately after it. Their entire number scarcely exceeded eight or nine hundred. When driven from their post outside the town by a flanking fire of the soldiery, they fled in all directions. They were furiously pursued by the Roxburgh cavalry, who slaughtered many in the streets, and were intercepted at the other end of the town by the Kerry.

22. Assassination of the Barclay family at Forkhill

    near Forkill · parish · Armagh · 1791

    Defenders assassinated a Protestant family named Barclay at Forkhill, County Armagh, in 1791. The master of a newly endowed Protestant school, his wife, and brother-in-law were horribly mutilated, with two dying of their wounds.

    Read the passage

    the latter associated under the title of defenders, and seem to have been regularly organized in the year 1789. Among the outrages perpetrated by these Romanists was the assassination of a family of the name of Barclay, at a place called Forkhill, in the above-mentioned county, in the year 179U The master of the family who had been appointed to preside over a newly endowed protestant school, his wife, and his brother-in-law, the two latter of whom died of their wounds, were maimed in a horrid manner; the first by the amputation of his fingers and part of his tongue : the second, a beautiful young woman, by the amputation of lier breasts, her tongue, and the calves of her legs; and the third by a similar mutilation. For self-preservation against this religious confede^ racy, which had spread itself widely through the neighbouring counties, the protcstants of the county of Armagh began at length, in the latter part of the year 1795, to form associations under the denomination of Orangemen, a denomination derived from King William the Third, Prince of Orange, who had rescued the protestants of Ireland by his arms, and given them that ascendency 'which they have since maintained, After the loss of many lives on both sides in the contest, the Orangemen obtained a decided superiority, and, as must be expected, the lower sort abused their victory, expelling from their houses and lands great numbers of the opposite party,

    Internet Archive historyofrebelli00gorduoft, Chapter 34

23. Battle of Killala - rebel defenders and townspeople

    Killala · town · Mayo · 1798

    On 23 September 1798, General Trench's forces attacked Killala, where rebels had fortified the rising ground and low stone walls, while fugitives from Ballina fled into the town seeking shelter; the Kerry militia arrived simultaneously with other forces to relieve the loyalists.

    Read the passage

    " time. A troop of fugitives in full race from " Ballina — women Land children tumbling over " one another to get into the castle, or into any " house in the town where they might hope for a " momentary shelter — continued for a painful " length of time to give notice of the approach " of an army.

    " The rebels quitted their camp to occupy the " rising ground close by the town, on the road to " Ballina, posting themselves under the low stone " walls on each side in such a manner as enabled " them with great advantage to take aim at the " king's troops. They had a strong guard also " on the other side of the town toward Foxford, " having probably received intelligence, which " was true, that general Trench had divided his " forces at Crosmalina, and sent one part of them " by a detour of three miles to intercept the " fugitives that might take that course in their ' f flight. This last detachment consisted chiefly " of the Kerry militia, under the orders of lieua tenant-colonel Crosbie, and Maurice Fitzgerald, cc the knight of Kerry; their colonel, the earl " of Glandore, attending the general. It is a " circumstance which ought never to be forgotten "by the loyalists of Killala, that the Kerry t( militia were so wrought upon by the exhorta- <l tions of those two spirited officers, to loose no " time to come to the relief of their perishing " friends, that they appeared on the south side

    Internet Archive historyofrebelli00gorduoft, Chapter 146

    As the companion tells it

    Up ahead is Killala in Mayo, the town where, on 23 September 1798, one of the last actions of the rebellion played out. Fugitives came racing in from Ballina, women and children tumbling over one another to get into the castle or any house where they might find a moment's shelter. The rebels quit their camp and took the rising ground on the road to Ballina, posting themselves behind the low stone walls on each side, where they could take aim at the king's troops to good advantage. They kept a strong guard on the far side of town toward Foxford, because they had word, true as it turned out, that General Trench had divided his forces at Crosmalina and sent one part by a detour of three miles to cut off fugitives who might flee that way. That detachment was chiefly the Kerry militia, under Lieutenant-Colonel Crosbie and Maurice Fitzgerald, the Knight of Kerry, with their colonel, the Earl of Glandore, attending the general. Those two officers urged the militia to lose no time coming to the relief of their perishing friends, and the Kerry militia appeared on the south side of the town.

24. Burning of informer Mackee's house near Saintfield

    near Saintfield · town · Down · 1798

    Rebels under Dr. Jackson set fire to the house of an informer named Mackee near Saintfield, killing eleven people in the flames in an atrocity compared to the Scullabogue burning.

    Read the passage

    menced in that of Down — a body of insurgents making their appearance near Saintfield, under the command of an inhabitant of Newtownards, a Dr. Jackson. In their progress through the country they set fire to the house of a man named Mackee, who had been an informer of treasonable meetings : eleven persons perished in the flames — and circumstances of cruelty were shewn, not inferior to those of the burning at Scullabogue. Electing^ for their general, Henry Munro, a shop-keeper of Lisburn, they placed themselves, on the 9th, in ambuscade, in the neighbourhood of Saintfield, awaiting the approach of a body of troops under colonel Stapleton, consisting of York fensibles and yeomau cavalry. The ambuscade so far succeeded, that the royal troops were for some time in danger of total defeat — losing about sixty of their number, among whom were captain Chetwynd, lieutenant Unitt, and ensign Sparks, and also the Rev. Mr. Mortimer, vicar of Portaferry, who had volunteered. — The infantry, however, on whom the cavalry had been driven back in confusion, rallying with a cool intrepidity not common in those times, dislodged and dispersed the rebels, and after a stay of two hours on the field of battle, retreated to Belfast.

    Little discouraged by this defeat, in which their loss was very small, the rebels reassembled, and took post at Bally nahinch, on the Wind*

    Internet Archive historyofrebelli00gorduoft, Chapter 98

25. Burning of rebel hospital at Enniscorthy after the battle

    Enniscorthy · townland · Wexford · 1798

    After Enniscorthy was recovered, Hessian troops set fire to a house used as a rebel hospital, burning at least fourteen wounded and sick men who could not escape the flames.

    Read the passage

    Enniscorthy being thus recovered after having been above three weeks in the hands of the rebels, many loyalists in it were relieved from a dreadful state of terror and distress. Excesses, as must be expected in such a state of affairs, were committed by the soldiery, particularly by the Hessian troops, who co-operated with the British on this occasion, and made no distinction between loyalists and rebels. The most remarkable act of this kind was the firing of a house which had been used as an hospital by the rebels, where a number of men, fourteen at least, who by wounds and sickness were unable to escape from the flames, were burned to ashes. I merely mention the fact, which is too consonant with the spirit of civil and religious warfare. Different

    * The loss in general Johnson's army alone, which suffered more than all the rest, amounted to twenty killed, sixty-seven Bounded, and six missing.

    Internet Archive historyofrebelli00gorduoft, Chapter 89

26. Colonel Skerrett's Stand Saves Arklow

    Arklow · town · Wicklow · 1798

    When General Needham proposed retreat during the Battle of Arklow, Colonel Skerrett's resolute refusal to give ground held the line until the rebels retreated in despair, deciding the battle and, in the author's view, the fate of the kingdom.

    Read the passage

    « We cannot hope for victory otherwise than by *' preserving our ranks : if we break, all is lost1, " and from the spirit which I have seen displayed " at this awful crisis by the Durham regiment, I " can never bear the idea of its giving ground." By this magnanimous answer of the colonel the general was diverted some time from his scheme of a retreat, and in that time the business was decided by the retreat of the rebels, who retired in despair, when frustrated in their most furious assault, in which Father Michael Murphy, priest of Ballycannoo, was killed, by a cannon shot, within thirty yards of the Durham line, while he was leading his people to the attack. This priest had been supposed by the more ignorant of his followers to be invulnerable by bullets or any other 'kind of weapon; to confirm them in which belief he frequently shewed them musket balls, which he said he caught in his hands as they flew from the guns of the enemy. Though I was well acquainted with the extreme credulity of the lower classes of my Romanist countrymen, I could not give credit to this account until I found it confirmed beyond a doubt by various concurring testimonies. The same divine protection was believed to be possessed by Father John, the famous fanatic already mentioned.

    This battle, though not altogether the most bloody, was perhaps the most important of this war, since it probably decided the fate of Ireland.

    Internet Archive historyofrebelli00gorduoft, Chapter 86

    As the companion tells it

    Coming through Arklow now, in Wicklow. In 1798 this town saw what the author calls perhaps the most important battle of the rebellion, one that probably decided the fate of Ireland. General Needham proposed a retreat, but Colonel Skerrett refused. His words were, we cannot hope for victory otherwise than by preserving our ranks: if we break, all is lost, and from the spirit which I have seen displayed at this awful crisis by the Durham regiment, I can never bear the idea of its giving ground. That answer held the general back from his scheme of retreat, and in that time the rebels themselves retreated in despair, their most furious assault frustrated. Father Michael Murphy, priest of Ballycannoo, was killed by a cannon shot within thirty yards of the Durham line while leading his people to the attack. He had been thought invulnerable by the more ignorant of his followers, and to confirm them he would show them musket balls he said he caught in his hands as they flew from the guns of the enemy. The author could not credit this until various concurring testimonies confirmed it. The same divine protection was believed to belong to Father John, the famous fanatic already mentioned. Though not the most bloody, this battle may have decided the fate of Ireland.

27. Death of Andrew Kirkwood in the taking of Killala

    Killala · town · Mayo · 1798

    Andrew Kirkwood, a loyal and respectable citizen of Killala, was fatally shot by soldiers' volley while celebrating the victory and shouting 'God save the King' as a fleeing rebel burst through his door.

    Read the passage

    " fatal to Mr. Andrew Kirk wood, a most loyal " and respectable citizen, while he was rejoicing1 " at the victory, and in the very act of shouting " out * God save the King' ! * In spite of the ex- *' ertions of the general and his officers, the town <e exhibited all the marks of a place taken by r< storm. Some houses were perforated like a "riddle: most of them had their doors and " windows destroyed ; the trembling inhabitants " scarcely escaping with life, by lying prostrate " on the floor. Nor was it till the close of next " day that their ears were relieved from the horrid " sound of muskets discharged every minute at " flying and powerless rebels. The plague of " war so often visits the world that we are apt to " listen to any description of it with the indifTe- <( rence of satiety: it is the actual inspection " only, that shews the monster in its proper and " full deformity."!

    The town of Kiilala thus recovered by his majesty's forces, had been thirty two days in the possession of the French and rebels. Of the transaction which occurred there during that

    Internet Archive historyofrebelli00gorduoft, Chapter 148

    As the companion tells it

    As you come through Killala in Mayo, this town was held for 32 days by the French and rebels in 1798 before his majesty's forces recovered it. When the town was taken by storm, a fleeing rebel burst through Andrew Kirkwood's door. Kirkwood was a most loyal and respectable citizen, and he was rejoicing at the victory, in the very act of shouting out "God save the King," when soldiers fired a volley that proved fatal to him. The general and his officers exerted themselves, but the town showed all the marks of a place taken by storm. Houses were perforated like a riddle. Most had their doors and windows destroyed. The trembling inhabitants scarcely escaped with life by lying prostrate on the floor. It was not till the close of the next day that their ears were relieved from the sound of muskets discharged every minute at flying and powerless rebels.

28. Executions on Wexford bridge

    Wexford · town · Wexford · 1798

    On the possession of Wexford town by government forces, rebel leaders including Matthew Keugh and Philip Roche were among nine executed on the bridge, the general scene of both execution and earlier massacre, their heads fixed on the court-house.

    Read the passage

    While a few trials tor treason were held by jury in the metropolis, by the more summary mode of court-martial were great numbers tried in other places, particularly the town and county of Wextbrd. On the possession of the former b\ his majesty's forces, on the 21st of June, immediate search was made for the ostensible chiefs of the rebels, most of whom had sought places of concealment. Some surrendered in confidence of an imaginary capitulation. Matthew Keugh, as 1 have already mentioned, made no attempt to escape, hoping mercy on account of his having been formerly in danger among the rebels, and for the services which he had rendered in their evacuation of the town. But no mercy on such accounts was, in those times, to be found. — On the 2oth, nine of these leaders were executed, among whom were Keugh and Philip Roche. The bridge was the general scene of execution, as it had been of massacre. The head, after death, by hanging, separated from the body, which was commonly thrown into the river, as had been the bodies of the massacred protes* tants, was fixed aloft on the court-house.

    Among the persons who suffered for treason on the bridge, were Beawhamp Bagenal Harvey, Cornelius Grogan, and John Henry Colclough. Grogan, a man of an estate in land of eight thousand pounds a year, and much accumulated wcalth; but of a timid $pirit, had unfortunately

    Internet Archive historyofrebelli00gorduoft, Chapter 109

    As the companion tells it

    As you pass through Wexford town, you are moving through the scene of some of the darkest events of 1798. Government forces took the town on the 21st of June and immediately hunted for the rebel leaders, most of whom had gone into hiding. Some gave themselves up, believing in a capitulation that existed only in hope. Matthew Keugh made no attempt to flee, trusting that his having been in danger among the rebels himself and his role in their evacuation of the town would earn him mercy. It did not. On the 25th, nine leaders were executed on the bridge, among them Keugh and Philip Roche. The bridge had already been the scene of massacre, and now it became the scene of execution. After death by hanging, the heads were fixed on the court-house, and the bodies were thrown into the river, as the bodies of massacred Protestants had been before them. Others who suffered on the bridge included Beauchamp Bagenal Harvey, Cornelius Grogan, and John Henry Colclough. Grogan held an estate worth eight thousand pounds a year but, by the account, was a man of a timid spirit.

29. General Humbert lands French troops at Killala Bay

    Killala · town · Mayo · 1798

    General Humbert landed at the bay of Killala in County Mayo with over a thousand French soldiers, having originally intended to invade Donegal but being blown off course. The garrison of only fifty men fled after a brief resistance, leaving casualties and prisoners including two officers.

    Read the passage

    This was the ill-timed expedition of general Humbert, who, on the ' 22nd of August, two months after the dislodgment of the rebels from the county of Wexford, landed at the bay of Killala, in the county of Mayo, with a thousand and thirty private soldiers, and seventy officers, from three frigates, two of forty-four, and one of thirty-eight guns — which had sailed from Rochelle on the 4th of the same month, with design to invade the county of Donegal, in which they were frustrated by contrary winds. The garrison of Killala, consisting of only fifty men, of whom thirty "were yeomen, the rest fensible soldiers of the prince of Wales 's regiment, after a vain attempt to oppose the entrance of the French vanguard, between seven and eight o'clock in the evening, fled with precipitation, leaving two of their number dead, and their two officers prisoners (lieutenant Sills, of the fensibles, and captain Kirk wood, of the yeomen) together with nineteen privates. To compensate, as far as possible, by the vigour of his operations, for the smaliness of his number, seems to have been an object with the French general, . He sent on the next morning toward * a small town situate seven miles to the

    * In this name t^Q accent is laid on the last syllable.

    Internet Archive historyofrebelli00gorduoft, Chapter 136

    As the companion tells it

    As you come through Killala, this is where General Humbert landed on the 22nd of August, 1798, with over a thousand French private soldiers and 70 officers from three frigates. They had sailed from Rochelle intending to invade Donegal, but contrary winds drove them here to the bay of Killala in Mayo instead. The garrison was only 50 men, 30 of them yeomen and the rest soldiers of the Prince of Wales's regiment. They tried to oppose the French vanguard between seven and eight in the evening, but fled, leaving two dead and their two officers prisoners, Lieutenant Sills and Captain Kirkwood, along with 19 privates.

30. Lord Kingsborough orders flogging with salt rubbed into wounds

    Wexford · town · Wexford · 1798

    By order of Lord Kingsborough two men suspected of being rebels were flogged, and while drummers cut their backs his lordship threw salt into the wounds; the men's injuries were not allowed to be dressed for twenty-four hours despite the surgeon's pleas.

    Read the passage

    * The following is an extract of a letter which I received from a brave officer, who acted a worthy part throughout the rebellion. — -" It is a painful recollection that the records of past ages will not influence the transactions of the present generation. The ultimatums of all rebellions have enabled us to ascertain the violent methods by which the conduct of the actors has been influenced. Private piques have been revenged, party distinctions have raged with uncontrolled fury, and yet more dreadful than all, the devil gets his opportunity of swaying the minds of his friends , and gives them permission to perform acts worthy of his hellish machinations." 1 believe that this brave man's mind was impressed, while he wrote, beside other horrors, with that of a flogging, given by order of Lord Kingsborough, to two men on suspicion of their being rebels, on what grounds, none except his lordship knew. While the drummers were cutting the backs of these miserable men, his lordship was employed in throwing salt into the cuts 5 nor were their wounds Allowed to be dressed for twenty-four hours, notwithstanding the pressing remonstrances of the surgeon.

    254- HISTORY OF THE

    Internet Archive historyofrebelli00gorduoft, Chapter 124

    As the companion tells it

    As you pass through Wexford, this town carries a grim memory from 1798. By order of Lord Kingsborough, two men suspected of being rebels were flogged here, on grounds no one but his lordship knew. While the drummers were cutting the backs of these miserable men, his lordship was employed in throwing salt into the cuts. Their wounds were not allowed to be dressed for 24 hours, notwithstanding the pressing remonstrances of the surgeon. A brave officer who served throughout the rebellion recorded the event in a letter, reflecting on how private piques had been revenged and party distinctions had raged with uncontrolled fury. He wrote that more dreadful than all of that, the devil gets his opportunity of swaying the minds of his friends, and gives them permission to perform acts worthy of his hellish machinations.

31. Lord O'Neil mortally wounded at Antrim

    near Antrim · town · Antrim · 1798

    Lord O'Neil rode into Antrim unaware rebels held the town, shot a man who seized his horse's bridle, and was then dragged from his saddle and wounded with pikes, dying a few days later.

    Read the passage

    * Lord O'Neil had ridden into the town to attend the meeting of the magistrates, not knowing that the rebels were in possession of it. He shot one who had seized the bridle of has horse, after which he was dragged from his saddle, and s© wounded with pikes that he died in a few days.

    196 HISTORY OF THE

    Internet Archive historyofrebelli00gorduoft

32. Murder of Mary Hall's Husband at Vinegar Hill Mill

    near Vinegar Hill · hill or hills · Wexford · 1798

    During the 1798 rebellion, Mary Hall's husband was held prisoner by rebels first in Mr. Bayle's barn and then taken to the windmill on Vinegar Hill, where he was tried, shot, and piked to death by the prisoner Fenlon and other rebels. As his wife tried to save the body, thunder and lightning struck, which the rebels interpreted as a divine sign of joy at an orangeman's death.

    Read the passage

    wards. Prisoner then tore her husband out of her arms, and placed sentries on each door to keep her within. In some time after, witness heard a shot, and forced her way out of the door, where she saw the rebels dragging a body by the heels. The prisoner was there with a blunderbuss and an officer's sash. The body they were dragging, she found, was her husband's. She took the body in her arms. During this time it thundered violently, with much lightning. The rebels fell on their knees, and blessed themselves. Some of them desired her to throw the body of her husband away, and bless herself. They then asked her what was the reason of the thunder? She answered, that God was angry at their acts. " No, you w — e," replied they, " God sounds the horn of joy that 11 an orangeman is killed." Her husband then, whom she had thought dead, stretched out his feet, and turned to her, and said, " Molly, my " dear, take me from these people," and then expired. The body of her husband -was black, as if from the stripes of a .cat-o'nine- tails, and the k of a bullet that entered his breast and came out at his shoulder. The rebels, among whom was the prisoner, refused to let her take the body, but witness declared she would not leave ,it. They said they would not kill her, as she was with child, and she should have a .Christian, which

    Internet Archive historyofrebelli00gorduoft, Chapter 173

    As the companion tells it

    Coming up along Vinegar Hill now. During the 1798 rebellion, Mary Hall's husband was held prisoner first in Mr. Bayle's barn, then taken to the windmill up on this hill, where he was tried and killed. Mary was kept inside under guard, but she heard a shot and forced her way out to find the rebels dragging her husband's body by the heels. The prisoner Fenlon was among them, carrying a blunderbuss and an officer's sash. As she took her husband's body in her arms, thunder and lightning broke out. The rebels dropped to their knees and blessed themselves, then told her to throw the body away. When she said God was angry at their acts, they replied that God sounded the horn of joy that an orangeman was killed. Her husband, whom she had thought dead, turned to her and said "Molly, my dear, take me from these people," and then expired. His body was black from stripes, with a bullet that entered his breast and came out at his shoulder. The rebels would not let her take the body, but she refused to leave it. They said they would not kill her, as she was with child.

33. Rebel assault and massacre at Carlow

    Carlow · townland · Carlow · 1798

    Rebels marched into Carlow at two in the morning but were met with destructive fire from the garrison and driven back into houses, which were set on fire by the soldiery, killing many trapped inside. Rebel losses were estimated at around four hundred, with no loyalist casualties.

    Read the passage

    distant from Carlo w, marched into the town at two o'clock of the morning of the 2Mh of May, with so little precaution as to alarm the garrison at a quarter of a mile's distance, by the discharge of a gun, in the execution of a man who scrupled to accompany them in their enterprise. Shouting as they rushed into Tullow street, with that vain confidence, which is commonly followed by disappointment, that the town was their own, they received so destructive a fire from the garrison, that they recoiled and endeavoured to retreat ; but finding their flight intercepted, numbers took refuge in the houses, where they found a miserable exit, these being immediately fired by the soldiery. About eight houses were consumed in this conflagration, and for some days the roasted remains of unhappy men were falling down the chimnies in which they had perished. As about half this column of assailants had arrived within the town, and few escaped from that situation, their loss can hardly be estimated at less than four hundred ; while not a man was even wounded on the side of the loyalists. After the defeat, executions commenced, as elsewhere in this calamitous period, and about two hundred in a short time were hanged or shot, according to martial law. Among the earliest victims were Sir Edward Crosbie, and one Heydon, a yeoman of Sir Charles Burton's, troop. The latter is believed to have been the

    IRISH REBELLION. 9$

    Internet Archive historyofrebelli00gorduoft, Chapter 53

34. Trial and suicide of William Jackson in Dublin courtroom

    Dublin · city · Dublin · 1795

    William Jackson, an English clergyman engaged in treasonable correspondence with French agents, was tried in Dublin on 23 April 1795, found guilty, and poisoned himself, dying in the bar of the court before a crowd.

    Read the passage

    of political societies, who had, on arrest, given bail for his appearance, had made his escape out of the kingdom in the preceding year to avoid a trial. A like escape was effected by Mr. Rowan, who by stratagem found egress, from the prison. His resolution to attempt this flight .was prompted, at least precipitated, by the arrest of an English clergyman of the name of William Jackson, engaged in a treasonable correspondence with agents of the French government: in which correspondence Mr. Rowan was implicated, and might in consequence have been capitally convicted. Jackson being tried in Dublin, on the 23d of April, 1 7'95, and found guilty :by the jury, evaded the ignominy of a public execution by suicide, swallowing a dose of poison, and expiring in the bar of the court amid a multitude of people.

    To penetrate into the secret motives of the several protestants, who were the prime contrivers and promoters of this conspiracy, which in a short time spread its ramifications throughout the whole island, and greatly endangered the established government, I have not vanity to pretend. Most probably private ambition was the motive of some, who aspired at an eminence of power and fame through the medium of a revolution, regardless of slaughters and devastations, its inevitable con-j eomitants. A spirit of patriotism seems to have incited a few, particularly Thomas Addis Emmet, & lawyer of uncommon talents and benevolence.*

    Internet Archive historyofrebelli00gorduoft, Chapter 25

    As the companion tells it

    As you pass through Dublin, this city holds the story of a trial that ended in sudden death in a courtroom. William Jackson was an English clergyman caught up in treasonable correspondence with agents of the French government. His arrest prompted others to flee. A man named Rowan, who was implicated in the same correspondence and might have been capitally convicted, escaped from prison by stratagem and fled the kingdom. Jackson himself did not flee. He was brought to trial in Dublin on the 23rd of April, 1795. The jury found him guilty. Before the court could move to a public execution, Jackson swallowed a dose of poison. He expired in the bar of the court, amid a multitude of people who had gathered there. He had evaded the ignominy of the gallows by taking his own life. The book that records this does not pretend to know the secret motives of the Protestants who were the prime contrivers and promoters of the conspiracy that spread its ramifications throughout the whole island and endangered the established government. It guesses that private ambition drove some, who aspired to eminence of power and fame through revolution, regardless of the slaughters and devastations that would follow. A spirit of patriotism seems to have incited a few, particularly Thomas Addis Emmet, a lawyer of uncommon talents and benevolence.

35. Anthony Perry's torture in Gorey prison

    Gorey · town · Wexford · 1798

    Perry, arrested and confined in Gorey before the insurrection, gave information to government but was treated with cruelty; a serjeant nicknamed Tom the Devil cut away his hair and burned the roots with a candle.

    Read the passage

    A brief account of Anthony Perry, one of the rebel generals above-mentioned, may serve to shew what difficulty a man may find, who endeavours to extricate himself from the effects of a conspiracy against government, when he has once engaged in it This gentleman, a man of amiable manners, and a well informed understanding, was yet weak enough to be seduced into the conspiracy ; and having acted so as to cause much suspicion, was arrested and confined in Gorey a little before the insurrection. lie repented heartily of his misconduct, and gave information useful to government; but such was the state of things, that he was treated in prison with the utmost harshness and indignity. Among othetf acts of severity, a serjeant of the North-Cork militia, nicknamed, from his habitual behaviour Tom the Demi, cut away all his hair quite close to the head, and then burned all the roots of it with a candle. Being liberated

    208 HISTORY 0F THE

    Internet Archive historyofrebelli00gorduoft, Chapter 104

    As the companion tells it

    As you pass through Gorey, this is where Anthony Perry was held in prison in 1798, before the insurrection broke out. Perry was a man of amiable manners and a well-informed understanding, yet he was seduced into a conspiracy against the government. Having aroused suspicion, he was arrested and confined here. He repented heartily and gave information useful to the government. Even so, he was treated with the utmost harshness and indignity. A serjeant of the North-Cork militia, nicknamed Tom the Devil from his habitual behaviour, cut away all of Perry's hair quite close to the head, and then burned all the roots of it with a candle.

36. Execution of Rev. Mr. Pentland at Vinegar Hill Windmill

    near Vinegar Hill · hill or hills · Wexford · 1798

    William Furlong testified that he was held prisoner with the Rev. Mr. Pentland, Rev. Mr. Trocke, and about thirty loyalists in the windmill on Vinegar Hill by rebels under Andrew Farrel. Farrel forcibly dragged Pentland from the mill door, where he was immediately put to death along with fourteen or fifteen others.

    Read the passage

    Q. Do you know how he came by his death? A. I was taken prisoner by the rebels om WhitsunjTuesday, and put into the wind-mill on Vinegar-hill, where I saw the Rev. Mr. Pentland, the Rev. Mr. Trocke, three men of the name of Gill, and about thirty more loyalists in custody of the rebels. The prisoner, Andrew Farrel, was there. The rebels called him captain Farrel,, to which name he answered. He had a drawn sword in his hand. I heard him bid the loyalists fall on their knees, and prepare for death, as they should be killed directly. The prisoner then ordered out several of the loyalists, who were instantly murdered. In particular I saw him take Mr. Pentland by the breast, and by force put him out of the inill door, where he was instantly put to death. Mr. Pentland resisted

    374' APPENDIX, NO. III.

    Internet Archive historyofrebelli00gorduoft, Chapter 175

    As the companion tells it

    Coming up near Vinegar Hill. In 1798, this hill was the site of a grim episode at its windmill. A man named William Furlong testified that he was taken prisoner by rebels on Whitsun Tuesday and held in the mill with about thirty loyalists, including the Reverend Mr. Pentland, the Reverend Mr. Trocke, and three men named Gill. Andrew Farrel, called captain Farrel by the rebels, was there with a drawn sword. He ordered the loyalists to fall on their knees and prepare for death. Several were taken out and instantly murdered. Furlong saw Farrel take Pentland by the breast and force him out the mill door, where he was put to death. Pentland resisted.

37. Torture of witnesses in Crosbie trial

    Carlow · townland · Carlow · 1798

    A pamphlet detailed how Protestant loyalist witnesses were barred from the court and Roman Catholic prisoners were tortured by flogging to force testimony against Sir Edward Crosbie, with promises of life only if he was convicted.

    Read the passage

    " Innocence of Sir Edward, and the Iniquity of " the Proceedings against him are indubitably " and clearly proved." This publication records one atrocious instance, out of a multitude which occurred, of the abuse of power delegated by the members of administration to inferior actors in a time of lamentable distraction. Protestant loyalists, witnesses in favour of the accused, were forcibly prevented by the military from entering the court. Roman catholic prisoners were tortured by repeated floggings, to force them to give evidence against him, and appear to have been promised their lives upon no other condition than that of his conviction. Notwithstanding all these and other violent measures, no charge was proved against him ; of which defect of evidence his judges were so sensible, that, in defiance of an act of parliament, a copy of the proceedings was withheld from his widow and family. The court was irregularly constituted and illegal, destitute of a judge advocate. The execution of ~the sentence was precipitate, at an unusual hour, and attended with atrocious circumstances, not warranted by the sentence, and reflecting indelible disgrace on the parties concerned. I refer the reader to the pamphlet itself. I insert some papers in the appendix, No. 7.

    Sometimes one of those numerous little incidents, which occur in times of civil distraction,

    Internet Archive historyofrebelli00gorduoft, Chapter 53

38. Battle of Vinegar Hill and Needham's Gap

    near Vinegar Hill · hill or hills · Wexford · 1798

    On 21 June a force of over thirteen thousand attacked the rebel stronghold at Vinegar Hill with artillery; general Needham's late arrival left a gap through which most rebels escaped toward Wexford, later ironically called Needham's Gap.

    Read the passage

    ill-natured persons to bestow on him the epithet of the late general Needham. The rehels afcer sustaining the lire of the artillery and small arms for an hour and a half, abandoned their, station and tied where the passage lay open for them, which passage has been ludicrously termed Needhams gap, most of them directing their course toward Wexford. Some hundreds were killed, who were found straggling from the main body after the battle ; but unfortunately almost all the real rebels escaped, and the killed were persons who had been forced away contrary to their inclinations, and who took this opportunity of escaping from the rebel army, but, as they could not be distinguished, found no mercy ; some of them were loyal protestants, prisoners with the rebels.* As the flight was precipitate, they left behind them a great quantity of rich

    * Doctor Hill, of Saint- John's, near Enniscorthy, a gentleman highly esteemed.by all his acquaintances, was with his two brothers, within a hair's breadth of augmenting the number of slaughtered loyalists on this occasion. These three gentlemen, who had been prisoners with the rebels, and in the most imminent danger of their lives, ran for protection to the first whom they saw of the royal troops, and these happened to be Hessians. Three of these protectors immediately put their cocked pistols to the heads of the three gentlemen, when a pikeman^ running at full speed past them to escape from other soldiers, diverted their attention for the moment : they thought proper to dispatch him first, but he led them such a chace as saved the gentlemeflu

    Internet Archive historyofrebelli00gorduoft, Chapter 89

    As the companion tells it

    Coming up along Vinegar Hill, where on 21 June 1798 the great rebel stronghold stood. A force of over thirteen thousand attacked with artillery. The rebels sustained the fire of the artillery and small arms for an hour and a half before abandoning their station and fleeing where the passage lay open for them. That passage has been ludicrously termed Needham's Gap, after the late General Needham, whose late arrival left it unguarded. Most of the fleeing rebels directed their course toward Wexford. Some hundreds were killed, found straggling from the main body after the battle. But almost all the real rebels escaped. The killed were persons who had been forced away contrary to their inclinations and who took the opportunity of escaping from the rebel army. As they could not be distinguished, they found no mercy. Some were loyal Protestants, prisoners with the rebels. Among them was Doctor Hill of Saint-John's, near Enniscorthy, with his two brothers. These three gentlemen had been prisoners with the rebels and ran for protection to the first royal troops they saw. They happened to be Hessians. Three of them put cocked pistols to the gentlemen's heads. A pikeman running past to escape diverted their attention. They chased him instead, and he led them such a chase as saved the three men.

39. Father John Murphy raises rebel standard near Gorey

    Gorey · town · Wexford · 1798

    The rebel flag was raised between Gorey and Wexford by John Murphy, curate of Boulavogue, marking the start of open rebellion in the area. His fanaticism was said to inflame the ignorant multitude.

    Read the passage

    was at last hoisted between Gorey and Wexford, on the night of the 26th of May, by John Murphy, Romish priest of BouUvogue, commonly known by the denomination , of Father John, as jn the south of Ireland the title of father is commonly prefixed to the name of each priest. This man, who was coadjutor, or assistant curate, of the parish priest, was a man of shallow intellect, a fanatic in religion, and, from the latter circumstance, too well qualified to inflame the superstitious minds of the ignorant multitude. In an attempt to disperse a body of the insurgents, at the head of a part of his troop, Thomas Bookey, a brave young man, first lieutenant of the Camolin cavalry, was killed, as he incautipusly advanced before his men to harangue the rebels; and his house, about seven miles from Gorey, was burned. From this commencement of hostility, the commotion spread rapidly on all sides ; and the collection of rebel parties was greatly promoted by the reports disseminated of numbers of people shot in the roads, at work in the fields, and even in their houses, unarmed and unoffending, by straggling parties of yeomen. Influenced by these reports, which certainly were not without too much foundation, great, numbers took refuge with their friends in arms, insomuch that, on the following morning of Whit-Sunday, the 27th of May, two large bodies >vere collected, one on the hill of Oulart, nearly

    103 HISTORY OF THE

    Internet Archive historyofrebelli00gorduoft, Chapter 57

    As the companion tells it

    On the night of the 26th of May, 1798, the rebel flag was raised between Gorey and Wexford by John Murphy, a priest of Boulavogue, known as Father John, who served as assistant curate to the parish priest. The source calls him a man of shallow intellect and a fanatic in religion, well qualified to inflame the superstitious minds of the ignorant multitude. From this act, open rebellion began in the area. In an attempt to disperse a body of the insurgents, Thomas Bookey, first lieutenant of the Camolin cavalry, was killed as he incautiously advanced before his men to harangue the rebels. His house, about seven miles from Gorey, was burned. From this commencement of hostility, the commotion spread rapidly on all sides. The collection of rebel parties was greatly promoted by reports that numbers of people had been shot in the roads, at work in the fields, and even in their houses, unarmed and unoffending, by straggling parties of yeomen. Influenced by these reports, which the source says were not without too much foundation, great numbers took refuge with their friends in arms. By the following morning of Whit-Sunday, the 27th of May, two large bodies were collected, one on the hill of Oulart.

40. John Gill's Torture and Survival at Vinegar Hill Windmill

    near Vinegar Hill · hill or hills · Wexford · 1798

    John Gill testified he was captured at the windmill on Vinegar Hill on Whitsunday and threatened with death by Andrew Farrel. He was later brought outside and repeatedly stabbed by executioner Andrew Martin for professing Christianity, and left for dead among a pile of murdered loyalists including his own brother.

    Read the passage

    back. On being brought out, there was one AndTew Martin, with a drawn sword, standing inside the line, as executioner. I immediately addressed the rebels, and asked if they would put a man to death without trial. Martin cried out, " Damn your soul, do you come here to " preach?" — and made a stab at me, which hit me in the 'wrist. Some of the rebels bade him stop, and asked me how I chose to die. I replied, " as a Christian." One of those on horseback said, " may be he is a Christian," and asked me, " are you a Christian r" I told him I believed in the Saviour of the world, through whom I hoped to be saved. Martin then said, " O damn your " soul: you are a Christian in your own way/' — and directly stabbed me in the side. I fell on my face, and was then stabbed in the back, and beaten on the head with some heavy instrument.

    380 APPENDIX, NO. III.

    Internet Archive historyofrebelli00gorduoft, Chapter 178

    As the companion tells it

    As you come up on Vinegar Hill in Wexford, this ground holds a story from 1798. On Whitsunday that year, John Gill was captured at the windmill here, threatened with death by Andrew Farrel, then brought out to face Andrew Martin standing with a drawn sword as executioner. Gill asked if they would put a man to death without trial, and Martin cried 'Damn your soul, do you come here to preach' and stabbed him in the wrist. Asked how he chose to die, Gill said 'as a Christian,' and when a man on horseback pressed him, he said he believed in the Saviour of the world. Martin told him 'you are a Christian in your own way,' stabbed him in the side, and Gill fell, was stabbed in the back and beaten on the head, then left for dead among murdered loyalists including his own brother.

41. Surrender of the French army at Ballinamuck

    near Ballinamuck · population centre · Longford · 1798

    The French army under Humbert, closely pursued and surrounded by British forces under Lord Cornwallis and General Lake, surrendered at Ballinamuck on 8 September 1798 after a brief engagement, with rebel auxiliaries fleeing and being slaughtered.

    Read the passage

    The French army, passing* the Shannon at Ballintra, and halting some hour- in the night at Cloone, arrived at Ballinamuck on the 8th of September, so closely followed hy the troops of colonel Crawford and general Lake, that its rear-guard was unable to break the bridge at Ballintra to impede the pursuit; while Lord Corn wall is, with the grand army crossing the same river at Carrick-on-Shannon, marched by Mohill to Saint- Johnstown in the county of Longford, to intercept it in front, in its way to Granard ; by which movement it was reduced to such a situation that, if it should proceed, it must inevitably be surrounded by British forces in number, I believe, between twenty and thirty thousand, and commanded by one of the most accomplished generals, of the age. In this desperate situation, Humbert arranged his forces, with no other object, that I can conceive, than to maintain the honour of the French arms. The rear-guard being attacked by Colonel Crawford, about two hundred infantry surrendered. The rest continued to defend themselves for above half an hour, when on the appearance of the main body of general Lake's army, they also surrendered, after they had made Lord Roden, with a body of dragoons, a prisoner, who had advanced into the French lines to obtain their surrendry, and who now, by ordering the troops his party to halt, fortunately prevented somq

    234 HISTORY OF THE

    Internet Archive historyofrebelli00gorduoft, Chapter 141

42. Ten Protestant prisoners executed at Enniscorthy after Ross

    Enniscorthy · townland · Wexford · 1798

    The day after the battle of Ross, ten Protestant men were selected by a rebel guard sent from Enniscorthy, conveyed back there, and massacred, seemingly as retribution for Catholic losses in the battle.

    Read the passage

    In so perturbed a state of affairs, among a mob so absurdly credulous, so imflammable and ferocious, a general massacre might justly be apprehended ; and if partial massacres had frequently taken place we could not be surprised.. On the 6th of June, the day after the battle of Ilpss, perhaps as an immolation to the departed souls of Romanists killed in that bloody encounter, ten men were selected for execution by a rebel guard sent for that purpose from Enniscorthy.

    * I am convinced that Mr. Kay had no command among the rebels, and exerted himself only to save lives and property. See appendix, No. 8*

    Internet Archive historyofrebelli00gorduoft, Chapter 92

43. Father Roche confronts would-be murderers outside Wexford

    Wexford · town · Wexford · 1798

    After the rebels evacuated Wexford, Father Philip Roche alone confronted four armed men from near Enniscorthy intent on killing the prisoners, ultimately extracting an oath from them to leave the town without harm.

    Read the passage

    After the evacuation of Wexford by the main body of the rebels, Father Philip Roche, accompanied by three gentlemen of that denomination, met in his way out of town four men from the neighbourhood of Enniscorthy, who said that they were going into Wexford to put the prisoners to death, since others had not the courage to do it. While lloche with a drawn sword commanded them to turn back without entering the town, and one of them with a blunderbuss presented at him, swore that none should prevent them, the three gentlemen of Roche's company fled " from the wind of such contention," leaving him to contend alone with the four murderers. After a furious altercation the matter was compounded. The murderers took a solemn oath (and an oath to a priest is peculiarly binding) that they would merely take a little refreshment, and immediately quit the town without the perpetration of any mischief.

    man's death he coolly said, * the devil mend him.1 Harman had been an amiable and brave officer, with a wife and family, but he had not been subservient to the indulgence of the vices of any superior officer.

    Internet Archive historyofrebelli00gorduoft, Chapter 95

    As the companion tells it

    Coming up through Wexford now. In 1798, after the rebels evacuated this town, Father Philip Roche met four armed men from near Enniscorthy on the road out. They told him they were going into Wexford to put the prisoners to death, saying others had not the courage to do it. Roche drew his sword and commanded them to turn back. One man levelled a blunderbuss at him and swore no one would stop them. The three gentlemen accompanying Roche fled, as the source puts it, from the wind of such contention, leaving him alone to face the four. After a furious altercation, the men took a solemn oath to merely take some refreshment and quit the town immediately without perpetrating any mischief. An oath to a priest being peculiarly binding, the prisoners were spared.

44. Arrest of Leinster Directory at Oliver Bond's house, Bridge-street

    Bridge Street · street · Dublin · 1798

    Thirteen members of the provincial committee of Leinster, along with other principal leaders of the United Irish conspiracy, were arrested at the house of Oliver Bond of Bridge-street in Dublin on 12 March 1798, based on information from Thomas Reynolds.

    Read the passage

    But while on one side the^chiefs of the United Irish proceeded in their plans, with a resolution to avoid, if possible, an insurrection, till by the landing of the French auxiliaries, or some other favourable event, their prospect of success might be nearly certain, or highly probable, the government, on the other, was determined to disorganize their system, if possible, and to destroy the strength of the conspiracy, before such an event should occur. After the proclaiming of many districts in the southern and midland counties, the imprisonment and transportation of many persons, and other acts of power, a very severe wound was inflicted on the union by- the arrest of the thirteen members composing the provincial committee of Leinster, with other principals of the conspiracy, at the house of Oliver Bond of Bridge-street, in Dublin, on the 12th of March. This arrest was grounded on the information of Thomas Reynolds, a Roman catholic gentleman, of a place called Kilkea-castle, in the county of Kildare, colonel of an United Irish regiment, treasurer of the county of Kildare, and provincial delegate for Leinster, who having travelled in the same carriage with William Cope, 3 wealthy and respectable merchant of Merri onsquare, in Dublin, about the twenty-fifth of the preceding month, had been induced by the arguments of that gentleman, and the picture which he drew of the horrors of a revolutionary

    IRISH REBELLION. 6l

    Internet Archive historyofrebelli00gorduoft, Chapter 41

    As the companion tells it

    Along here on this street, in March 1798, the government struck a severe blow against the United Irishmen. On the 12th of that month, thirteen members of the provincial committee of Leinster, along with other principal leaders of the conspiracy, were arrested at the house of Oliver Bond. The United Irish chiefs had been trying to avoid an insurrection until the landing of French auxiliaries or some other favourable event might make their prospect of success nearly certain. The government, for its part, was determined to disorganize their system and destroy the strength of the conspiracy before such an event could occur. This arrest was grounded on the information of Thomas Reynolds, a Roman Catholic gentleman of Kilkea Castle in the county of Kildare. Reynolds was colonel of a United Irish regiment, treasurer of the county of Kildare, and provincial delegate for Leinster. He had travelled in the same carriage with William Cope, a wealthy merchant of Merrion Square in Dublin, around the 25th of the preceding month, and had been induced by the arguments of that gentleman and the picture he drew of the horrors of a revolutionary war.

45. Dr Caulfield rescues Lord Kingsborough from assassins in Wexford

    Wexford · town · Wexford · 1798

    The Roman Catholic bishop Dr Caulfield intervened, with apparent difficulty, to save Lord Kingsborough, colonel of the North-Cork militia, from being killed by rebels in Wexford; his selective intervention was later criticized as self-interested.

    Read the passage

    Much has been written in the accusation and defence of the Romanist clergy of Wexford, who are said to have refused to interfere until five hours of butchery had elapsed, and the news of the menacing movements of the king's forces arrived ; though their influence might be supposed as powerful at two o'clock, when the massacre commenced, as at seven. I must confess myself incompetent to form an accurate judgment in this controversy. To attempt to stop the slaughter of real or supposed rebels, where the loyalists were victorious, would have been not only altogether fruitless in a protestant clergyman, but even extremely dangerous to his personal safety. Certainly the influence of the Romish clergy over their followers (which, however, seems at present in a state of decline) is beyond all comparison greater than that of the protestant over theirs: yet to what extent that influence might, among so infuriate a rabble, have been safely or successfully exerted ; or how far constitutional timidity, or well grounded fear, may be justly admitted as a plea, I cannot pretend to determine. Dr. Caulfiekl, the Romish bishop, succeeded, with apparently extreme difficulty, in his endeavours to rescue from the assassins, lord Kingsborough, colonel of the North- Cork regiment of militia, who had rendered himself particularly an object of hatred, at least, to the rebels, by actions, concerning the utility of which to the loyal party

    1$4- HISTORY OF THE

    Internet Archive historyofrebelli00gorduoft, Chapter 93

    As the companion tells it

    As you pass through Wexford, you are in a town marked by the events of 1798. During the rebellion here, the Roman Catholic bishop Dr Caulfield intervened, with apparently extreme difficulty, to rescue Lord Kingsborough, colonel of the North-Cork militia, from rebels who meant to kill him. Lord Kingsborough had made himself a particular object of hatred to the rebels through his actions on the loyalist side. The clergy of Wexford were later accused of refusing to interfere until five hours of butchery had passed and news arrived of the king's forces moving threateningly, though their influence might have been as powerful at two o'clock, when the massacre began, as at seven. A contemporary writer confesses he cannot determine how far constitutional timidity or well-grounded fear may be admitted as a plea, or to what extent influence could have been safely exerted among so infuriate a rabble. Dr Caulfield's selective intervention was criticized as self-interested, and the controversy over what the clergy did and when they did it was never settled.

46. Dungannon Convention of Volunteers, 1782

    near Dungannon · town · Tyrone · 1782

    A provincial assembly of volunteer corps first convened at Dungannon in Ulster to plan and petition for parliamentary reform. It consisted of representatives of 143 volunteer corps and later grew into a national assembly in Dublin.

    Read the passage

    removed, many among the Irish extended their views to a wider sphere of political freedom. A provincial assembly, first convened at Dungannon, in Ulster, on the fifteenth of February, 1782, consisting of the representatives of a hundred and forty-three volunteer corps, with design, among other objects, to plan and petition for a parliamentary reform, or a more equal representation of the commons in parliament, swelled in 1783 into a national assembly, composed of delegates from the several counties, and held in Dublin under the invidious title of congress; invidious undoubtedly,, since under the conduct of an assembly so denominated, the British colonies of North America had recently, by a successful Avar against the power of Britain, established an independent republic in the western hemisphere.

    The failure of this measure in November, the same year, when the petition of congress was contemptuously rejected by parliament, was attributed to the weakness of national disunion, the triple partition of the people divided by the religious antipathies of protestants, protestant dissenters, and Roman catholics. If all these discordant sects could be persuaded virtually to abandon religious distinctions in a pursuit of political reform, and cordially to coalesce with steady determination in their demands, parliament was imagined to be incapable of withholding its consent. As the main strength of the nation, in respect to number, was.

    Internet Archive historyofrebelli00gorduoft, Chapter 21

47. Execution of Anthony Perry at Edenderry

    Edenderry · town · Offaly · 1798

    Attempting to escape north and abandon the rebel cause, Anthony Perry was captured and hanged at Edenderry in King's County shortly before the end of the rebellion.

    Read the passage

    by the magistrates on the morning of the 28th of May, he returned to his house, four miles from Gorey, where he hoped to be permitted to remain — unconcerned for the future in plots and conspiracies. But he was soon followed by some yeomen, who destroyed his effects, and obliged him to abscond for the preservation of his life. — Finding no alternative, he disguised himself in the habit of a beggar, and thus crossing the country, threw himself into the arms of the icbels. In the course of the war he exerted himself to restrain the cruelty of his followers : and as he disapproved both of their cause and conduct, he was always meditating an elopement from them. In an attempt, some time after the assault at Hacketstown, to penetrate into the northern parts of the kingdom, where he hoped to abscond from the rebels, and conceal himself from the partisans of government, he was taken and hanged at Edenderry, in the King's County, a little before the end of the rebellion.

    A body of those rebels who had disturbed the county of Kilkenny, and fled through that of Wexford to the WicklowJ mountains, finding their associates repulsed at Hacketstown, and seeing no prospect of success in that quarter, marched back, joined by many others, under the conduct of Garret Byrne, toward the county of Wexford — intending to surprise the garrison of

    Internet Archive historyofrebelli00gorduoft, Chapter 104

48. Execution of Harvey and Grogan at Wexford bridge

    Wexford · town · Wexford · 1798

    Beauchamp Bagenal Harvey and Cornelius Grogan, both landed gentlemen drawn into the rebel cause, suffered execution together on the 28th at Wexford bridge, Grogan meeting death with unexpected courage.

    Read the passage

    Harvey andGrogan suffered execution together on the 28th ; Colclough alone in the evening of the same day. Colclough was a man of very amiable character ; of a naturally good understanding, enlarged by culture, and of engaging manners. By education and profession a Ro^ manist : he was a protestant in principle.* Influ-

    * I mean not to say that he preferred the forms and ceremo« nies of the protestant to those of the Romish religion, to which he had been habituated. I believe the contrary to have been the case. But he was so far a protestant as to reject all those persecuting doctrines of the Romish church, adverse alike to reason and Christianity, which have caused so much bloodshed and calamity among mankind.

    Internet Archive historyofrebelli00gorduoft, Chapter 110

    As the companion tells it

    You are coming through Wexford. On the 28th in 1798, two landed gentlemen drawn into the rebel cause, Beauchamp Bagenal Harvey and Cornelius Grogan, were executed together here on Wexford bridge. Grogan met his death with unexpected courage.

49. Flogging of Wright by High Sheriff Fitzgerald at Clonmel

    Clonmel · town · Tipperary · 1798

    Thomas Fitzgerald, high sheriff of Tipperary, seized a gentleman named Wright at Clonmel on false suspicion and caused five hundred lashes to be inflicted on him, confining him for days without dressing his wounds; Wright later won damages of five hundred pounds in a subsequent trial.

    Read the passage

    stance I shall mention, as it has been already made public in the newspapers, and has given cause for a debate in parliament. Thomas Fitzgerald, high sheriff of Tipperary, seized at Clonmel, a gentleman of the name of Wright, against whom no grounds of suspicion could be conjectured by his neighbours, caused five hundred lashes to be inflicted on him in the severest manner, and confined him several days without permitting his wounds to be dressed, so that his recovery from such a state of torture and lacera^ tion could hardly be expected. In a trial at law, after the rebellion, on an action of damages brought by Wright against this magis^ trate, the innocence of the plaintiff appeared so manifest, even at a time when prejudices ran amazingly high against persons accused of disloyalty, that the defendant was condemned to pay five hundred pounds to his prosecutor. Many other actions of damage on similar grounds would have been commenced, if the parliament had not put a stop to such proceedings, by an act of indemnity, for all errors committed by magistrates from supposed zeal for the public service. A letter written in the French language, found in the pocket of Wright, was hastily considered as a proof of guilt, though the letter was of a perfectly innocent nature. This magistrate, however, whose want of knowledge of the French language confirmed, or seemed to

    Internet Archive historyofrebelli00gorduoft, Chapter 43

    As the companion tells it

    As you pass through Clonmel in Tipperary, this is where Thomas Fitzgerald, high sheriff of the county, seized a gentleman named Wright in 1798, though no grounds of suspicion could be conjectured by his neighbours. A French letter found in Wright's pocket was hastily taken as proof of guilt, though it was perfectly innocent. Fitzgerald caused 500 lashes to be inflicted on Wright in the severest manner and confined him for several days without permitting his wounds to be dressed, so that his recovery could hardly be expected. After the rebellion, Wright brought an action of damages, and even when prejudices ran amazingly high against persons accused of disloyalty, his innocence appeared so manifest that Fitzgerald was condemned to pay him 500 pounds. Parliament then put a stop to similar proceedings by an act of indemnity for errors committed by magistrates from supposed zeal for the public service.

50. French invasion fleet arrives at Bantry Bay but fails to land

    near Bantry Bay · bay · Cork · 1796

    French forces embarked at Brest for the invasion of Ireland arrived near Bantry Bay at the end of December 1796, with a reported fifteen thousand troops, but a storm dividing the fleet prevented their debarkation, thwarting the planned insurrection.

    Read the passage

    Acts of a violent and menacing nature in some of the northern counties, particularly the stealing of ten barrels of gunpowder out of the royal stores in Belfast, are specified in a proclamation of the lord lieutenant and council, bearing date the sixth of November, 1796, in which all magistrates and loyal subjects were strictly commanded to use their best endeavours for the prevention or punishment of such dangerous and treasonable proceedings; orders having been previously issued to the military officers to assist the civil in the execution of this duty. Notwithstanding the enforcement of this proclamation, the United Irish of Ulster would have obtained and employed the means of insurrection? if the French forces, embarked at Brest, for the invasion of Ireland, had effected their landing at Bantry-bay, where they arrived near the end of December in the same year. While the debarkation of the French army, stated at fifteen thousand in number, was prevented by a storrn which divided the fleet, the exertions of the society to second the invasion were prevented by

    IRISH REBELLION". £7

    Internet Archive historyofrebelli00gorduoft, Chapter 31

51. Mistaken Killing of a Loyalist Guide at Killala

    Killala · town · Mayo · 1798

    After the battle at Killala, a loyalist guide wearing plain clothes was mistaken for a rebel by Armagh and Downshire militia, who forced the Kerry militia he had served to kill him to prevent themselves being shot.

    Read the passage

    are called coloured clothes, who had served as a guide to the Kerry militia, was observed among a number of these by a mixed body of Armagh and Downshire militia. These immediately, regarding him as a rebel because he wanted uniform, levelled their guns at him, swearing that they would fire at him among the Kerrymen, if the latter would not dispatch him ; and this they were obliged to do to save themselves.

    How far the following fact may be regarded as marking a defect of discipline, I leave to the reader's judgment. The narrator of Killala, after the mention of the return of Arthur Stock, a son of the bishop, to his father's dwelling with general Trench's army, says: " Charost expressed tc as much joy at seeing Arthur safe, as if he had " himself been one of the family. Yet the poor " commandant had no reason to be pleased with " the treatment he had received immediately after " the action. He had returned to the castle for " his sabre, and advanced with it to the gate in " order to deliver it up to some English officer, " when it was seized and forced from his hand 4 by a common soldier of Frazer's. He came " in, got another sword, which he surrendered " to an officer, and turned to re-enter the hall. " At this moment, a second Highlander burst " through the gate, in spite of the sentinel' " placed there by the general, and fired at the " commandant with an aim that was neaj prov-

    Internet Archive historyofrebelli00gorduoft, Chapter 163

    As the companion tells it

    You are coming to Killala in Mayo. After the battle here in 1798, a grim thing happened. A loyalist guide, wearing what were called coloured clothes rather than a uniform, had served with the Kerry militia. A mixed body of Armagh and Downshire militia spotted him among a crowd and took him for a rebel because he had no uniform. They levelled their guns and swore they would fire at him among the Kerrymen if the Kerrymen did not dispatch him themselves. The Kerry militia were forced to kill him to save themselves from being shot. Another ugly incident followed the same action. Charost, the commandant, returned to the castle for his sabre to surrender it to an English officer, but a common soldier of Frazer's seized it from his hand. He got another sword, surrendered it to an officer, and turned back toward the hall. A second Highlander burst through the gate, past the sentinel placed there by the general, and fired at the commandant at near point-blank range. These events are said to mark a defect of discipline in the aftermath of the battle.

52. Mrs Pounden wades the Slaney to escape Enniscorthy

    near River Slaney · river · Wicklow · 1798

    Mrs. Pounden, wife of Captain Pounden, waded twice across the river Slaney under fire from both parties, escaping with one child but forced to leave six children behind in the burning town.

    Read the passage

    * Mrs. Pounden, wife of captain Pounden, waded twice through the river Slaney, under the fire of both parties, an^ escaped, with one child, unhurt. She was obliged to leave six children behind her in the burning town.

    Internet Archive historyofrebelli00gorduoft, Chapter 59

53. Pentland and Trocke's Pleas for Mercy at Vinegar Hill Mill

    near Vinegar Hill · hill or hills · Wexford · 1798

    Witness testimony described how Rev. Mr. Pentland and Rev. Mr. Trocke begged to be spared at the Vinegar Hill windmill, with Pentland offering his watch and pleading he was a clergyman and stranger to the country, but he was seized by Farrel and put out the door to be murdered.

    Read the passage

    A. When Parrel desired us all to go down on our knees, and told us we had not an hour to live, Mr. Pentland and Mr. Trocke got up, and begged they might be spared. Mr. Pentland said that they were clergymen, and that he was a stranger, and had been but a short time in the country, and was a north-countryman. He then offered his watch, which was taken by a man of the name of Foley. The prisoner then seized him and put him out of the door, where he was murdered, as was every person the prisoner put out, except Mr. Hornick's son. The prisoner attempted to drag me out, but I was held back by some of my fellow-prisoners.

    Q. How were you saved ?

    Internet Archive historyofrebelli00gorduoft, Chapter 177

    As the companion tells it

    Up ahead is Vinegar Hill. During the fighting in 1798, prisoners were gathered here and told to go down on their knees, and that they had not an hour to live. Two clergymen, Mr. Pentland and Mr. Trocke, stood up and begged to be spared. Pentland said he was a clergyman, a stranger, a north-countryman who had been but a short time in the country. He offered his watch, which a man named Foley took. Then a man called Parrel seized Pentland and put him out the door, where he was murdered. Every person Parrel put out met the same fate, except Mr. Hornick's son.

54. Philip Roche protects Walter Greene of Wexford

    Wexford · town · Wexford · 1798

    Philip Roche, a priest and rebel leader, protected the life of Walter Greene, a protestant gentleman of county Wexford, though he made a similar declaration to Kyan's about the near-certainty of his own eventual death.

    Read the passage

    others who should prove obnoxious to the relgriing demagogues. In the local and short-lived insurrection in the county of Wexford, this tendency of affairs was so evident to Bagenai Harvey, and other protestant leaders, that they considered their doom as inevitable, and even some Romish commanders expressed apprehensions. Thus Esmond Kyan, one of the most brave and generous among them, declared to- Ilichard Dowse, a protestant gentleman of the county of Wicklow, whom he had rescued from assassins, that his own life was irredeemably forfeited ; for if the rebellion should succeed, his own party would murder him, and if it should not succeed, his fate must be death by martial law ; which happened according to his prediction. Even Philip Roche, whose character, as a priest, might be supposed to insure his safety with his own followers, made a similar declaration to Walter Greene, a protestant gentleman of the county of Wexford, whose life he had protected*

    To suppose that the insurgents were all alike sanguinary or prone to cruel deeds, would be as little conformable to truth as to probability. Many of even the lowest were men of humanity; but amid so wild an agitation, so furious a commotion., the modest and feeble voice of compassion was drowned by the loud and arrogant clamour of destruction to enemies ! revenge on the bloody e range clogs! Among the loyalists, whoever

    Internet Archive historyofrebelli00gorduoft, Chapter 124

    As the companion tells it

    Coming up through Wexford now. In the rebellion of 1798, the local insurrection here was short-lived, and the tendency toward bloodshed was so evident that even some of the rebel commanders saw their own doom as certain. Bagenal Harvey and other protestant leaders considered their fate inevitable. Esmond Kyan, one of the bravest and most generous among them, rescued Richard Dowse, a protestant gentleman of county Wicklow, from assassins. Kyan told Dowse that his own life was irredeemably forfeited. If the rebellion succeeded, his own party would murder him. If it failed, martial law would bring him death. It happened as he predicted. Philip Roche, a priest whose character might have been thought to guarantee his safety with his own followers, made a similar declaration to Walter Greene, a protestant gentleman of the county of Wexford, whose life he had protected. Not all the insurgents were sanguinary. Many of even the lowest were men of humanity. But amid so wild an agitation, the modest voice of compassion was drowned by the clamour of destruction to enemies and revenge.

55. Rebel victory at Gore's Bridge (Newbridge)

    Goresbridge · town · Kilkenny · 1798

    On 23 June rebels defeated a small garrison defending the bridge at Gore's Bridge (Newbridge) on the River Barrow, taking prisoners of whom seven condemned as Orangemen were shot by their own fellow soldiers as executioners.

    Read the passage

    militia, took post on the bridge of this town to prevent their passage of the river, but was quickly defeated, with the loss of a few killed, and twenty-seven taken prisoners, of whom seven, condemned as orange-men, were shot ; and in this melancholy business their fellow soldiers were forced to be the executioners. Major-general Sir Charles Asgil, who had marched with a force of about a thousand men to seize the post of Newbridge, and stop the progress of t*his rebel army, arrived too late — the enemy having already, after their success, commenced a rapid movement to a long mountainous ridge, termed by them the ridge of Leinster, five miles from Ciistlecomer, where they spent the night.

    The general was likewise on the following day too late in his arrival at Castlecomer for the protection of that town, whither the protestants were flying to take refuge from the country exposed to the depredations of the enemy. Early in the morning of the 24th, the rebel troops, diminished by desertion to about eight thousand, descended from the heights, and advancing toward Castlecomer, defeated a body of about two hundred and fifty men, at a place called Coolbawn, a mile and a half from that town, which they entered with the slaughter of about fifty loyalists. The town was set on fire — and of this conflagration each party accuses the other. The general arriving at length with his

    Internet Archive historyofrebelli00gorduoft, Chapter 101

56. Reprisal killing of twenty-seven Romanists at Aughrim, Co. Wicklow

    Aughrim · town · Wicklow · 1798

    At Aughrim, ten miles from Gorey in County Wicklow, twenty-seven Romanists were killed by yeomen in revenge for murders committed by rebel banditti on protestants in the area.

    Read the passage

    banditti or their confederates, a greater nufnber of Romanists were put to death in the same neighbourhood hy the yeomen. Thus at Castletown four miles from Gorey, where four protestants were massacred in the night by Racket, seven Romanists were slain in revenge; and at Aughrim in the county of Wicklow, ten miles from the same town, twenty-seven of the latter were killed in consequence of murders committed on the former. Harassed incessantly by the pursuits of yeomen and soldiery, while the dreary mountains in the winter season afforded no shelter, the numbers of the banditti daily diminished : Placket was killed by capt. Atkins near Arklow, a brave young man, who had been a yeoman officer, in defence of his house; — Holt surrendered for transportation to the earl of Powerscourt; and these bands of robbers at length totally disappeared.

    The burnings and plunderings, committed by these desperadoes, augmented in some degree the desolation caused in the counties of Wexford, Wicklow, and the neighbouring parts, by the ravages of rebellion. Such was the desolation that, together with a multitude of cabins, farm-houses, and gentlemen's seats in the open country, the towns of Carnew, Tinnehely, Hacketstown, Donard, Blesington, and Killedmond, were destroyed by fire; beside partial destructions in other towns, as Ross, where above three

    Internet Archive historyofrebelli00gorduoft, Chapter 118

57. Body burned near Arklow garrison

    Arklow · town · Wicklow · 1798

    The body of Father Murphy lay burning on a beam of timber within a quarter mile of Arklow, where Ancient Britons and other troops were garrisoned, contradicting claims that none of the regiment was nearby.

    Read the passage

    while the body lay burning on a beam of timber. Sir Watldn Wynn, colonel of the Ancient Britons, has asserted, that not a man of his regiment ever touched the remains of Father Murphy. This he could not possibly know unless he had personally watched the body during sixteen hours. Sir Richard Musgrave says, that five officers of the Cavan militia will make oath that not an officer, or soldier of the Ancient Britons, was within a mile of the body while it was burned. Yet the body lay within a quarter of a mile of Arklow, where at least a part of the Ancient Britons were certainly in garrison with other troops. Captain Holmes, of the Durham regiment, told me in the presence of several persons, that he himself had assisted in cutting open the breast with an axe, and pulling out the heart. * Full proof of the whole will be given in my Supplement.

    260 HISTORY OF THE

    Internet Archive historyofrebelli00gorduoft

    As the companion tells it

    As you pass through Arklow, you're near the spot where the body of Father Murphy was burned on a beam of timber in 1798. The body lay within a quarter of a mile of this town, where part of the Ancient Britons were in garrison with other troops. Colonel Sir Watkin Wynn claimed no man of his regiment touched the remains, and Sir Richard Musgrave cited five officers of the Cavan militia willing to swear no Ancient Britons soldier was within a mile. But the garrison was closer than that. Captain Holmes of the Durham regiment said he himself helped cut open the breast with an axe and pull out the heart. The author noted Wynn could not know his regiment was uninvolved unless he had watched the body for sixteen hours.

58. Captain Keugh arrested by mob in Wexford committee house

    Wexford · town · Wexford · 1798

    Captain Keugh, rebel governor of Wexford, was arrested by a common man acting on mob authority who accused him of being an Orange traitor; the crowd threatened to pull down the house until Keugh calmed them with a speech from a window.

    Read the passage

    wood, rector of Killan, who was fully entitled to the same gratitude on the same account, had the good fortune to escape to Wales without hazarding a trial of this virtue in the rebels. Great numbers were saved by the humane endeavours of the chiefs, whose influence, though very far from controuling the furious rabble in allcases, had so far an effect as to prevent the massacres of Wexford, (which were, however, horribly atrocious) from equalling in extent those of Enniscorthy. The chiefs themselves, particularly those few among them who had been educated in the protestant religion, were in perpetual danger of death, or violence at least, from the ungovernable multitude, whom they had unwisely hoped to command. A strong instance of this was, that captain Keugh, who had been appointed governor of Wexford by the rebels, was one day, as he was sitting in committee with a number of other chiefs, arrested by a common fellow, by the authority of the rabble, as a traitor in league with orange-men; and when the arrest was resisted by the members of the committee, the infuriate multitude without, who were crowded together in thousands in the streets, roared with horrid vehemence to those who stood most convenient for the purpose, to drive out the committee, and pull down the house. This alarming tumult was appeased by the address of Keugh, who, in a speech from a window,

    175 filSTORY OF THE

    Internet Archive historyofrebelli00gorduoft, Chapter 91

    As the companion tells it

    Coming through Wexford now. In 1798, this town was held by rebels, and Captain Keugh had been appointed governor by them. The rebel chiefs lived in constant danger from the very crowd they had hoped to command, especially the few who had been raised Protestant. One day Keugh was sitting in committee with other chiefs when a common fellow walked in and arrested him, claiming authority from the rabble and calling him a traitor in league with Orange-men. The committee members resisted the arrest. Outside, thousands filled the streets, roaring at those nearest the house to drive out the committee and pull the building down. Keugh appeased the tumult himself. He gave a speech from a window, and the crowd was calmed. The influence of the chiefs had at least prevented the massacres at Wexford from reaching the scale of those at Enniscorthy, though these were horribly atrocious. But their authority over the ungovernable multitude was never secure, and Keugh's arrest by a common man showed how fragile their position was.

59. Cavalry disaster on road to Carnew

    Carnew · town · Wicklow · 1798

    Cavalry under lieutenant-colonel Pulestone pursued rebels toward Carnew without infantry support, were ambushed from hedges and walls, and suffered fifty-five men slain including twenty-eight Ancient Britons, without killing a single rebel.

    Read the passage

    the guns of the enemy, that without killing one of their antagonists, they suffered the loss of fifty-five men slain, of whom twenty-eight were Ancient Britons. The rest effected their escape to Carnew, and alarmed the garrison, who would otherwise have been surprised and cut to pieces, as they had taken no precautions of outpost or pat roles. A malt-house, which had been spared from destruction when the rebels had burned the town, was the fortress, into which the garrison had barely time to retire when the rebels appeared, who, after an ineffectual attack, in which they sustained some loss, pursued their march to Kilcavan-hill.

    Proceeding thence with somewhat diminished number, with intention to plunder and burn the houses of the loyalists at Coolkenna and its neighbourhood, they were followed in their inarch on the 2nd of July, by a body of about a hundred and fifty yeomen, consisting ciiefly of the Shilelah troops and the True Blues of Tinnehely, who pressed them so closely that they thought proper to change their course, and to take post on Ballyrahn or Ballyraheen-hill, between Tinnehely and Carnew. Here the most prudent of the yeoman officers were of opinion that their troops ought to stop, and to content themselves with watching, at a safe distance, the movements of the enemy. Contrary opinions prevailing, an 'attack was made up the

    Internet Archive historyofrebelli00gorduoft, Chapter 104

60. Confession of James Beaghan before execution

    Wexford · town · Wexford · 1799

    James Beaghan confessed guilt in the massacres, claiming he acted under orders from Luke Byrne and that any protestant was deemed an orangeman fit to be killed. He testified that rebels showed no remorse and hid weapons after the rebellion.

    Read the passage

    I, JAMES BEAGHAN, acknowledge and confess that I am guilty of the crime for which I am to suffer; but that I did not commit it from ill will to the people that were murdered, but from the orders of Luke Byrne. I could not disobey him. No person could refuse to obey the orders of the commanders. I am sure that any man in command could save the lives of the poor people. Every man that was a protestant was called an orangeman, and every one was to be killed, from the poorest man in the country. Before the rebellion, I never heard there was any hatred between Roman catholics and protestants; they always lived peaceably together. 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 present were as guilty as those that perpetrated the murders—

    'APPENDIX, NO. in. 593

    Internet Archive historyofrebelli00gorduoft, Chapter 183

    As the companion tells it

    As you pass through Wexford town, you are travelling the ground where James Beaghan made his confession before execution in 1799. He admitted guilt in the massacres but said he acted under the orders of Luke Byrne and could not disobey him. He said every protestant was called an orangeman and every one was to be killed, from the poorest man in the country. He said that before the rebellion he never heard of any hatred between Roman Catholics and protestants, and that they always lived peaceably together. He said he always found the protestants better masters and more indulgent landlords than his own religion. During the rebellion, he said he never saw any one interfere to prevent murder but one Byrne, who saved a man, and he thought all that were present were as guilty as those that perpetrated the murders.