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HISTORY OF THE

IRISH REBELLION, WHICH BROKE OUT IN MAY, I 798;

Containing a brief Account of every Occurrence, from the commencement of the Rebellion, to the furrender

of the French at Ballynamuck: AND

A NARRATIVE

SUFFERINGS AND PROVIDENTIAL ESCAPE

CHARLES JACKSON, LATE RESIDENT AT WEXFORD, IN IRELAND,

INCCUDING AN ACCOUNT OF SEVERAL BARBAROUS ATROCITIES

COMMITTED BT THE IRISH REBELS IN THAT TOWN.

G L A S G O W: FEINTED BT NIVEN, NAPIER & KHULl, TRONGATE,

TOR R. HUTCHISON, BOOKSELLER, SALTMARKET. l8oi.

N' ? S-4^JYi: % 1975

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PREFACE.

.TO induce me to publifli the following Narrative of what I fuffered, and of the fcenes I witnefled, is, be- caufe I confider it my duty to my countrymen to ex- hibit to them the dreadful confequences which have refulted from the propagation of deteftable piinciples among our fellow-fubjetts in Ireland.

The political do&rines, recommending fchemes of reform in the ftate, which, for a confiderable time paft, have been induftrioufly circulated, had unfettled the minds of the people, (as was evident to a common obferver) and prepared them eagerly to embrace the wild and irrational French notions of liberty and equa- lity, which foon exterminated every juft principle.

May my happy countrymen refled upon what has taken place there, and cherilh, with never-ceafing at- tachment and refped, the true liberty and fecurity which they fo fully enjoy!

That no doubt may be entertained of the authenti- city of this account, 1 have done all in my power to fatisfy the minds of the moft fcrupulous, that I am worthy of being credited for what I have related.

The letters which are added, will, it is hoped, be vouchers for me.

Charles Jackson. A a

LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION.

Copy of a Letter from Nathaniel Whitworth^ Deputy Commijfary General, to Lieutenant Colonel Brinleyy Adjutant General's Office, Horfe Guards, London.

Haverfordwif, July 3, 1798. Dear Brinley,

I will offer no fort of apology for the favour I am about to affc, knowing you to pofi'efs a fufficiency of the milk of human kindnefs to relieve obje«ffs in real dtftrefs. The bearer has a tale to unfold, relative to his fulFerings by the Rebellion, at prefent raging in the county of Wexford, which, I am fure, will excite your commiferation.

You may reft aflured of the truth of what he may ad- vance, which has been corroborated by the teftimony of many refpeflable clergymen from Wexford You will perceive, by a certificate in his pofieffion, that he has been relieved by our committee with money fuffi- cient to carry him to London.

What I have to requeft of you is, that you will have the goodneis to point out the proper office for him to prefent the certificate he poflefles, as I am morally certain it will be productive of a fmall pecuniary relief, to enable him to follow his bufinefs.

Your’s, Moft truly,

N. Whitworth. Lieut. Col Brinley.

LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION. Head-Quarters, Wexford, June 26,'1798.

Permit Charles Jackfon, his wife and child, to pafa from hence to England, free and unmolelled.

(Signed) P. G. Lake, Aid-de-Camp to Lt. Gen. Lake.

Port of Milford. The foregoing is a true copy of the pafs, lodged in

the cuftom-houfe, Milford. Given under my hand and feal of office, this 29th

June, 1798. George Hough, Colle&or I know Charles Jackfon, being his Parifli Minilter,

andcertify thathe conducted himfelf with true loyalty. W. Eastwood.

We certify, that we know Charles Jackfon to be a very proper man, and a truly loyal fubjeft.

John Jacob, (a clergyman of the church of England, near Wexford, and fon of Dr. Jacob a phyfictan, who is Mayor of Wexford, and Captain of the Wexford infantry.)

N. C. H. Hatchell, (firft Lieut. Wexford infantry.)' Ralph Boyd, (Proteftant minifter of a church near

Wexford.) Jolhua Nunn, (of St. Margaret’s, county Wexford,

a man of great property.) J. Johnfon, (a phyfician of Wexford.) Robert Sparrow, (a Quaker and merchant).

Haverfordrmrej}, July 2, 179 8. Wedo hereby certify, that the within-named Charles Jackfon has received, from the fund for the relief of iriffi Fugitives, ten guineas, for the purpofe of carry- ing himfelf and family to London.

Francis Fortune—John Higgon—H. Phillips—Na- thaniel Whitworth, Deputy Commifiary-General.

NARRATIVE THE

SUFFERINGS AND PROVIDENTIAL ESCAPE

CHARLES JACKSON.

HE Author of the following pages was bom an Engltfhman, and, at an early period of

life, went to Ireland. In the beginning of the year 1797, he fettled in the town of Wexford as a carver and gilder, where he was much employed, and en- abled to fupport his family in a creditable manner, till the breaking out of the late horrid rebellion.

On Saturday night, May 26, 1798, information was firft received of the rebels being in force, about twelve miles from Wexford.

On Sunday morning the alarm increafed, on hear- ing that the rebels were burning the houfes of all the Proteftant farmers in the neighbourhood. A party of the North Cork milkia, confilting of one hun- dred and fix men, were ordered out under the com- mand of Lieutenant-colonel Foote and Major Lom- bard, and marched to a place called Oulard, where they were met by the rebels. The fituation of the ground was fo unfavourable, that the party, after firing three rounds, (by which a confiderable num- ber of the rebels were kiiledjwas furxounde'd and cut to

IRISH REBELLION. 7 pieces—Lieutenant-colonel Foote, and two privates,

% only efcaping. The terror of the inhabitants that night, can

better be imagined than defcribed, / To add to it, all the families in the neighbourhood, who were able, were feen flying into the town, leaving their property behind them: the women who had loft their huf- bands in the late engagement, running through the ftreets, with their fatherlefs children, with all the ex- preffions of diftrefs and defpair l

That night, Sunday, May 27 th, the loyal inhabi- tants were all employed in making preparations for the arrival of our foes, and hourly in hopes of rein- forcements from Waterford. No attack was made during the night.

The next day, Monday, May 28th, about one o’clock, we faw the fmoke of the town of Ennif- corthy, then in flames!

At about four o’clock this afternoon, no defcription can give an adequate idea of the fcene prefented at Wexford:—The inhabitants who had efcaped from Ennifcorthy and its neighbourhood, pufhed into the town in crowds—perfons of the firft fortunes in that part of the country, covered with duft and blood, with their infants in their arms, and their wives clinging behind them; and fuch women as had not been able to procure a horfe, or feats with their huf- bands, endeavouring to keep up with the mob of fu- gitives, with their children in their arms, and others hanging to them—women who, but a few hours be- fore, were in poflelEon of every comfort life could afford!

The next morning, Tuefday, May 29th, orders were given, that all fires fhould be put out, and that fuch houfes as had thatched roofs fhould be imme- diately ftripped, to prevent the difafi'ected party from

following

HISTORY OF THE B following the example {hewn by their afibciates at Ennifcorthy.

On Wednefday, May 30th, in the morning, the troops, (the Donegall and Cork militia) near fix hun- dred in all, went out to meet the rebels, who were now fuppofed to be about fifteen thoufand firong. About three miles from Wexford, at a place called the Three Rocks, there was fome firing, when the militia finding them fo powerful from numbers, and in pofleffion of the artillery taken the day before, re- treated back to the town.

There was, at this time, in the gaol of Wexford, in confequenceofanorderfromDublin, Mr. Beauchamp, Bagnel Harvey, Mr. Fitzgerald, and Mr. Colclough —all men of property, and of great intereft in the country. A council was called, and it was refolved —that it was impoffible to defend the town. Two gen- tlemen, Mr. Richards, a counfellor, and Dr. Jacobs, a phyfician, mayor of the town, were appointed to offer to furrender the town to the rebels, and to en- deavour to fave the lives of. the inhabitants, to which condition the rebels agreed.

In the mean time, the troops, accompanied by all the unmarried yeomen, effe£ted their efcape to Dun- cannonFort, about twenty three miles off.—I now re- turn to what more immediately relates to myfelf:—

On Thurfday, May 24th, (three days before the breaking out of the rebellion) my wife was brought to bed; and, on the Mondays following (the day of the battle of Ennifcorthy) I thought myfelf fortunate in being able to remove her, with her infant, and place them on board one of the veffels, in which we had no doubt of being fafely carried to Wales. In thisveffel we continued, on the open deck, with only a fail to cover us, till Wednefday morning, May 30th, when, about two o’clock, we faw the toll-houfe, and part

IRISH REBELLION. 9 part of the bridge of Wexford on fire! The town was

! immediately in an uproar; and, while the cavalry were endeavouring to cut away a part of the bridge,

! topreventthe flames fromcommunicating tothe town, the quays, and every avenue leading to the water-fide,

i were crowded wnth women and children, begging, in ' the moft pitiable manner, to be admitted on board

the veflels, but that was impoffible: they were al- ready filled in every part! One young lady, in par- ticular, threw herfelf into the fea, to get on board a fmall boat that was near the quay, and would have been drowned, had not fome men in a boat taken her up; and they were immediately in great danger of lofing their lives, owing to the numbers who prefled forward to reach their boat.

On feeing the flames, the veflels all weighed, and flood towards the mouth of the harbour, where they call anchor.

About one o’clock, a white flag was feen flying in Wexford (a fignal that the rebels were in pcfleflion of the town), and the captain of our veflel inftantly anfwered it by another. His example was followed by the reft, except two, which failed for Wales: they then again weighed anchor and flood for the town.

We now concluded the die was caft, and that we were to be given up to our enemies. Every entreaty 1 could urge was llrenuoufly enforced, to induce the

, captain to carry us to Wales—but without effetlli With a mind almoft diftrafltd, I went into the hold, where my wife and her infant were now lodged, to take, what I fuppofed would be—a laj} faretvel! but the horror exprefled in her countenance detci.ed me from communicating all my apprehenfions!

At length we arrived at the quay; and, with my charge, I was landed on the beach, from whence 1 haftened to my houfe.

My

lo HISTORY OF THE My wife lay down on a bed, and I crept under it,

thinking to hide myfelf, in cafe I fhould be fought for. I had not been in this fituation more than ten minutes, when I heard my name called, and a found of feet on the flairs. Prefently the door opened, and one Patrick Murphy, with fix others, all armed, came into the room. This Murphy was a near neighbour of mine, and had always profefled a great regard for me. My wife, on feeing him, threw herfelf off- the bed, with the child in her arms, and fell on her knees, en- treating them to fpare me: one of them fwore, if (be did not fay where I was, he would blow her brains out. On hearing this, from fear of her being injured, I fliewed myfelf, and was immediately feized and drag- ged down flairs. My wife begged to be allowed to go along with me; but they told her, if flie attempted to follow, they would run her through with their pikes.

I left my houfe, fuffering the pangs of a man going to execution, and was conduced to the barracks, near a mile off, through ftreets filled with creatures, who appeared more like devils, than men.

At the barracks I was put into a room, in which there were about eight others, all expe&ing foon to be put to death. Every moment fome of the rebels, with pikes and piftols in their hands, came to view us.

After remaining in this lituation about an hour, one of the rebels, armed with an old bayonet fixed on the end of a long pole, afked if there were any blood) Orange-mn or informers there! One of the towni- mtn pointed me out, upon which he made a thruft at my th.' at—but the point was prevented from enter- ing, by a thick culhion under my cravat. He then wounded me llightly juft below my hip. At that moment counfellor Richards, belonging to the tov/n, who had been obliged to join the rebels, to lave his

4RISH REBELLION. I I own life, came into the room with Mr. Bagnel Har- vey; and, feeing the ftate I was in, I requefted him to fave me, which Mr. Harvey did, by taking m« out with him. Where to go I knew not, and en- treated Mr. Richards to convey me to a place of fafety. He faid he did not know what was heft to do with me, but would take me to a Mr. Hughes, at the Foley, a brewer: he accordingly protedted me through the midft of the mob, as we had to go almoft two hun- dred yards from the barracks. Unfortunately, as I entered the houfe, one of the townfmen faw me, and informed others that an Orange-man had fecreted himfelf in that houfe. 1 went up a back ftair-cafe, and got intoafmall room at the top of the houfe, where was a bed lying upon the ground. Being almoft exhaufted, 1 intended to lie down, but had not been above five minutes in the room, until I'heard perfons below fearching the houfe. I opened a window that looked into the garden, and thought to have leaped out, but fortunately faw the tops of fome of the rebels’ pikes juft under me. I fhould then have crept un- der the bed, but providentially faw a fmall door, in the infide of the room, belonging to a cupboard, which was formed by the eaves of the houfe. I got in, but was forced to fit almoft double. Soon my purfuers came into the room; and, not feeing me, were going out again, when one of them called the other back, to examine a cupboard he had juft ob- ferved; I then thought nothing could fave me; and, if ever living man felt the terrors of death, I then did! He opened the door of the cupboard; but, pro- videntially, holding his mulket flaming, the muzzle, pufhed into the cupboard, (truck againft the roof; on which, fuppofing it empty, without turning his head, he went away. Thus difappointed, I heard them propofe to fet fire to the houfe, but that was over- ruled. In

HISTORY OF THE I 2 In that fituation I continued till ten o’clock at night •

I then ventured out, and got over the rocks to a place called Maudlin-town, (near a mile from Wexford) to the houfeof an old woman of the nameof Cole, whom I thought I could truft. I found thehoufe empty, ex- cept an old bead-ftead, with fome draw on it. Be- ing fearful I fhould be feen if I lay at top, I was forced to get under it, and lay the whole night upon nothing but the earthen floor.

Having eat nothing the whole day, and being al- moft worn out with exertion and agitation of fpirits, I endeavoured to deep; but my terror, for fear the rebels fhould come in, and put me to death, prevented me. People came into the cabin feveral times dur- ing the night, but never looked under the bed

About eight o’clock the next morning, May 31ft, the old woman, who owned the cabin, came homei ({he was a Roman Catholic,)and I made myfelf known to her, begging, in the mod earned manner, that die would permit me to remain concealed there, till affairs were a little fettled. She told me die would as long as die could, without endangering herfelf; and that die would go into the town, and fee how matters went on, which die accordingly did-, and, in about two hours, returned with information, that the infurgents were fearching all the houfes for Protedants, and committing them to gaol; and far- ther told me, if 1 fhould be found there, that they would kill her, and burn the houfe; therefore it was neceflary I fhould go to fome other place.

I thought it prudent to comply. She then gave me fome bread and beer, and advifed me to try and get among the fields, to lie in the hedges by day, and travel by night. Accordingly, now, as every houfe was diut againd me, and 1 had no houfe to fly to for refuge, I got out at the back door of her houfe.

IRISH REBELLION. 13 houfe, and went about two miles acrofs the country, when I met an old woman, whom I requefted to (hew me what road I had better take to effed my eicape. Sh'e told me it was in vain to attempt it: for that if 1 did not belong to the rebels my oivn brother would betray me, I left her, and went on, but foon hearn'voices be- hind me, calling on me to ftop, and 1 (hould have mercy. I turned round and faw fix men advancing, with pikes in their hands. They feized me, con- duded me back to the town, and put me into gaol, in which I found about two hundred and twenty Pro- tejlants.

The gaol is a very ftrong building, fituate at a (hort dillance from the barracks; and fo built round with walls, that you can fee no perfqn pafs or repafs.

Towards evening, a fellow' of the name of Dick Monk, (one who had formerly been a ftioe-biadc in town, but now was raifed by the rebels to the rank of a captain) came into the .gaol, and bid us prepare

for death: for that all of kj, except fuch as, upon ex- amination, he Jhoutd releafe, would be put to death at twelve o'clock that night t

The manner of his examination was two-fold: firft, politically, and then religioufly.

The form of his political examination was this: JfJ. Are you ftraight?—A. I am. Pdf How ftraight?—A. As ftraight as a rufti. jph Go on then:—In Truth, in Truft, in -Unity, and in Liberty.

What have you got in your hand?'—A. A Green Bough. Where did it firft grow?—A. In America. Where did it bud?—A. In France. Where are you going to plant it?—A. In

the Crown of Great Britain. The preceding queftions and anfwers appear to be

HISTORY OF THE x4 a part of the United Irifhmen’s Catechifm4 by which they know each other.

The religious examination was this: Are you a Chri/Uan?

If the perfon anfwered ‘ Yes,’ he was requefted to blefs himfelf, and fay the Ave Maria.

If he could do this, in the Roman Catholic man- ner, and go through the other form, he was imme- diately acquitted, and fuffered to depart.

I believe Monk, after having gone through his examination with feveral perfons, feletted Jix to be faved, and took them with him out of the prifon. The fituation of us that remained, can be better ima- gined than defcribed! We all went dire&ly to pray- er, and fpent the night in the moft horrid fufpence! No one, however, came near us that night.

The next morning, June ift, fome potatoes and water were brought us, which proved a very fea- fonable relief.

On the Sunday following, June 3d, a man of the name of Murphy, by trade a labourer, but who had been an evidence againft fome United Irifhmen at the previous aflizes, (though none of them fuffered,) was taken up by the rebels, and condemned to die! 1

On Monday morning, June 4th, about nine o’clock, John Gurley, one of the prifoners, came to me. “ Jackfon, (faid he) the Lord have mercy on you! you are called to go into the yard, with my bro- ther Jonas, and Kinnieth Mathews!” Thefe words had fuch an effeft on me, that my tongue cleaved to the roof of my mouth, for I thought I was call- • ed to be executed. The gaoler came in, and took us into the yard, where was one Edward Fraine, a fanner, who lived in John-ftreet, and was fuppofed to make four hundred pounds a year by his^rade; there were alfo many other perfons there belonging to the town. Fraine

IRISH REBELLION. 15 Frainc was captain of the rebel guard for the day.

As foon as I came out, he faid, “ Mr. Jackfon, I believe you know what we want of you.” I an- fwered, “ Yes,”—for I fuppofed I was going to die! I then fell upon my knees, and begged that, if that was Che cafe, I might be allowed to fee my wife and child. He fwore that I fliould not, that I was not then going to die; but that a man was to die at fix o’clock that evening, and he did not know more proper perfons to execute him than me and the.twp others. He added, “ I fuppofe you can have no ob- je£lion, as he is a Roman Catholic?” “ Why, Sir, (faid 1) (hould 1 have no obje&ion to commit mur- der?” “ You need not talk (replied he) about mur- der; if you make any objeftions, you fhall be put to death in ten minutes; but if you do your bufinefs properly, perhaps you may live two or three days longer: fo I expedt you three will be ready at /ix o’clock this evening.”

Another then came up, and faid, “ Mr. Jackfon, if yea could procure a few orange ribbons, to tie about your neck at the time of execution, it would, I think, have a very pretty appearance; and, at the fame time, 1 have a couple of balls, much at your fervice, when it is over, as I think it is a pity you fhould get no return for the favour you confer.”

We were then carried back to our ceils, and fpent the day in prayer till fix o’clock; at which time, being brought to the great door, we found the prifoner, Murphy, with nearly a thoufand men about him. The proceffion was arranged in the following order: A large body of Pikemen, forming a hollow fquare.

A BLACK FLAG. Drums and Fifes.

MURPHY. The Executioners.

Another body of Pikemen clofed the proceffion. ' B 2 As

HISTORY QF THE 16 As foon as this arrangement was made, the Dead

March was ftruck. up, and beat from the gaol to the place of execution, winch was a mile and a half

joff, at the other fide of the bridge, on a wide ftrand.

The proceffion paired by my houfe: when I came oppofite to it, 1 was fo much affedfed, as almofl to faint: fome water was brought me, and I proceeded.

As foon as we reached the deftined fpot, all the rebels, with their arms in their hands, kneeled down, and prayed for about five minutes: this, I underfiood, was becaufe the vi£Hm was a Roman Catholic An order was then given to form a half circle, with an opening to the water. The poor man was afterwards dire died to kneel down, with his back to the water, and his face towards us, which he did, with his hands clafped. I requeftcd to be allowed to tie my cravat round his eyes: they tpld me not to be too nice about the matter, for in a few minutes it would be my own cafe. The mufkets were then called for; but it was fuggeftcd, if they gave us .three muikets, we might turn and fire at them; on which it was fettled, that we thould fire one at a time.

The firft appointed to fire was Mathews, and it was remarkable that the piece miffed fire three times. During this time, the countenance of the unhappy vi£tim difplayed fuch manifeft fymptoms of inex- preffible terror, as will never be effaced from my memory! The man who owned the mulket was damned, and aflced, ‘l What fort of a mulket was that to carry to the field of battle?”

A common fporting-gun*was then brought, and fired by Mathews;, the bail hit the poor man in the arm.

I was next called upon; and fufp?£ltng that I fhould

IRISH REBELLION. 17- fliould not fire at their obje£t, but turn upon them4 two men advanced, one on each fide of me, and held cocked piftols to my head; two alfo ftood behind

• me, threatening death if 1 miffed the mark. I fired ; and the unhappy fufferer fell dead; after which, Gurley was obliged to fire at the proftrate body!

When it was over, a propolal was made, that I fhould nuajh my hands in his blood! but this was over-ruled; and they faid, as 1 had done my bufinefs well, I fhould go back. A ring was now formed round us; and a fong in honour of the Irifh Republic was fung, to the tune of “ God five the King.”

This dreadful bufmefs had taken up about three hours, when we were marched back to the gaol.

Several days paffed without my being particularly noticed; but during that period, many prifoncrs were taken out, (a few at a time) and being carried to the camp, were piked!

On the day that information was received of the rebels being defeated at Rofs, to revenge the lofs, fifteen of the Wexford, and ten of the Ennifcorthy people, were ordered out of the gaoL When this notice was given, 1 ran into my cell, got upon my knees in a dark corner, and pulled fome ftraw over me; but a man of the name of Prendergaft came in, and drew me out, uttering flvocking threats againft

,me. He dragged me into the yard, where I found my unhappy comrades upon their knees. One of ! them who had been a Proteftant, but had become a Roman Catholic, and was now imprifoned on a charge of being an Orange-man, requefted to have the priell with him before he died. This was im- mediately granted; and a meffenger was fent to Fa- ther Curren, the Parilh Priell of Wexford. He prefently came; and to give effeft to his admonition and intercdfion, he dreffed himfelf in his conuly and

B 3 bote

HISTORY OF THE I 8 bore a crucifix in his hand. He held up the cruci- fix, and all prefent fell on their knees. He <ex- horted them', in the moft earned manner; he con- jured them, as they hoped for mercy, to (hew it; he made every poflible exertion to fave the lives of all the prifoners, but it was in vain. He faid, he could witnefs that the Wexford people had never fired upon them, or done them any injury; and that he could not fay mafs to them, if they perfided in their cruel refolutions. At laft, he influenced the,m fo far, as to prevail Upon them to return into the gaol the fif- teen Wexford people; but, for thofe from Ennifc >r- thy, he could obtain no remiliion.

With hearts overflowing with gratitude to the Al- mighty, we went back to our confinement; and m that date remained, every day feeing more prifoners brought in, and others taken out to be maflacred; each of us apprehending it would next be his lot.

Led any -apprehenfion of the arrival of Englifh troops fliould have &n effeft on the minds of the re- \ bels, they were condantly informed that England was in the fame date as Ireland; that three counties had already rifen in rebellion; and, on that account, not a fingle one of the King’s troops, could poffibly be fpared. They feemed, likewife, to place great de- fi pendence upon the Scots troops; and hoped, if they \ came to adlion together, the Scots would immediately come over to them; and one day a report was confi- i dently propagated, that two Scots regiments had {hot their officers, and joined the rebels in the county ] of Kildare.

To keep up the fpirits of thefe deluded men, afler- tions were daily made of vittorks having been gained o/er the King's troops. One day, a rebel came into the gaol, and, knowing me, entered into converfatiou: —lie told me, that Dublin could not hold out a week ■ longer; |

IRISH REBELLION. I 9 longerj that it was crowded with inhabitants, and that there were but a few days provifions in the town, w hich wras fu furrounded, that no fupply could be re- ceived. I aiked, if the town might not be fiipplied by feat “ That (he replied) was alfo impolhble, as the mouth of the harbour was blocked up by their armed boats!”

Nctwithftanding the care that was thus hourly taken to imprefs on the minds of the rebels every motive to keep them together, and to render them fubi'-rvient to fome order, it proved to be impoffibie. About a week after the rebels had got poffcilion of the town of Wexford, the firft attack upon Rofs was made,- and the rebels were defeated.

In the retreat, between three and four hundred of the country people, belonging to that part of the county of Wexford called the Barony of Forth, had, inflead of proceeding to the camp appointed for them, gone to their own homes, it may be fuppofed heartily tired of a life of uncertainty and hardfhip. During the whole of the time they had been in the county of Wexford, they had been obliged to lie in the open air, without any thing under or over them, except fome few fubftitutes for tents, made with the ti;kens of beds, or fuch kind of plunder as they could collett. They had no pay, and their fupply of provifions was quite uncertain: feme days having beef and mutton in fuch quantities, that they could not make ufe of it, but threw it about the fields, where it became putrid; at other times having fcar.ely any thing to eat.

Women fwarmed in their camp; and they had always fpiriturus liquors and mufic: all the blind-

Jidlers and bag-pipers in the county were with them: and they had drums and fifes, many of which they found in the barracks of the North Cork militia. The weather in the month of June proved to be un-

commonly

2 0 HISTORY OF THE commonly warm and dry, or great numbers of this expofed mob mud have perilhed by diforders. It was faid among them, and fooliftily Selieved, that there would be no wet weather till they had con- quered Ireland; and that the great drought was or- dained by God, to prevent their fuffering in the open air.

Still, as I have obferved, on the firft check at Rofs, parties began to fall off, which caufed Gene- ral Roach to iflue a Proclamation to the following effedt, which was circulated through the county and palled up at our gaol;

“ Dear Fellow Citizens, “ The World with aftonilhment beholds, and fu-

ture ages will record, the wonderful and brilliant vic- toriesS atchieved by men, almoll wholly unacquaint- ed with military tadlics, and hardly able td find men to lead them on to conquer. But what force can withftand the name of Citizens fighting for Liberty! You find that by our exertions almoft the whole country is in our poffelfion! Yet but a few more llrug- gles, and the day is our own! Your brethren in dif- ferent parts of the kingdom have only been waiting for the fignal; and you foon will fee them flocking to the Standard of Liberty, by thoufands. « Unanimity is what I have chiefly to recommend to you; with fubordination, and fpeedy obedience to the command of your officers: by which means you will enfure fuccefs, and foon will fee the downfal of that Government, which has long been tottering un- der the weight of its own crimes and enormities, and under the torture and burden of which you have fo long groaned.

«« But, at the fame time, let me beg of you to be particular

IKISH REBELLION. particular in your conduct towards your prifoncrs. Remember, that numbers whom you may have in your pofieflaon, may not be guilty through principle, but through necejfity. Remember, that many have

' been forced to appear againft us, for the fake of get- ting their bread, when their hearts have been with us. Remember, that this is not a war of religion, but libertyi that there are a great number of great men, who are Proteftants, and who wifh well to the caufe in which we are engaged. Let the fpeech of rhe Proteftant Bifhop of Down, in the Irifli Houfe of Lords, when the famous Roman Catholic Bill was fent in, never be forgotten, but fmk deep in all your breafts.

En. Roach, Vinegar-hill General of the United

Camp. Army of Liberty.

As Meffrs. Harvey, Roach, Keughe, and Gro- gan, Rood in confpicuous fituations, as command- ers, or leaders, of the rebels, 1 imagine fenta ac- count of each of them cannot fail to be interefling.

Description of the perfons and charaBers of the principal leaders of the rebels in the county of IVexford.

MR. BAGNEL HARVEY Was the fon of a Proteftant Clergyman, who bore a moll refpedlable charafter, and, in fadl, his whole

family were univerfally and defervedly beloved. He pofleiled a good eftate in the county of Wexford; and, having been brought up to the bar, was ufually called Counfeilor Harvey.

His

HISTORY OF THE 2 2 His private chara&er was much refpe£ted. No-

thing occafioned more aftonifhment among the gene- rality of the inhabitants of Wexford, than when the order came from Dublin to arreft him; but his future conduit fufficiently proved the accuracy of the information which Government had received con- cerning him.

The firft time I faw Mr. Harvey after the rebels had taken poflellion of the town, was at the time I was carried a prifoner to the barracks; where I faw him and General Roach, taking pofleffion of the King’s (tores, and endeavouring to reduce the infatu- ated unruly mob, of which he was nominal com- mander, to feme degree of order.

Mr. Harvey wore his ordinary clothes, with the addition of Giver epaulets; but when 1 faw him, he had no arms, except a piftol which he carried in his hand. He appeared to me to be about forty years of age. EDWARD ROACH,

Who was appointed General, was a middling CClUltry farmer, near Wexford; and, before the re- bellion^ was permanent ferjeant in Colonel Le Hunte’s corps of yeoman cavalry. He was not much tas’er than Bagnel Harvey, but a great deal more corpu- lent, and about forty years old.

He wore a fnuff-coloured coat, black waiftcoat, corduroy breeches, and a round hat; but, (or di£tinc-' tion fake, he had two moft enormous gold epaulets, and a fa(h and belt, in which he carried a large pair of horfe piftols: he alfo wore a fword.

MR. KEUGHE, Who was made by the rebels Governor of Wex-

ford, was originally a drumrtier in his Majefty’s ' army—I believe in the thirty-third regiment, and, during

IRISH REBELLION. 23 during the American war, had been advanced from that itatioft to the rank of captain. He had quitted the army, and a&ually received half-pay when the Rebellion broke out.

He was about fifty-four years of age, rather above the middling fize, and might be called a well look- ing man. His head was quite bald in front, and he wore his hair, which was remarkably white, tied behind. He had very much the appearance and manner of a gentleman.

He was married to a very handfome woman, much younger than himfelf, but had no children; and was comfortably fituate in a very good houfe, in George’s-ftreet, Wexford. When the rebellion broke out, (Whitfunday) on' the alarm being given, he volunteered in one of the yeomanry corps, and, was employed, the evening of that day, in eftablifhing fortifications to repel the rebels, and next day he was appointed to command a party of volunteers, which was to guard one of the entrances to the town; yet, on the rebels tak- ing pofieffion of the town, he joined them, was ap- pointed chief governor, and continued in that fitua- tion till his Majefty’s troops obtained poffeffion of it.

Numbers of prisoners, who had been feized in the country, were carried before him officially, previous to their being committed to gaol.

MR. CORNELIUS GROGAN Was a gentleman of, I believe, near fixty years

of age, and was confidered to be the richerft man in the country. He refided at Johnftown, about three miles from Wexford, where he had a very large eftate. He bore an exceeding good cbarafter among his tenantry, but was always thought to be of a retired, and remarkably dear difpofition.

He

HISTORY OF THE- 24 He had never been known to take an a&ive part

in political matters, but pafled moft of his time in trying mechanical experiments; and was efteemed to be, in this way, very ingenious.

He had two younger brothers, each of whom was colonel of a corps of yeomanry, and of approved loyalty. One of them was killed charging the re- bels at the head of his corps, and the other was wounded.

I never faw any thing like an uniform among the rebels, except upon Dick Monk, the {hoe-black, who, (hortly after his appointment to the rank of a Captain, had a light horfeman’s jacket of green, with filver lace crofs banded in front; pantaloons to match, with filver feams, and a green helmet cap, with a white oftrich feather acrofs the top.

The whole of the rebels, as I have obferved, wore white bands round their hats: fotne, of the higher order, had the Irifh harp drawn in a gold leaf, on a green ground, encircled with the words Erin go braugh, fignifying Ireland for ever; others of a more defperate turn had a broad green ribbon bound en- tirely round their hats, with Liberty and Equality. Such was their veneration for' that colour, that the women were obliged to have ribbons, and many of them neck-kerchiefs of the fume; while, on the other hand, their antipathy to Orange colour was fo great, that Colonel Le Hunte nearly loll his life, owing to his having a fire-fereen, and the furni- ture of a room, trimmed with that colour.—Cut to return to my narrative.

On Wednefday, June 20th, about eight o’clock in the morning, we heard the drums beat to arms, and the town bell ring; which was a fure fign to us of cur

IRISH REBELLION. 2$ our friends being near, but, at the fame time, we expefted that we fliould be cut off before they could arrive and releafe us.

In this terrible ftate of fufpence we remained till four o’clock in the afternoon, when we heard a horrid noife at the gate, and a demand of the prifo- ners! Eighteen or twenty were immediately taken out; ancf, in about half an^hour, the rebels returned for more vi£lims! In the whole they took out ninety- eight!

Thofe who were lad called out, were feventeen in number: Meffirs. Daniels and Robertfon, both gau- gers; ftjr. Atkins, a tide-waiter; Mathews, Gurley, (who were with me at the execution of Murphy) and myfelf, were included in this lot.

The moment Mathews put his head out of the gaol, he was fhot dead! which, I believe, would have been the fate of us all, had not a Mrs. Dixon, wife to a man who kept a public-houfe in the town, and who had been made a captain by the rebels, when Mathews fell, immediately advanced, and de- fired they would defift—as they ought to allow the people on the bridge the pleafure of feeing us!

We were accordingly marched to the bridge; and when we came in fight of the people aflembled there to witnefs the executions, they almoft rent the air with fhouts and exultations!

I, and my fixteen fellow prifoners, knelt down in a row. The blood s»f thofe who had been already executed on the fpot (eighty-one in number) had more: than ftained it—it f reamed upon the ground around us!

They began the bloody tragedy by firft taking out Mr. Daniels, who, the moment he was touched with their pikes, fprung over the battlements of the bridge into the water, where he was inftantly (hot.

C Mr.'

2(5 HISTORY OF THE Mr. Robertfon was the next; he was piked to death! —The manner of piking was—by two of the rebels pufhing their pikes into the front of the vi&im, while two others pufhed pikes into his back, and in this Rate (writhing with torture) he was fufpended aloft on the pike, till dead! he was then thrown over the bridge into the water.

They ripped open the belly of poor Mr. Atkins; and, in that condition, tie ran feveral yards, when, falling on the fide of the bridge, he was piked!

Thus they proceeded, till they came to Gurley, who was next to me. At that moment one of them came up to me, and alked' me if I would have a Prieft? I felt my death to be certain, and I anfwered « No.” He then dragged me by the collar, but was .defired to wait till Gurley was finifhed. ■While they were torturing him, General Roach rode up in great hafte, and bid them beat to arms; informing them, that Vinegar-hill Camp was befet, and that reinforcements were wanting. This ope- rated like lightning among them; they all in- ftantly quitted the bridge, and left Mr. O'Connor, an organift; William Hamilton, the bailiff of the town, and myfelf, on our knees. The mob (confift- ing of more women than men) which had been fpec- tators of this dreadful fcene, alfo inftantly difperled in every diie£Uon, fuppofing the King’s troops were at hand.

We were fo ftupified by terror, that we remained feme time in this pofture, without making the leaft effort to efcape. The rebel guard fcon came to us, and took us back to the gaol; telling us, that we fliould not efcape longer than the next day, when neither man, woman, or child, of the Protefiants, fliould be left alive! But it pltafed God to prevent their

IRISH REBELLION. 2 7 their dreadful intention from being carried into effeft, by granting fuccefs to his Majefty’s forces.

We entered the gaol with hearts overflowing with gratitude to the great Creator, for our late won- derful prefervation. For the arrival of the troops we looked, with fome hope and extreme anxiety, till about five o’clock in the morning, when we heard the joyful found of cannon: our agitation in- creafed, one moment expecting the troops to ar- rive, and the next, that we might, on the inftant, be put to death. Now had arrived the crifis of our fate! when, about eleven o’clock, the turn-key came to inform us, that we might walk out into the large yard. He addrefled us by the title of Gentlemen, from which we were aflured that fome great alter- ation had taken place; but we fupprefied our feelings, left the news which influenced them might not be true.

About three o’clock, the captain of the rebel guard, a Mr. Murphy, came in and addreffed Ma- jor Savage, one of the prifoners, offering him the keys of the gaol, and arms for us all, if he would admit fome of the rebels into the gaol, and ftrive to fave them from that fate their own confciences told them they fo richly deierved.

This Murphy kept an earthen-ware-(hop upon the quay at Wexford. His offer was inftantly accepted I by all; and, accordingly, we obtained the arms of I thofe, who, a few minutes before, were guarding I us: as agreed upon, we were locked up by Major H Savage, who brought all of us who had mufleets to fl the iron rails on each fide of the great prifun door. B Here we flood, determined to conquer or die, if at- | tacked.

About five o’clock we had the heartfelt gratifica- I tion of feeing the gallant Captain Boyd, accompanied

C 2 by

8 HISTORY OF THE by eight of his own corps, riding full gallop through the town; but not a rebel was to be found.

All the greeruboughs were immediately torn from the windows, and Liberty and Equality, which be- fore were confpicuous on every door, were now no where to be feen.

Captain Boyd was Member of Parliament for the town of Wexford, and Colonel of the Wexford ca- valry. He recommended to us not to leave the gaol at that time, as the troops expe£ted in town might fuppofe us e'nemies. This precaution, however, proved not to be neceflary, for troops were encamp- ed a irili fnort of the town, and orders iffued by the Generals, that no man fhould be put to death, unlefs he had been firfl tried and condemned by a court martial.

In about an hour after Captain Boyd left us, two companies of the Queen’s Royals arrived, and, giv- ing three cheers, fet us at liberty.

Reprieved criminals only, can have experienced fuch feelings as ours, on being releafed. The fcene that followed, no pen can defcribe! Women running in every dire£f:ion towards the gaol, trembling for the fate of their relatives who had been imprifoned. ■—Wives fecking for their hufbands—■mothers for their fons—filters for their brothers—and children ; for their fathers!—The edtacy of thofe who dif- covered their friends, and the diftradtion of others who had toft their deareft connexions, cannot be imagined. The gallant foldiers, who were witnefles ,• of what palled, though at that time accuftomed to j diftreffing circumftances, could not refrain from Ihed- ding tears, 'or joining in the exultations. In fome inftances, the wife, feeing her hulband, would rulh into his arms, and overwhelm him with careffes; but, on inquiring for a brother, learned he was no I

IRISH REBELLION. 29 no more!—One inftance I cannot refrain from men- tioning:

A woman, of the name of Smith, whofe huf- band was a hatter, and brother-in-law to Gurley, who fufFered on the bridge, came, with her fevtn children, to the cell where I had been confined, to inquire for her hufband. He was put to death the night before. While flie heard his fate, fhe faw his hat lying on the ground; fhe feized it, and the chil- dren ciung to it, with fimeks and fcreams, till fhe fainted away, and was-carried off,. followed by her weeping infants.

But to relate the particulars of that never-to-be- forgotten day, would fill a volume.—Of myfelf, f will not attempt to fay more, than that, in the midft of fuch a fcene as I have mentioned, my wife, wkb her infant, appeared before me. The fenfations we noth felt, left us no power of utterance—ilie faw me, as it were, reftored to life, and I had remained totally ignorant of her fate. We had been feparated three weeks and two days, during which time I had been in conftant expectation of death; and fhe had linger- ed, with fcarcdy a gleam of hope that I (hould e- fcape. My infant I had fcarcely contemplated a mo- ment, in peace, from the time of his birth.

We quitted a fpot which had become horrid to me, and went to the place where 1 had once a com- fortable home. The houfe, indeed, was {landing uninjured, but every thing that it contained, even my working tools, had been dtftroyed, within half an hour after the firft time I was taken to gaol. . A lady in the neighbourhood humanely offered us an

.alylum, and once more ive fat down in fecurity, glory be to our God!

Before night, many perfons who had joined the .rebels, but ftill remained in the town, were taken up

C 3 and

3<> HISTORY OF THE and tommitted to gaol. The next day a military court-martial was aflembled, compofedof one Gene- ral Officer and fix Colonels, from different regi- ments.

Never were trials carried on with more impar- tiality, than thofe which now took place. Every man who gave evidence, was examined upon oath; and all the prifoners were allowed to call all whom they required in their juftification. The trial of Mr. Bagnei Harvey lafted near eight hours, though it was univerfally known he had a&ed as com- mander in chief of the rebels.

37-v following is * copy of the general orders of the Ge- neral and Officers of the United Army of the County of }Vexford. Refolved—That the Commander in Chief lhall

fend guards to certain baronies, for the purpofe of bringing in all men whom they fliall find loitering or delaying at home, or elfewhere; and if any refiftance be given to thofe guards, fo to be fent by the Com- manding Officer’s orders, it is our defire and orders, that fuch perfons, fo giving refiftance, fhall be li- able to be put to death by the guards, who are to bear a commiffion for that purpofe: and all fuch perfons fo found loitering and delaying at home, when brought in by the guards, fhall be tried by a court-martial appointed and chofen from amongft the commanders of all the different corps, and be punifhed with death.

Refolved—That all officers fhall immediately re- pair to their refpettive quarters, and remain with their different corps, and not depart therefrom, under pain of death, unlefs authorized to quit by written

orders

IRISH REBELLION. 3 I orders from the Commander in Chief for that pur- pofe.

Refolved—That a guard fliall be kept in the rear of the different armies, with orders to fhoot all perfons who fhall fly or defert from any engagement; and that thefe orders (hall be taken notice of by all offi- cers commanding fuch engagements.

Refolved—That all men refufing to obey their fuperior officer, be tried by a court-martial, and pu- nifhed according to their fentence.

Refolved—That all men who fhall attempt to leave their refpedfive quarters, when they have been halted by the Commander in Chief, ffiall fuffer death, unlefs they fhall have leave from their officers for fo doing.

Refolved—That any perfon or perfons who fhall take upon him or them to kill or murder any perfon or perfons, burn any houfe, or commit any pil- lage, without fpecial written orders from the Com- mander in Chief, fhall fuffer death.

It is ordered, by the Commander in Chief—That all perfons who have ftolen or taken away any horfe or horfes, fhall immediately bring in all fuch horfes to the camp at head-quarters; otherwife, any perfon that ihall be feen or found to be pofl'effed of a horfe, not being the juft owner thereof, ffiall, on being con- vi&ed, fuffer death.

And any goods that fhall have been plundered from any houfe, if not brought in to head-quar- ters, or returned immediately to the houfes or own- ers—all perfons, fo plundering *s aforefaid, fhall, on being convicted thereof, fuffer death.

(By order) B. Bagnel Harvet. F. Breen, Sec. & Adjt.

Carrich-Byrne -Camp, June 6, 1798.

-HISTORY OF THE 32

Of the neceffity there was for their rulers recom- mending a fpirit of moderation, fuch as is exprefl'ed in fome parts of the foregoing proclamation, the rea- der will judge from the following circurr.ftance:

The day before the proclamation was itTued, fe- venty-five Proteftants had been (hut up in a barn together, at Scullabogue, about eleven miles from Wexford, and the barn was fet on fire. Some of the miferabie fufferers endeavoured to efcape through a fmal! window in the fide of the barn, but were re- ceived on the points of the rebels’ pikes, and forced back into the flames! All of them thus perifhed.

That the admonition. produced no effe£i, was proved, as the mod dreadful cruelties and murders were committed in Wexford after this period.

I do not believe that this cruel deed was in con- fequence of an order from any of the rebel com- manders, but was an aft of the mob; on the con- trary, from what 1 faw while I was in confinement, or could learn, I think myfelf bound to fay—that it is my‘opinion, that fuch of the rebel chiefs as had been in refpeftable fituations, detefted the fyftem of murder and robbery, which was fo inriverfally adopt- ed by the upftart officers and unruly mob, over whom they had little more than a nominal command.

So‘ dreadful were my refledtions at times while I was in the gaol, and the horror of my mind fo great, from my apprehenfions for my wife and child, and the conftant expectation of being taken out and cruelly murdered, as to produce the molt fettled de- fpair. This rofe to fuch a pitch, that, one day, in con- jundion with a fellow-fufferer, after we had confult- ed together as to the eafieft mode of putting an end to our miferies, we agreed to bleed ourfelves to death, by opening a vein; and ffiarpened a knife upen a ftone for that purpofe!

IRISH REBELLION. 3 3 JWe knelt down to pray, before we committed

the a£t, when it pleafed God that our minds became | foftened, and we felt a ray of hope, which prevent- j ed us from completing our criminal and horrid pur- ] pofe. The next proclamation was ifiued on the pth day, I of June, of which the following is a copy:

Whereas it (lands manifeftly notorious, that James Boyd, Hawtry White, Hunter Gowran, and Archibald Hamilton Jacob, late magiftrates of this county, have committed the molt horrid a£ts of cru- elty, violence, and opprefiion, againft our peaceable and well-affe£ted countrymen.

Now we, the people, aflbeiated and united for the purpofe of procuring our juft rights, and being de- termined to prote£t the perfons and properties of thofe, of all religious perfuafions, who have not op- preffed us, and are willing, with heart and hand, to join our glorious caufe, as welW as to (hew our marked difapprobation and horror of the crimes of tire above delinquents, do call on our countrymen at large to ufe every exertion in their power to ap- prehend the bodies of the aforefaid James Boyd, &c. and to fccure and convey them to the gaol of Wexford, to be brought before the Tribunal of the People.

Dene at Wexford, this pth day of June, 1798. God fave the People.

The perfons mentioned in the above proclamation were gentlemen of refpedtable charadlers.

In the town of Wexford, Proteftant men and women were obliged to recant; and, with their chil- dren, were required to be baptized in the Roman Ca- tholic chapel, after the Roman Catholic manner, and to attend mafs. Even the protedlion, granted

by

34 HISTORY OF THE by the Priefts to the Proteftant men and women, after they had been thus baptized, was,

“ Prote£f, in the name of Jefus Ghrift, A. B. he (or fhe) having been made a Chriftian, and a mem-

“ ber of the Catholic Church.” (Signed by the Prieft.)

Here I muft, in juftice to many excellent Priefts, make a diftin£tion between them, and fuch others as fomented the difturbances.

It was not by the defire of the Priefts of the town of Wexford, that the Proteftants were forced to yield to this neceflity: but it was owing to the fero- city of the mob, who could not bear the name of a Proteftant.

The conduct of the Roman Catholic clergy of Wexford cannot be too much commended. The Titular Bifhop (Caulfield), Father Curran, Father Broe, and indeed the whole of the Priefts and Friars of that town, on all occafions, ufed their intereft and exerted their abilities, in the caufe of humanity. Every Sunday, after mafs, they addrefled their au- dience, and implored them, in the moft earneft man- ner, not to ill-treat their prifoners, and not to have upon their confciences the refledlion of having ftied innocent blood. When they heard of executions going forward, they flew to the fpot, and by every entreaty endeavoured to refcue the viftims from de- Itrudfion. Sometimes they fucceeded; and when they failed, they fhewed fufficiently how fenfibly they felt for the unhappy perfons they could not fave.

Lord Kingfborough owed his life to the refolute interpofition of the Catholic Bifhop. The excellent character he had borne did not now avail him any thing; and this Nobleman, who, a few days before appeared

IRISH REBELLION. 35 appeared to be almoft at the fummit of earthly hap- pinefs, having fallen into the hands of thefe mad and wicked reformers of the (late, was by them con- fined in a dram-fhop, furrounded by ruffian guards, denied any intercourfe with his friends, and was in hourly expe&ation of being maflacred. After a few days, the gaol was fo crowded, that no room was left for the Proteftant prifoners, who were daily, brought in from different parts of the county. The rebels then fitted up two large floops, as prifon (hips. A number of the moft refpettable gentlemen of the county, who were prifoners, were then put on board, and with them Lord Kingfborough and his officers. Several times did detachments come down from the rebel camp, to demand his life; and the day before the town was taken by the King’s troops, which was the time fixed on for a general maffacre of the prifoners, a party came to his Lordlhip’s lodg- ings to demand his body, but the guards, who were chiefly townfmen, and generally fpeaking, lefs blood- thirfty than the country people, refilled. While this altercation continued, the Roman Catholic Bifhop (Caulfield) arrived; and, finding that all the argu- ments he could ufe had no effe£l, he ruffled through the crowd, and, forcing into the room where his Lordfhip was, he placed himfelf before him, and told the rebels, if they chofe to fire they might; but, if they would murder his Lordfhip, ,it fhould not be before they had killed him.

This threat had the defired effe£t: the rebels went away, leaving Lord Kingfborough and the Bifhop together.

I fhall know conclude my Narrative with an ac- count of the laft moments of Mr. Colclough.

As foon as he came to the front of the gallows, Jie addreffed the fpedlators with a firm, diftinft

voice.

HISTORY OF THE S6

voice, and without the leaft change of countenance, nearly as follows:

“ Gentlemcriy “ I am now come to that time, which is the moll

awfufthat man can experience! thank God, I am not afraid to die! I can fmile at the gallows, and at the rope with which I am to be executed! I wilh to feel if it be ftrong enough.” [He took hold of the rope, ‘and proceeded.]

“ I lhall thank you, gentlemen, for a little water, as I defire to drink a toaft before I die. [Some wa- ter was immediately brought him, and he took the mug in his hand.]

“ Here,” faid he, “ is fuccefs to the King and Conftitution; and 1 hope my fate will be a warning to all mankind, not to interfere with the order of go- vernment, or to difturb the peace of their country.”

“ As I lhall anfwer it to God, before whom I mud Ihortly appear, [here he laid his hand upon his bread] I declare that I did not know of the rebellion breaking out till within three hours of the time when arms were taken up. But I acknowledge the juf- tice of my fentence; for, about three years ago, I was one of the principal abettors in this bufinefs. I have now, gentlemen, only one favour to alk of you, and that is, that you will not take off my coat and waidcoat, as I have only an old borrowed Hurt under them, and I wilh to appear decently before the people.”

All »the other criminals, it Ihould be obferved, were dripped to their Ihirts before their execution.

He then knelt down and prayed a few minutes; after which he was drawn up, and 1 quitted the fpot while he was fufpended. Propofa

IRISH REBELLION. 37 Prcpofalfor furrenderurg the town of IFexford, tranf-

miited to General Lake by the Rebels. “ That Captain M’M'anus ftiall proceed from

Wexford towards Oulard, accompanied by Mr. E. Hay, appointed by the inhabitants of-all religiou$ perfuafions, to inform the Officers commanding the King’s troops, that they ate ready to deliver up the town of Wexford without oppofition, lay down their arms, and return to their allegiance; provided that their perfons and properties are guaranteed by the commanding officer; and that they will ufe every influence in their power to induce the people of the country at large to return to their allegiance alfo,

“ Thefe terms, we hope, Captain M’Manus will be able to procure.

(Signed) “ By order of the inhabitants of Wexford,

“ Matt. Keughe.” Anfwer of Lieutenant General Lake to Mr. Kettshe's

Propofol.

“ Lieutenant General Lake cannot^ attend to any I terms offered by rebels, in arms again ft their Sove- reign; while they continue fo, he muft ufe the force emrufted to him, with the utmoft energy, for their deftru&ion. To the deluded multitude he promifes

Kiardon, on their delivering into his hands their eaders, furrendering their arms, and returning with

fincerity to their allegiance. . (Signed)

“ G. Lake. Ennifcorthy, June 8, 1708.” D The

38 HISTORY OF THE

¥he information of Mr. Grandy, of the County of Wex- ford, certified by four Magfirates offoid county.

[From the Report of the Secret Committee of the Houfe of Com- mons.^ County of Wexford, 1 Richard Grandy, of Bal-

to wit. > lyftraco, in the county of Wex- J f°r^> came this day before us,

his Majefty’s Juftices of the Peace for faid county, and maketh oath on the holy Evangelifts—That he, this examinant, was attacked and feized at the crofs roads of Kilbride, in faid county, on Sunday the 3d of June inftant, between the hours of nine and ten o’clock in the motning, as he t^as returning from a farm he had on the lands of Kilbride, by feveral perfons armed with guns, pikes, and fpears; that, amongft the number, were Michael Poor, Thomas Poor, Martin White, Richard See, Martin Couthon, Nicholas Brown, Michael White, John Moran, and Laurence Moran, all of Kilbride aforefaid, whofe names this deponent knows not, though their faces were very familiar to him; and that examinant was conduced from thence to the rebel camp at Garrick Byme’in faid county; and ih the afternoon of fame day was brought to Mr. King’s houfe, at Sculla- bogue, in faid county; that he was introduced into a room, where he faw Bagnel Harvey, of Bargy- Caftle, in faid county, Efq. William Devereux, of Taghmon, in faid county, farmer; Francis Brien, of Taghmon, and Nicholas Sweetman, of New- bawne, in. faid county, with a few more, whom deponent did not know, but believes that John Col- ckmgh, of Ballyteigue, in faid county, and a fon of faid William Devereu?t’s, were of the number.

\ IRISH REBELLION. 39

That deponent was clofely examined by the faid Bagnel Harvey as to t;he ftate of Rofs and Duncam- non Fort, and whether he was an Orange-man or an United-man. That faid Bagnel Harvey prof- fered him to take the oath of an united Irifliman, and become one of their community, that at laft deponent obtained a pafs. from faid Bagnel Harvey, with which he came as far as Bryan’s-town, where he was (lopped by the guard of rebels, who were * ftationed there; that he was conduced back again to Collop’s-weil, where he met with faid Bagnel Harvey and faid Nicholas Sweetman: that faid Sweetman figned the pafs he had got from faid Harvey; that he had not gone far before the pafs had been taken from him and torn, upon which deftoiui * was taken prifoner to Scullabogue-houfe, where he %vas con- fined till the Tuefday morning following, with many other Proteftants:

That about nine o’clock John Murphy, of Lough- nageer, in faid county, who had the command of the Rofegarland rebel corps, and was the officer of the guard over the prifoners, had .ordered them out by fours, to be fhot by bis company of rebels, till thirty-five were maflacred! that ths rebel fpear-men ufed to take pleafure in piercing the vidlims through, .and, in exultation, lick their bloody fpears!

That, while this horrid fcene was acting, the-barn, at faid Scullabogue, in which were above one hun- dred Proteftants, (as deponent heard and believes) was fet on fire, and all confumed to afhes!

That.examinant’s life was fpared becaufe faid Mur- phy knew that faid Bagnel Harvey had given him a pafs; and through his interceffion with faid Murphy, Loftus Frizzell was likewife fpared.

That they were both tied, and conveyed within a mile of Rofs, where they met faid Bagnel Harvey,

D 2 faid

HISTORY OF THE 40 faid William Devercux, Cornelius Grogan, of Johnf- town, in faid county, and many others unknown to deponent, retreating from the battle of Rofs; that he heard, and believes it to be a fact, that faid Grogan had the command of the Barony Forth rebel troops, at the battle of Rofs.

That deponent was taken to Foulkes’-mill, in faid county, that night, wherfe he continued for two days, under a guard, dreffing the wounded; that he was afterwards conveyed to Ballymitty, in faid county, when he obtained a pafs from Edward Murphy, Pariih Prieft of faid place, to pafs and repafs through his diftrift, for the purpofe of curing the wounded; that he was fent to Taghmon, where the fitting're- bel magillrates, John Brien, James Harper, Jofeph Cullamore, and Matthew Commons, were of opinion, that deponent might with thePrieft's pafs, have gone back again and remain there. That he ilrolled along the fea-fide under the prote&ion of this pafs, till at la ft he effected his efcape, acrofs the ferry of Bannow, to Featiiard, and from thence to Duncannon Fort. Sayeth, that he heard it reported, that John Col- Clough, and'T. M’Leard, were very adtive in pro- moting the rebellion; and that he faw John Dtve- reux at Scullabogue, on Monday the 4th inftant— and that he verily believeth lie had a principal com- mand in the rebel army; that he likewife faw Charles Reilygof Ramfgringe, in faid county, at the camp at Carrick Byrne, amongit the rebels, very bufy, and aftive to promote their caufe. Deponent further fayeth, that he attended mafs, celebrated by Edward Murphy, Parifh Prieit of Ban- now; that alter mafs, he heard faid Edward Mur- phy preach a fermon, in which he faid,

“ Brethren, « You lee you are victorious every where—that “ the

IRISH REBELLION. 4* “ the balls of the heretics, fly about without hurting « you; that few of you have fallen, whilft thoufand* “ of the heretics are dead—and the few that have “ fallen was from deviating from our caufe, and the “ want of faith!

“ This is viflbly the work of God! who now is “ determined, that the heretics, who have reigned “ upwards of one hundred years, fhould pe now ex- “ tirpated, and the true Catholic religion eftablnhed.”

And deponent fayeth, this Sermon was preached after the battle of Rofs; and that he has heard feve- ra! fermons preached by other priefts to the fame ef- te£f: and further fayeth, that he has heard i'everal of the rebels, who had been at the battle of Ennii- corthy, and elfewhere, declare, that Edward Mur- phy, the Prieft, did conftantiy catch the bullets that came from his Majefty’s army in his hand, and gave them to the rebels to load their guns with.

Deponent further fayeth, that any Proteftant who was admitted into the rebel army, was firft baptized by the Roman Catholic Prieft; and that every Pro- teftant who refufed to be baptized,- was put to death! and that many, to fave their lives, fuffered themfelves to be baptized.

Sworn before his Mejefty’s Juftices of the Peace for faid county, this 23d of June 1798, at Dun- cannon Fort.

* George Ogle, Isaac Cornoc, John Henry LystEr, John Kennedy.

Bound in the fum of two hundred pounds to pro- fecute, when called on, this examination with efFeft.

Richard Grandy, (A true Copy.)

D 3

42 HISTORY Ob THE PARTICULAR OCCURRENCE'S,

From the comineneement of the "Rebellion to the furrender of the ’ French at Ballynamucfc.

At the commencement of May, 1798, the in- • furgents had taken Heps to feize the camp at Lough- ! lin’s-town, the artillery and ammunition at Chapel- izod, and the city of Dublin. The vigilance of go- ] vernment had penetrated their views: many perfons had been feized and imprifoned, feveral had been tried and executed, for treafon and other crimes: a number of perfons had been taken at the houfe of Mr. Oliver Bond, and committed to prifon, while many jails in the kingdom were crowded with perfons ac- cufed of various crimes. The impendingtrials, andpaft executions, had made

< the friends of the infurgents anxious for the fafety of ‘ thofe in confinement^ arrd their fears urged them to 1 accelerate the meansof liberating the accufed. Num- bers came from divers parts of the country, and the ftreets of Dublin were crowded with ftrangers. In this preffing emergency, fearch for concealed arms was made in every quarter, and troops were put'in»| motion, for the protection of the country. On the ,3d of May, the Earl of Clanrickarde iflued an order for the furrender of arms at Galway, and fimilar or- ders were ifiued almoft univerfally, efpecially by the Lord Mayor of Dublin-; ordering likewife, lifts of? the inhabitants of every houfe to be affixed to the doors.,' Prifoners were daily bringing in, from fundry parts.| The yeomanry of Dublin went into permanent duty^ andpatroles were eftablifhed through every ftreet: the county of Dublin had been already proclaimed, and,1 on the reprefentation of the Lord Mayor and Alder* men, the city was put under martial law, on the 19th I of May. Informatu

IR.I5H REBELLION. 43 Information on oath having been received by ad-

miniftration, that Lord Ed ward Fitzgerald was a prime agent of the confpiracy for overturning the govern- ment, on the i ith of May, the Lord Lieutenant and Council iffued a proclamation for apprehending his Lordlhip; and offering a reward of 1000I. for the difcovery of the place where he was concealed. Some days previous to this proclamation, an order had been fent, in conformity to the alien aft, to his lady, (the daughter of the late Duke of Orleans) to quit this kingdom.

Lord Edward had, we are informed, made fundry excurfions into the country, and had recently, come to town, to embody thofe men who were deftined to feize the metropolis; in expeftation of which event, great bodies of men in arms had approached the en- virons in almoft every part, anxioufly waiting the ap- pointed fignals, to ru(h in and effeft their purpofes. His Lordlhip finding his plan was difcovered, and himfelf proclaimed, kept concealed, yet the defign was haftening to a crifis! A day was fixed when the furprifing of Dublin was to have taken place, and a number of his adherents, in yeomanry uniforms, were to be headed by his Lordlhip, and make them- felves mailers of the feat of government.

This fettled plan was to have taken place on the 22d of May; and would, in all human probability, have fucceeded, (at leaft fo far as to have induced a fcene of diltrefs and confufion) hadnotfateinterpofed, and difconcerted their plans by the apprehenfion of Lord Edward, on the 19th of May, in the houfe of Mr. Murphy, a dealer in feathers and fkins, in Tho- mas-ffreet.

Mr. JufticeSwan, accompanied by Major Sirr and Captain Ryan, went there between the hours of fix and feven o’clock, with a party of feven foldiers, in

two

HISTORY OF THE 44 two carriages. Whilft Major Sirr and Captain Ryan were placing the guard to prevent an efcape, Mr. Swan got intoa fmallouteroffice, and from thence into the lower part of the houfe; he went up Hairs, where meeting a woman, he pufhed her afide, and got into a room on the firft floor, where he found a decanter, with the remains of foma wine’, and glafles on the ta- ble, with chairs round it: meeting no perfon there, he rulhed into a back room, two ftories high, where he found the owner of the houfe Handing in the room, Lord Edward lying on the bed, with his coat off, and his breeches and dockings on. Mr. Swan informed his Lordfliip he had a warrant againff him for high ■ treafon: Lord Edward rofe and fnatched a dagger from the bed, with which he made feveral ftabs at him that paffed through his clothes without wound- ing him. His Lordfliip then clofed upon Mr. Swan, fhortened the dagger, and gave him a flab in the fide, under the left arm and bread, having firid changed it from one hand to the other, over his fhoulder, whild draggling together. Mr. Swan, although fe- verely wounded, was unwilling to take his Lord - ■ fhip’s life, defired him frequently to furrender, and flrove to wred the dagger from him: in the feuffle, his Lordfliip made many violent attempts to repeat his blow and extricateJiimfelf: Mr. Swan feeling himfelf wounded, and finding it impoflible to redrain Lord Edward by other means, in defence of his life difeharged a double-barrelled pidol at his Lorddiip, which wounded him in the fhoulder: he fell on the

' bed, but recovering himfeif, ran at him with the dag- ger, \vhich Mr. Swan caught by the blade with one hand, and endeavoured to trip him up. Captain Ryan, dirC&ed by the report of the pidol, ran up into the room, and found Mr. Swan bleeding, and en- tangled with Lord Edward: Mr. Swan faid to Ryan,

IRISH REBELLION. 45 « he has wardered me!" On which Ryan threw him- felf on Lord Edward and Swan. Lord Edward made a ftrong effort, and rufhing on Ryan, gave him three defperate wounds on the bread and belly. Ma- jor Sirr then came up, and found, on the landing of the dairs, Mr. Ryan down, wounded, clinging to the right knee of Lord Edward, whofe right hand was raifed, with the dagger in it, as if ready to drike, and Mr. Swan at his fide, having a hold of Lord Ed- ward by the left bread, with his right hand drug- gling for the dagger. Major Sirr indantly fired, and lodged feveral flugs in Lord Edward’s fhoulder; the ■ foldiers thep came up, and he furrendered, and was brought prifoner to the Cadle, from whence he was committed to Newgate, where he remained in great agony till the 3d of June, when he.expired, having the day previous been indulged with feeing his aunt, Lady Louifa Conolly, and his brother Lord Henry, who came from England on the occafion. His re- mains were interred in St. "Weburgh’s church.

Captain Ryan was fo badly wounded, he was o- bliged to remain in the houfe for fome time, from whence he was removed to the houfe of Mr Lawrence Tighe, of Thomas-flreet, where he died the 30th of May.

The dagger which Lord Edward Fitzgerald had was a fhort two-edged inftrument, with a rifing in the middle on each fide of the blade, firt in a black ebony handle. It was, llridlly fpeaking, what is known as a lliletto.

The alarm caufed by this event was almoft inex- prefiible. The next day Mcffirs. Henry and J. Sheares, barrilters, were apprehended.

The meafures taken in the metropolis prevented any movement whatever; but atls of open rebellion were committed in the counties of Dublin, Meath,

and

46 HISTORY OF THE and Kildare. At about half pall two o’clock, in the morning of the 24th of May, there was an attack made by a rebel force on the town of Naas, where Lord Gosford compaanded with a party of the Armagh militia, and detachments of the 4th dragoon guards, and Ancient Britons. The rebels confilled of about 1000 men, armed with mulkets and pikes; they made their attack with regularity, but were foon repulfed by the Armagh militia, and then charged and pur- fued by the 4th dragoon guards and Ancient Britiih: their lols amounted to 200 men: two officers and a few privates were loft of his Majefty’s forces A fmall detachment at the town of Profperous was fur- prifed, and a party at the village of Clane had to cut their way to Naas.

An attack was made on aparty of the pth dragoons, near Kilcullen, which fuffered; but in the courfe of the day, General Dundas came up with the rebels near Kilcuilen hills, and routed them with the lofs of 200 men. Several bodies which colle£led near Dublin, bn the night of the 23d, were difperfed, and fome prifoners and horfes taken.

The mail-coach going to the. north, was attacked, within a few miles of Dublin, by a felebl body, well armed; the paffengers were taken, and the coach burned. The Galway mail-coach was alfo attacked^ in the town of Lucan, but the rebels were driven off before its deftru&ion was effe&ed.

A party of rebels, to the amount of fome hun- dreds, were attacked by a detachment of the Antrim militia, a party of yeomanry, and a few cavalry; and being driven into Baltinglafs, loft 150 men.

May 26th, a body of between 3 and 4000 rebels having collected near Dunlavin, they were defeated by Lieutenant Gardner, with a party of the Antrim militia and fome yeomanry: their lofs was 300 men.

IRISH REBELLION. 47 Albcdy of rebels, who for fome days had been in great force to the north of Dublin, were totally routed on the hill of Taragh, by a party of the Reay Fenci- bles and the neighbouring yeomanry: upwards of 350 were killed, (among whom was their commander) many more wounded, and great quantities of arms were taken: the king’s troops had 9 killed and 16 wounded.

May 28th, intelligence was received, that the in- furreftion was fpreading fouthward, and that it had broke out in great force in the county of Wexford: the rebels in that quarter afiembled in fuch force, that they cut off a party of 100 men, of the North Cork militia, who were fent to meet them. Colonel Foote, who returned to Wexford, ftated the number of the rebels to be at leaft 4000, and a great number of them mounted.

Accounts were received from Colonel Campbell, that he had feveral a&ions with the rebels; that at Monaftereven he had killed four hundred, and at Car- low fifty.

May 24th, about half-paft two o’clock in the morning, a dragoon, from an out-poft, came into Naas, and informed Major Wardle, of the Ancient Britifh, that a very large armed body were approach- ing rapidly on the town. The garrifon immediately took up pofitions which had been previoufly chbfen, fuch an event having been for fome days expelled: They firft made a violent attack upon the troops polled at the gaol, but were repulfed; they then made a general attack, having poffdlion of all the avenues into the town; and engaged the troops for three quarters of an hour, when they fled in all directions : the cavalry immediately purfued, and killed a great number. Vaft quantities of arms were taken, and found in pits near the town, together with three men

with

HISTORY OF THE with green cockades, who were hanged in the pub- lic ftreets.

May 25th, a large body of rebels attacked Hac- ket’s-town. LieutenantGardner, having reconnoitred their force, which amounted to between three and four thoufand, took poll on the hill under the church, and when the rebels came tolerably near, the offi- cers and men made a feint, and retreated into the barracks. The rebels feeing this, came on with a great fliout, imagining the day to be their own. In a few minutes, Captain Hume came up, with about thirty of his men, and inllantly charged them, on which the rebels retreated. A general purfuit took place, and fo complete was the rout, that above three hundred of the mifcreants lay dead on the field of battle.

On the morning of the 29th of May, Sir James Duff marched from Limerick, with fixty dragoons, Dublin militia, three field'pieces, and two curricle guns, to open the communication with Dublin. By means of cars for the infantry, he reached Mon after- even in forty-eight hours; and at feven o’clock, on the morning of the 31ft, he marched to furround the town of Kildare, the head quarters of the rebels, with feven pieces of artillery, one hundred and fifty dra- goons, and three hundred and fifty infantry, de- termined to make a dreadful example of the rebels.

He found on his arrival at Kildare, the rebels retiring from the town, armed: he followed them with the dragoons, and fent fome of the Yeomen to tell them, that on laying down their arms, they fliould not be hurt. Unfortunately, fome of them fired on the troops: from that moment they were attacked on all fides, nothing could flop the rage of the troops. From two to three hundred of the rebels were killed: of the King’s troops only three were killed, and a few wounded!!! June

IRISH REBELLION. 49 June 2d.—Accounts were received from Major-

general Euftace, at New Rofs, Hating, that Major- general Fawcett, having marched with a company of the Meath regimentfrom Duncannoft Fort, this fmall force was furrounded by a large body between Tagh- mon and Wexford, and defeated. General Fawcett effedfed his retreat to Duncannon Fort.

Same day, a letter was received from Colonel L’E- ftrange, of the King’s county militia, Hating, that the town of Newtown-Barry had been attacked the preceding morning, by a very large force from Vine- gar-hill. They furrounded the town in fuch a man- ner, that Colonel L’EHrange at firfl retreated, in or- der to colled! his force: he then attacked the rebels in Newtown-Barry, drove them out with great (laugh- ter, and purfued them feveral miles, until night .obliged him to return. Colonel L’Eltrange’s detach- ment confiHed of two hundred and thirty of the King’s county militia, feventeen dragoons, and one hundred yeomen. The rebels loH above five hundred men.

The picquet guard of yeomen, commanded by Mr. Cornwall, furprifed, in the night, a party of rebel? trying to enter Carlow, and completely defeated, them.

Colonel Walpole met with the main body of the rebels in a Hrong pod, near Slieve-bye-mountain, and having attacked them, was unfortunately killed, by a (hot in the head, in the beginning of the aftion: his corps being in a fituation where it could not a£t with advantage, was forced to retire to Arklow. The lofs was fifty-four men killed and milling, and two fix-pounders.

On the 5th of June, the rebels attacked New Rofs with a very large force and great impetuofity—but, after a conteH of feveral hours, they were completely repulftd. The lofs of the rebels was very great-—

E the;

HISTORY OF THE 5° the flreets being literally ftrewed with their carcafes. An iron gun upon a {hip carriage, was taken—and late in the evening they retreated to CarrickTByrne, leaving feveral iroir fhip-guns not mounted. Two thoufand rebels were killed: the lofs of the King’s troops was—ninety men, and fifty-four horfes, killed —fifty-nine men, and five horfes, wounded—and eighty-one men and four horfes, miffing. Lord JVlountjoy was killed early in the conteft.

The troops in the county Wicklow behaved uncom- monly well, efpecially the yeomen of the town of Wicklow: from the 19th of May to the 5th of June they were on hard duty, thelaft ten nights of which •time they were conftantly up. The Shilelagh troops alfo acquitted themfelves nobly, in beating back the Wexford rebels. The Wicklow rebels were nume- rous in the woods and mountains, but from the exer- tions made to difarm them before the rebellion broke out, and the affiduity exerted to prevent any falling into their hands after that period, they were prevented from a&ing with the fame effeft as their afibciates in Wexford. There were five different engagements in the county Wicklow, prior to the 5th of June, in •which it was fuppofed, the rebels loft feven hun- dred men.

On the 9th of June, the rebels attacked, in great force, the pofition of Major-general Needham, at Arklow. They advanced in an irregular manner, and extended themfelves, for the purpofe of turning his left flank, his rear and right flank being ftrongly de- fended by the town and barrack of Arklow. Upon their endeavouring to enter the lower end of the town thev were charged by the 4th dragoon guards, 5th dragoons, and Ancient Britons; and completely rout- ed, in every direttion, with much flaughter: the lofs of the King’s troops was trifling. Major

IRISH REBELLION. 5i Major-general Nugent having received intelli-

gence of an infurredtion intended in the county An- trim, and of a defign to feize the magi trates, vho were to aflemble in the town of Antrim on the 7th of June, he ordered a body of troops to march thi- ther. Their arrival was not early enough to prevent the rebels poffeffiug themfelves of the to.vn; and our advanced detachment, which confdl.'d of cavalry, were repulfed in their firft attack, with the lofs of three oilicers and twenty rank and file killed and wounded. Colonel Durham, however, foon arrived, and after a wdl diredfed fire on the town, drove the rebels out of it, without any further Idfs, retook two curricle gurts which had fallen into their hands, and took a fix-pounder from the rebels, who were pur- fued to Shane’s-cafUe with much Haughter. Lord O’Niell received a dangerous wound.

Another body of rebels attacked the town of Larne, ! where a fubaltern’s detachment of the Tay Fencibles

maintained their poft in the barrack with great gal- lantry. The rebels were difperfed in all diredHons, except

at Toome, whither General Knox, and Colonel Clavering proceeded} and many of tnem laid down their arms.

On the 8th of June, Mr M’Cleverty returned to BdLift from Donnegar-hill, whither he had been car- ried prifoner by a body of two thou fa nd rebels,

i Whilft they were in this fituation, they difagreed among themfdves, and, from his influence, one thou- fand five hundred left the camp, broke and deftroyed their arms, and fwore they would never carry an of- fenfive weapon againlt his Majefty or his loyal fub- jedls} many more difperfed, and the commander of them was left with fifty men only.

On the 1 uh of June, Major-general Nugent IE 2 marched

5 2 HISTORY OF TIt£ marched again(l a large body of rebels, who were potted at Saintfield. They retired^, on his approach, to a ftrong pofition on the Saintfield fide of Ballyna- hinch, and there made a {hew of refiftance, and en- deavoured to turn his left flank; but Lieutenant-co- lonel Stewart arriving from Down, with a confider- able force of infantry, cavalry, and yeomanry, they loon defifted, and retired to a very ttrong pofition behind Ballynahirich. General Nugent attacked them next morning at three o’clock, having occupied two hills on the left and right of the town, to prevent the rebels from having, any other choice than the moun- tains in their rear for their retreat. He fent Xieute- rant-colonel Stewart to port himfelf, with, part of the Argyie Fencibles, and fome yeomanry, as well as a detachment of the 221I light dragoons, in a fitua- tion, from whence he could enfilade the rebel line, whiift Colonel Lcllic, with part of the Monaghan militia, fome cavalry, and yeoman infantry, ttiould make an attack upon their front. Having two how- itzers and fix fix-pounders, with two detachments, the Major-general was enabled to annoy them very much from different parts of his pofition. The re- bels attacked, impetuoufiy, Colonel Ldlie’s detach- ment, and even jumped into the road from the Earl of Moira’s demefne, to endeavour to take one of his guns; but they were repullcd with daughter. Lieu- tenant Colonel Stewart’s detachment was attacked by them with the fame aftivity; but he repulfed them alfo, and the fire from his howitzer and fix-pounder loon obliged them to fly in all directions. About

Jive hundred rebels were killed in the attack and re- treat, many were made prifoners, for feveral days after, and the remainder difperfed all over the coun- try. Parts of the towns of Saintfield and Ballyna- hiuch were burn{. Their force was, on the evening

IRISH REBELLION. 5 3 -of the 12th, near five thoufand; but as many per- fons were prefled into their fervice, and almoft en- tirely unarmed, their numbers were not fo many on the morning of the engagement. Three or four green colours were taken, and fix one-pounders, not mounted, but which the rebels fired very often, and a confiderable quantity of ammunition. Their chief was Munro,' a fhop keeper of Lilburn. The lofs of

.the King’s troops was one officer-and five rank and file killed; one officer and fourteen rank and file wounded; feveral of the yeoman infantry were killed and wounded. Next day the rebels petitioned Ge-

" neral Nugent for pardon, and offered to fumnder all their arms and ammunition; the General in reply, ptomifed to accept tluir fubmiffion, on condition of giving up their leader Munro, and the other principal traitors who had inftigated them to their late wicked pra£tices. - Munro was, however, taken by Gene- ral Nugent.

The Portaferry yeomanry, on the nth of June, under the command of Captain Mathews, made a moft gallant defence again ft a large body of the re- bels, who attacked the town of Portaferry, the yeo- manry having taken poflelfion of the market-houfe, from which poll they repulfed the rebels, who left behind them above forty dead; many more were car- ried off. Captain Hopkins, of a revenue cruizer, brought his guns to bear on the town, and was of

.great fervice in defending it. Mr. Boyd, of Bally-caltle, was, on the 12th of

June, obliged to retreat to Colerain, where he col- lected the Dunfeveniche*arid Giant’s Caufway corps, with which, together with his own, he returned to Bally-caftle, and beat the rebels out of the place.

The rebels in the county Kilkenny, on the 12th of June, attacked the houfe of a Mr. Kavenagh, in

E 3 which

5 4 HISTORY OF THE which were twerfty-nine of the Donegall militia, who, notwithftanding the inceffantfire kept up on them for feveral hours, defended themfelves in the moft gal- lant manner, and killed feveral of the rebels.

On the 17th of June, a confiderable body of re- bels attacked Kilbeggan, but were repulfed by a de- tachment of the Northumberland Fencibles, under the command of Captain'['hatcher. The rebels loft one hundred and twenty killed, and a great number wounded.

On the lyth of June, Colonel Irvine, with the detachment under his command, engaged a body of above two thoui.ind rebels, at Oviol’s-town-hill, about a mile from Hortland. The lofs of the rebels was two hundred fiain. The killed and wounded of his Majefty’s troops did not exceed twenty-three.

On the morning of the 21ft of June, at feven o’clock, Lieutenant-general Lake, with the troops under his command, attacked the rebel camp upon Vinegar-hill, and carried it in about an hour and an half. the relative importance of this veyr ftrong po- rtion with the operations of the army againft Wex- ford, made it neceflary to combine the attacks, fo as to infure fuccefs: A column under Major-generals Johnfon and Eiiftace, was drawn from Rofs, and be- gan the attack upon the town of Ennifcorthy, fituate I upon the right bank of the Slaney, clofe under Vine- gar-hill, upon the right, and rather in the rear of it. !

Lieutenant-general Uundas commanded the centre column, fupported by a column upon the right, un- der Major-generals Sir James Duff and Loftus: a i fourth column, upon the left, was commanded by Major-general Needham. Tq the determined fpirit with which thefe columns were conduced, and the - great gallantry of the troops, was owing the fhort re- fiftance of the rebels, who maintained their ground

obftinately

IRISH REBEL!.lOH. 55 obflinately for the tune before-mentioned; but on perceiving the danger of being furrounded, they fled with great precipitation. Their lofs in killed and wounded was very great. Of his Majefty’s forces, there were killed, two captains, two fubalterns, two fSrjeants, fixteen rank and fife; wounded, two'field oflicers, two fubalterns, one ferjeant, fixty-two rank and file; milling,-one ferjeant, five rank and file. Three brafs fix-pounders, one three-pounder, feven one-pounders, two howitzers, and a vail quantity of ammunition, were taken from the rebels.

On the 20th of June, Brigadier-general Moore marched from Foulkes’-mill towards Taghmon, in order to advance towards Wexford. He had not marched above a mile, when he perceived a confide- rable body of rebels advancing towards him. He Tent his advanced guard, confifting of the two rifle companies of the both, to fkirmilh with them,.whilft a howitzer and a fix-pourider were advanced to a crofs-road above Goff’s bridge, and fome light infan- try formed on each fide of them, under Lieutenant- colonel Wilkinfon. The rebels attempted to attack thefe, but were inftantly repulfed, and driven beyond the bridge. A large body were perceived, at the fame time, moving towardsJiis left: Major Aylmer, and afterwards Major Daniel, with five companies of light infantry and a fix-pounder, were detached againll them. The 6oth regiment, finding no fur- ther oppofition in front, had, of themfelves, inclined to the left, to engage the body which was attempting to turn it. The aftion here was, for a fhort time, pretty {harp, the rebels being in great numbers, and armed with both mulkets and pikes: they were, how- ever, forced to give way, and driven, though they repeatedly attempted to form, behind the ditches. They at length difperfed, flying towards Ennifcorihy

and

HISTORY OF THE 56

and Wexford. Their killed could not be afcertained, as they lay fcattgred over the fields, to a wide extent, but it mult have been confiderable. The lofs of the King’s troops was trifling. The bufinefs, which be- gan between three and four, was not over till near eight o’clock; it was then too late to proceed to Tagh- mon, fo Brigadier-general Moore took poll, for the night, on the ground where the action had com- menced. That night he was joined by the 2d and 9th regiments, which had been lent from Duncannon Fort, by General Johnfon, as a reinforcement, to en- able him to a£l with more energy againft Wexford. In the morning of the 21ft, as he was proceeding to Taghmon, he was met by an officer of the North Cork militia, who had been fent from Wexford with pro- pofals by the rebels; he gave no anfwer to thefe pro- pofals, but tranfmitted them to Lieutenant-general Lake. He proceeded-immediately towards Wexford, and took poll above the town, by which means he faved the town itfelf, perhaps from being laid in alhes, and prevented the maflacre of the remaining prifoners, which the rebels declared their intention of carrying into execution the very next day; and there can be little doubt it would have taken place, for the day be- fore they murdered above feventy prifoners, and threw their bodies over the bridge! Upon his approach, the rebels fled over the bridge of Wexford, and towards the Barony of Forth They then formed a camp a- ,bout five miles from Wexford; and their commander, Mr. Roach, fent Lord Kingfborough (who, fame time before, had been taken prifoner by^e rebels) to Brigadier-general Moore, to furrender upon terms: he referred his Lordfhip to Lieutenant-general Lake, who, on the morning of the 2jd, entered Wexford, and received the fubmilhon of many of the rebels. The fubferiber of the propofals, Mr. Keughe, and Ge- neral

IRISH REBELLION. 57 neral Roach, v/ith a few other? of their principal leaders, fell into the hands of General Lake without any negotiation.

Sir Charles Afgill having received intelligence that many of the rebels, who probably had efcaped from their camp in Wexford, had collefted near Black- ftain-mountain, on the^ioth of June, in the morning, he marched from Borris, with two hundred and fifty men, in two divifions, by two different routes, to at- tack them. He found them fcattered through the country, in confiderable numbers: upwards of one hundred were killed, the remainder difperfed, and feveral arms and pikes were taken.

On the 23d of June, Sir Charles received infor- mation that the rebels, who had efcaped from Wex- ford, had formed a camp afcKellymount, in the county Kilkenny, amounting to feveral thoufands, and were proceeding to Gore’s-bridge. He inftantly aflembled all the force he could colleft, and marched towards them. He did not arrive in time to prevent their de- feating the detachment at that place; and taking twenty-four men of the Wexford militia prifoners, they marched off rapidly towards Leighlin: the troops at the latter place, confifling of a fmall party of the 9th dragoons, and two corps of yeomanry, killed fix- ty of them. Night coming on, Sir Charles could purfue them no farther; but, by the pofition which

• they took near Shano-hill, he conceived their inten- tions were to form a jun£tibn with the colliers at Caf- tle-comen As foon as the troops were able to move, he march ^ with nine hundred men to attack them; but was forry to find they had burned the whole town, and forced the foldiers who were in 'it to retire^ be- fore his arrival. Having cleared the town with the guns, and attacked them on all Tides, about four hun- dred were killed; the remainder fled. They were

commanded

HISTORY OF THE 53 commanded by a Priefl;, called Murphy, and their numbers amounted to five thoufand. The lofs of the

. King’s troops was inconfiderable. Fearing the confequences that might refult from

allowing the rebels who had fled from Wexford t > remain any length of time in the county of Kilkenny, Sir Charles Afgil preferred attacking them again, with the troops he already had, to waiting tiil a reinforce- ment fiiould arrive. His whole force confided of one thoufand one hundred men, the rebels amounted to' five thoufand. He attacked them on the morning of the 26th of June, at fix o’clock, in their pofition on Kilconnel-hill, near Gore’s-bridge, and foon defeated them. Their chief, Murphy, the Prjefl:, and up- wards of one thoufand men, were killed. Ten pieces of cannon, four fwivels, jheir colours, and quanti- ties of ammunition, arms, cattle, &c. were taken; and fome foldiers, who were made prifoners by the rebels the day before, and doomed to fuffer death, were, by this decifive vidlory, fortunately releafed. The remainder of the rebels were purfued into the county Wexford, where they difperfed in all direc- tions. His Majefty’s troops had but feven men killed and wounded.

On the 19th of June, Sir Hugh O’Reilly, with a party of two hundred and twenty of the Weftmeath militia, (of which regiment he is Lieutenant-colonel) and two fix pounders, were attacked, on their march from Cloghnakilty to Bandon, near a village called Ballynafcarty, by a body of between three and four hundred rebels, who took up the beft pofition on the ■whole march: they had but few fire-arms, and were armed moftly with pikes. They made their attack from a height on the left of the column of march, with very great rapidity, and without the lead pre- vious notice. The troops had hardly time to form.

IRISH REBELLION. 59 ut they foon repulfed the rebels, with confiderable afs; they retreated precipitately, but not in confufion, nd when they regained the height, they were joined y a very cortfiderable force. Sir Hugh, with the jreateft difficulty and rifk to the officers, rdlrained he men, halted, and formed the greateft part of them: ft the mean time he perceived the enemy filing off a ugh bank, in order to take poffeffion of his guns. \ detachment of one huftdred men of the Caithnefs egion was on its march to replace the Weaftmeath mi- itia at Cloghnakilty, and hearing the fire of the lat- er, prefl forward, and, very critically, fired on the rebels, whilft Sir Hugh’s party was forming, and made them fly in every direfhon, with great precipitation. At the fame moment a very confiderable force fhewed itfelf on the hills in the rear; and a vaft number of pikes appeared, with hats upon them, and other fig- nals, to colleft their forces Fortunately the guns were brought to bear upon them with 'good eff dl, as they dilperfed in a fhort time, and left a confider- able number dead: fome were killed in attempting to carry away the dead bodies. It is fuppofed their entire lofs amounted to one hundred and thirty men. One ferjeant and one private only of the Weftmeath militia were killed.

On the 20th of June, Lieutenant Pearce having fent a ferjeant and four men to efcort a prifoner from Hazel-Hatch to Sallins, at Ponfonby-bridge they fell in with a number of rebels. The ferjeant immediately retired, and fent off an orderly with the account to Lieutenant Pearce, who inftantly difpatched a fer- jeant and eight men to his affiftance; and being joined on the fpot by three of the yeomanry, an engage- ment took place, in which twenty-five of the rebels were killed. One of the ferjeants received a flight wound on the hand from a pike.

Ota

6o HISTORY OF THE On the 19th of June, Brigadier-general Dunn hav-

ing fent a ftrong patrole from Rathangan towards Profperous, under the command of Captain Pack, of the 5th dragoon guards, the Captain fell in with one hundred of the rebels, well mounted and appointed; he inftantly attacked, and defeated them, taking eight horfes, and killing from twenty to thirty men.

Lieutenant-colonel Stewart, of the 5th dragoons, having been detached to Profperous, on the evening of the lyth of June, found ^body of the rebel? polled on a hill to the left of the town, who fled into the neighbouring bog on his approach. His advanced guard having been fired upon from the town, he brought two curricle guns to bear upon it, and fet fire to part of the town. Much cattle was left be- hind by the rebels which they had pinned up near the mefs-room of the barrack, together with many pikes and drums. Eight of the rebels were killed. ..

On the 19th of June, a detachment from Mount- Kennedy attacked a body of three hundred rebels, near Bailynarulh. The fire began from the rebels, who were polled behind a hedge, on the top of a commanding hill. After an engagement of about twenty minutes, they gave way in every quarter, leav- , ing twenty dead behind them.

On Monday the 25th of June, a body of rebels, | confifting of feveral thoufimds, dtfcended from the i mountains of Wicklow to attack Hacket’s-town. On ) feeing them approach, Lieutenant Gardner, with his detachment of two hundred men, took poll on the moll advantageous ground near the town, to prevent * the rebels from getting pofl'eflion of it; but after a few rounds, the rebels filed off in every dire&ion, with an intent to furround and cut him off. Lieutenant j Gardner then retreated, to line the walls and win- dows of the barrack. The conteft continued in the mid ft J

IRISH REBELLION. 61 midft of flames (for the rebels fet fire to the town) for nine "hours, when they were obliged to retreat, carrying off thirty car-loads of their killed and wounded. Lieutenant Gardner’s detachment had ten killed and twenty wounded.

On the 30th of June, Major Ormlby, of the city of Limerick militia, attacked a body of three hundred rebels, with fixty infantry, and fome yeoman ca- valry, and entirely difperfed them, killing one hun- dred. His party experienced only the lofs of two horfes.

On Sunday, the 4th of July, a patrole of cavalry was attacked by a body of rebels from behind hedges contiguous to the road, and fuffered fome lofs.

On the night of the 4th of July, Major-generals Needham and Sir James Duff marched from their different pofitions, in order to furprife a body of re- bels, ported at the White Heaps. The rebels hav- ing moved early in the morning of the 5th from their port, were met by Sir James Duff’s column at the Wicklow Gap, and after a few cannon (hot, they re- treated, Sir James purfued; General Needham’s co- lumn was at too great a diftance for his infantry to affift, but his cavalry joined in the purfuit, which con- _ tinued for twelve hours, when they were flopped on fome rifing grounds: here Sir James Duff having brought the curricle guns to bear on the rebels, they were difperfed in all diredtions, with great flaughter. The lofs of the troops, was fix men and fix horfes killed, and fixteen horfes wounded.

It having been reported that the mountains of Wicklow afforded a retreat to large bodies of rebel

"-fugitives, Lieutenant-general Lake received the Lord Lieutenant’s commands to move different columns, in various diredUons, to clear that part of the country. He returned on the 15th of July to Dublin, having

F not

HISTORY OF THE 62 not found anybody whatever aflembled ^pthat diftrifh .—On the 12th of July, thofe rebels that had been in the mountains, paffed over to the Bog of Allen, and on the 14th, a body of one thoufand five hundred at- tacked the town of Clonard, where they were repulfed with the lofs of fixty men, by Colonel Blake, who inarched againfl them from Mullingar with fifty in- fantry and as many yeoman cavalry. This body after their defeat, moved towards Longwood, whence they were purfued, on the 15th, by brigadier-gene-' ral Meyrick, almoft to Culmullen; thirty were killed in the purfuit; A party of the Duke of York’s High- landers fell in with fixteen of them mounted, the next morning, and killed all but one, whom they took prifoner. The main body of the rebels having reached Dunboyne on the evening of the 15th, proceeded to the hill of Garret’s-town on the 16th, whither Ma- jor-general Myers, with a detachment of the Royal Buckirighamfhire militia, and of the Dublin yeoman- ry corps, was ordered to purfue them. The rebels, however, went off in the night for the Boyne, and pafled it: they were purfued by two divifions, under Major-general Weyms and Brigadier-general Mey- rick-, and their cavalry having come up with them, the rebels formed, in a ftrong pofition, on the road to Ardee. Asfoon as the Sutherland, with the bat- | talioh guns, arrived, the rebels fell into confufiori, 1 and broke in all dire&ions. General Weyms then " ordered the cavalry and yeomanry to attack, and fol- lowed with the infantry to fupport them. The re- bels fled into the bog, where a confiderable number ‘ were killed, and a great quantity of pikes, guns, pif- tols, fwords, and two tlandards, were taken.

Some of the rebels who efcaped, went on towards Ardee, the reft retreated over the Boyne towards Garret’s-town, where they were again attacked by Captain.

IRISH REBELLION • • 6$ Captain Gordon, of the Dumfries light dragoons, who had aflembled one hundred and thirty-three in- fantry, confilting of detachments of the Fermanagh and Carlow militia, and Swords yeomanry, and about an hundred cavalry, being part of the Dumfries re- giment, of the Fingal, the Cooloclc, the Ballybrig- ,gan, and Lord Gormanltown’s yeomen. The rebels being mounted, Colonel Gordon ordered a great part of hifc cayalrjTto purfue: on their advancing, the re- bels difmounted, and fled in ail directions: not one

.hundred remained on the ground, when the infantry came up, and they were difperfed on the firlt dif- .charge, and then purfued by Lord Gormanitown’s troops. The lots of the rebels amounted to one; hun- dred and fifty men killed, and two hundred horfes. This fervice was performed without any Id's on the part of his Majefty’s forces.

On the ill July, a body of rebels, above two thou- sand in number, attacked the town of Carnew, upon the confines of the county of Wexford and Wicklow, but were repulfed by the. yeomanry with great fpirit, who killed a great number of the rebels, and drove the reft into the country. A party of the Ancient Britons, however, who were coming to the aid of the yeomanry at Carnew, fuffered. The rebels had very artfully formed a fcheme for this purpofe, in pre- venting the communication, by barriers of baggage carriage, which, while the Ancient Britons were en- deavouring t6 force, the rebels fell upon their rear, and cut them to pieces, after a very gallant refiftance. The rebels then renewed the attack upon Carnew, and, after an interrupted conteft of two days, were again repulfed by the yeomanry, but the town of Carnew was completely deftroyed.

On the 10th of July, fix prifoners were brought into Dublin by a detachment of Beresford’s cavalry,

F 2 being

<4 HISTORY OF THE being part of a body of rebels, intercepted by that corps, in their progrefs to the neighbouring hills, whither they were conveying fome ammunition to a large body of their brethren. The chief of the efcort was killed on the fpot, another wounded, and four- of them were hanged at Rathfarnham. Some of the rebel infignia, viz. a couple of ftandards, and feveral green cockades, were taken from the infurgents.

On the icth of July, the Cork mail-coach was flopped at Kill, by a body of rebels, well armed and mounted, who deprived the guard of his arms. The Galway coach was flopped at Cloncurry the fame morning, and on the nth, at Maynooth, by a large party, equally well mounted and appointed, who ef- fedtsd a like plunder.

Early on the morning of the 13th of July, the .Ne- thercrofs cavalry fell in with the main body of the rebels at Robert’s-town, and, after gallantly cutting their way through them, and killing fome, gave the firft intelligence to government. The next morning, about three o’clock, they went in fearch of them a- gain; but the rebels having fled the night before, they immediately went in purfuit of them, and, having met the army under the command of General Myers, gave the General the firft intelligence of their flight from Robert’s-town. After being employed on dif- ferent fervices during the courfe of the day, they, on their return to their barracks at night, fell in with fome of the rebels well mounted, near Chapel-mid- way, and, though very much fatigued, immediately purfued them; they with much difficulty came up with them, (hot fome, and took their horfes. On the 15th, in the morning, about five o’clock, they again furprifed a party of rebels in the fields near St. Margarat’s, and, after a fpirited and vigorous pur- fuit, killed a number of them; in the pockets of tome

IRISH REBELLION. 6$ fome of them were found piftols and plenty of am-, munition.

On the 22d of July, Captains ‘Aylmer and Fitz- gerald, of the county Kildare, two noted rebel com- manders, together with thirteen of their officers, whq had voluntarily fubmitted to his majefty’s mercy, were efcorted to Dublin. Aylmar a^d Fitzgerald were lodged in the caftle, and the others committed to the-cultody of the yeoman guard in the Royal Exchange.

The St. Sepulchre’s corps of yeomanry were dif- armed on parade, by a part of the Stephen’s-green infantry, conformable to an order of government— it having appeared that (a few excepted) its mem- bers were in a flate of difaffetlion. Several of them were arrefted.

On the tyth of June, at feven o’clock in the even- ing, the Riglit Honourable Lord O’Neill died, at Shane’s caftle, in confequence of the wounds having mortified which fce received in the affair at Antrifti op the 7th.

Captain White, of the Ballaghkeen troop, (com- manding officer in Gorey) havihg received informa- tion that the inhuman and fanguinary rebel Hacker, (or Antrim Jack) with the fmall remnant of his par- ty which had efcaped the yeomanry, were commit- ting great depredations between Gorey and Arklow, affembled immediately his corps, and, with that of Gorey, commanded by Captain Woodruff, and the Wingfield, by Captain Gowan, came up with this rebel and his party, on the lands of Ballyrad: on the approach of the corps, they took fhelter in the wood,

.which the troops furrounded, and kept up a brifk and

.continual fire for near an hour, which was warmly rreturned. Three yeoman were wounded. The re- .bels being under cover, and the yeomanry expofed to

F 3 their

HISTORY OF THE 66 their fire, Captain White formed two parties to breafl the wood, which he did with good effett, and killed four. Hacket proved to be one of the number, and his head was fixed on the market-houfe of Gorey. v A detachment of the Duke of York’s Royal High- landers, commanded by Major Meredith, fell in with the noted rebel Holt, on the 10th of Auguft, at a village near the Glen of Finmal. The 'darknefs of the morning favoured Holt’s efcape, but feventeen of his alfociates were killed, and one wounded. The latter •was made prifoner, and fome ufeful information Was obtained from him. Holt himfejf was fhot in the thigh and foot; but he contrived to crawl to fome diltance,, when, meeting with a horfe, he was juft able to mount, and thus eluded the punifhment that awaited him.

The activity of the Duke of York’s Royal Highlan- ders fo unremittingly haraiTed Holt and his gang, that they were reduced to a fmali number. In a Ihort time, therefore, after the above action, Holt availed himfelf of the clemency of Marquis Cornwallis, and furrendered to Lord Powerfcourt,‘who tranfmitted him to Dublin; and in a few days he was fent onboard one of his Majefty’s tenders for tranfportation.

The remains of the gallant Lord Mountjoy were interred in a vault of Thomas’s church, with military honours. Above four thoufand of the Dublin yeo- manry marched in the funeral proceffion.

In the month of Auguft, a proclamation wasiflued, to be filled by the refpe&ive generals commanding his Majefty’s forces in this kingdom, offering pardon and amnefty to fuch of the rebels as would come in,: to a place appointed in each diftrift or county, fur- render and give up their arms in fourteen days from the date thereof: and certificates of prote&ion were to be granted to all who would take an oath of alle- giance.

IRISH REBELLION. 6^ giance, abjure their former treafonable obligations, and bind themfelves to be of the peace.

Executions of Rebel Commanders. DR. THOMAS ESMOND,

Lieutenant in the Yeoman Cavalry of the county Kildare, convitted of not only being abfent from his duty, but aiding and leading on the rebels at Prof- perous, was executed, purfuant to his fentence on the i4th of June, on Carlille bridge, Dublin.

HENRY MUNRO, Shop-keeper, of Lifburn, who, with others, com-

manded the rebel troops, amounting to fix or feven thoufand, on the high grounds above Lord Moira’s eftate, was executed, on Saturday the 16th of June, at four o’clock in the evening, oppofite his own door, in Lifburn, After hanging a confiderable time, his head was fevered from his body, ftuck on the top of a pike, and affixed on the market-houfe thereof.

JAMES DICKEY, Attorney, from Crumlin, found guilty of a&ing as

a Captain of the rebels at Kells, was, on the 2 2d of June, hanged and beheaded, at Belfaft, and his head

i placed on the market-houfe thereof. This unfortunate man was in the vigour of his

youth, was bred an Attorney, and had moderate prac- tice. The Reverend Mr. Kelburne prayed with hirh f<?t a confiderable time before he was launched into eternity, but he appeared very infenfible to his awful fituation. He was drefled in a light-coloured coat, fwandown veft, grey pantaloons, with kalf boots.

JAMES

68 HISTORY OF THE JAMES CHORDS,

Commonly called Do&or Chorde, found guilty of having a command in tfie rebel army at Saintfield and Ballynahinch, and of being leader of the rebels in the

• engagement with the York fencibles and Newtown- Ards yeomanry, at Saintfield, on the 9th of June, was executed at Down-Patrick, on the 23d of June.

JAMES M’CANN, Of Killinchy, convi&ed of being a&ive in forcing

perfons into the rebellion, of inftigatiug others to rife, and of being a leader in the rebel army at Killinchy, was executed at Dowo-patrick on the 27th of June.

MESSRS. HENRY AND JOHN SHEARES, * Were executed for high-treafon, at Newgate, in

Dublin, on Saturday, the 14th of July. They fpent feveral hours previous to their awful

exit in fpiritual communications with two Proteftant clergymen. Both of them received the facrament of the Lord’s Supper. Henry profefied, on the fcaf- fold, that his political views were confined to a reform in Parliament, in which declaration, and an abhor- rence of indifcriminate maflacre, he was joined by his brother John. The laft words of the latter were, « I forgive the world, as I expdft to be forgiven.”

After decapitation, the trunks and heads of both ; were delivered to their friends, and interred in St. Michan’s church-yard.

Bagnel Harvey, Captain Rowfon, Mr. Gray, ( Cornelius Grogan, Mr. Colclough, and Generals 1 Keughe and Roach, commanders of the rebels in the county .and the town of Wexford, were exe- cuted in Wexford, with others, during the month of

IRISH REBELLION. 69 The above chiefs of the rebels were drefled in green

jackets, turned up with white or yellow, white or yellow veil, buck-lkin breeches, half boots, hats with white cock-neck feathers, and green cockades, the hair without powder, and cropped clofe.

In the rival conteft between William III. and James II. in this Kingdom, the Britifh, Irilh, and French forces did not amount in the whole, to fixty thoufand. In 1641, Cromwell’s entire force for the reduction of Ireland was only between twenty and thirty thou- fand. At prefent the number of troops in this coun- try, regulars, militia, fencibles, yeomanry, &c. a- mount to near one hundred and fifty thoufand men!

On the 1 ft of Auguft, the Right Honourable Tho- mas Fleming, Lord Mayor of Dublin, raifed to pub- lic view, in the manfion houfe garden, to the front of Dawfon-ftreet, the equeftrian ftatue of George I, of glorious memory, that had lain in an obfcure fitu- ation fince it graced old Efiex-bridge in 1750. It is raifed on an handfome pedeftal, on the front of which is placed, on a tablet, the following infcription:

Be it remembered, ’That at the time rebellion and difloyalty were the

charafteriftics of the day, The loyal Corporation of the city of Dublin re-ere£t*

ed this ftatue, Of the firft Monarch of the illuftrious

Houfe of Hanover, Anno Domini 1798.

PRO-

70 HISTORY OF THE

PROGRESS OF THE

FRENCH INVASION, Vo their Defeat and Surrender at Ballytiamurk.

On the 22d of Auguft, three French frigates came and anchored inJKillala Bay. The French proceeded to land fome men, which was oppofed by about twen- ty fencibles, and fome yeomen who were quickly j routed, and the French took the town, and made the Bifhop of Killala and his family prifoners. On the 23d, a fmall party of the French advanced feven miles,, to the town of Ballyna, where the yeomanry killed j one of their horfes, and wounded two of their men: they retreated, but were reinforced to about two hundred, fixty of them mounted on horfes they had taken in the country. In the mean time exprefies had been fent to Ballinrobe, from which place a party marched at ten o’clock in the morning, and came to Caftlebar, where it was joined by the carabineers; quartered there, and thirty yeomen infantry: with thefe they arrived at Ballyna about five in the after-j noon, and drove the French back, but on advamingg to Killala, found they were entrenched: our men then ] fell back, and took a pofition about a mile and an 1

half from the enemy, but whilft they were feeding their hdrfes, they were attacked by the French, and obliged to retreat to Ballyna, from thence to Caftle- bar, having had a few wounded, and a ferjeant mif- fing. On the 26th, General Lake arrived at a vil*|

.lage near Caftlebar, where he was colle&ing his force*;:

IRISH REBELLION. 71 when on the morning of the 27th, he was attacked ay he enemy, who having been joined the day before by multitude of rebels, hack marched from Killala in great force. After a fmart conllift the General retreated to Hollymount, with the lofs of fix field pieces, and the French entered Caftlebar.

On the 28th his Excellency Marquis Cornwallis ar- rived at Athlonefrom Dublin, andcolle&ed his forces: on his approach, September 4th, the enemy retreated from Caftlebar to Foxford, from thence without flop- ping, throughSwineford, Ballaghy, andTubbercorry; to Colopny, on the 5 th, where they were attacked by Colonel Vereker with a detachment of the Lime- rick militia, but he was repulfed.

The next morning early, on having received in- telligence that Cornwallis was at their heels, they a- bandoned Coloony, and took^the road to Druma- haire: General Lake, with his column, entered Co- loony ftiortly aftet; and on the 8th of September, after a moft fevere chace of near one hundred miles, his advanced guards came up with the French at Bal- lynamuck, and fummoned them to furrender, but as the enemy did not attend to this fummons, they were inftantly attacked, on which about two hundred French infantry threw down their antis, thinking that all their army would do the like,' General Cra-

: dock and Captain Packenham rode up to them, but they inftantly commenced a fire of cannon,and muf- quetry, which wounded General Cradock.

The attion lafted about half an hour, when the ; French furrendered at difcretion. A dreadful daugh-

ter of the rebels then took place: they fled, in all di- | regions, but the light cavalry purfued, and for three

days and nights the carnage never ceafed. The French prifoners amounted to eight hundred

and forty-two, officers and menj and ninety-fix rebels were

HISTORY OF THE 72 were taken, three of them general officers, their names, Teeling, Roach, and Blake; the two latter were immediately executed, but Teeling being com- miffioned in the French fervice, was tranfmitted to Dublin, where, in a few days, he was tried and found guilty of treafon and rebellion, and, purfuant to his fentence, was hanged and beheaded on Arbour-hill. During his trial, and at the place of exetution, he (hewed the greateft fortitude.

Twelve pieces of cannon, a great quantity of am- munition, /even hundred Hand of arms, and a vaft number of pikes were taken.

The Kings forces had but one officer wounded, three privates killed, twelve wounded, and three mif- fing; eleven horfes killed, one wounded, and eight miffing.

GLASGOW: Printed by Niven, Napier & Khull, Trongate.

1800.

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