Transcriber's Note Inconsistencies and variations in spelling, hyphenation, capitalization, punctuation and grammar have been preserved in this ebook to match thetext of the original document published in 1799. A few typographical corrections have been made; details of these changescan be found in a second Transcriber's Note at the end of this text. AN IMPARTIAL NARRATIVE OF THE _MOST IMPORTANT_ ENGAGEMENTS WHICH TOOK PLACE BETWEEN HIS MAJESTY'S FORCES AND THE _REBELS_, DURING =The Irish Rebellion=, _1798_. INCLUDING VERY INTERESTING INFORMATION NOT BEFORE MADE PUBLIC. _CAREFULLY COLLECTED_ FROM AUTHENTIC LETTERS. DUBLIN: =Printed and Sold by John Jones=, 91, BRIDE-STREET. 1799. (_Price 1s. 1d. _) PREFACE. The Editor with the most profound respect, submits to the Public thefollowing NARRATIVE. --It forms a small portion of a more extendedwork, calculated to contain the particulars of every remarkableoccurrence, connected with the Rebellion, which happened in thecourse of the last year;--a year which will constitute an EPOCH inthe history of Ireland, and the events of which ought to beuniversally known. The moment of action is not the most favourable to accuracy ofdetail:--Notwithstanding the purest intentions and the mostscrupulous regard to truth, much will remain, for candour toextenuate and information to supply. Impressed with this sentiment, and feeling the importance of the subject, the Editor has waitedtill the season of tranquility, and now presents to the public eye, the produce of his exertions. He wished to postpone the Publicationin order to complete it, but he yields to the entreaties of hisFriends, and finds it necessary to make some sacrifice to theeagerness of public curiosity: The remaining part is in preparationfor the Press, and as he continues to be supplied by those who werewitnesses at the transactions, and consequently most capable ofcommunicating correct intelligence, he hopes soon to accomplishhis design. The Reader will perceive from the following specimen, that theaccounts of the Battles are not arranged in chronological order;neither do they boast of any great pretensions to literary merit;but they will be found to have a recommendation more valuable thaneither--AUTHENTICITY. The Editor was less solicitous about the styleof the work, than the truth of it, and where, upon investigation, the matter conveyed to him proved correct, he has given it in thelanguage of his correspondent. If History be, as it has been elegantly described, "Philosophyteaching by Example, "--what example more necessary to be held outto public view, and transmitted to posterity, than that which shewsthe dreadful effects of a Revolution attempted by force? Where thevisionary politician enjoys for so short a time his sanguinarytriumph--suspected even by those whom he calls his friends, he issuperseded by such as are more ferocious than himself, while thefury of Fanaticism equally destroys _his_ prospects in the madeffort to exterminate one religion and substitute another. The perusal of such transactions must suggest useful reflections. The surviving Loyalist will rejoice in the triumph of _law_ and therestoration of _order_. The surviving Rebel will repent of hisfolly, and enjoy the comforts which Law and Order distribute. Such are the motives and such the object which influence the Editorof this little Work. From those who may approve of it, and whosesituation and leisure furnish the opportunity, he requests furtherassistance. Particulars of Engagements, not included in this part, will be thankfully received, and due attention paid to them in thesubsequent Publication. CONTENTS. PAGE. Description of Clonard, 3 Battle of Timahoe, 9 Junction of the Wexford and Kildare Rebels, 12 Battle of Clonard, _ib. _ Mrs. Tyrrell's sufferings while prisoner with the Rebels, 20 Character of Col. Perry and Priest Kearns who were executed 30 LETTERS. I. Battle of Carlow, 34 II. Battle of Ross, 38 III. Battle at Castlecomber, &c. 41 IV. Battle of Kilcomney, 49 V. Second Account of the Battle at Kilcomney, 52 VI. Battle of Saintfield, 57 VII. Battle of Kilbeggan, 60 OFFICIAL ACCOUNTS. Battle of Naas 63 Battle of Kilcullen, 65 Battle of Hacketstown, 67 LETTERS. VIII. Battle of Arklow, 70 IX. Account of the depredations of the Rebels at Gorey--their sacrilegious treatment of the Church, in which they immolated two Protestants, 73 X. Situation of the Rebels on Vinegar-Hill, 78 Description of Vinegar-Hill--the Battle, 76 The Rebels are defeated, 77 XI. Accurate detail of the effects of the Rebellion in the County Wexford. 78 Battle at Oulard, 80 Attack at Enniscorthy, 80 Battle at the Three Rocks, 81 Atrocities of the Rebels and the sufferings of the Loyalists in Wexford, &c. 83 Names of Clergymen and principal Gentlemen put death, 86 APPENDIX. Copy of an Affidavid made before the Right Hon. The Lord Mayor of the City of Dublin, relative to the attack on Prosperous 87 Account of the murder of Capt. Swayne--Burning of the Barracks, and the cries of the Soldiers consumed therein--Murder of Messrs. Stamer and Brewer, &c. 88 * * * * * _WEXFORD CRUELTIES!_ A GENUINE WORK. J. Jones informs the Reader that in a few Days he will publish the _Fourth Edition, greatly enlarged_, on a small Type, and good Paper, intended to bind up with the present Narrative, (_Price only Sixpence Halfpenny_) A NARRATIVE OF THE Sufferings and Providential Escape OF _CHARLES JACKSON_, LATE RESIDENT IN WEXFORD: _Written by himself. _ Giving an account of his confinement and ill treatment received from the Rebels; the political and religious interrogations of Dick Monk; the situation of Lord Kingsborough; description of the Rebel Camp; General Roache's proclamation from Vinegar-hill; description of Messrs. Harvey, Keugh and Grogan; the unheard-of cruel manner of piking the Loyalists; the re-taking of Wexford by his Majesty's troops; the liberation of the prisoners, succeeded by a truly affecting scene--The general orders from Carrick-Byrne Camp;--Proposal of the Rebels to General Lake, and his answer, with the singular account of Mr. Colclough's behaviour at the place of execution; also Mr. Grandy's Information before four magistrates at Duncannon-Fort. This present Edition sells for _half_ the price of another published in Dublin. Printing executed on the shortest Notice--Emblematic Ribbands impressed with Gold and Silver. * * * * * A NARRATIVE, OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ENGAGEMENTS, IN THE _IRISH REBELLION_, 1798. Clonard is situate about Twenty five miles from Dublin on theWestern road leading to Mullingar. Tho' constituted a post town, it is a very small village, consisting of an Inn and a few thatchedhouses; but from its situation being on the confines of twocounties, Kildare and Meath, and having a bridge across the riverBoyne, which opens a communication from Dublin to Westmeath, andfrom thence to Athlone and the Province of Connaught, it must beconsidered as a very important pass in all times of commotion andwar. On the Dublin side of the town is situated the mansion house ofthe Tyrrell family, and at present belongs to _John Tyrrell_ Esq. It is an old fashioned house, fronting the road from which it isseparated by a high wall and a court yard; having an extensivegarden upon its right, and a sheet of water upon the left. --Mr. JohnTyrrell, being a Magistrate of both Counties, Kildare and Meath, andhaving exerted himself early to suppress the disturbances which wereoccasioned by the Defenders, naturally became an object of theirresentment, and having been repeatedly menaced with an attack, hefortified his house by building up the original hall door, openinganother, which might flank the approach to the house, and barricadingall the lower windows, so as to render them musquet proof. Upon the institution of the Yeomenry, Mr. John Tyrrell was honouredwith a Commission to raise a Corps of Cavalry, which was immediatelyembodied, under the Title of the _Clonard Cavalry_, and Thomas Tyrrell, and Thomas Barlow, Esqs. Were appointed Lieutenants. This Corps soondistinguished itself by its unwearied exertions to preserve thepeace of the neighbourhood; but in the course of the Spring of 1798, Mr. John Tyrrell the Captain, receiving positive information of aconspiracy to take away his life, thought it prudent to retire withhis family into England. The command of the Corps consequently devolved upon Mr. ThomasTyrrell, the first Lieutenant, who had also at this critical periodbeen appointed High Sheriff of the County of Kildare. --Upon thetenth of May 1798, he received an official letter, ordering theClonard Cavalry upon permanent duty; in this emergency Mr. ThomasTyrrell, finding his own house at Kilreiny about one mile and ahalf from Clonard inconvenient, and in truth indefensible fromits situation, removed with his family to his Kinsman's house atClonard, before described, where he mounted a guard of one Serjeantand 18 men who were to be relieved every week. Orders were about the same time issued to Captain O Ferrall of theBallina Cavalry, to mount a permanent guard at Johnstown, near theNineteen Mile house, which were accordingly complied with: but uponthe 16th of May, reports of a general rising having been circulated, and being corroborated by encreasing outrages in the neighbourhood, Captain O Ferrall was permitted to fall back from Johnstown toClonard in the night time for protection; repairing to Johnstown atfour o'Clock in the morning, and retiring to Clonard in the evening. In this way matters went on for some time, when the country becomingstill more disturbed and apprehensions of an attack upon Clonardbecoming more serious, Lieutenant Thomas Tyrrell repaired to Dublin, with an escort of his Corps, leaving the command at Clonard withLieutenant Barlow. The object of this visit to Dublin, was torepresent to Government the situation of that part of the country, the daily apprehensions of an attack, and the necessity of areinforcement. Lord Castlereagh, to whom these representations weremade, answered, that under the existing circumstances no force couldbe sent to Clonard, but Mr. Thomas Tyrrell was authorized to raisesome Supplementaries, for whom he would be supplied with arms andammunition. Pending this application in Dublin, viz. Upon the 29th of May theRebels assembled to the number of 800 in the village of Carbery, five miles from Clonard, where they burned the Protestant CharterSchool and several houses; they then proceeded through Johnstown, burning and destroying the house of every protestant near the road. Towards evening they halted at a place called Gurteen, where theydestroyed the house of Mr. Francis Metcalf. --When intelligence ofthese transactions reached Clonard, Lieutenant Barlow marched outwith a party of the guard, and being joined by Captain O Ferrallthey went in pursuit of the Rebels, but did not over take them, until they had halted at Gurteen, where they had taken a veryadvantageous position upon each side of a narrow road, behindstrong quickset hedges, so that Cavalry could not approach themwith any prospect of success. Lieutenant Barlow halted his men, and then advancing some paces towards the enemy, took off hishelmet, and challenged them to come forward. They however declinedleaving their entrenchments, and night approaching, the Yeomenrywith great reluctance returned to their Guard house. On the 30th of May Lieutenant Thomas Tyrrell arrived safe fromDublin, with his escort, carabines for the Troop, musquets forthe Supplementaries and a quantity of ammunition. The next dayhe enrolled nineteen well affected protestants to act asSupplementaries and dismounted. By this time the Rebels had collected a very considerable force andevery night committed some outrage and depredation. They encampedupon an Island in the bog of Timahoe, and also at Mucklin andDreihid; they plundered almost every house in the neighbourhood oftheir respective places, drove away all the fat cattle and horsethey could meet, and intercepted the supplies for the Dublin market. _BATTLE OF TIMAHOE. _ Government being apprized of these proceedings, dispatched GeneralChampagne to Clonard, where he arrived upon the 6th of June; andafter consulting with Lieutenant Tyrrell, was escorted by him toEdendery, where the General expected a detatchment of the LimerickMilitia; but being disappointed in this respect, an express was sentto Philipstown to hasten the reinforcement, which arrived atEdendery upon the evening of the 7th; and on the next day, GeneralChampagne, having arranged his plan of operations, marched fromEdendery, with the following forces: A detatchment of the LimerickMilitia, under Lieutenant Colonel Gough; the Coolestown YeomenCavalry, under Captain Wakely and Lieutenant Cartland; the CanalLegion, under Lieutenant Adam Williams; the Clonard Cavalry, Lieutenant T. Tyrrell; and the Ballina Cavalry, Captain O Ferrall. These several corps were distributed, so as that the Cavalry shouldsurround the bog of Timahoe, while the Infantry attacked the Campupon the Island: This judicious plan was completely executed, --thecontest was obstinate for some time, owing to the small numberof the Infantry, who led on the attack; but their firmness anddiscipline supplying the want of numbers, the Limerick, headed bythe gallant Colonel Gough, and ably supported by Lieutenant Williamsmarched into the entrenchments, drove the Rebels from their camp, who were attacked in their flight by the Cavalry and many of themput to death. The Camp was entirely destroyed; and a great quantityof prisoners and considerable booty were carried off by the victors! On the 29th of June, Lieutenant Tyrrell having received informationthat a large body of Rebels had stationed themselves upon a hillnear his dwelling-house at Kilreiny, and had committed variousrobberies in the course of the preceding night, he went to Kinnegadto solicit a reinforcement and sent an express to Edendery for aforce to co-operate with him. The Kinnegad Yeomen Cavalry, underLieutenant Houghton, and a small party of the NorthumberlandFencibles immediately marched with Lieutenant Tyrrell to Clonard, and from thence being joined by his own Corps, he proceeded to_Fox's hill_, where the Rebels were posted to the amount of600. --The attack was began by the Clonard Supplementaries, whodisplayed great steadiness upon this occasion; the Kinnegad Corpsand the Northumberlands supported the attack with great zeal, andthe Edenderry force consisting of a detatchment of the Limerick, Lieutenant Colonel Gough, the Coolestown Cavalry, Captain Wakelyand the Canal Legion, Lieutenant Williams, having fallen upon theRebels from the opposite side, they were routed with considerableslaughter. Their commander, one _Casey_, his brother and anotherLeader were killed in this action, and their bodies brought toEdenderry, where they were exposed for several days. _JUNCTION OF THE WEXFORD AND KILDARE REBELS. _ It might have been hoped, that these successes would have establishedtranquility in this neighbourhood, and probably such effects wouldhave followed the military exertions, were it not for the irruptionof a large column of Wexford Rebels into Kildare, under the commandof Colonel _Perry_ who being immediately joined by Colonel _Aylmer_, commanding the Rebel Camp at Prosperous, was prevailed upon to abandonhis intention of penetrating into the North, and to adopt a plansuggested by _Aylmer_, of attacking Clonard, pushing on from thenceby Kilbeggan to the Shannon and surprising Athlone. In pursuance ofthis plan, the Rebel Forces amounting to 4000 men made a movementtowards Clonard. _BATTLE OF CLONARD. _ Lieutenant Tyrrell was totally unapprised of the intention, ormotions of the enemy:--his guard were extremely vigilant duringeach night, but not apprehending any danger in the day time theyfrequently dispersed through the village for the purpose ofrecreation and refreshment. This happened to be the case with manyof his men upon Wednesday morning the 11th of July, on which day, about eleven o'Clock Mr. _Richard Allen_ galloped into the Court, and brought intelligence that he was pursued by a piquet guard ofthe Rebels, whom he narrowly escaped as they were well mounted; andhe was confident a considerable force was approaching. The alarm wasinstantly given--every exertion was made to collect the scatteredmen, and parties were stationed in the most advantageous positions. As the enemy were expected from the Dublin side, six of the Corps(including Mr. Allen and Thomas Tyrrell junr. The Lieutenant's son, and only fifteen years of age) took possession of an old Turret atthe extremity of the garden; and which commanded the road. Suchwas the rapidity with which the Rebels advanced, that the firingactually commenced from this quarter upon their Cavalry before theentire guard could be collected, and the gate leading into theCourt yard was under such necessity closed to the exclusion ofseveral, so that when Lieutenant Tyrrell came to ascertain hisstrength, he found he had only _Twenty-seven_ men, including hisown three sons, the eldest of whom was only seventeen years old!Such a critical situation required the coolness of a man innuredto military danger, and all the exertion, firmness and skill of aveteran soldier. But although Lieutenant Tyrrell never had served inthe Army, his own good sense supplied the want of experience, andhis native courage furnished resources adequate to the magnitude ofthe occasion. He found his men as zealous as himself, determined tomaintain their post and to discharge their duty to their King andCountry, or fall in such a glorious cause. After sending a supply ofammunition to the advanced post at the Turret, and stationing otherout-posts, he retired into the house with the main body, from whichhe selected the best marksmen, and placing them at particularwindows gave directions that they should not fire without havingtheir object covered, he had the rest of the men secured behind thewalls and incessantly employed in loading musquets and carabines forthe marksmen at the windows. The firing as we have observed commenced from the Turret at theextremity of the garden. About 300 of the Rebel Cavalry lead on byone _Farrell_ formed their advanced guard, and approached the Turretin a smart trot, without appearing to apprehend any danger. Thefirst shot was fired by young Mr. Tyrrell, which mortally woundedFarrell, and being followed by a general discharge from the restamong the body of the Cavalry, threw them into great confusion, inwhich state they fled out of the reach of the firing. The Infantryhowever coming up, many of them contrived to pass the Turret undercover of the wall, and numbers were posted behind a thick hedge onthe opposite side of the road, from which they kept up a smart fireagainst the Turret, but without doing any material mischief. The Infantry who had passed the Turret being joined by a party whocame by a cross road (for it seems their plan was to surround thehouse by advancing in different directions) they stationed a guardupon the Bridge to prevent any reinforcement arriving in thatdirection. About ten or a dozen of this guard were in a very fewminutes shot by the marksmen from the windows, upon which the restfled; not one of the Rebels ventured afterwards to appear upon theBridge, so that the communication with the Western road was in agreat measure preserved, the importance of which to the littlegarrison in Clonard will appear in the event of the day. The enemy being thus defeated in their first onset in both pointsof attack, became exasperated to an extravagant pitch of fury, anddetermined upon the most savage revenge. A large party contrived topenetrate into the garden, by the rere, and some of them immediatelyrushed into the Turret. The Yeomen stationed there were upon anupper floor--they had the precaution to drag up the ladder by whichthey ascended;--the Rebels endeavoured to climb upon each other, soas to reach the upper story, but they were killed as fast as theyappeared; others then ran their pikes through the cieling, andfired shots but without effect--the conflict was obstinate--twentyseven of the Rebels lay dead on the ground floor, when at length, aquantity of straw was brought and set on fire. The building wassoon in flames; two of the yeomen, Mr. Michael Cusack and Mr. GeorgeTyrrell, endeavouring to force their way through the smoke wereimmediately put to death; the rest of the party viz. Mr. Allen, young Mr. T. Tyrrell, and two others escaped by leaping from awindow twenty foot high into an hay-yard, from whence under cover ofa wall which divided it from the garden they escaped into the house. Having succeeded so well by the effect of conflagration, the enemyset fire to the Toll house and some other cabbins on the left nearthe Bridge, for the purpose of embarassing and confusing thegarrison; during this operation, they were seen throwing theirdead into the flames, for the purpose, it was thought of evadingdiscovery. The Battle had now lasted near six hours: about five in the eveningthe approach of succour was descried from the house--the hopes ofall were elevated and they fought with renovated vigour. One of the guard who had been excluded by the sudden shutting of thegates in the morning, finding he could be of no other use, repairedto Kinnegad, represented the situation of his friends at Clonard, upon which fourteen of the Kinnegad Infantry, under LieutenantHoughton, and eleven Northumberland Fencibles, under the command ofa Serjeant, immediately collected and with great gallantry marchedfor Clonard. The communication by the Bridge having been kept openin the manner before related, Lieutenant Tyrrell sallied from thehouse, and soon effected a junction with this reinforcement. Afew vollies completely cleared the roads, and having then placedthe Northumberland and Kinnegad men in such situations as mosteffectually to gall the enemy in their retreat from the garden, the Lieutenant undertook in person, the hazardous enterprise ofdislodging them from thence. At this time, it is supposed there were 400 Rebels in the garden;numbers of them were posted upon a mount planted with old fir trees, which afforded considerable protection, and many lay concealedbehind a privet hedge, from whence they could distinctly seeevery person who entered the garden, tho' they could not be seenthemselves--Lieutenant Tyrrell at the head of a few picked men, rushed into the garden; and was received by a general discharge fromboth parties of the enemy: no time was lost in attacking the partybehind the hedge, who being defeated, retired to the mount;--herethe action again became warm, the Rebels appeared determined tomaintain the advantage of their situation, and the Yeomen, tho'fatigued with the labour of the day, could not think of retiring. Six of them were badly wounded, among whom was Mr. Richard Allen, who had so gallantly defended the Turrett--a ball passed thro' hisleft arm, and entered his side; his comrades still perseveredwith the most undaunted courage, and supporting a steady and welldirected fire against the mount, the enemy were at length dispersed, and in their flight were met by the Northumberland and KinnegadCorps who made great havoc among them. The victory was now complete--as glorious an achievement, we willventure to say, as occurred during the whole rebellion, and forwhich the gallant officers and men can never be too much applauded, whether we consider it as an unexampled display of genuine loyaltyand true courage, or estimate its value from its immence importanceto that part of the country and the kingdom at large. It was thefirst check which the United Army of Wexford and Kildare experiencedand proved the fore-runner of those multiplied defeats whichterminated in its total dispersion. _MRS. TYRRELL'S SUFFERINGS WHILE PRISONER WITH THE REBELS. _ After the Battle it might have been expected that the little garrisonwould have given themselves up to an excess of joy; but the breast oftheir Commander was filled with anxious solicitude----the partner ofhis heart--his wife, the mother of those three gallant youths, whomixed in the hottest scenes of the day, was absent the whole time, and no tidings of her had reached the garrison. The men sympathisedwith the husband and the children, and success was thought incomplete, until she was restored to their embraces. Probably the reader may participate somewhat of a similar feeling, and desire some gratification from a brief narrative of thecircumstances attending the Lady while in possession of the Rebels. On the morning of the 11th of July, about the hour that the guarddispersed, as we have before mentioned, Mrs. Tyrrell went in hercarriage from Clonard to her own house at Kilreiny upon somedomestic concerns--she soon heard the Rebels were approaching, andspeedily drove back with the hope of reaching Clonard before them. In this however she was disappointed; the noise of musquetryconvinced her of the impractibility of this attempt. The servantwas ordered to turn about and drive to Kilreiny, from whence sheintended to send an express to Edenderry--she had not howeverproceeded many yards, when the carriage was overtaken by two menon horseback, armed with drawn swords who with oaths and menacesordered the servant to stop--They turned the carriage back towardsClonard until they overtook about 200 men armed with pikes, a fewmusquets and some swords. They searched the carriage for arms, but did not find any. Mrs. Tyrrell describes the men as a ragged, wretched looking banditti: three of them, armed with musquetsmounted the boot of the carriage; three more got behind it--and inthis manner attended by a great crowd, the carriage was drove twomiles round to the high road leading from Dublin to Clonard: herethey kept her a prisoner, notwithstanding her frequent entreatiesto be enlarged; she at one time apprehended the pike-men would cuther to pieces, as they quarrelled among themselves, some disposedto treat her with civility--others the reverse--After some timeshe prevailed upon them to permit her to retire into a cabin, theinhabitants of which knew her, and two men armed with musquetswere placed as centries. She there remained, until the Rebelswere defeated at Clonard, when the whole body upon their retreatassembled at the cabin; one of the rebel officers came in anddesired Mrs. Tyrrell to get into her carriage; she asked for whatpurpose. He replied, that she must go with them; she entreated himto permit her to remain where she was, and that her carriage andhorses were at his service; he for some time denied her request: butfalling on her knees to supplicate him, he told her she mightstay:--He then withdrew, but immediately a great common fellow camein, seized her by the arm, dragged her to the door, and desired somemen to lift her upon a horse, which had been provided for her, assome wounded men were to be put into the carriage. Mrs. Tyrrell'salarm now became excessive--she looked round for the person, whohad consented to let her remain in the cabin, and getting her armsround him reminded him of his promise. He acknowledged hisengagement, but confessed he had not power to perform it--that shemust go with them, but would be accomodated with her own carriage. Three or four men then thrust her into the carriage, which moved on, attended by an immense body of people, and a great number ofofficers. When they had proceeded about a mile, the carriage wasstopped and entered by Col. _Perry_, who said, he was fatigued. Mrs. Tyrrell endeavoured to prevail upon him to let her go--but invain--she told him, she would use all her influence for hisadvantage, if ever she had an oportunity--He answered, that theYeomen had taken a general officer, at Clonard, and that she mustremain a Prisoner till his fate was known. --After some time, the carriage was stopped again, and a fellow came in, who toldCol. _Perry_, _he_ had a right to it, as he had taken it, and tho'quite a common fellow, _Perry_ had not power to prevent him. Mrs. _Tyrrell_ then applied to this man for protection; he answered, that she could not obtain her liberty. She was now reduced to all theanguish of despair, when a gleam of hope suddenly darted across hermind, upon seeing a man riding beside the carriage whose countenancewas perfectly familiar--This was one _Kearns_, a popish priest, whohad been for some time a curate in the neighbourhood of Clonard, andhad always been received in Mr. Tyrrell's house, with the respectdue to his clerical function, and the hospitality of an Irishgentleman. Upon meeting a man, who had feasted for weeks together ather table, and a clergyman too! she thought herself secure andimplored his protection:--He coldly answered--"O, yes, Madam"--Butwith all the base and black ingratitude of a sullen and unfeelingheart, insensible to _past_ kindness, he drew back his horse, andwith the jesuitical prevarication, natural to such a character, determined not to interfere, while he neglected to console her withan implied offer of assistance. ----Thus deserted, she againabandoned herself to despair, and began to prepare herself for thatdeath, which she now looked upon as inevitable. ----A man, who satupon the boot of the carriage, was suddenly struck with the fervencyof her devotion, and turning round, said, _He_ had as much authorityas any other man there, and that the lady should do as she pleased. Elevated a little from her despondency by this expression, Mrs. Tyrrell gave him her gold watch, promising him any furtherreward he would demand, if he would procure her liberty. ----Atthis time a person in the garb of an officer, and whose countancebeamed with the rays of humanity, rode up to the carriage--sheimmedeiately addressed him in the most supplicating terms--imploringhim to take pity upon a poor defenceless woman, who had not, andwho could not injure him--He interrogated her as to who she wasand how she came there. --She told him--He protested, that he didnot before know of any such thing and requested to know, what shewished to do----She replied that she only required to be let onher feet, that she might proceed home. He immediately ordered thecavalcade to stop--handed her out of the carriage in the most kindand humane manner--conducted her thro' an immense crowd of armedmen, and apologized for not accompanying her to Clonard, by saying, "she knew, he could not do it with safety. "--Mrs. Tyrrell made himthe acknowledgements of a grateful heart, and begged to be entrustedwith his name, that if ever it should be in her power, she mightreturn the kindness she had then experienced and repay theobligations she had received. --He said, he was afraid, she could notdo him any service, and with apparent reluctance, told her, he wasCaptain _Byrne_!--He then returned to his party, and Mrs. Tyrrellhaving met some of the people in whose cabin she was a prisoner, they accompanied her to Clonard, where she was consoled for all hersufferings by finding her husband and children alive. The gentleman (for such his conduct evinced him to be) who calledhimself, Captain _Byrne_, proved to be Mr. _Byrne_ of Ballymanus, in the county of Wicklow, who afterwards surrendered himself toGovernment, and Lieutenant Tyrrell being in Dublin at the time, repaired to the Castle, had an interview with Mr. Byrne, expressedhis acknowledgements to him in the warmest terms, and representedthe conduct of Mr. Byrne to the administration in such a manner, asshewed the Lieutenant's sense of the obligation, while it promotedthe lenient disposition which was afterwards manifested to Mr. Byrne. Thus have we given an authentic detail of the battle of Clonard andthe circumstances attending it, which in fact have been but littleknown, no official account having ever been published concerning it. One subject of regret however remains for the victors in the loss ofMr. _Richard Allen_, who died of his wounds in a few days after atMullingar, regretted by all who knew him, as a young gentleman ofunsullied integrity and undaunted courage--attached to his King bythe purest principles of loyalty, and to his family by the warmestaffection--He was a zealous yeoman and a steady friend. All thatseems necessary to add, is to say a few words respecting the fateof this Rebel Army and its leaders. _FATE OF THE REBELS. _ After proceeding some distance from Clonard, along the Dublin road, they turned to the right and took up their quarters for the nightin the village of Carbery--where they possessed themselves of LordHarberton's house, and indulged in drinking wine and spirits toexcess--they were most of them intoxicated, in which state had theybeen attacked, they must have been totally destroyed. --But the forceat Clonard was too small, had suffered too severely and expended toomuch ammunition to attempt a pursuit--On the morning of the 12th ofJuly, the Rebels moved from Carbery to Johnstown, and from thence bythe nineteen-mile-house into the county of Meath--They were pursuedby Lieutenant Col. Gough, with a small party of the Limerick Militia, and the Edenderry yeomen--An express had been sent to Col. Gordon, commanding at Trim, to march out with a force from thence, andco-operate with the Edenderry detachment--Col. Gordon accordinglyleft Trim with 200 men and two pieces of cannon, but from somefatality, yet unexplained, did not join in the attack, whichLieutenant Col. Gough, after waiting some time and reconnoiteringthe enemy posted upon a hill, commenced against them, with only sixtyinfantry and twenty cavalry. The event of that engagement is wellknown, the Rebels were compleatly defeated, leaving immense booty ofcattle, &c. Behind them. They were next pursued by General Myers, with detachments of theDublin Yeomenry and Buckinhamshire Militia, and tho' the General wasnot fortunate enough to overtake them, yet he drove them towardsSlane, where they were attacked by General Meyrick, and in severalsubsequent days were met by different military bodies who successivelyrouted them, so that at length this formidable body was completelydispersed. _CHARACTER OF COL. PERRY, AND PRIEST KEARNS WHO WERE EXECUTED. _ Every man who surrvived thought only of providing for his ownsafety--Col. _Perry_ and Father _Kearns_ made their escape into theKing's County, and were attempting to cross a bog near _Clonbollogue_, where they were apprehended by Mr. Ridgeway and Mr. Robinson of theEdenderry Yeomen, who brought them to that town, where they were triedand executed by martial law. _Perry_ was extremely communicative, andwhile in custody both before and after trial gratified the enquiriesof every person who spoke to him, and made such a favourableimpression, that many regretted his fate--He acknowledged, that150 of the rebels were killed and 60 wounded at Clonard--which tho'accomplished by 27 men will not appear extraordinary, when it is knownthat these 27 men fired upwards of 1300 ball cartridge. _Kearns_ was exactly the reverse of his companion--he was silentand sulky, and seldom spoke, save to upbraid _Perry_ for hiscandid acknowledgements--The history of this Priest is somewhatextraordinary--He had actually been hanged in Paris, during the reignof _Robespierre_, but being a large heavy man, the lamp-iron fromwhich he was suspended, gave way, till his toes reached the ground--inthis state, he was cut down by a physician, who had known him, broughthim to his house and recovered him. He afterwards made his escape intoIreland;--was constituted a Curate of a chapel near Clonard, andhaving suffered so much by democratic rage and insurrectionary fury, he was looked upon as an acquisition in the neighbourhood, then muchdisturbed by the defenders--He inveighed against these nightlymarawders with such appearance of sincerity and zeal, that he wasfrequently consulted by the Magistrates, and sometimes accompaniedthem in their patroles--Some suspicion of treachery on his part wasat length entertained, from the uniform discovery of the operationsagreed upon by the Magistrates, in consequence of which, he wasexcluded from their councils, and a positive information being swornagainst him for instigating a murder which was afterwards actuallycommitted, he fled into Wexford, where he became a member of anassassinating committee, in which capacity he continued to beextremely active, until he accompanied Col. _Perry_ upon theexpedition into Kildare, which he is known to have encouraged, andwhich finally led him to that fate, which was the just reward of anhypocritical and malignant heart, filled with gloomy and ferociouspassions--He seemed rather to be an instrument of Hell, than aminister of Heaven, for his mind was perpetually brooding oversanguinary schemes and plans of rapine, while he assumed the sacredvestments of a servant of Christ! _The following Authentic Letters may be relied on, having beenwritten by Persons of undoubted Veracity, who were fully assured ofthe Facts therein recited. _ LETTER I. CARLOW JUNE 31st, 1798. _My Dr. Friend_, Your affectionate letter I did not receive till eight days after date:I have felt much uneasiness at not having it in my power to answer itsooner; you may think it strange that in the space of ten days I couldnot procure time for that purpose, but were you acquainted with mysituation you would be convinced that it is a fact. If I live to seeyou, I trust fully to convince you of the same. Providentially for me I was absent from Carlow the time of theattack on that Town, I say providentially, for my warm spirit andforward disposition might have led me into danger. The account whichI received from people of veracity, who were on the spot is asfollows. On the 24th of May, the day preceding the attack, Haydon, a Yeoman, but an officer of the Rebels, repaired to the Country, and spent theday in mustering his Forces. A letter relative to the business, directed to Mr. J. D. Of Arles, was by mistake put into the hands ofa Loyal Yeoman of the same christian and sirname, and residing in thesame place: The bearer was conveyed to Maryborough and executed, andthe letter sent to Col. M-- who commanded in Carlow, by means of whichthe Military had timely notice of the intentions of the Rebels. Therebeing no Barrack for Infantry in the Town, the men were billeted uponthe Inhabitants; the genteeler sort paying for their lodging, theywere in general quartered in the Cabins. The intention of the Rebelswas to murder the Soldiers in their lodgings, surprise and take theHorse Barracks, and then make themselves masters of the Town, which inall probability they would have done, had not God brought theirdesigns to light in the manner above mentioned; for on receipt of theabove information the Infantry were ordered into the Barracks, andkept under arms till the Insurgents had entered the Town. About twelve o'Clock the Rebels came forward in great force, and tooconfident of a victory not yet gained, gave three cheers crying "theTown is our own!" but how dreadfully were they disappointed? for inthat moment, the military rushing forward, cut them down in allquarters; and having posted themselves in an advantageous mannercut off almost all possibility of a retreat. Many of these deludedcreatures fled into the houses for shelter, but there justice pursuedthem--for the Soldiers set them on fire immediately. About eightyhouses were burned, but the numbers consumed therein could not beascertained. It is supposed not less than six hundred fell that morning; and whatis surprising, only two I believe were found among the bodies withany simptoms of life! Thus did God frustrate the designs of the wicked, and display hisjustice and mercy in a singular manner--His justice, in sufferingthe ungodly to fall into the pit which they had digged for theirinnocent, unoffending neighbours; and his mercy, in preserving thosewhom he employed as the Executioners of his vengeance on hisEnemies. Not a Soldier or Yeoman was so much as slightly wounded!One Soldier indeed who had not left his billet, they hung with asheet; but being soon extricated he recovered immediately. Sir. E. C. Bart. Haydon, Kelly, Kane, Borro, two Murphys, one ofthem a Serjeant in the Yeomenry, and several others were executeda few days after. Haydon it is said, finding it going against hisfriends, slipt into his Father's house, dressed himself in hisRegimentals, and came out and fought against those whom he had afew hours before led to the slaughter. Thus by the interference of HIM who declares a hair of our headcannot fall without his permission, was an innocent people savedfrom the murderous designs of a Sanguinary Foe. I Remain yours Affectionately F. R. LETTER II. ROSS, JULY 20th, 1798. _My Dr. Friend_, The following account relative to the affair at Ross is remarkablybrief: particulars would fill a Volume, and as there are many thingssaid concerning it which cannot be depended on, I think it best toconfine myself to a few plain facts which are not disputed by any. On the 4th of June in the evening, the Rebels to the amount of near20000, took possession of Corbit Hill, one mile distant from Ross. The military force in the town was remarkably small, the fears ofthe Inhabitants were raised to an alarming height, but the comingin of the County Dublin Militia quieted them much. Between three and four o'Clock on the morning of the fifth, theengagement commenced, Early in the action the Rebels were for sometime victorious, having driven before them all the black cattle theycould collect through the country; this threw the military intoconfusion, and obliged many of them to retreat in great confusionover the Bridge; some pieces of Cannon also fell into the hands ofthe Enemy. The Rebels then set fire to the houses in the suburbs, about two hundred and fifty of which were consumed; but this turnedto their own disadvantage, for the wind blowing towards them theywere inveloped in smoke, which together with the immoderate quantityof spirituous liquors they drank on Corbet-Hill, rendered themincapable of their business. The Dublin and Donegal Militia who keptthe guards at the Market-house and Fair-gate never left their post, by means of which the Rebels could not penetrate into the centre ofthe town; had they ran, Ross, and in all probability the provincialtowns in Munster would have fallen. The Soldiers who retreated (except some who fled to Waterford) soonrallied again, and entering the town in a furious manner, obligedthe enemy to run. The Battle lasted for near twelve hours--3000Rebels it is said lay dead in and near the town; many also must havedied of their wounds: 'tis thought that between fifty and sixty ofthe Military fell: 'twas too many, but we could hardly expect sucha victory on more reasonable terms. B. B. Harvey was commander inchief of the Rebels; but for his bad generalship on that day wasdeposed, and the command was afterwards given to Roach. 'Twas on this dreadful day that the Barn at Scollabogue, in whichone hundred and seventy Protestants, Men, Women, and Children wereconfined, was burned: the Rebels in their retreat from Ross set iton fire, lest the Prisoners would escape. About twenty of thesesufferers I was personally acquainted with, some of them were myintimate friends. This burning was not the act of one person as somereport, Priest Shallow of the parish of Newbawn was present, andtwenty five not included in the above number were shot in the mostdeliberate manner, their cloaths being worth preserving. I passwithin two miles of the melancholy spot every month, and oftenconverse with those who know every particular relative to it, bothLoyalists and Rebels. ---- Yours, F. R. LETTER III. COLLIERY, AUGUST 1st, 1798. _My Dr. Friend_, It would give me much satisfaction to have it in my power fully tocomply with your request, by furnishing you with an accurate detailof the Engagements which took place between his Majesty's Troopsand the Rebels, for the publication you mention. If the followingparticulars to which I was an eye witness can be of any service, you are at liberty to make what use you please of the same. On the Morning of the twenty third of June, the Rebels who had beendriven from Vinegar Hill appeared opposite New-Bridge or Gore's-Bridge, a neat Village on the River Barrow, Co. Kilkenny. The Forces quarteredthere, consisting of one Troop of the 4th Dragoon Guards and a Companyof the Wexford Militia prepared to stop their progress, and in orderthereto took possession of the Bridge; but perceiving the Rebelsplanting their Cannon on the opposite side, and fording the River inconsiderable numbers (the water being low, ) they were obliged toretreat; all the Cavalry escaped, but about twenty of the Infantrywere made Prisoners, many of whom were put to death on that and thefollowing day. Their intention (as one who had been prisoner withthem informed me) was to form a junction with the Colliers, and aftertaking Castle Comber, to proceed to Kilkenny on Monday morning. From New-Bridge they proceeded through Kelly-Mount (plundering asthey went along) to a hill five miles from Castle-Comber, in the rangeof mountains called the Ridge, where they stopped for the night. Finding it impossible to get to Ross according to my travellingplan, I was obliged to take up my quarters in the Colliery the weekbefore. Here I remained in total ignorance of what was going forwardin other parts of the Country, till the twenty third, the day abovementioned, when an Express arrived, informing us that the Rebels hadcrossed the Barrow, and were on their way here. In order to knowthe truth of the information I rode off accompanied by a friendtowards the Ridge. After riding about three miles I got in viewof their Camp, and by the assistance of a pocket Tellescope coulddiscern their numbers to be about 8000. They had two stand of whiteColours, and some Soldiers (I suppose those taken that morning)along with them. Here I met ten or twelve Loyalists with fire arms;two or three of their company were just murdered by the Rebelpicquets, and some more wounded. Having procured a musket I advancedwith four more till we came in sight of the dead bodies; but as theRebel scouts were within musket shot we did not think it prudent toventure farther. Seeing a Man covered with blood a distance from me, I called to him;he crawled forward and fell at my feet, --he was a Loyalist, and hadreceived a dreadful wound from a broad sword on the head, and a fewslight wounds on other parts of the body. Imagining there was noprobability of his recovery, I advised him to make the best use ofthe few remaining moments he had, but on examining his wounds, andhaving cause to believe they were not mortal, I bound them up in thebest manner I could, and procuring a horse to carry him, my friendand I at the risk of our lives brought him four miles across themountains to Castle-Comber, were he was dressed: He is now perfectlyrecovered; and the happiness which the remembrance of that transactionaffords me, more than compensates for the danger and labour whichattended it. From seven till ten o'Clock the roads were crowded with theProtestants flying from all parts of the adjacent country, intoCastle-Comber. At one o'Clock a Troop of the 4th Dragoons, a Companyof the Downshire Militia, and a few Yeomen arrived from Ballinakill;these with a Troop of the R. Irish Dragoons, two Companies of theWaterford Militia, and one Corps of Yeomen Cavalry, about twohundred and fifty in all, made up the whole of our Military force;a small number to oppose 8000 Furies! but that the Battle is not tothe strong, the event of that day proved. About four o'Clock, the Rebels arrived at Gurteen, three miles fromCastle Comber, where they heard Mass; at five they had Mass again, (it being a holyday) at the Gizebo, a mile nearer. Between six and seven the engagement began at Cool-bawn, one mileand half from Town. Being with the advanced Guard I was present atthe commencement. The Rebels advanced in the most daring manner, andin pretty good order, having placed their Musketeers in the frontwho kept up a brisk fire. I continued behind the Infantry for aboutfifteen minutes, during which time the balls were whistling on everyside. I was so ignorant as to enquire what occasioned the whistlingnoise, and being informed it proceeded from the balls, I began tothink of providing for my safety, as my presence there was useless, having at this time no Arms. I then planted myself behind the pierof a gate; but observing the Rebels advance and the Soldiers to giveway, I rode back to the Town: the Cavalry followed immediately, andjust behind me shot a villain who had the audacity to desire theOfficer to surrender the Town. Here I had a miraculous escape; formany of the Infantry who came down close behind me were shot, bylurking Rebels from behind the hedges. The Military then took possession of the Bridge, where the battlecontinued hot for the space of fifteen minutes, when Captain G--n. Ordered a retreat: the Cavalry and part of the Infantry instantlyobeyed, but about twenty of the Waterford Militia absolutely refused, declaring "they would prefer death to dishonour. " they were mostlyRoman Catholics! I had not heard the order, but my horse taking headran off; when I knew their intentions, I did not attempt to preventhim. We halted about a mile and half from the Town, when lookingbehind we beheld it all in a blaze, the Rebel Inhabitants and somewho came the back way, set it on fire. The firing ceased for a fewminutes, the cause I know not, but words cannot express what I feltthat moment; I concluded that my unoffending friends had fallenvictims to the human Savages: they were presented to my imaginationin a thousand dreadful forms. God pardon my feelings in that moment!how hard it is to forgive such Enemies. I proceeded slowly till I metGeneral Asgill, with about 1000 Men: with these I returned, sunk withsorrow, fearing the tragic sight which I expected to present itself onentering the Town would be too much to bear; but thanks be to God myfears were groundless, --the few Military which remained, and aboutthirty Protestants, who were determined to fight for their Wives andChildren, or perish with them, kept possession, nor suffered a Rebelto cross the Bridge. Our Cannon in mistake played on the Town for sometime, but providentially no lives were lost thereby. The Rebels onsight of the reinforcement took shelter in the woods, and from thencekilled a few of the Military; but eighteen rounds of Grape shotdislodged them. 'Twas four in the afternoon before they retreated. Itis said 400 of the Rebels fell. There were twenty six Protestants incoloured cloaths, and about twenty Soldiers killed, some of the formerwere butchered in cold blood, in a manner too dreadful to relate. For the safety of Kilkenny, the Troops were obliged to return therethat night; the Loyalists who fled with them I think could not beless than 600; they left the most of their property behind them, which a party of the Rebels who returned carried off. The hand of God was visible in our deliverance that day; butremarkably so in three instances which I shall mention. --First, frommidnight till five o'Clock, we had the greatest Fog I remember tohave seen; had it not been for this, in all probability the Rebelswould have divided themselves into different parties, and surroundedthe Town: but being strangers in the Country, and not knowing wherethey might meet the Army, they kept in a body on the main road, andattacked us but in one place. Secondly, the burning of the Town; forthe day being remarkably calm, the smoak lay on the street, whichprevented them from seeing our Force; for had they known that theArmy fled, 'tis more than probable they would have entered, asthere were many Entrances unguarded. Thirdly, the Waterford Militia's disobedience of Orders, --had theyretreated without a very extraordinary miracle the Loyalists wouldhave fallen a prey to their unmerciful yet unprovoked Enemies. Yours &c. F. R. LETTER IV. KILKENNY, AUGUST 30th, 1798. _My Dr. Friend_, In a former letter you have an account of the fate of Castle-Comber, &c. --I have only to notice in this, that some Gentlemen who fell intothe hands of the Rebels while in possession of that town were broughtinto the presence of the Rebel general Murphy, who is said to havebeen a Priest in the Co. Wexford, and was excommunicated for his badconduct many years ago. --He was dressed in black, affected theappearance of a stupid enthusiast, and shewed some bullets which hesaid had been fired at him, but had rebounded from his invulnerablebody--incredible as it may seem, this wretched invention wasgenerally believed by the more wretched dupes under his command--Youhave here a real statement of the facts, of which I know you havesufficient curiosity to desire to be informed. On Monday morning[A] our reconnoitring parties observed the RebelArmy posted on the bog, between John's-well mountains and the Ridge, about eight miles distant from this City--they seemed to be at rest, and remained quiet except when relieving their Centinels, till fouro'Clock, when they were observed to move to the right along theRidge towards Kelly-mount and New-bridge. [Footnote A: _The writer omitted the date. _] In the course of the evening several false alarms electrified theinhabitants here--Yet the Garrison was left the whole day at rest. Next morning Sir C. Asgill marched with a large force, consisting oftwo pieces of Artillery, part of the Wexford and Wicklow regiments, of the 4th, 5th, and 9th, Dragoons, of Hompesch's Cavalry, theRomney Fencibles, and of the Kilkenny, Gowran, FassadineenShillelogher, Desart, Thomastown, Myshall, and Kellishin Cavalry, he was joined on the march by the Leighlin-bridge Infantry, and partof the Downshire Militia, with their Artillery, also the Maryboroughand Ballyfin Corps of Yeomen Cavalry. About six o'Clock he came up with the Rebel Army, amounting to fromfive to six thousand men, advantageously posted on a rising ground, in an extensive flat, at Kilcomny, near Gore's-Bridge--nothing couldexceed the joy of our brave Soldiers, after so many fatiguingmarches, at last to have a pleasing prospect of retaliating; theOfficers were constantly obliged to restrain their ardour. Theengagement began with a terrible fire of Artillery, which the Rebelsreturned with quickness, but entirely without effect. A very hot fire was kept up near an hour, but unable to withstandthe impetuosity of our troops the Rebels began to give way, and fledtowards the Co. Wexford. A horrible slaughter now ensued, which lasted six or seven hours, nor did it cease while a Rebel was to be seen--1100 Rebels were leftdead on the field of Action! among whom was the _invulnerablecommander Murphy_. This victory was so very decisive that we havegot possession of all their Artillery, amounting to 15 pieces ofdifferent callibre--all their Standards, Ammunition, and Baggage, a vast number of Pikes, Muskets, Swords, &c. 700 horses, a greatquantity of black cattle, Sheep, &c. Also a vast quantity ofbedding, blanketting, and wearing apparel which were given up tothe Soldiers who bravely contended for the same. Yours, &c. &c. ---- LETTER V. MARYBOROUGH, APRIL 20th, 1799. _My Dr. Friend_, Being desirous of making public the valour of the Troops of thistown under the command of Major Matthews of the Royal DownshireRegiment, against the Rebels, I send you a plain narrative of factsas follows: On the 24th of June 1798, four hundred of the Downshire Regiment, with their Battalion guns, Captain Pole, with the Ballyfin Troopof Yeomen Cavalry, and Captain Gore, with the Maryborough, (bothTroops under the immediate command of Capt. Pole) proceeded towardsthe Collieries of Castlecomber and Donane, by order of Sir CharlesAsgill. On the Road we saw Castlecomber on fire; soon after wearrived at Moyad, and saw the Rebel Army in great force on the highgrounds above Donane; we then received intelligence that Sir Charleshad engaged them at Castlecomber that morning, and that his forcewas at least double ours, but that he had retired to Kilkenny. Itwas now too late in the evening for us to attack; we therefore fellback on Timahoe, determined to be at them in the morning. At Timahoean express met us from Sir Charles, desiring we should return toMaryborough; this was answered by an express from us, proposingto Sir Charles to attack the Rebels next morning on the road fromDonane, and that we would attack on the road from Timahoe. Theanswer to this proposal we received at 7 o'clock next morning fromSir Charles, who could not agree to it, as he said his Troops werefatigued, but left it to us to fight, we could do it with security, where we were, or to return to Maryborough. We chose to risque theformer, and the proper arrangements being made, returned to Moyad, where we had last seen the Rebels: when our Cavalry arrived there, they found the Rebels had gone off to the Ridge; there we pursuedthem, and were again disappointed in bringing them to action, asthey had marched for Gore's-Bridge: our Cavalry then proceeded toOld Leighlin, from which place Capt. Pole, who had gone forward forintelligence, sent an express to inform Sir Charles Asgill of whathe had done, and of our intention to attack the Rebels wherever wefound them. At Old Leighlin we met with Mr. Vigars, to whom ourintention of attacking the Rebels was made known, and he, seeingour men much fatigued, immediately supplied us with a number of carsto carry them, without which assistance we should have been muchdistressed; he likewise accompanied us to the scene of action, andwas always in front giving us every assistance in his power. Thewhole Corps arrived at Leighlin-Bridge about twelve at night. Intwo hours after an express came from Sir Charles, desiring us tomeet him at Gore's-Bridge at five in the morning; we instantlymarched, but on the road we got such intelligence as induced ourCommanding Officer to alter his route, in order to get between theRebels and the mountains; an account of which he sent to Sir Charles, by Mr. Moore, Collector of this place, who, with his brother Mr. PierceMoore, marched with us, and to whose able advice and knowledge of thecountry I heard Major Matthews say, we in a great measure owed oursuccess. After a march of about three hours we came in sight of theRebels; and, as soon as we got within a proper distance, fired somecannon shot at them: they retired from us about a mile and a half toform their line; we followed in Column, with our guns in front, andour Cavalry in the rere; just as we got orders to form our line forthe attack, we heard Sir Charles's cannon on the other side of thehill; at this instant our Cavalry were ordered to charge, which theydid in a most gallant stile; the Rebel line was instantly broke, andwe joined Sir Charles's Troops in the pursuit, which continued withgreat slaughter for above six miles; all the cannon, horses, storesand prisoners they had were taken, and their Army dispersed. When it is known that the Rebel Army would not have been brought toaction, or even an attempt made upon them, but for the exertion ofthis little Corps--and when it is known that this Corps pursued alarge body of Rebels at least five thousand strong, with ten piecesof cannon, for nearly forty miles, without orders or directions fromany general Officer whatsoever, and that, except some bread they gotat Leighlin-Bridge, not a man of them tasted food for forty-fourhours, I think you will agree with me that they did their duty, andthat their country ought to know it. Yours, &c. &c. ---- LETTER VI. BELFAST, APRIL 29th, 1799. _Sir_, In compliance to your request I shall set down briefly what has beenalready communicated to a few, but must thro' the medium of yourintended publication be more generally circulated. On Saturday morning June the 9th, 1798. Col. Stapleton havingreceived intimation of a number of people assembled at Saint-field, and neighbourhood, he set out from Newtownards, with a detachmentof the York Fencible regiment, accompanied by the Newtownards andComber Yeomen Cavalry and Infantry; all-together about 320 men, andtwo Field Pieces. About half past four o'clock in the evening, this little Army fellin with a body of Rebels, supposed to be between six and seventhousand men, near Saintfield. The Light Infantry, commanded by Captain Chetwynd advanced withgreat gallantry to secure an eminence on the right, which havingaccomplished, he was attacked by a force of at least three thousandRebels--the front armed with pikes, the centre and rear withmuskets, whose fire galled them severely till the body of the Troopsand Field Pieces came up, when the Rebels were routed with hugeslaughter. The Rebels by their own account lost above five hundredmen, among whom were many of their leaders. The King's Troops afterrouting the Insurgents marched to Comber, where they halted duringthe night--next morning proceeded to this Town. I am much concerned to inform you of the loss of three braveOfficers by those miscreants hands in this action--_Capt. Chetwynd_, _Lieut. Unite_, and _Ensign J. Sparks_: Lieut. Edenson was wounded. The whole return of his Majesty's Troops were--29 Killed, and 22wounded. Not only the valour of the other Officers that fell inthis engagement deserves to be publickly recorded, but that of theamiable, gallant and much beloved Capt. C. Ought not to be passedwithout particular notice--This brave fellow at the head of his menreceived no less than nine pike wounds! notwithstanding which hecontinued his position, encouraging by his example his men to fightlike loyal Soldiers; till alas, two wounds from muskets deprivedthis hero of his existence, and our country of his future services. Poor Sparks--whose race of glory was now ended, was but sixteenyears old, and had just before he fell, received for his intrepidconduct the public approbation of his commanding Officer. Too much praise cannot be given the Newtownards and Comber YeomenCavalry, who, conducted by Captains Houghton and Cleland, evidencedthe greatest intrepidity during the whole of the action. If it be possible to convince those deluded creatures who were thenin arms against the peace and prosperity of this Nation, and oftheir certain destruction, should they again have recourse to suchrebellious measures, it must be the event of the above action, whereso many were cut off by such an inferior force. P. S. It was ludicrous to behold the varied badges of distinction asworn by the Rebel chiefs; some were dressed in green jackets, turned upwith white, others yellow, white vests, buckskin breeches, half-boots, hats with white cock-neck feathers and green cockades, &c. Yours, &c. ---- LETTER VII. TYRELL'SPASS, APRIL 30th, 1799. _Dr. Friend_, I should have answered your favour sooner, but was making everypossible enquiry in order to furnish you with the best accountof the engagement at Kilbeggan. The gentleman, the bearer of this(one of our Officers) and I were present on the occasion. On the 17th of June 1798, (on the preceding day a fair was held inKilbeggan. The lower order of the people appeared uncommonly civil, and this country had a more placid appearance than for some timebefore, ) at 11 o'clock at night a recruit of Capt. Clarke's gaveinformation that the town would be attacked on the next day. Asmany similar alarms had been circulated before, this was not muchregarded--however the Videts of Horse were ordered to keep a sharplook-out, and give instant intelligence should any number of men bedescried by them. At break of day, (at that time of the year about two o'clock) somepersons were perceived on the top of a hill westward of the town. Immediate notice of this was given to the Officer commanding, whodirected that the horse-guard should continue to observe the motionsof the enemy; and should their numbers encrease, to retreat slowly, about two hundred yards in front to the town, and apprize him ofthe same. It soon appeared that their force was between three and fourthousand divided into bands, from sixty to an hundred, in regularorder, with different kinds of Arms, principally pikes, from five toten feet long, pitch-forks, &c. Each band moved separately headed byan Officer, distinguished by a green sash or cockade--most of themen had white paper bands round their hats. It was generally remarked that they had all clean shirts on, hadeach a piece of oat-bread in their pockets, and many were apparentlyintoxicated. The town (the subject of this letter) has not been remarkablefor loyalty--the principal fears of the garrison arose from anapprehension of treachery. There were then under arms sixty of theNorthumberland Fencibles, about thirty of the Fertullagh Cavalry, and thirty loyal Protestants, who either belonged to the town orhad fled there for refuge. On the first appearance of the Rebels, (three hours before the attackcommenced) an express was sent to Tullamore where the principal partof the 7th Dragoons lay--General Dunne forwarded a Troop abouteighty in number--the want of a sufficient force was of the worstconsequence, as the Rebels attacked our party in the mountains, andobliged the Fencibles to retreat back to the town--Meantime theLoyalists cleared the streets which were now full of Rebels withoutthe loss of a man--the Cavalry pursued--Sergeant Price alone killedfourteen Pikemen. On hearing the firing a few of the Cavalry stationedat Tyrell's-pass flew to the scene of action, just before the BlackHorse arrived--both, aided by the dismounted from Tyrrell's-passkilled 400 of the enemy. Yours, &c. C. F. The Publisher having waited in vain for a detail of the engagementat Naas, Kilcullen, Hacketstown, &c; and public curiosity dailyencreasing, being desirous of gratifying the same, he deems it mostadvisable to insert the following OFFICIAL ACCOUNTS received at theCastle, with their dates. * * * * * _Extract of a Letter from Lord Viscount Gosford, Colonel of theArmagh Militia, and Major Wardle, of the Ancient British LightDragoons, to Lieutenant General Lake, dated Naas, Thursday Morning, 8 o'Clock, 24th May, 1798. _ This morning, about half past 2 o'Clock, a Dragoon, from an Out-post, came in and informed Major Wardle, of the Ancient British, that avery considerable armed body were approaching rapidly upon the Town. The whole garrison were instantly under Arms, and took up theirposition according to a plan previously formed in case of such anevent happening. They made the attack upon our Troops, posted near theGaol, with great violence, but were repulsed: They then made a generalattack in almost every direction, as they had got possession of almostevery avenue into the Town. They continued to engage the Troops fornear three quarters of an hour, when they gave way, and fled on allsides. The Cavalry immediately took advantage of their confusion, charged in almost every direction, and killed a great number of them. A great quantity of Arms and Pikes were taken, and within this halfhour many hundred more were brought in, found in pits near the town, together with three men with green cockades, all of whom were hangedin the public street. We took another prisoner whom we have spared, inconsequence of his having given us information that will enable us topursue these Rebels; and from this man we learn that they were abovea Thousand strong: They were commanded as this man informs us, byMichael Reynolds, who was well mounted, and dressed in Yeoman Uniform, but unfortunately made his escape; his horse we have got. About thirty Rebels were killed in the streets; in the fields, weimagine, above an hundred; their bodies have not yet been broughttogether. It is impossible to say too much of the Cavalry and Infantry; theirconduct was exemplary throughout. * * * * * _Extract of a Letter from Lieutenant General Dundas to Lord ViscountCastlereagh, dated Naas, May 25th, 1798. _ In addition to the account which I had the honor of sending youyesterday, I have the satisfaction to inform your Lordship, thatabout 2 P. M. Yesterday I marched out again to attack the Rebels, who had assembled in great force on the North side of the Liffey, and were advancing towards Kilcullen-Bridge: They occupied the hillson the left of the road leading to Dublin; the road itself and thefields highly enclosed, on the right. The attack began between 3and 4; was made with great gallantry, the Infantry forcing the Enemyon the road, and driving them from the hills on the left; the Cavalrywith equal success, cutting off their retreat. The affair ended soonafter 4. The slaughter was considerable for such an action; oneHundred and thirty lay dead. No prisoners. I have the further satisfaction of stating to your Lordship, thathis Majesty's Troops did not suffer in either killed or wounded. TheRebels left great quantities of all kinds of Arms behind them, andfled in all directions. This morning all is in perfect quietness. General Wilford, fromKildare, joined me last night; an Officer with whom I serve withunspeakable satisfaction. The Troops of every description, both officers and men, shewed adegree of gallantry which it was difficult to restrain withinprudent bounds. --Captain La Touche's Corps of Yeomenry distinguishedthemselves in a high stile. * * * * * _Extract of a Letter from the Reverend James Mc Ghee, Vicar ofClonmore, County Carlow, dated Hacketstown, three o'Clock, P. M. May 25, 1798. _ In consequence of an information received this morning, that a largebody of Rebels were marching to attack the Town, Lieutenant Gardiner, with the men under his command, and a party of Yeomenry commanded byCaptain Hardy, went out to meet them. Having reconnoitred their force, which amounted to between three and four Thousand, they took post ona hill under the Church, and when the Rebels came tolerably near, theOfficers and Men made a Feint, and retreated into the Barrack. The Rebels seeing this, came on with a great shout, imagining theday to be their own. In a few minutes Captain Hume came up withabout thirty of his Troop, and instantly charged them, on which theRebels retreated. A general Pursuit took place; and so complete wasthe rout that above Three Hundred of the miscreants now lie dead onthe field of battle. To say that the _Antrim_ Regiment behaved well is not any thing new;but the Yeomen under Captain Hardy's command behaved astonishingly;nor can I sufficiently commend the conduct of Captain Hume and hisCorps; for though his right arm was in a sling, owing to a verysevere fall from his horse, which prevented his using his sword, heheaded his men with gallantry, and went on with spirit and braverythat surprized every one, considering his situation. As to Lieutenant Gardiner, his conduct and steadiness throughout thewhole affair is far beyond my praise; but I am sorry to inform youthat a severe blow of a stone he received on his breast from avillain whose life he had just saved, prevents his writing to youhimself. He is, however, thank God, walking about, and having beenlet blood, is much better; the villain was shot dead on the spot. Every one of the _Antrims_ was vying with each other who should dohis duty best; and I have very great pleasure in telling you thatnot a man (Mr. Gardiner excepted, and one Soldier, who received acontusion in his arm) was in the least injured. --In short, theloyalty and zeal of the whole party was beyond any thing that hasbeen seen on a similar occasion. * * * * * The Publisher having been favoured with the two following letters byan intimate Friend (to whom they were written without any intentionof appearing in print, ) and also being personally acquainted withthe writer, assures the Public that every particular set forth maybe received as Facts. Such is the established character of the writer, who is known tonumbers, that he would not advance a falsehood--he was in mostengagements from the breaking out of the late Rebellion to thedefeat of the French at Balinamuck; an account of which is now inthe possession of the publisher, and shall be given in due time. LETTER VIII. Some account of the Battle of Arklow, by H. G. Of the ArmaghMilitia, in a letter to a Friend in Dublin, dated Arklow, June 13th, 1798. Written on the Field of Action. _My Dr. Friend_, I wrote to Mr. H. By one of the Conductors who promised to leavethe letter at your house, in which I gave him a circumstantialaccount[B] of what took place from the time I left Naas, till thebattle of Gorey, and our retreat to Wicklow afterwards. [Footnote B: _The Press was stopped for ten days, and every possibleenquiry made to recover the Letter alluded to, but for the presentit cannot be procured. _] On Saturday last we were informed that the Rebels in great forcewere pursuing us, the drums beat to arms, and our forces assembledimmediately. Our General formed a square of Infantry at one end ofthe town, and left the Cavalry to defend the other. In a littletime the Out-posts were driven in, and shortly after appeared theirColours flying. They extended for more than _five miles_ around us:a most awful sight! In order to intimidate us they fixed their hatson their Pikes and rushed on. Their Artillery was planted on an eminence which commanded us--Theirarmed men in Front, and pike to charge in the Rear. In this orderof Battle they came forward. We waited the first onset; in a fewminutes the firing commenced in all quarters, which lasted from fouro'clock in the afternoon, till near nine at night. They endeavouredto break our square in every quarter, but like true Soldiers wecleaved together and repelled them; they stormed our little linetwice, but were beat back with slaughter; they drove theirdismounted horses to the mouths of the Cannon in order to shelterthemselves, but the grape shot made them fall on every side; theyeven set the town on fire in order to annoy us with the smoak, butthe wind at the order of _our God_ turned, drove it from us, andconfounded them in their own device; they did every thing likeinveterate enemies, and desperate madmen to accomplish their ends;and their Priests informed them that they could catch the Hereticsballs in their hands, and threw some (as tho' they had caught them)to their rebellious mob to fire again at us, and declared they couldbeat us with the dust of the earth. Oh what superstition! This wasconfirmed by deserters from their Camp, who informed us likewise, that flushed with victory at Gorey, they thought that after they hadtaken Arklow, nothing could stop them till they arrived at Dublin;and indeed I believe, that this Battle for the present, has decidedthe fate of this Kingdom. One of the Antrim Militia, who fled from them after the Battle reportstheir Army to have been 20, 000 strong. Among the slain was FatherMurphy from the County of Wexford. They lost about 1000 killed andwounded, and numbers were hanged in the streets. Every Regiment viedwith each other for victory; we took several stand of Colours fromthem, made of green, white and yellow stuff. We have prepared everything in case of another attempt--If they do not come forward, we willgo immediately and retake Gorey, and storm their Camp. They aregreatly discouraged. Blessed be God, notwithstanding I was exposed toa heavy fire I never received one wound. On our side we had about 18killed and 28 wounded. We are all in high spirits. Capt. Knox of theYeomenry and two of his men were killed pursuing Rebels. Our men (ina former engagement) kept the town of Gorey when the rest of the armyleft them. They are worth gold. Pardon this scroll, as I am in haste. We have been under arms these four days and nights. Farewell, I am yours in friendship, W. H. G. LETTER IX. GOREY CAMP, 28th OF JUNE, 1798. _My Dr. Friend_, A deliverance from hostilities and severe fatigue these two dayspast affords me an opportunity to address you. In my two lastletters to Dublin, I gave a particular account of those facts towhich I was an eye-witness--You shall now have those which havesince occured. The 13th Inst. We received orders to move forward from Arklow, andin the evening arrived at Gorey--but oh! what a strange reverse! Thetown in the absence of the Army was plundered, and almost totallydestroyed by the Rebels; even the Church did not escape theirsacrilegious fury!--they demolished the windows, dragged down thepulpit, and tore to pieces many of the pews; but what is still moreshocking to relate, at which your soul must recoil, stained it withthe blood of two _Protestants_, whom they immolated inside--theyburned the two elegant seats belonging to the Ram family here. The Rebels upon being apprised of our approach, broke up their Camp, and precipitately retreated to Vinegar-Hill--We next morning pursuedand killed several of them on the way. In the evening we pitchedour Tents in a small village called Houlett, within seven miles ofWexford, with an intention of remaining there for the night; butperceiving their pickets on an adjacent hill that commanded ourCamp, at ten o'clock we struck our Tents, marched by a circuitousroute, and in the morning at dawn of day we found ourselves on theoff-side of their daring position. From their great numbers and strong bulwarks they concluded theywere impregnable. It is agreed they had that day on Vinegar-hill30, 000! We reconnoitred for some time, and distinctly observed themto draw up in _solid lines_. The order of Battle was to commence, bythe command of Gen. Lake, at 9 o'clock. His Army took one side ofthe Hill to bombard it, the Light Brigade, under Col. Campbell tookanother--other Commanders were fixed in like manner. Our Brigade, consisting of the Armagh, Cavan, Durham, Antrim, and part of theLondonderry, Dunbarton, Tyrone and Suffolk--in all about 3000 braveTroops had to march four miles; it being appointed that we shouldflank them in another quarter. I shall give you a view of their situation--Vinegar-hill is verysteep, rising in the form of a cone: at the but of it are two otherhills, with quicksets and other ditches across them--these werelined with their musketry men:--a river ran at the bottom of both, and adjacent was a small wood. At the bottom of Vinegar-hill was theonce beautiful, but now ruined town of Enniscorthy--on the top ofthe great hill was the but of an old windmill, on which they hadplaced their _green flag_ of defiance--in a word, the position ofthe Rebels was one of the strongest I ever saw. The Rebels did notwait the time appointed, but commenced cannonading at seven o'clock. They could not tell what to make of the bombs, and said "they spitfire at us"--indeed they answered they desired end, by the numbersthey destroyed upon their bursting. The Light Brigade, assisted by the Cavalry gained one of the lesserhills, planted their Cannon and played briskly on them: in a shorttime we possessed ourselves of both--the Rebels made to the top ofVinegar-hill with all possible speed--the Soldiers pursued hardafter them, and beat them off it. In a little time the _green flag_became a prey to the Royal Band, who triumphed in its fall--it wasan arduous attempt, but we succeeded in the end. The Rebelcommanders deserted their men when they found the day provedunfavourable to their interests and fled towards Wexford, leavingthe deluded wretches to be cut in pieces. The engagement lasted twohours and an half--the Soldiers merited the cloth they wore, andgloried in the name of WILLIAM. Our Brigade remained all night inthe demesne of Harvey Hay, one of the Rebel Chiefs: next day wereturned to Houlet again, where we encamped for two days. Thescouting parties killed more after the different engagements thanwhat fell in Battle--many of their Commanders, were taken andhanged. We have suffered much from lying on the roads and ditchesrolled in our blankets, I have almost lost my hearing, but amcontent when the good old cause triumphs. P. S. At Vinegar-hill we killed men of 70 Years old--we rescuedthree Officers of the Antrim Militia, and twelve Privates of thesame regiment: yesterday we hanged two of them for endeavouring tovote away the lives of two of the above Officers and Soldiers whenprisoners. Yours truly, W. H. G. The following letter was written by a sufferer in the Wexford Rebellion, while in possession of the Rebels--it fully corroborates the truth ofthe atrocities stated in the Narrative by Charles Jackson, printed, andnow selling by the Publisher hereof. --price 6dh. LETTER X. WEXFORD, MAY 1st, 1799. _Sir_, Altho' I have not the happiness of being personally acquainted withyou, at the request of your Friend, Mr. W--s, it affords me pleasureto have it in my power to send you a copy of an _acurate detail_ ofthe effects of the late dreadful Rebellion, as it respected thispart of the Kingdom, written by an intimate and fellow sufferer withme and transmitted to Dublin, for publication in July 1798. On Friday evening the 25th of May, about 9 o'clock, the North CorkMilitia then quartered here, with the Wexford Yeomen Cavalry andInfantry were ordered under arms, in consequence of an alarm thatthe Insurgents were rising in the neighbourhood of Camolin, in thisCounty; and we continued under arms the whole of that night. OnSaturday orders arrived here from Dublin-Castle to the High Sheriff, to apprehend B. B. Harvey, J. Colclough of Ballyteigue, and EdwardFitzgerald of New-park; and they were committed to goal on Saturdayevening and Sunday morning. Early on Sunday morning the 27th of May, an express arrived here that the day before an engagement took placebetween a party of the Camolin Cavalry, commanded by LieutenantBuckey, and a large body of the Rebels, that the Lieutenant waskilled, but that they had repulsed the Rebels; that they were then(Sunday morning) in great force in the neighbourhood of Oulard, burning the houses of different Protestant Inhabitants in that partof the County. In consequence of this information; Lieutenant-ColonelFoot with Major Lombard, and six other officers, and 106 men of theNorth Cork Militia, immediately proceeded from this town, and came upwith the Rebels at an advantageous position they had taken on a hillnear Oulard. Through the rashness of the Major, in charging the Rebelsin an incautious manner, the whole party were surrounded, and not aman escaped instant destruction but the Lieutenant-Colonel and twoprivates. By this defeat the Rebels had acquired a powerful accessionof strength and confidence, having got the whole of the arms and about57 rounds of ball-cartridge from each man, they not having fired abovethree or four rounds when they attempted to charge them with Bayonets. On the following morning, the 28th, the Rebels attacked Enniscorthy, and after a severe conflict of three hours, and above 500 of thembeing slain, they took the town owing to the treachery of some of theinhabitants in setting fire to the town during the engagement, whichobliged the Militia and Yeomenry to evacuate it, and they, with allthe Loyal inhabitants that could escape, retired on Monday evening toWexford. On Tuesday the 29th, the Rebels formed two powerful Camps, one at Vinegar-Hill, near Enniscorthy, and the other about three milesfrom Wexford, at the Three Rocks, on the road between Wexford andRoss, and sent threats in here that 10000 men would be detached fromthose Camps to attack the town next morning. --On Wednesday the 30th, information was received that a body of the military, (supposed to bethe 13th regiment) was attacked by the Rebels near their Camp at theThree Rocks; this induced Lieut. Col. Maxwell, who arrived the daybefore with two hundred of the Donegal Militia, to march out with hismen and four troops of Yeomen Cavalry to their assistance; but beforehe had come up with them, they entirely cut off the party, whichproved to be a slight detachment of the Meath Militia, of about 100men who were coming to Wexford with three howitzers; and with thesehowitzers the Rebels attacked Col. Maxwell's party, and obliged himto retreat into Wexford. The 13th regiment, who were coming to ourrelief, finding they could not proceed to us without attacking theRebel Camp, returned back to Waterford. From these rapid successes, and their encreasing numbers, (as it was supposed there were then20000 men ready to attack Wexford) the people here were panic-struck;and finding that many who were entrusted with arms had deserted thebarriers, and it being considered that others could not be dependedon, the Officers concluded that the town was not tenable, and withoutfiring a shot it was evacuated on the 30th of May, and shortly afterentered by the Rebels; who kept possession of it until the 21st ofJune. As to the different engagements the army has had with the Rebelsat Ross, Newtownbarry, Arklow, &c. You must already be informed ofthem; in many instances the reports were vague and contradictory, Ishall therefore confine myself to such particulars as fell within myown knowledge, of that I have reason to believe are facts. The atrocities committed by those ferocious tygers while they heldthis town, were I believe unprecedented. After taking possessionof the town, without opposition, they immediately shot severalProtestant Inhabitants, tore open most of our houses, destroyed andcarried off our effects, (their rage was most particularly directedagain at poor Mr. Daniels and mine) put every Protestant inhabitantwhom they spared from immediate death (some few excepted that theyreceived amongst them) to prison; but they would not stop here, wewere obliged to slaughter each other. The Sunday after they hadtaken the town, June the third, Pigott, Robson, a Mr. Edwards andI, were dragged from our cells, and forced by the Rebels to put todeath a man for being an approver against a Priest of the name ofDixon, who had attempted to swear him to be an United Irishman;after being made the instrument of his destruction, we were forcedfor to drag his body from the place of execution and throw it intothe river. After deliberating for some time whether they shoulddispatch us at that moment or not, they carried us back to goal. Others of the prisoners were obliged to perform the like Office toanother approver. After every species of insult and tyranny to usin prison, the fatal day at length arrived (Wednesday the 20th ofJune, ) when the total extermination of the prisoners (namely 500)and all the Protestant inhabitants of the town, man, woman andchild, was openly avowed to be their fixed purpose! About 95 of theprisoners were taken out and tortured to death by pikes on thebridge of Wexford; they returned for more victims, and I was draggedout of the cell, when above fifty wretches (whose ill-will I hadincurred by exerting myself in the line of my duty, ) cried out tohave me destroyed. Providentially an express arrived at that moment, that the army had defeated a considerable party of the Rebels atLong Graige, between this and Ross, and requiring an immediatereinforcement; this made them beat to arms, and induced them atthat time to stop the work of blood. The following day they weretotally defeated at their great camp (as they termed it) atVinegar-Hill, and routed in all directions, and on the same day theremaining prisoners were liberated by the army. The horrid crueltiesthey committed in this town fell short (if possible) of what theydid in other parts of the County; at Scullabogue, between Taghmonand Ross, they put 150 Protestants into a barn and burnt them todeath, amongst whom were two beautiful and accomplished young ladiesof the neighbourhood; poor G--d, the Surveyor of Taghmon, attemptedto escape from the flames at this place and was shot by them--atEnniscorthy they scarcely left a Loyal man alive that they couldfind, and the town was almost consumed by fire--There were about tenof their leaders hanged here, upon the arrival of the army, amongstwhom were B. B. Harvey, Cor. Grogan of Johnstown, Captain Keugh, J. H. Colclough of Ballyteigue, and Kelly of Killarn, who wereafterwards beheaded, and their heads placed over the Court-house. In consequence of a proclamation from General Lake, inviting theRebels to desert their leaders, and promising pardon, numbers camein with pikes, &c. ---- Such my dear Sir, is the recital of what I can recollect of thebarbarities practised here during the reign of these monsters. Whatmy feelings and sufferings were during that period, I cannot attemptto describe. That the Almighty providence may preserve us all fromsuch another visitation, is the ardent prayer of, Yours, &c. ---- _The following Clergymen and Gentlemen, were taken Prisoners and putto death by the Rebels. _ The Rev. Samuel Haydon, Enniscorthy; Rev. Robert Burrowes and Son, Oulart; Rev. Francis Turner, Ballingale; Rev. Mr. Pentland, Killarn;Rev. Mr. Troke, Templeshannon; Captain Allen Cox, Coolelife; MajorWilliam Hore, Harpurstown; Edward Turner, Esq. Slane Lodge; EdwardHowlin D' Arcey, Esq. Ba----n. APPENDIX. No account having appeared of the attack at Prosperus, 'tis presumedthe following AFFIDAVIT made before the Right Hon. The Lord Mayor ofthe City of Dublin, will furnish the Reader with every particularrelative thereto. The Examinant is well known to the Publisher, andfavoured him with a Copy of the same for the present _Narrative_. The Examinant suffered much in the Rebellion, being obliged todesert his house, and property to a considerable amount, whichbecame a prey to the Rebels. [Sidenote: _County of the City of }Dublin, to Wit. _ }] The Examination of J. D. Late of Prosperus, in the County of Kildare, who being duly sworn on the Holy Evangelists, maketh Oath, and saith;That for many nights previous to the night of the 23d of May last, this Examinant and his family were very much alarmed lest they shouldbe attacked by the Rebels commonly called United Irishmen; ThatExaminant thought he and his family were in some degree secure, bythe arrival of detachments of the Ancient Britons and the North CorkMilitia; That however Examinant still continued to be alarmed, as hishouse was a considerable distance from the Barracks; That Examinantsaith that he was awakened about the hour of one o'clock in theforenoon, by the barking of a large dog he had, and some time afterhe was alarmed by the firing of some shots; Examinant saith that onlooking out of his window, he perceived a great body of people armedwith Pikes and Fire Arms, between whom and the Soldiers in theBarracks a constant firing was maintained; That as the balls passed bythis Examinant's house, and one of them close to his head, he withdrewand let down the window; That soon after Examinant saw the Barracks onfire and heard the Soldiers exclaim, "The house is on fire; we shallbe burnt up or suffocated, we can fight no longer"; That soon afterExaminant saw the roof of said Barracks fall in; Examinant saith thatthe said Rebels (whose numbers had encreased so much as to fill thestreets of Prosperous and to cover the adjacent fields) on the fallingof the roof of said Barracks, gave many shouts which seemed to rendthe skies, and made this Examinant and his family thrill with horror;That the said Rebels exclaimed "That the day was their own, and theywould there plant the Tree of Liberty". Examinant saith that the saidRebels knocked at his door and desired to have it opened, expectingto find there a party of Soldiers who had been billited there a shorttime before, and Mr. Stamer, who had lodged therein when he went thereto receive his rents, as part of the town of Prosperous belonged tothe said Stamer; Examinant saith that the said Rebels approached hishouse in a large body, six of which preceded the rest mounted on someof the horses which they had taken that morning from the AncientBritons at Prosperous; That Examinant as soon as he came out of hisdoor was surrounded by a party of the said Rebels, who presented theirPikes at him, and who he expected from the ferocity of their lookswould have instantly put him to death; that one of the said Rebelsheld a musket at Examinant's breast with his finger on the trigger;that another of the said Rebels who was a turf-cutter, held a drawnsword over Examinant's head, and Examinant verily believes they wouldhave instantly put him to death, but a young man in the croud whoseemed to have some influence interposed, beat down the musket whichwas presented at his breast and said he should not kill him; Examinantsaith that he knew many of the said Rebels to whom he and his familyhad been very kind. That soon after the said Rebels went in quest ofthe said Stamer, who lodged at some distance from the said town; thathaving seized him the said Stamer, they led him through the street byExaminant's house, surrounded by a number of Pike-men, while a lowfellow held a pistol at his head; Examinant saith that as he passedby the Examinant's house, he the said Stamer cast a melancholy farewellook at Examinant and his family, that soon after the said Rebelsmassacred the said Stamer; Examinant saith that soon after he wentout with an intention of enquiring for his friend Mr. ---- an inhabitantof Prosperous, and that before Examinant had gone far he was againsurrounded by the said Rebels, who he verily believes would have puthim to death, but for the interference of the person who had saved himbefore; Examinant saith, he discovered soon after that Mr. Brewer, arespectable manufacturer of said town, who had employed many of thesaid Rebels, had been massacred by them, and that his body had beenmangled with savage barbarity; Examinant saith that they alsomassacred a poor old man of the age of 70 years and upwards, whoserved as Serjeant in his Majesty's forces, they having considered himas an Orange-man; Examinant is convinced in his mind the only reasonwhy the said Rebels murdered the said Serjeant was his being aprotestant; Examinant saith that when the said Rebels had committedthe said barbarities, they exclaimed with savage joy "where are theHeretics now? shew us the face of an Orange-man"; Examinant saith thatmany women, who acting with the said Rebels, used expressions of thatnature, as often and as loud as the men, and that some old women whowere amongst them seemed to brighten on the occasion, and to shew asmuch fervent joy as the youngest amongst them; That some of the saidwomen kissed and congratulated their fathers, their husbands, or theirbrothers, on the victory they had gained, and exclaimed "Dublin andNaas have been taken and are in possession of our friends; down withthe Heretics, and down with the Orange-men. " Examinant saith that manyof the wretches who had been actors in that bloody scene, had comeinto the town of Prosperous the preceding day, and in presence ofCapt. Swayne, of the--Cork Militia, whom with a party of his Regimentthat morning, viz. The 24th of May, they had massacred, and also inthe presence of their Parish Priest of the name of Higgins, anddeclared their contrition for their past errors, and gave thestrongest assurance of their loyalty, for the future--that many ofthe said Rebels surrendered their Pikes to the said Swayne, and assuch surrender was considered as a test of their repentance, and asnecessary to entitle them to written protections, numbers of themlamented that they could not obtain such protections, as they neversaw nor had a Pike, and that many of them declared they would selltheir Cow to purchase a Pike if they knew where it could be bought;Examinant saith that notwithstanding these declarations many of thesaid Rebels appeared in the ranks well armed with Pikes; Examinantsaith he is convinced in his mind that the said Rebels would haveplundered and burnt all the other loyal houses of Prosperous, andwould have murdered the remaining Protestant inhabitants thereof, but that a party of the Ancient Britons and the Cork Militia, beinga part of the detachment they had murdered that morning, unexpectedlyapproached the town, and that the said Rebels on their appearance, fled towards the bogs and morasses; Examinant saith he could notrefrain from shedding tears at seeing such scenes of savage barbarity, and that a servant who continued faithful to him desired him not toshew any sign of concern, lest he might draw on him the anger andvengeance of the Rebels. (_A true Copy. _) ADVERTISEMENT TO THE READER. At the breaking out of the late unfortunate Rebellion it was myintention to _note_ every occurrence of any _moment_, and at somefuture day to arrange and publish the same. --SOME Materials for sucha Work I have collected, others I still wait for----Such an HistoricRECORD may be found acceptable; when ready it shall be announced tothe Public. The present Publication, now offered to the IRISH NATION, while itenumerates the dangers which awaited every loyal Man, mustdemonstrate to the deluded Creatures (aiding and abetting) thecertain Impossibility of succeeding in any similar attempt. To those persons who kindly supplied the Letters, &c. For theforegoing pages, I feel particularly indebted, and beg they willaccept my grateful thanks. As I intend continuing an account of theother Engagements down to the French Invasion and their defeat atBallinamuck, Gentlemen who have been in the different Battles whichare not yet come to hand, are invited to forward an account of themas soon as possible previous to the completion of the SECOND PARTof this NARRATIVE. With respect, I am the Reader's Obliged Servant, _No. 91, Bride-street_, } JOHN JONES. _June 5th, 1799_. } Transcriber's Note Inconsistencies and variations in punctuation, spelling, hyphenation, capitalization and grammar have been preserved to match the text ofthe original document published in 1799. Because the original plate for Page 25 made only a partial impression, some words along the left side of the page were cut off and were thusdetermined from context. Letter XI is listed as an entry in the Table of Contents. However, the original text does not contain any document titled "Letter XI. " Four page numbers in the Table of Contents have been changed in thisebook to accurately reflect the location of material in the text. The following additional typographical corrections have been madein this ebook: Page ix: Added missing letter 'i' (sufferings) Page 13: Removed duplicate word 'the' (six of the Corps) Page 15: Changed Adout to About (About 300 of the Rebel Cavalry) Page 28: Added missing letter 'f' (a steady friend) Page 52: Removed duplicate prefix 'in-' (invulnerable commander) Page 84: Removed duplicate word 'to' (to be their fixed purpose) Page 89: Added missing letter 'b' (whose numbers had encreased)