Produced by Robert Cicconetti, C. St. Charleskindt and the
Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
Transcriber's Note
Inconsistencies and variations in spelling, hyphenation, capitalization,
punctuation and grammar have been preserved in this ebook to match the
text of the original document published in 1799.
A few typographical corrections have been made; details of these changes
can 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 the
following NARRATIVE.--It forms a small portion of a more extended
work, calculated to contain the particulars of every remarkable
occurrence, connected with the Rebellion, which happened in the
course of the last year;--a year which will constitute an EPOCH in
the history of Ireland, and the events of which ought to be
universally known.
The moment of action is not the most favourable to accuracy of
detail:--Notwithstanding the purest intentions and the most
scrupulous regard to truth, much will remain, for candour to
extenuate and information to supply. Impressed with this sentiment,
and feeling the importance of the subject, the Editor has waited
till the season of tranquility, and now presents to the public eye,
the produce of his exertions. He wished to postpone the Publication
in order to complete it, but he yields to the entreaties of his
Friends, and finds it necessary to make some sacrifice to the
eagerness of public curiosity: The remaining part is in preparation
for the Press, and as he continues to be supplied by those who were
witnesses at the transactions, and consequently most capable of
communicating correct intelligence, he hopes soon to accomplish
his design.
The Reader will perceive from the following specimen, that the
accounts 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 than
either--AUTHENTICITY. The Editor was less solicitous about the style
of the work, than the truth of it, and where, upon investigation,
the matter conveyed to him proved correct, he has given it in the
language of his correspondent.
If History be, as it has been elegantly described, "Philosophy
teaching by Example,"--what example more necessary to be held out
to public view, and transmitted to posterity, than that which shews
the dreadful effects of a Revolution attempted by force? Where the
visionary politician enjoys for so short a time his sanguinary
triumph--suspected even by those whom he calls his friends, he is
superseded by such as are more ferocious than himself, while the
fury of Fanaticism equally destroys _his_ prospects in the mad
effort 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 the
restoration of _order_. The surviving Rebel will repent of his
folly, and enjoy the comforts which Law and Order distribute.
Such are the motives and such the object which influence the Editor
of this little Work. From those who may approve of it, and whose
situation and leisure furnish the opportunity, he requests further
assistance. Particulars of Engagements, not included in this part,
will be thankfully received, and due attention paid to them in the
subsequent 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 the
Western road leading to Mullingar. Tho' constituted a post town,
it is a very small village, consisting of an Inn and a few thatched
houses; but from its situation being on the confines of two
counties, Kildare and Meath, and having a bridge across the river
Boyne, which opens a communication from Dublin to Westmeath, and
from thence to Athlone and the Province of Connaught, it must be
considered as a very important pass in all times of commotion and
war. On the Dublin side of the town is situated the mansion house of
the Tyrrell family, and at present belongs to _John Tyrrell_ Esq.
It is an old fashioned house, fronting the road from which it is
separated by a high wall and a court yard; having an extensive
garden upon its right, and a sheet of water upon the left.--Mr. John
Tyrrell, being a Magistrate of both Counties, Kildare and Meath, and
having exerted himself early to suppress the disturbances which were
occasioned by the Defenders, naturally became an object of their
resentment, and having been repeatedly menaced with an attack, he
fortified his house by building up the original hall door, opening
another, which might flank the approach to the house, and barricading
all the lower windows, so as to render them musquet proof.
Upon the institution of the Yeomenry, Mr. John Tyrrell was honoured
with a Commission to raise a Corps of Cavalry, which was immediately
embodied, under the Title of the _Clonard Cavalry_, and Thomas Tyrrell,
and Thomas Barlow, Esqs. were appointed Lieutenants. This Corps soon
distinguished itself by its unwearied exertions to preserve the
peace of the neighbourhood; but in the course of the Spring of 1798,
Mr. John Tyrrell the Captain, receiving positive information of a
conspiracy to take away his life, thought it prudent to retire with
his family into England.
The command of the Corps consequently devolved upon Mr. Thomas
Tyrrell, the first Lieutenant, who had also at this critical period
been appointed High Sheriff of the County of Kildare.--Upon the
tenth of May 1798, he received an official letter, ordering the
Clonard Cavalry upon permanent duty; in this emergency Mr. Thomas
Tyrrell, finding his own house at Kilreiny about one mile and a
half from Clonard inconvenient, and in truth indefensible from
its situation, removed with his family to his Kinsman's house at
Clonard, before described, where he mounted a guard of one Serjeant
and 18 men who were to be relieved every week.
Orders were about the same time issued to Captain O Ferrall of the
Ballina Cavalry, to mount a permanent guard at Johnstown, near the
Nineteen Mile house, which were accordingly complied with: but upon
the 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 to
Clonard in the night time for protection; repairing to Johnstown at
four o'Clock in the morning, and retiring to Clonard in the evening.
In this way matters went on for some time, when the country becoming
still more disturbed and apprehensions of an attack upon Clonard
becoming more serious, Lieutenant Thomas Tyrrell repaired to Dublin,
with an escort of his Corps, leaving the command at Clonard with
Lieutenant Barlow. The object of this visit to Dublin, was to
represent to Government the situation of that part of the country,
the daily apprehensions of an attack, and the necessity of a
reinforcement. Lord Castlereagh, to whom these representations were
made, answered, that under the existing circumstances no force could
be sent to Clonard, but Mr. Thomas Tyrrell was authorized to raise
some Supplementaries, for whom he would be supplied with arms and
ammunition.
Pending this application in Dublin, viz. upon the 29th of May the
Rebels assembled to the number of 800 in the village of Carbery,
five miles from Clonard, where they burned the Protestant Charter
School 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 they
destroyed the house of Mr. Francis Metcalf.--When intelligence of
these transactions reached Clonard, Lieutenant Barlow marched out
with a party of the guard, and being joined by Captain O Ferrall
they went in pursuit of the Rebels, but did not over take them,
until they had halted at Gurteen, where they had taken a very
advantageous position upon each side of a narrow road, behind
strong quickset hedges, so that Cavalry could not approach them
with any prospect of success. Lieutenant Barlow halted his men,
and then advancing some paces towards the enemy, took off his
helmet, and challenged them to come forward. They however declined
leaving their entrenchments, and night approaching, the Yeomenry
with great reluctance returned to their Guard house.
On the 30th of May Lieutenant Thomas Tyrrell arrived safe from
Dublin, with his escort, carabines for the Troop, musquets for
the Supplementaries and a quantity of ammunition. The next day
he enrolled nineteen well affected protestants to act as
Supplementaries and dismounted.
By this time the Rebels had collected a very considerable force and
every night committed some outrage and depredation. They encamped
upon an Island in the bog of Timahoe, and also at Mucklin and
Dreihid; they plundered almost every house in the neighbourhood of
their respective places, drove away all the fat cattle and horse
they could meet, and intercepted the supplies for the Dublin market.
_BATTLE OF TIMAHOE._
Government being apprized of these proceedings, dispatched General
Champagne to Clonard, where he arrived upon the 6th of June; and
after consulting with Lieutenant Tyrrell, was escorted by him to
Edendery, where the General expected a detatchment of the Limerick
Militia; but being disappointed in this respect, an express was sent
to Philipstown to hasten the reinforcement, which arrived at
Edendery upon the evening of the 7th; and on the next day, General
Champagne, having arranged his plan of operations, marched from
Edendery, with the following forces: A detatchment of the Limerick
Militia, under Lieutenant Colonel Gough; the Coolestown Yeomen
Cavalry, under Captain Wakely and Lieutenant Cartland; the Canal
Legion, 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 should
surround the bog of Timahoe, while the Infantry attacked the Camp
upon the Island: This judicious plan was completely executed,--the
contest was obstinate for some time, owing to the small number
of the Infantry, who led on the attack; but their firmness and
discipline supplying the want of numbers, the Limerick, headed by
the gallant Colonel Gough, and ably supported by Lieutenant Williams
marched into the entrenchments, drove the Rebels from their camp,
who were attacked in their flight by the Cavalry and many of them
put to death. The Camp was entirely destroyed; and a great quantity
of prisoners and considerable booty were carried off by the victors!
On the 29th of June, Lieutenant Tyrrell having received information
that a large body of Rebels had stationed themselves upon a hill
near his dwelling-house at Kilreiny, and had committed various
robberies in the course of the preceding night, he went to Kinnegad
to solicit a reinforcement and sent an express to Edendery for a
force to co-operate with him. The Kinnegad Yeomen Cavalry, under
Lieutenant Houghton, and a small party of the Northumberland
Fencibles 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 of
600.--The attack was began by the Clonard Supplementaries, who
displayed great steadiness upon this occasion; the Kinnegad Corps
and the Northumberlands supported the attack with great zeal, and
the Edenderry force consisting of a detatchment of the Limerick,
Lieutenant Colonel Gough, the Coolestown Cavalry, Captain Wakely
and the Canal Legion, Lieutenant Williams, having fallen upon the
Rebels from the opposite side, they were routed with considerable
slaughter. Their commander, one _Casey_, his brother and another
Leader were killed in this action, and their bodies brought to
Edenderry, where they were exposed for several days.
_JUNCTION OF THE WEXFORD AND KILDARE REBELS._
It might have been hoped, that these successes would have established
tranquility in this neighbourhood, and probably such effects would
have followed the military exertions, were it not for the irruption
of a large column of Wexford Rebels into Kildare, under the command
of Colonel _Perry_ who being immediately joined by Colonel _Aylmer_,
commanding the Rebel Camp at Prosperous, was prevailed upon to abandon
his intention of penetrating into the North, and to adopt a plan
suggested by _Aylmer_, of attacking Clonard, pushing on from thence
by Kilbeggan to the Shannon and surprising Athlone. In pursuance of
this plan, the Rebel Forces amounting to 4000 men made a movement
towards Clonard.
_BATTLE OF CLONARD._
Lieutenant Tyrrell was totally unapprised of the intention, or
motions of the enemy:--his guard were extremely vigilant during
each night, but not apprehending any danger in the day time they
frequently dispersed through the village for the purpose of
recreation and refreshment. This happened to be the case with many
of 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 of
the Rebels, whom he narrowly escaped as they were well mounted; and
he was confident a considerable force was approaching. The alarm was
instantly given--every exertion was made to collect the scattered
men, 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 at
the extremity of the garden; and which commanded the road. Such
was the rapidity with which the Rebels advanced, that the firing
actually commenced from this quarter upon their Cavalry before the
entire guard could be collected, and the gate leading into the
Court yard was under such necessity closed to the exclusion of
several, so that when Lieutenant Tyrrell came to ascertain his
strength, he found he had only _Twenty-seven_ men, including his
own three sons, the eldest of whom was only seventeen years old!
Such a critical situation required the coolness of a man innured
to military danger, and all the exertion, firmness and skill of a
veteran soldier. But although Lieutenant Tyrrell never had served in
the Army, his own good sense supplied the want of experience, and
his native courage furnished resources adequate to the magnitude of
the occasion. He found his men as zealous as himself, determined to
maintain their post and to discharge their duty to their King and
Country, or fall in such a glorious cause. After sending a supply of
ammunition to the advanced post at the Turret, and stationing other
out-posts, he retired into the house with the main body, from which
he selected the best marksmen, and placing them at particular
windows gave directions that they should not fire without having
their object covered, he had the rest of the men secured behind the
walls and incessantly employed in loading musquets and carabines for
the marksmen at the windows.
The firing as we have observed commenced from the Turret at the
extremity of the garden. About 300 of the Rebel Cavalry lead on by
one _Farrell_ formed their advanced guard, and approached the Turret
in a smart trot, without appearing to apprehend any danger. The
first shot was fired by young Mr. Tyrrell, which mortally wounded
Farrell, and being followed by a general discharge from the rest
among the body of the Cavalry, threw them into great confusion, in
which state they fled out of the reach of the firing. The Infantry
however coming up, many of them contrived to pass the Turret under
cover of the wall, and numbers were posted behind a thick hedge on
the opposite side of the road, from which they kept up a smart fire
against the Turret, but without doing any material mischief.
The Infantry who had passed the Turret being joined by a party who
came by a cross road (for it seems their plan was to surround the
house by advancing in different directions) they stationed a guard
upon the Bridge to prevent any reinforcement arriving in that
direction. About ten or a dozen of this guard were in a very few
minutes shot by the marksmen from the windows, upon which the rest
fled; not one of the Rebels ventured afterwards to appear upon the
Bridge, so that the communication with the Western road was in a
great measure preserved, the importance of which to the little
garrison in Clonard will appear in the event of the day.
The enemy being thus defeated in their first onset in both points
of attack, became exasperated to an extravagant pitch of fury, and
determined upon the most savage revenge. A large party contrived to
penetrate into the garden, by the rere, and some of them immediately
rushed into the Turret. The Yeomen stationed there were upon an
upper floor--they had the precaution to drag up the ladder by which
they ascended;--the Rebels endeavoured to climb upon each other, so
as to reach the upper story, but they were killed as fast as they
appeared; others then ran their pikes through the cieling, and
fired shots but without effect--the conflict was obstinate--twenty
seven of the Rebels lay dead on the ground floor, when at length, a
quantity of straw was brought and set on fire. The building was
soon in flames; two of the yeomen, Mr. Michael Cusack and Mr. George
Tyrrell, endeavouring to force their way through the smoke were
immediately put to death; the rest of the party viz. Mr. Allen,
young Mr. T. Tyrrell, and two others escaped by leaping from a
window twenty foot high into an hay-yard, from whence under cover of
a wall which divided it from the garden they escaped into the house.
Having succeeded so well by the effect of conflagration, the enemy
set fire to the Toll house and some other cabbins on the left near
the Bridge, for the purpose of embarassing and confusing the
garrison; during this operation, they were seen throwing their
dead into the flames, for the purpose, it was thought of evading
discovery.
The Battle had now lasted near six hours: about five in the evening
the approach of succour was descried from the house--the hopes of
all were elevated and they fought with renovated vigour.
One of the guard who had been excluded by the sudden shutting of the
gates in the morning, finding he could be of no other use, repaired
to Kinnegad, represented the situation of his friends at Clonard,
upon which fourteen of the Kinnegad Infantry, under Lieutenant
Houghton, and eleven Northumberland Fencibles, under the command of
a Serjeant, immediately collected and with great gallantry marched
for Clonard. The communication by the Bridge having been kept open
in the manner before related, Lieutenant Tyrrell sallied from the
house, and soon effected a junction with this reinforcement. A
few vollies completely cleared the roads, and having then placed
the Northumberland and Kinnegad men in such situations as most
effectually to gall the enemy in their retreat from the garden,
the Lieutenant undertook in person, the hazardous enterprise of
dislodging 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 concealed
behind a privet hedge, from whence they could distinctly see
every person who entered the garden, tho' they could not be seen
themselves--Lieutenant Tyrrell at the head of a few picked men,
rushed into the garden; and was received by a general discharge from
both parties of the enemy: no time was lost in attacking the party
behind the hedge, who being defeated, retired to the mount;--here
the action again became warm, the Rebels appeared determined to
maintain 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' his
left arm, and entered his side; his comrades still persevered
with the most undaunted courage, and supporting a steady and well
directed fire against the mount, the enemy were at length dispersed,
and in their flight were met by the Northumberland and Kinnegad
Corps who made great havoc among them.
The victory was now complete--as glorious an achievement, we will
venture to say, as occurred during the whole rebellion, and for
which the gallant officers and men can never be too much applauded,
whether we consider it as an unexampled display of genuine loyalty
and true courage, or estimate its value from its immence importance
to that part of the country and the kingdom at large. It was the
first check which the United Army of Wexford and Kildare experienced
and proved the fore-runner of those multiplied defeats which
terminated in its total dispersion.
_MRS. TYRRELL'S SUFFERINGS WHILE PRISONER WITH THE REBELS._
After the Battle it might have been expected that the little garrison
would have given themselves up to an excess of joy; but the breast of
their Commander was filled with anxious solicitude----the partner of
his heart--his wife, the mother of those three gallant youths, who
mixed in the hottest scenes of the day, was absent the whole time,
and no tidings of her had reached the garrison. The men sympathised
with 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 the
circumstances attending the Lady while in possession of the Rebels.
On the morning of the 11th of July, about the hour that the guard
dispersed, as we have before mentioned, Mrs. Tyrrell went in her
carriage from Clonard to her own house at Kilreiny upon some
domestic concerns--she soon heard the Rebels were approaching, and
speedily drove back with the hope of reaching Clonard before them.
In this however she was disappointed; the noise of musquetry
convinced her of the impractibility of this attempt. The servant
was ordered to turn about and drive to Kilreiny, from whence she
intended to send an express to Edenderry--she had not however
proceeded many yards, when the carriage was overtaken by two men
on horseback, armed with drawn swords who with oaths and menaces
ordered the servant to stop--They turned the carriage back towards
Clonard until they overtook about 200 men armed with pikes, a few
musquets 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 musquets
mounted the boot of the carriage; three more got behind it--and in
this manner attended by a great crowd, the carriage was drove two
miles round to the high road leading from Dublin to Clonard: here
they kept her a prisoner, notwithstanding her frequent entreaties
to be enlarged; she at one time apprehended the pike-men would cut
her to pieces, as they quarrelled among themselves, some disposed
to treat her with civility--others the reverse--After some time
she prevailed upon them to permit her to retire into a cabin, the
inhabitants of which knew her, and two men armed with musquets
were placed as centries. She there remained, until the Rebels
were defeated at Clonard, when the whole body upon their retreat
assembled at the cabin; one of the rebel officers came in and
desired Mrs. Tyrrell to get into her carriage; she asked for what
purpose. He replied, that she must go with them; she entreated him
to permit her to remain where she was, and that her carriage and
horses were at his service; he for some time denied her request: but
falling on her knees to supplicate him, he told her she might
stay:--He then withdrew, but immediately a great common fellow came
in, seized her by the arm, dragged her to the door, and desired some
men to lift her upon a horse, which had been provided for her, as
some wounded men were to be put into the carriage. Mrs. Tyrrell's
alarm now became excessive--she looked round for the person, who
had consented to let her remain in the cabin, and getting her arms
round him reminded him of his promise. He acknowledged his
engagement, but confessed he had not power to perform it--that she
must 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 of
officers. When they had proceeded about a mile, the carriage was
stopped and entered by Col. _Perry_, who said, he was fatigued.
Mrs. Tyrrell endeavoured to prevail upon him to let her go--but in
vain--she told him, she would use all her influence for his
advantage, if ever she had an oportunity--He answered, that the
Yeomen had taken a general officer, at Clonard, and that she must
remain a Prisoner till his fate was known.--After some time,
the carriage was stopped again, and a fellow came in, who told
Col. _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 the
anguish of despair, when a gleam of hope suddenly darted across her
mind, upon seeing a man riding beside the carriage whose countenance
was perfectly familiar--This was one _Kearns_, a popish priest, who
had been for some time a curate in the neighbourhood of Clonard, and
had always been received in Mr. Tyrrell's house, with the respect
due to his clerical function, and the hospitality of an Irish
gentleman. Upon meeting a man, who had feasted for weeks together at
her table, and a clergyman too! she thought herself secure and
implored his protection:--He coldly answered--"O, yes, Madam"--But
with all the base and black ingratitude of a sullen and unfeeling
heart, insensible to _past_ kindness, he drew back his horse, and
with the jesuitical prevarication, natural to such a character,
determined not to interfere, while he neglected to console her with
an implied offer of assistance.----Thus deserted, she again
abandoned herself to despair, and began to prepare herself for that
death, which she now looked upon as inevitable.----A man, who sat
upon the boot of the carriage, was suddenly struck with the fervency
of her devotion, and turning round, said, _He_ had as much authority
as 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 further
reward he would demand, if he would procure her liberty.----At
this time a person in the garb of an officer, and whose countance
beamed with the rays of humanity, rode up to the carriage--she
immedeiately addressed him in the most supplicating terms--imploring
him to take pity upon a poor defenceless woman, who had not, and
who could not injure him--He interrogated her as to who she was
and how she came there.--She told him--He protested, that he did
not before know of any such thing and requested to know, what she
wished to do----She replied that she only required to be let on
her feet, that she might proceed home. He immediately ordered the
cavalcade to stop--handed her out of the carriage in the most kind
and humane manner--conducted her thro' an immense crowd of armed
men, and apologized for not accompanying her to Clonard, by saying,
"she knew, he could not do it with safety."--Mrs. Tyrrell made him
the acknowledgements of a grateful heart, and begged to be entrusted
with his name, that if ever it should be in her power, she might
return the kindness she had then experienced and repay the
obligations she had received.--He said, he was afraid, she could not
do him any service, and with apparent reluctance, told her, he was
Captain _Byrne_!--He then returned to his party, and Mrs. Tyrrell
having met some of the people in whose cabin she was a prisoner,
they accompanied her to Clonard, where she was consoled for all her
sufferings by finding her husband and children alive.
The gentleman (for such his conduct evinced him to be) who called
himself, Captain _Byrne_, proved to be Mr. _Byrne_ of Ballymanus,
in the county of Wicklow, who afterwards surrendered himself to
Government, and Lieutenant Tyrrell being in Dublin at the time,
repaired to the Castle, had an interview with Mr. Byrne, expressed
his acknowledgements to him in the warmest terms, and represented
the conduct of Mr. Byrne to the administration in such a manner, as
shewed the Lieutenant's sense of the obligation, while it promoted
the lenient disposition which was afterwards manifested to Mr. Byrne.
Thus have we given an authentic detail of the battle of Clonard and
the circumstances attending it, which in fact have been but little
known, no official account having ever been published concerning it.
One subject of regret however remains for the victors in the loss of
Mr. _Richard Allen_, who died of his wounds in a few days after at
Mullingar, regretted by all who knew him, as a young gentleman of
unsullied integrity and undaunted courage--attached to his King by
the purest principles of loyalty, and to his family by the warmest
affection--He was a zealous yeoman and a steady friend. All that
seems necessary to add, is to say a few words respecting the fate
of 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 night
in the village of Carbery--where they possessed themselves of Lord
Harberton's house, and indulged in drinking wine and spirits to
excess--they were most of them intoxicated, in which state had they
been attacked, they must have been totally destroyed.--But the force
at Clonard was too small, had suffered too severely and expended too
much ammunition to attempt a pursuit--On the morning of the 12th of
July, the Rebels moved from Carbery to Johnstown, and from thence by
the nineteen-mile-house into the county of Meath--They were pursued
by 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, and
co-operate with the Edenderry detachment--Col. Gordon accordingly
left Trim with 200 men and two pieces of cannon, but from some
fatality, yet unexplained, did not join in the attack, which
Lieutenant Col. Gough, after waiting some time and reconnoitering
the enemy posted upon a hill, commenced against them, with only sixty
infantry and twenty cavalry. The event of that engagement is well
known, the Rebels were compleatly defeated, leaving immense booty of
cattle, &c. behind them.
They were next pursued by General Myers, with detachments of the
Dublin Yeomenry and Buckinhamshire Militia, and tho' the General was
not fortunate enough to overtake them, yet he drove them towards
Slane, where they were attacked by General Meyrick, and in several
subsequent days were met by different military bodies who successively
routed them, so that at length this formidable body was completely
dispersed.
_CHARACTER OF COL. PERRY, AND PRIEST KEARNS WHO WERE EXECUTED._
Every man who surrvived thought only of providing for his own
safety--Col. _Perry_ and Father _Kearns_ made their escape into the
King's County, and were attempting to cross a bog near _Clonbollogue_,
where they were apprehended by Mr. Ridgeway and Mr. Robinson of the
Edenderry Yeomen, who brought them to that town, where they were tried
and executed by martial law. _Perry_ was extremely communicative, and
while in custody both before and after trial gratified the enquiries
of every person who spoke to him, and made such a favourable
impression, that many regretted his fate--He acknowledged, that
150 of the rebels were killed and 60 wounded at Clonard--which tho'
accomplished by 27 men will not appear extraordinary, when it is known
that these 27 men fired upwards of 1300 ball cartridge.
_Kearns_ was exactly the reverse of his companion--he was silent
and sulky, and seldom spoke, save to upbraid _Perry_ for his
candid acknowledgements--The history of this Priest is somewhat
extraordinary--He had actually been hanged in Paris, during the reign
of _Robespierre_, but being a large heavy man, the lamp-iron from
which he was suspended, gave way, till his toes reached the ground--in
this state, he was cut down by a physician, who had known him, brought
him to his house and recovered him. He afterwards made his escape into
Ireland;--was constituted a Curate of a chapel near Clonard, and
having suffered so much by democratic rage and insurrectionary fury,
he was looked upon as an acquisition in the neighbourhood, then much
disturbed by the defenders--He inveighed against these nightly
marawders with such appearance of sincerity and zeal, that he was
frequently consulted by the Magistrates, and sometimes accompanied
them in their patroles--Some suspicion of treachery on his part was
at length entertained, from the uniform discovery of the operations
agreed upon by the Magistrates, in consequence of which, he was
excluded from their councils, and a positive information being sworn
against him for instigating a murder which was afterwards actually
committed, he fled into Wexford, where he became a member of an
assassinating committee, in which capacity he continued to be
extremely active, until he accompanied Col. _Perry_ upon the
expedition into Kildare, which he is known to have encouraged, and
which finally led him to that fate, which was the just reward of an
hypocritical and malignant heart, filled with gloomy and ferocious
passions--He seemed rather to be an instrument of Hell, than a
minister of Heaven, for his mind was perpetually brooding over
sanguinary schemes and plans of rapine, while he assumed the sacred
vestments of a servant of Christ!
_The following Authentic Letters may be relied on, having been
written by Persons of undoubted Veracity, who were fully assured of
the 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 it
sooner; you may think it strange that in the space of ten days I could
not procure time for that purpose, but were you acquainted with my
situation you would be convinced that it is a fact. If I live to see
you, I trust fully to convince you of the same.
Providentially for me I was absent from Carlow the time of the
attack on that Town, I say providentially, for my warm spirit and
forward disposition might have led me into danger. The account which
I received from people of veracity, who were on the spot is as
follows.
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 the
day in mustering his Forces. A letter relative to the business,
directed to Mr. J. D. of Arles, was by mistake put into the hands of
a Loyal Yeoman of the same christian and sirname, and residing in the
same place: The bearer was conveyed to Maryborough and executed, and
the letter sent to Col. M-- who commanded in Carlow, by means of which
the Military had timely notice of the intentions of the Rebels. There
being no Barrack for Infantry in the Town, the men were billeted upon
the Inhabitants; the genteeler sort paying for their lodging, they
were in general quartered in the Cabins. The intention of the Rebels
was to murder the Soldiers in their lodgings, surprise and take the
Horse Barracks, and then make themselves masters of the Town, which in
all probability they would have done, had not God brought their
designs to light in the manner above mentioned; for on receipt of the
above information the Infantry were ordered into the Barracks, and
kept under arms till the Insurgents had entered the Town.
About twelve o'Clock the Rebels came forward in great force, and too
confident of a victory not yet gained, gave three cheers crying "the
Town is our own!" but how dreadfully were they disappointed? for in
that moment, the military rushing forward, cut them down in all
quarters; and having posted themselves in an advantageous manner
cut off almost all possibility of a retreat. Many of these deluded
creatures fled into the houses for shelter, but there justice pursued
them--for the Soldiers set them on fire immediately. About eighty
houses were burned, but the numbers consumed therein could not be
ascertained.
It is supposed not less than six hundred fell that morning; and what
is surprising, only two I believe were found among the bodies with
any simptoms of life!
Thus did God frustrate the designs of the wicked, and display his
justice and mercy in a singular manner--His justice, in suffering
the ungodly to fall into the pit which they had digged for their
innocent, unoffending neighbours; and his mercy, in preserving those
whom he employed as the Executioners of his vengeance on his
Enemies. Not a Soldier or Yeoman was so much as slightly wounded!
One Soldier indeed who had not left his billet, they hung with a
sheet; but being soon extricated he recovered immediately.
Sir. E. C. Bart. Haydon, Kelly, Kane, Borro, two Murphys, one of
them a Serjeant in the Yeomenry, and several others were executed
a few days after. Haydon it is said, finding it going against his
friends, slipt into his Father's house, dressed himself in his
Regimentals, and came out and fought against those whom he had a
few hours before led to the slaughter.
Thus by the interference of HIM who declares a hair of our head
cannot fall without his permission, was an innocent people saved
from 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 remarkably
brief: particulars would fill a Volume, and as there are many things
said concerning it which cannot be depended on, I think it best to
confine 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 near
20000, took possession of Corbit Hill, one mile distant from Ross.
The military force in the town was remarkably small, the fears of
the Inhabitants were raised to an alarming height, but the coming
in of the County Dublin Militia quieted them much.
Between three and four o'Clock on the morning of the fifth, the
engagement commenced, Early in the action the Rebels were for some
time victorious, having driven before them all the black cattle they
could collect through the country; this threw the military into
confusion, and obliged many of them to retreat in great confusion
over the Bridge; some pieces of Cannon also fell into the hands of
the Enemy. The Rebels then set fire to the houses in the suburbs,
about two hundred and fifty of which were consumed; but this turned
to their own disadvantage, for the wind blowing towards them they
were inveloped in smoke, which together with the immoderate quantity
of spirituous liquors they drank on Corbet-Hill, rendered them
incapable of their business. The Dublin and Donegal Militia who kept
the guards at the Market-house and Fair-gate never left their post,
by means of which the Rebels could not penetrate into the centre of
the town; had they ran, Ross, and in all probability the provincial
towns in Munster would have fallen.
The Soldiers who retreated (except some who fled to Waterford) soon
rallied again, and entering the town in a furious manner, obliged
the enemy to run. The Battle lasted for near twelve hours--3000
Rebels it is said lay dead in and near the town; many also must have
died of their wounds: 'tis thought that between fifty and sixty of
the Military fell: 'twas too many, but we could hardly expect such
a victory on more reasonable terms. B. B. Harvey was commander in
chief of the Rebels; but for his bad generalship on that day was
deposed, and the command was afterwards given to Roach.
'Twas on this dreadful day that the Barn at Scollabogue, in which
one hundred and seventy Protestants, Men, Women, and Children were
confined, was burned: the Rebels in their retreat from Ross set it
on fire, lest the Prisoners would escape. About twenty of these
sufferers I was personally acquainted with, some of them were my
intimate friends. This burning was not the act of one person as some
report, Priest Shallow of the parish of Newbawn was present, and
twenty five not included in the above number were shot in the most
deliberate manner, their cloaths being worth preserving. I pass
within two miles of the melancholy spot every month, and often
converse with those who know every particular relative to it, both
Loyalists 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 to
comply with your request, by furnishing you with an accurate detail
of the Engagements which took place between his Majesty's Troops
and the Rebels, for the publication you mention. If the following
particulars 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 been
driven from Vinegar Hill appeared opposite New-Bridge or Gore's-Bridge,
a neat Village on the River Barrow, Co. Kilkenny. The Forces quartered
there, consisting of one Troop of the 4th Dragoon Guards and a Company
of the Wexford Militia prepared to stop their progress, and in order
thereto took possession of the Bridge; but perceiving the Rebels
planting their Cannon on the opposite side, and fording the River in
considerable numbers (the water being low,) they were obliged to
retreat; all the Cavalry escaped, but about twenty of the Infantry
were made Prisoners, many of whom were put to death on that and the
following day. Their intention (as one who had been prisoner with
them informed me) was to form a junction with the Colliers, and after
taking Castle Comber, to proceed to Kilkenny on Monday morning.
From New-Bridge they proceeded through Kelly-Mount (plundering as
they went along) to a hill five miles from Castle-Comber, in the range
of mountains called the Ridge, where they stopped for the night.
Finding it impossible to get to Ross according to my travelling
plan, I was obliged to take up my quarters in the Colliery the week
before. Here I remained in total ignorance of what was going forward
in other parts of the Country, till the twenty third, the day above
mentioned, when an Express arrived, informing us that the Rebels had
crossed the Barrow, and were on their way here. In order to know
the truth of the information I rode off accompanied by a friend
towards the Ridge. After riding about three miles I got in view
of their Camp, and by the assistance of a pocket Tellescope could
discern their numbers to be about 8000. They had two stand of white
Colours, 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 Rebel
picquets, and some more wounded. Having procured a musket I advanced
with four more till we came in sight of the dead bodies; but as the
Rebel scouts were within musket shot we did not think it prudent to
venture 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 had
received a dreadful wound from a broad sword on the head, and a few
slight wounds on other parts of the body. Imagining there was no
probability of his recovery, I advised him to make the best use of
the few remaining moments he had, but on examining his wounds, and
having cause to believe they were not mortal, I bound them up in the
best manner I could, and procuring a horse to carry him, my friend
and I at the risk of our lives brought him four miles across the
mountains to Castle-Comber, were he was dressed: He is now perfectly
recovered; and the happiness which the remembrance of that transaction
affords me, more than compensates for the danger and labour which
attended it.