General Dundas, will be directed to move on the feventeenth to Hacketftown, and to iffue his orders to general Loftus at Tullow,* to unite his force with him on the eighteenth at Carnew.†

General Needham, to move at three o’clock, A. M. on the nineteenth to Gorey; general Dundas having fent a ftrong patrole under general Loftus from Carncw, at fix o’clock on the fame morning to Grove’s-bridge;‡ four or five miles on the road to Gorey,§ to fupport general Needham, in cafe he fhould meet with refinance at Limerick-hill or at Gorey, and to communicate to general Dundas general Needham’s fituation.

General Johnfon, on the nineteenth, at four o’clock, A. M. to move to Old Rofs,§ and unite with general Moore in driving the rebels from Carrickbyrne-hill.** He will take up his pofition that day near Old Rofs, and fend a ftrong patrole to fcour the country towards the Black-ftair mountains,‡‡ in junction with Sir James Duff. This movement will require a very particularly concerted arrangement between general Johnfon and Sir James Duff. The patroles to return to their refpective corps on the fame day.

Sir Charles Afgill, on the eighteenth, will occupy Grove’s-bridge, Borris|| and Graigenamana,§§ and will remain in thofe pofitions until the twentieth, three P. M. when he will return, unlefs he fhall receive orders to the contrary.

Lieutenant-general Dundas, on the twentieth, will march to Ballycarney-bridge,*** keeping the eaft-fide of the Slaney to Scarawalfhbridge,‡‡‡ to arrive there at twelve at noon.

Sir James Duff will alfo move on the twentieth, by the road on the weft-fide of the Slaney to Scarawalfh-bridge, where he will arrive at twelve o’clock.

General Needham, on the twentieth, will move from Gorey to Oulart,|||||| to be there at twelve o’clock.

General Loftus. The corps from Grove’s-bridge, will move on the twentieth, through Camolin and Ferns,§§§ and unite with general Dundas at Scarawalfl-bridge, at twelve o’clock.
.

* Plate II. I, a.  † Ibid. 4.  ‡ Ibid.  || Ibid.  § Plate III. 5.  ** Plate III. 5.  ‡‡ Ibid. 2 |||| Plate II. 6, 7. §§ Ibid. 8.  ***Plate II. 7.  ‡‡‡ Ibid. |||||| Plate III. 2.  §§§ Plate II. 6, 7

General Moore, to land on the eighteenth at Ballyhack-ferry, and on the nineteenth, he will move at three o’clock, A. M. to Foulkes’smill,* and unite with general Johnfon in driving the rebels from Carrickbyrne-hill. He will take up his pofition that night at Foulkes’s-mill, fecuring the efcape of the rebels between that and Clomines.†
General Johnfon, on the twentieth, will move with his column to Ballymacus-bridge,| either to unite in the attack on Ennifcorthy, if neceffary, or prevent their efcape in that direction.

Should the rebels have evacuated Ennifcorthy and Vinegar-hill, the columns under general Dundas and Sir James Duff will take up their pofition that day in front of Ennifcorthy; and general Johnfon will at the fame time receive orders to take a pofition on the great road from Ennifcorthy to Taghmon.

General Moore, in this cafe, on the twentieth, will move from Foulkes’smill, and take poft at Taghmon, ftill fecuring the country between Taghmon|| and Clomines.

But fhould the enemy maintain their pofition at Ennifcorthy,§ the attack will be made on the twenty-firft at day-light, by the columns under general Dundas and Sir James Duff, and general Needham moving from Oulart.

The general forward movement and inveftment of Wexford will take place on the twenty-firft, when the feveral columns will be fo united as to receive directions as circumftances may point out.

Gun-boats. Orders are to be fent to the naval commanders to ftafion their gun-boats and armed veffels in Wexford harbour early in the morning of the twenty-firft, to co-operate in fuch manner as may be neceffary for the attack of the town, with the gun-boats from Waterford, which will be directed to fupport general Moore and the corps at Clomines on the nineteenth.

Such was the judicious arrangement made by general Lake, for furrounding the rebels on Vinegar-hill, for retaking Ennifcorthy and Wexford; and in fhort, for putting down the rebellion in that county: But before I proceed to defcribe the grand attack, it will be neceffary to relate fome events which took place previous to it in the north of that county.

* Plate III. 7   †Ibid, J.   ‡Ibid. 1.   || Ibid. 6.   § Ibid.4.

After the defeat at Arklow, the enemy took their ftation on Limerick hill,* to the north of Gorey, in great force, and continued to fpread devaflation over the adjacent country, murdering fuch proteftants as fell into their hands, and burning the houfes of thofe who were fo fortunate as to make their efcape, till the eighteenth of June, when generals Dundas and Loftus marched againft them, according to a preconcerted plan.

As Kileavin-hill,† from its declivity, afforded a much ftronger poft than Limerick-hill, the rebels took poft on it about eight o’clock on the morning of the eighteenth of June, as foon as our two columns made their appearance. General Dundas’s column moved from Baltinglafs, by Hacketftown and Tinnahely.‡ General Loftus marched by Shilela.|| A general action feemed unavoidable. General Dundas having refolved to move round Kikavin-hill, fent orders to general Loftus to march on the Carnew§ road, and to begin the attack by that town; but the following circumftance fruftrated their defign: When general Dundas had advanced a confiderable way towards the point where he was to begin his attack, he fuddenly found himfelf in a deep hollow road, with ftrong fences on each fide. He perceived alfo, that he muft have proceeded fome time in it, before he could have extricated himfelf, and recollecting the fate of colonel Walpole, he very prudently ordered the column to countermarch; and at the fame time fent orders to general Loftus to take fuch a pofition as to cover this retrograde movement. By this unexpected event, the two columns became united, and the rebels had a clear country to the north, the eaft, and the fouth-eaft, and were fo ftrongly pofted, that the main object of the generals was to protect themfelves on the weft fide, where the pofition of the enemy was fo well secured by a ravine in front, by large banks and high hedge-rows, that general Lake, who arrived at this time with his whole ftaff, thought it prudent to defer the attack till the reinforcements joined them. A brifk cannonade was maintained for fome time, but without any material effect. At length, general Lake ordered the troops to march to Carnew, where they remained that night. Two rebel fpies who entered that town were fhot. Green fafhes and cockades were found in their pockets.

* Plate II. 3, 3.  † Ibid. 3, 4  | Ibid. i.  || Ibid. a.  § Ibid, 4.

On the nineteenth of June, major-general Sir James Duff jomed the army with his brigade from Newtown-barry,* and general Needham was moving on the road from Arklow to Gorey.† The troops at Carnew were under arms. A general attack was inftantly to have taken place, and from the number of our troops, and the excellent difpofition made by general Lake, there could not be a doubt of its fuccefsful iffue; but at daybreak it was discovered that the enemy had fled. Fearing to be cut off from their favourite pofition at Vinegar-hill, they retreated through Moneyfeed and by Gorey. Inftead of taking this ftep, had they pufhed forward with that celerity with which their movements were ufually made, in confequence of having but little baggage or equipment to tranfport, they might have feized on the important poft of Rathdrum, the key to the city of Dublin, from which they would have derived infinitely more advantage than from their retreat to cover Wexford and Ennifcorthy; becaufe our army muft have purfued them, and then the excellent and well-digefted plan formed by general Lake for furrounding them, would probably have been defeated.

I have already defcribed this in the orders iffued by him; and they were exactly fulfilled by the refpective general officers to whom they were directed, except by generals Needham and Moore, who were prevented by unforefeen and fortuitous circumftances, which I fhall hereafter explain.

General Johnfon took a pofition near Ennifcorthy,§ for the purpofe of driving the rebels from that town, in whicfh they were ftrongly ported. Lieutenant-general Lake and the entire ftaff remained with general Dundas, who, as I before obferved, marched to Scarawalfh-bridge.|

Lieutenant-generals Lake and Dundas, and major-general Wilford, with their ftaff, and the firft brigade of light infantry under the command of colonel Campbell, remained all the night of the twentieth of June upon their arms, at Sollborough,|| with a large body of cavalry, within two miles of Vinegar-hill. About one o’clock in the morning, general Johnfon reported his arrival on the other fide of the Slaney, near Ennifcorthy. General Needham’s column lay about half a mile off, on the left of general Lake’s army, whither he had marched from Oulart by general Lake’s orders.

* Plate II. 5   † Ibid. 4, J.   § Ibid. III. 1.   ‡ Ibid. II. 7, 8   || Plate III. 1

General Duff, with his guns, advanced on the Ferns road, on the east fide of the Slaney,† having that river on his right flank, and firing on the rebel lines on the hills, and throwing howitzers into them as hr. advanced. In this movement he was fupported on each flank by the light infantry, under the command of general Loftus.

When they had arrived at the beginning of the afcent of Vinegar-hill, general Loftus was detached by general Duff to occupy a green hill in a park enclofed with ftone walls, which was on the fide, and compofed a part of Vinegar-hill; General Loftus furprifed the rebels bythe celerity of this movement, becaufe the hill was fteep; and the ground which he occupied there was divided by ftone walls; but by breaking open gaps, he had two guns carried over at firft, and foon after four more, by having untackled them from the horfes. From this pofiticn he was able to fire into the lower line of the enemy, rather on his left, with fuch effecti that eighty-five of them were afterwards found in their trenches killed with grape-ftiot. General Loftus made his movement by a narrow road on the left, diverging from the main one, and then rapidly afcended the hill. At the fame time, generals Lake, Dundas and Wilford, with colond Campbell’s light infantry, were advancing up the hill|| on the fouth-east; fide, and were firmly oppofed by the rebels, who maintained a very brifk fire on them, retreating at the fame time from one hedge to another, till they were driven over the hill. On that occafion general Lake had a horfe fhot under him. The movements of the two columns were fo well timed, that they met at the fame moment on the top of the hill.§

At that time, and not before, general Lake perceived how actively general Johnfon had been employed, and how ably he had fupported him on the fide of Ennifcorthy. From the numbers of the enemy, the height and the fteepnefs of the hill, and its being interfected in many parts with enclofures, formed by high clay banks, with foffes behind them, the rebels were completely protected from our fire. It is aftonifhing that our troops did not fuffer more, and that the rebel army were fo quickly diflodged, and driven from fo ftrong a pofition. They had no lefs than

† See Plate lV. 8.  ‡ Ibid. 6, 7.   ||Ibid. 10, 11.
§ In plate V. the reader will fee an exact outline of Vinegar-hill, with the movement of the troops, which, though a flight fketch, reprefents it with precifion.

thirteen pieces of ordnance, and their infantry muft have been well fupplied with ammunition, as they maintained a very heavy fire. I fhall refer the reader to general Lake’s letter to lord Caftlereagh, for an account of the action.*

Father Clinch, an Ennifcorthy prieft, fell in this engagement. Being of a huge ftature, with a fcymitar and broad crofs belts, and mounted on a large white horfe, with long piftols, he made fo confpicuous a figure on the hill, during the action, and the day preceding it, as to attract the notice of our troops, particularly as he feemed to be conftantly employed in reconnoitring them. The earl of Roden having fingled him out among the fugitives, overtook him after a mile’s purfuit, and received his fire, which his lordfhip returned, and wounded him in the neck. He then difcharged his fecond piftol at lord Roden, on which an officer of his regiment rode up and fhot him. He wore his veftments under his clothes; he had near forty pounds in his pocket, a gold watch, and a remarkable fnuff box; all which, it is prefumed, he acquired by plunder. He had been as active in the cabinet as the field, having conftantly fat at the committee at Ennifcorthy; and mounted on his charger, and fully accoutred, he daily vifited the camp.

As general Needham’s column did not occupy the poft allotted to it in the firft arrangement for furrounding Vinegar-hill, on the fouth-east fide of it leading to Wexford, I think it right to explain the circumftanceswhich prevented it. He advanced on the twentieth inftant to Oulart, an inconfiderable village to the east of Vinegar-hill, and within fix miles of that part of it where he was to take poft. On that evening, when the troops had taken up their ground, and driven back fome advanced piquets of the enemy, and made a proper difpofition for protecting four hundred carriages laden with provifions and ammunition, for the army which attended them, general Needham received an order from general Lake, about half an hour after eight o’clock, figned by the adjutant-general, defiring him to march immediately with the troops under his command, to join general Lake at Solfborough, the feat of Mr. Richards, where he had taken up his head-quarters. The harnefting and arranging in the proper order of march fuch a number of carriages, occupied a good deal

* See Appendix, No. XXI. 1.

of time. Thus incumbered, the movement of the column was flow; particularly as it paffed through deep and narrow roads, with high and thick fences on each fide, and in a country fo much enclofed as to render it impoffible to fend out flanking parties; though from their proximity to the enemy, there was every reafon to expect an attack, which, had it been made, might have proved fatal. However the column proceeded unmolefted, and arrived at Solfborough, about half past three o’clock, on the morning of the twenty-firft of July.

Major-general Needham, on reporting his arrival to general Lake, was informed, that he muft immediately occupy the pofition firft allotted to him, in the general orders. Thus, after a moft fatiguing march, without having had any refrefhment for his troops from the time he left Gorey, he was obliged to repair to the poft he was to occupy by a circuitous route, of eight miles.

General Needham, feeing the impoffibility of reaching the hill in propes time, fent to requeft general Lake would defer the attack, but this was pofitively refufed. General Needham therefore pufhed forward with his cavalry, and deftroyed many of the fugitives from the hill; having purfued them as far as the nature of the country would admit. It is muck to be lamented, that general Needham’s line of march to his pofition, was changed; as had he been fuffered to repofe his troops at Oulart on the night of the twentieth, and to have proceeded next morning to his deftination, very few of the rebels would have efcaped.* General Lake refufed to defer the attack, in conformity to general Needham’s requeft, for the following very good reafon: General Johnfon was engaged with a numerous body of rebels who defended Ennifcorthy; and they would probably have been aififted by their main body on Vinegar-hill, if general Lake had not immediately made a diverfion.

An immenfe column of the rebels which retreated from Vinegar-hill, “by the pofition which general Needham was to have occupied, marched by the eaft fide of the Slaney, firft to Carrick-bridge,† but commonly called Carrick-ferry, within three miles of Wexford, headed by the following generals: Father John Murphy, father Kearns the prieft, Anthony Perry, Edward Fitzgerald, and John Hay. After paffing Carrick-bridge,

* His orders were to attack at three o’clock.
† Plate III 5, 6.

one column entered Wexford, under Murphy, Kearns and Perry, where they remained about two hours, threatening the deftruction of the town, and a general maffacre of the remaining proteftants, without diftinction of (age, fex, or condition; but they were partly prevented by the combination and the determined refiftance of the inhabitants of the town, who feared the lofs of their property, and they dreaded the approach of general Moore’s army.

Having left the town, they retreated over the bridge, headed by Efmond Kyan, Edward Fitzgerald, Perry and Kearns, and took the high and direct road to the county of Wicklow; which, and the north part of the county of Wexford, they continued for fome time to defolate.

The proteftants who had fled from Gorey and its vicinity to Wicklow, on the defeat of colonel Walpole, on the fourth of June, thinking that the victory at Vinegar-hill had reftored peace and good order, were attempting to return to their refpective homes, but were met by a large party of the rebels, who were retreating after their defeat, and who killed thirty-fix of them. For a fpecimen of their barbarity on that occalion, I fhall refer the reader to Appendix, No. XX. 20, 21. It happened in Friday the twenty-fecond of June, which is now called in that country bloody Friday.

The other column, headed by prieft Roche, John Hay and Murphy, proceeded from Carrick-bridge to the mountain of Forth, where they remained for about three hours, holding a council of war, in which as Roche and John Hay differed in opinion, they left them, and were taken in a day or two after, and hanged at Wexford. Father John Murphy, and another prieft of the fame name, then led the column by a circuitous route through the barony of Forth, by Maglas,* the moor of Mulrankin, and the Scar pafs of Barretftown,† over the Scallogh-gap,‡ into the county of Kilkenny, fpreading defolation in their progrefs, having plundered and burnt the town of Caftlecomer, and the fuperb manfion of lady Ormond; and mafl’acred fuch proteftants as they could lay their hands on.

As the part which general Johnfon took in the attack on Vinegar-hill was by faf the moft perilous and brilliant, I fhall give the reader a more circumftantial relation of it. In his march from New Rofs, he met a rebel armed with a pike, who, on being informed, that he deferved to be hanged for having appeared in arms againft the king, replied, “You

* Plate III. 8.     † Ibid.      ‡ Plate II. 7.

may hurt my body, but you cannot injure my foul, as father Roche has taken care of it.”

The evening before the attack on Ennifcorthy, he marched to Ballymacus,* about four miles from it; but wifhing to have his men frefh for the onfet next morning, he moved forward to Daphne, within a mile and a half of it. Soon after his arrival there, a large body of rebels, marching in columns and intermediate lines, advanced within half a mile of his army, and feemed determined to attack it; on which the general prepared to receive them; but they fent forward their lharp fhooters, who maintained a very fmart fire on his line, till he brought up his cannon and diflodged them with it.

The main body which marched from the town to attack him, occupied an eminence, on which three or four fhots from twelve-pounders were fired; and when the balls lodged on the hill, numbers of the rebels emulouily vied with each other to lay hold of them. After that fome fhells having been thrown on it, and a great body of them having furrounded them for the fame purpofe, they exploded, and blew them to atoms.

Next morning, after having driven the rebels from the high ground intp the town, which could not be effected without much danger and difficulty, as the rebels difputed every inch of ground, firing from behind the hedges, each of which afforded a ftrong poft; he kept that pofition for about an hour, during which he and the rebel army continued to cannonade each other; and he had the greater part of the Vinegarhill army to contend with, as general Lake did not begin to attack them for fome time.

In driving the rebels into the town, they made a moft obftinate refiftance, by their pikemen in the ftreets, and their mufketeers, who were excellent markfmen, from the windows.

Having advanced with one gun, to an open fpace, where the courthoufe† lies, a numerous body of pikemere rufhed from that building, with enthufiaftick vehemence, and feized and kept it for a few minutes, havinooverpowered the party which attended it; but it was foon retaken by a frefh column of troops, who killed moft of the rebels concerned in that

* Plate III. 3.     † Plate IV. 4.

furious onfet. The general then ordered the light infantry to charge over the bridge, and up the hill, which were occupied by a numerouB body of rebels; but they having fhewn an unwillingnefs to do fo, he called •on the county of Dublin regiment to perform that fervice, on which they gave three cheers, and led on by colonel Vefey and lord Blaney, in conjunction with the light infantry, forced the bridge, and marched up the fteepeft part of the hill, driving the rebels before them.
Major-general Euftace, who acted on this occafion with general Johnfon, difplayed great fpirit and gallantry.

That fide of the hill which general Johnfon afcended is by far the fleepeft, and commands the town.
As the army commanded by general Johnfon loft more men in killed .and wounded than all the other troops that attacked Vinegar-hill, we may conceive the difficulties and the oppofition which he muft have encountered.

He fuftained the following lofs: Two field officers wounded, two captains killed, two fubalterns killed and two wounded, two ferjeants, one wounded, one miffing, fixteen rank and file killed, fixty-two wounded, five miffing.

The arrival of general Moore’s army at Foulkes’s mill occafioned a very great alarm at Wexford and the Three-rock camp.* On the evening of the nineteenth, the drums beat to arms, and the church bell was rung. Keugh and Harvey were very buly, but feemed much difmayed. They fent all the rebel foldiers in town to the Three-rock camp. For three miles, the diftance from it to the town, each fide of the road was crowded with old men, women and children, on their knees, praying for their fuccefs, as they marched by. When they advanced about two miles, they met on horfeback father Keane, commonly called the bleffed prieft of Bannow. The rabble had uncommon veneration for him, becaufe they believed, from his fuperior fanclity, that he was more expert in working miracles, and had more fupernatural powers, than any other prieft. He was a little old grey-headed man. The rebels flocked to him with great cagernefs, to obtain his benediction, which he gave, by laying his hand on their heads, and muttering a few words.

* Having given the reader a defcription of the rebel camp on Vinegar-hill, I fhall give him that on the mountain of Forth, in Appendix, No. XXI. 3.

This prieft having been guilty of fome irregularities, foon after he was priefted, retired to Newfoundland, where he exercifed, for fome years, his facred function, and at the fame time the apoftolick purfuit of a fifherman. A boat, in which he ferved as a failor, having caught great quantities of cod fifh, in a harbour where it had been fought for in vain fome years before, this fudden change was imputed to his benediction beftowed on it. He returned to his native country, with the title of the bleffed prieft of Bannow, which is his native place. During the rebellion he diftributed many thoufand fcapulars* among the rebels; and to numbers he gave two, one to protect them in advancing, the other in retreating. He affured the wearers of this facred fymbol, that a ball from, a heretick gun could do them no more injury than a pea. He conftantly vifited the rebel camps, particularly that on the mountain of Forth; and a poney which he rode, was led by two men, who cried out, with a loud voice, “Make way for the bleffed prieft; of Bannow!” I have been affured that jie refufed his bleffing to fome rebels, unlefs they brought him the head of Mr. Goff, of Horetown, a quaker, who was juftly and univerfally efteemed; and it is faid, that he would moft certainly have been affaffinated, but for the victory of general Moore, which ftruck terror into the rebels.

A party of them took poffeffion of Mr. Goff’s houfe, under the command of one Monk, and they were attended by father Byrne, a prieft, who was purveyor to the party; and he compelled the Mifs Goffs, young and amiable women, to bake bread, and do every other menial office to fupply the rebels. A party of them one day afked his benediction, having knelt down for that purpofe; but he refufed to give it but to fuch as produced their pikes ftined with the blood of hereticks.

It was mentioned before that general Moore was to take poft at Foulkes’s mill, ten miles from Wexford, to prevent the rebels in their flight from Vinegar-hill, from efcaping by Clomines. He remained in the demelne of Mr. Sutton, of Longraige,† which is quite clofe to it, on the evening of the nineteenth of June.

Next morning, general Moore had a fmart action with the rebels, which is defcribed by him in a letter to general Lake.‡

* See in the Index, under the title of fcapular, a. fall explanation of this religious emblem; and in Plate V. a figure of one.     † Plate III. C, 7.    ‡ Appendix, No. XXI. 2.

I have been affured by perfons well acquainted with the defigns of the irebel general that this action was brought on in the following manner:

That general Roche intended to have taken poffeffion of Rofs, when general Johnfon had left it; that he fent one party to Horetown, to watch the motions and engage the attention of general Moore, while the mainbody proceeded to Rofs; that the former fuddenly and unexpectedly came on general Moore’s army, and had a fkirmifh with them.

The main body having heard the firing, went to their affiftance, which brought on a general action.

Roche, after being defeated, meant to have kept one divifion of his army in the woods of Horetown, to the north, the other in thofe of Rofsgarland, to the fouth; and to have renewed the attack in the night, when aided by the darknefs, which would have been favourable to the charge of his pikemen, and relying on the fuperiority of his numbers,* he entertained ftrong hopes of fuccefs; but the arrival of the 29th and the Queen’s regiment as a reinforcement to general Moore baffled his expectations.

There were many priefts in the rebel army, exhorting their troops, and often horfewhipping, and even threatening the run-aways with fwords and piftols, to compel them to return to their ranks.

Having mentioned the occurrences which preceded and occafioned the evacuation of Wexford, I fhall now relate that event, and the dreadful maffacre of proteftants which took place the day before, and which has caft fuch an indelible ftain on that county, that every Irifhman who feels for the honour of his native country, fhould wifh that its very name was expunged from the map of Ireland. From the fanguinary fpirit which the rebels manifefted on all occafions during the rebellion towards that fed of chriftians, there is not a doubt but that they meant to extirpate them as foon as they had obtained a decided fuperiority over the government; and their leaders never failed to practife every artifice they could devife, to make them believe they were in a fair way of attaining it But when their delufions were removed, and they faw a very numerous and well-appointed army march into the county of Wexford, they

* He had at leaft fifteen thoufand. General Moore had not more than one thoufand two hundred.

were flung with defpair, and refolved to indulge their fanatical hatred againft proteftants, by murdering fuch of them as were their prifoners.

Jofeph Gladwin, the gaoler of Wexford, an Englifhman, and reputed a man of veracity and humanity, has declared that Thomas Dixon propofed to get rid of the proteftant prifoners at once, by fetting fire to the gaol; but Gladwin faid, that it would be impoffible to accomplifh it, as the floors in every flory were arched. He then propofed to burn them in the ftreet; on which Gladwin ftipped backwards, and related the infamous defign of Dixon to Bagenal Harvey, who expreffed great horror at it; and faid, he did not think that matters would ever have proceeded to that dreadful excefs, and that he did not know how foon it might be his own cafe.

I fhall give the reader an account of this tragical affair, as related to me by fome refpectable perfons who refided in Mr. Hatchel’s houfe,* very near the bridge, where it was perpetrated, and were eye-witneffes of it,

“Between the hours of ten and eleven o’clock on the morning of the twentieth of June, we faw a body of rebels coming over the bridge, bearing a black flag, with a crofs, and the letters M W S infcribed on it in white; which was fuppofed to mean murder without fm; and on the other fide a red crofs. After having made a proceffion through part of the town, they fixed that woeful harbinger of death on the cuftom-houfe quay, near the fatal fpot where fo much blood was foon after fhed; and where it remained flying for about two hours before the butchery began.|

“Soon after they arrived on the quay, they feemed to difperfe; however many of them remained there, and repaired to one particular place, where drink was given to them; and where a prieft was very bufy in diftribuiing it, and who, they believed, remained there till they left the quay, fhouting, “To the gaol! to the gaol!” when they all disappeared, but returned about four o’clock to the bridge, with a number of prifoners, whom they maffacred. They thus continued till about feven o’clock to convey parties of prifoners from ten to twenty, from the gaol and the

* Plate VI.
Some refpectable proteftant ladies, prifoners at that time, affured me, that at that awful moment, they were informed, and with apparent forrow, by fome popifh women, in whofe houfes they lodged, that the hour was come, when every perfon in Wexford of their religion, would be put to death. Others received this melancholy intelligence the evening of the preceding day.

market-houfe, where many of them were confined, to the bridge, where they butchered them. Every proceffion was preceded by the black flag, and the prifoners were furrounded by ruthlefs pikemen, as guards, who often infultingly defired them to blefs themfelves.†

“The mob, confifting of more women than men, expreffed their favage joy on the immolation of each of the victims, by loud huzzas.

“The manner, in general, of putting them to death, was thus: Two rebels pufhed their pikes into the breast of the victim, and two into his hack; and in that ftate (writhing with torture) they held him fufpended, till dead, and then threw him over the bridge into the water.

“After they had maffacred ninety-feven prifoners in that manner, and before they could proceed further in the bufinefs, an exprefs rode up in great hafte, and bid them beat to arms, as Vinegar-hill was befet, and reinforcements were wanting. There was immediately a cry, “To camp! to camp!” The rebels feemed in fuch confufion, that the maffacre was difcontinued.

“In the moment of confufion, the reverend Mr. Corrin, parifh prieft of Wexford, arrived on the bridge, to divert them from their fanguinary defigns, and which, it is faid, he did to the utmoft of his power. Soon after his arrival, he knelt down on the very fpot where the blood had been fpilled, and faid fome prayers. After which the rebels rofe from their-knees, and exclaimed, Come on, boys, in the name of God, to the camp! Thank God, we have fent thefe fouls to hell!” They then accordingly fet out for the camp.

“It is remarkable that the favage pikemen knelt down, lifted up their hands, and prayed apparently with devotion, before they proceeded to commit any of the murders.”

A lady, who was in Mr. Hatchel’s houfe, near the bridge, where this fanguinary fcene took place, defcribes it thus in her diary, which I quoted before: “About three o’clock, captain Dixon came to the quay, calling out, “To the gaol!” He was followed up the cuftom-houfe lane by numbers. They returned fome time after to the bridge. I thought fome alarm induced them to leave the town, and fat eagerly watching, till I beheld, yes, I faw, abfolutely faw, a poor fellow cry for life, and was then moft barbaroufly murdered.

† See Appendix, No. XX. 2.

To give an account of this hellifh fcene is beyond my ftrength, nor could any perfon defire to hear it. No favages ever put their prifoners to more deliberate torture. I faw a boat go to the prifon fhip, and bring my friends and acquaintances (who on landing paffed by our door) to torture and death. I faw the horrid wretches kneel on the quay, lift up their hands, feeming to pray with the greateft devotion, then rife and join, or take place of other murderers. Their yells of delight at the fufferings of their viftims will ever, I believe, found in my ears.

“To defcribe what we all fuffered, would be impoffible. I never fhed a tear, but felt all over in the moft bodily pain. We expected life only till the prifons and the fhip* were emptied; when an exprefs came, to fay the army were marching againft Vinegar-hill camp, and that if they did not reinforce it immediately, all was loft. The town priefts then, and not till then, made their appearance. The leader of the murderers called to his men, in thefe words, which I diftinctly heard, “Come, my lads! we will now go; bleffed be God we have fent fome of their fouls to hell!” They went off really as if they had been performing a praifeworthy and religious action.”

Mr. James Goodall, who had been taken out of the prifon ship, and conveyed to the bridge, to be murdered, but was faved by the interference of Roche, the lay-general, declared upon oath on his trial, “That the affaffins on the bridge were like a pack of ftarving hounds rufhing on their game.”

Mr. Corrin had flept the preceding night at Clonard, two miles off, to chriften a child for Mr. Kellett, who was in the prifon-fhip, and whofe wife was of the popifh perfuafion. She, Mrs. Bland and Mrs. Crump earneftly entreated him to fave the lives of their hufbands, who were in the prifon-fhip, and he faithfully promifed to do fo. This I heard from one of thefe ladies.

Previous to his departure, he feemed fo much agitated by fear, as the king’s frigates and gun-boats appeared outfide the harbour, that he could fcarce go through the ceremony of baptizing the child; and he piteoufly befought them to protect him, as he would proteft their hufbands.

When they had put to death on the bridge between thirty and forty of the prifoners confined in the gaol, they feat a boat to the prifon-fhip,* and called for Meffrs. Cox and Turner. After having plunged two pikes

* It was but twenty-five tons burden, and twenty-two gentlemen were confined three weeks in its hold.

into the bofom of the former, he jumped into the water from the bridge, but was fhot as foon as he rofe.*

Mr. Turner, a magiftrate, who beheld this woeful fpectacle, was next brought forward. They confulted about raifing his body on their pikes, and carrying it through the ftreets, as they harboured the moft infatiable revenge againft him, becaufe he was an active juftice of the peace, and a zealous loyalift. His own poftillion, Thomas Cleary,† infifted on having the gratification of fhedding his blood; but the intemperate eagernefs of the pikemen for carnage operated like mercy towards him, for a number of them joined him in perforating his body with pikes, and threw it over the bridge.

Mr. Lehunte was next fent for to the prifon-fhip, but he fortunately happened to be in the gaol, where he eluded their fearch in the corner of a cell. Their miftake, and the delay occafioned by it, very fortunately faved his life, as the exprefs arrived, and the alarm took place in the mean time.

Mr. Hore, of Harper’s-town, nephew to the earl of Courtown, a moft amiable inoffenfive gentleman, and Mr. Kellett, were next brought from the prifon-fhip. The former was afked, Whether he had any perfon who could fpeak in his favour? He faid, he had not, but requefted time to find a perfon who could do fo. He was then afked. Whether he was not connected with Mr. Boyd, member for the town? He anfwered, by faying, that Mr. Boyd was married to his fifter; to which the rebels replied, that is enough; and having immediately maffacred him with their pikes, they threw his body into the river.§

Mr. Edwards, taken out of the prifon-fhip, was faved, becaufe he was married to a popifh wife. It was afked by one rebel, whether he had ever prevented his wife from going to mafs? Another, who was friendly to him, anfwered in the negative, and faid, he had often attended his wife to the chapel, and had gone for her when mafs was over; on which he was difcharged.

* He commanded the Taghmon cavalry, had been a captain in the 5th regiment of foot, and had retired on half-pay. He was taken at Coolcliffe.  
† See Cleary’s confeffion in Appendix, No, XX. 21.
§ As Mr. Boyd’s family were zealous loyalifts, they, and every perfon connected with them, were peculiarly the objects of rebel vengeance.

Mr. Samuel Atkin, married to a proteftant, was murdered.

Another perfon of the fame name, and his two fons, were faved, becaufe, it was believed, the father was married to a popifh wife.

The bloody Thomas Dixon, and his wife, were prefent at, and fuperintended this dreadful fcene of carnage on horfeback.

When the rebels retreated from the bridge, on the alarm given bygeneral Roche, Dixon and his wife attempted to follow them; but their horfes ftartled at the immenfe quantity of blood which was fhed on the bridge, and refufed to pafs through it; on which they difmounted, and led their horfes over the bridge; fhe, at the fame time, holding up her riding habit, left it fhould be ftained with blood. She was heard to defire the rebels not to wafte their ammunition, but to give the prifoners plenty of piking.

It will reflect indelible difgrace on the popifh priefts of Wexford, of whom there were no lefs than fifteen or fixteen in the town during the perpetration of thefe maffacres, that none of them, except father Corrin, ever interfered to prevent them. They evinced the moft unbounded influence on all occafions; for no proteftant was ever injured who had been fo fortunate as to obtain a protection from one of them. It has been faid in defence of the priefts, that they were totally ignorant of the maffacres till Mr. Kellett fent to father Corrin.

It was well known, at an early hour, that the rebels meditated thefe fcenes of favage cruelty, and their intention was announced by the proceffion which they made with a black flag. The affaffinations began at the gaol about two, on the bridge between three and four, and ended between feven and eight. At different times, the prifoners were conveyed in numbers of from ten to twenty, furrounded by ferocious pikemen, and preceded by that enfign of death, through the principal part of the town.

When every perfon of humanity in Wexford was petrified with horror at fuch tragic fcenes, which continued for five hours, could the priefts alone have remained ignorant of them in fo fmall a town as Wexford? The idea is too abfurd.

I have been informed, that a young man from Rofs, who acted with the rebels, but who had more humanity than moft of them, went to doctor Caulfield, informed him of the maffacres which were going forward,

and befought him to prevent them; but he refufed to interfere himfelf, but faid he would fend father Roche, his chaplain, who was prefent, for that purpofe; but he never was known to exert himfelf. The perfon who gave this notice to doctor Caulfield, with whom father Corrin had dined, related it to many perfons who affured me of it.

Mr. George Taylor, a man of great veracity, wrote a hiftory of the rebellion in the county of Wexford, of which he is a native; and he tells us, “That while this work was going on, a rebel captain, being ftiocked at the cries of the victims, ran to the popifh bifhop, who was then drinking wine with the utmoft compofure after dinner; and knowing that he could ftop the maffacre fooner than any other perfon, entreated him, for the mercy of God, to come and fave the prifoners. He in a very unconcerned manner replied, “It was no affair of his and requefted the captain would fit down and take a glafs of wine with him; adding, “That the people muft be gratified.” The captain refufed the bifhop’s invitation; and, filled with abhorrence and diftrefs of mind, walked filently away.

Mrs. O’Neil went to the doctor to complain of the murder of her nephew, Mr. Turner, on the bridge: He was one of the firft perfons taken out of the prifon-fhip, yet doctor Caulfield did not interfere, nor did Mr. Corrin, though he was prefent, till Mr. Kellett fent a meffenger for him; and there were many perfons maffacred in the interval between Mrs. O’Neil’s complaint and the deliverance of Mr. Kellett.

While they were difpatching Mr. Hore, of Harper’s-town, Mr. Kellett, who was the next intended victim, fent a perfon in the crowd, who had formerly lived with him as fervant, for Mr. Corrin, who dined at doctor Caulfield’s, the popifh bifhop, to let him know his perilous fituation; and he inftantly repaired to the bridge, threw himfelf between Mr. Kellett and the pikemen, faying that they fhould not kill him, without firft butchering him. Having thus refcued him, he firft led him to his own houfe, and afterwards to Clonard, about two miles off, the feat of Mr. Kellett, who kept Mr. Corrin at his houfe till next day, to protect him from the military, who were expected in Wexford. It was univerfally believed, that father Corrin’s interference did not proceed from pure motives of humanity, but from a preconcerted agreement with Mr. Kellett, for the following reafons; He did not approach the bridge, or ufe any exertion,

till he received Mr. Kellett’s meffage at the bifhop’s; and when he led him away under his protection, he left the other prifoners on their knees in the hands of the ruthlefs pikemen, without offering to interfere for their prefervation.

The following circumflance tends ftrongly to confirm this opinion: A gentleman of very great refpectability, who was on board the prifonfhip, affured me, that on the morning of the maffacre, a fervant of Mr. Crump, went on board, and from the general tenor of his converfation, they could infer, that Meffrs. Crump, Kellett and Bland, would be faved at all events; which we may fuppofe was in confequence of the promife made to their wives by Mr. Corrin the evening before.

Charles Jackfon, an Englifhman, who had practifed the trade of a carver and gilder at Wexford, was among the laft party of prifoners fuppofed to have been faved by Mr. Corrin. He publifhed a narrative of his fufferings, and of the events which occurred at Wexford during the rebellion. The popifh clergy of that town have relied much on his veracity; and it is moft certain that his relation of the events of which he was an eye-witnefs is ftrictly true.

A popifh prieft of Wexford wrote a pamphlet under the fignature of Veritas, with the affiftance, and under the direction of doctor Caulfield, merely for the purpofe of vindicating the conduct of the Romifh clergy,† in which he often quoted Jackfon’s narrative, which gives a faithful reprefentation of the events which occurred, except while he was in prifon; and his account of them during that period was erroneous, for the following very obvious reafon: They were communicated to him by his wife, who being a rigid papift, was completely under the influence of the priefts.

He gives the following account of the efcape of himfelf and his fellow prifoners on the bridge:

“General Roche rode up in great hafte, and bid them beat to arras; faying, “That Vinegar-hill camp was befet, and that reinforcements were wanting that this operated like lightning on the rebels, who inftantly quitted the bridge, and left Jackfon and the other victims on their knees. That the mob, (confifting of more women than men,) who had been fpeftators, alfo inftantly difperfed in every direction, fuppofing the king’s troops were at hand: That the prifoners, ftupified with horror, remained

fome time on their knees, without making any effort to efcape: That the rebel guard foon returned, took them back to gaol, telling them, that they fhould not efcape any longer than the next day, when neither man, woman or child of the proteftants fhould be left alive.”

Different perfons at that time in Wexford, and fome who lived near the bridge, have unanimoufly concurred with Jackfon’s relation of it.

A perfon of the utmoft veracity, who was led out to execution, and narrowly efcaped, has pofitively afferted, that he believes father Corrin would not have interfered at all, but that he imagined there was a complete reverfe of fortune, in confequence of the alarm occafioned by the arrival of the meffenger from Vinegar-hill; but this perfon was ignorant of the fecret compact which he had made with Mrs. Kellett.

As ftrong fufpicions were entertained, and infinuations were thrown out, foon after the maffacre at the bridge, that the popifh priefts in Wexford had more influence than any other perfons there, and that they could have protected thofe whom they chofe; father Corrin went to Mr. George Taylor, one of the prifoners who efcaped, when Mr. Kellett was refcued, and afked him to fign a paper, containing a contradiction of it, and a general approbation of the conduct of the priefthood in Wexford during the rebellion. He refufed to do fo, but at his inftance gave him the following certificate:

“I do hereby certify, that the reverend John Corrin, by his humane exertion, has been the inftrument in the hands of God, in faving my life, and even others of my fellow-prifoners, the twentieth of June, being the day of the general maffacre on the bridge of Wexford.
Ballywalter,	GEORGE TAYLOR.”
Auguft 28th, 1798.

Mr. Taylor, on giving Mr. Corrin this certificate, afked him, “What ufe he meant to make of it?” he anfwered, “To employ it in my defence.” The reader will draw but one inference from this anticipated defence againft an accufation which was not at that time even thought of. As Meffrs. Taylor and Jackfon, who efcaped from the maffacre on the bridge, differed from each other in the relation of this dreadful event, I fhall endeavour to account for their apparent contradiction.

Taylor imputes their prefervation folely to the interference of Mr. Corrin: Jackfon to the alarm and confufion occafioned by the arrival of the

exprefs, in which every one concurs with him except George Taylor. The former fays, they were led away from the bridge by Mr. Corrin. The latter, that they were left in the hands of the pikemen. I fhould give greater credit to the relation of Jackfon, than that of Taylor, for the following reafons: Mr. Kellett perfonally affured me, that Mr. Corrin led him away from the bridge; and it is moft certain, that the remainder of the prifoners were led back to the gaol by the pikemen, where they remained until the king’s troops entered the town. If Mr. Corrin had influence enough over the mob to check the maffacre, and to refcue Mr. Kellett, why did he leave the remainder of the prifoners in the hands of the ferocious rebels, who might have butchered them after his departure? In the ftate of ftupefaction to which the prifoners were reduced by terror, as Jackfon obferves, it is very poffible that Taylor might have miftaken the real caufe of their prefervation. They were furrounded by an immenfe mob, befides the pikemen; and as many fpectators in the houfe of Mr. Hatchell, near the bridge, have unanimoufly agreed, that the alarm and difperfion of the rebels took place rather before the arrival of Mr. Corrin, it is poffible that Mr. Taylor might have miftaken the real caufe of it, particularly, as he could not have feen Mr. Corrin until the multitude difperfed; befides he is uncommonly near-fighted. I fhall not pretend to difpute his veracity, but I really believe he was miftaken.

The following occurrence muft diminifh our belief of father Corrin’s having acted from pure motives of humanity: Mrs. Margaret Lett, the wife of a brewer of Ennifcorthy, having been examined as a witnefs on the trial of Thomas Clooney on the fifth of July, 1799, at Wexford, depofed: That the had the protection of father Corrin; that her hufband was a prifoner in the gaol of Wexford; that Clooney wrote on the back of the protection, that he would go bail for Mr. Lett’s good behaviour, and that he would not leave Wexford, if Mr. Corrin would allow him* to be taken out of gaol; and that fhe went with the paper to Mr. Corrin, but he would not allow him to be liberated; that Clooney

* This fhews that Mr. Corrin was confidered as a perfon of great influence over the rebels, which be exerted on this occafion, and not for a humane purpofe.

afterwards went to the prifon, took him out, and left him at her lodgings.

In this manner they put ninety-feven proteftants to death, at Wexford, on the twentieth of June. Some perfons have faid that the number did not exceed ninety-five; but the bloody calendar of all the proteftant prifoners there, which I have in my poffeffion, puts this beyond a doubt.

On the trials of Peter Byrne and Ignatius Roffiter, at Wexford, the former the fourteenth of June, 1799, the latter the twentieth of February, 1800, two members of the bloody committee that fat in the gaol, the following facts were proved upon oath: Kennet Mathewfon, John Atkin, Richard and Jofeph Ganford, proteftants, and prifoners in the gaol, were led before that fanguinary tribunal to be tried. One of the prifoners having afked Roffiter, “What they meant to do with them?” he replied, that “They were on the black lift.” Peter Byrne, member of the committee, had a piftol in his hand, and on feeing the prifoners, exclaimed in a rage, “It is not by two or three that you are to let us have the prifoners, (meaning to execute) for if you do not let us have them by the dozen, by J——s, I will blow up the gaol in two minutes.” John Roffiter, another member of the committee, shewed John Atkin the form of an oath which he faid the committee had taken, and the inftructions which they had received to regulate the manner of proceeding;* that early on that day, a man went to him where he was confined, and fhewed him a lift which he faid was the black lift, which he had got from the committee fitting below ftairs. The prifoners were then led to the committee-room door, but were kept out fide it. The man who firft accufed Mathewfon, rufhed into the room with a party of the rebels, who dragged him out. When the bloody committee were going out to fee Mathewfon put to death, John Roffiter having a regard for Atkin, and wifhing to fave his life, put him into the committee-room, defired him to fhut himfelf in, and not to appear at the windows, left he fhould be fhot.* He entered the room, and faw Mathewfon fhot and butchered with pikes in the ftreet. There was a table in the committee-room, on which there were

* It is evident that the monfters who compofed the bloody committee were guided and governed by fome fuperior power; that they took an oath to proceed in the bloody bufinefs, and had written inftructions how to act.

pens, ink, and paper, and a green book, which, having put into his pocket, he crept under a bed, where he lay concealed, till John Roffiter afterwards, when the committee had adjourned, led him back to his cell, where he concealed the book, containing a calendar of all the proteftants at that, time prifoners in Wexford; the committee were much incenfed at the lofs of their book,* but could not account for it. The reader may well conceive the perturbation of John Atkin, who lay concealed under the bed, while the members of the committee were vowing vengeance againft the perfon who carried off their book.

The amiable lady, whofe diary I have quoted, fays in it, “Mr. R——,† a Roman catholick, and one of the committee for provifions, came to us the evening of the day the maffacre was committed. He was like ourfelves, half dead with horror, and declared that he entreated the priefts to come down with their crucifixes, and prevent the maffacre; but they all refufed to do fo. We told him that father Broe faid he had faved nineteen prifoners.

This Mr. R—— denied, and faid, it was the exprefs that faved them.

He told us, that the black flag meant that every one of that party had taken the black teft oath. He faid, that a man went into a fhop where he was, and afked another to give him the black teft oath. This was refufed, and the perfon he afked left the fhop; on which the man who wanted to take the oath, faid, “That fellow fhall be one of the firft I will kill; but as to the oath, I don’t care, for another will give it to me.” This oath is to be found at the end of Appendix, No. XX. 7. and was found in various places, and on different rebels who were killed,”

In many inftances it has appeared, that the Roman catholicks even in the meaneft fituation, could fave proteftants. The following is a notable proof of it:

John Tate, a proteftant, but carrying a gun among the rebels for the prefervation of his life, addreffed himfelf to a common man, a rebel in their camp at Little Limerick, faying, “There is a brother-in-law of mine in prifon at Wexford, I fhall be obliged to you, when you go there

* See a copy of it, Appendix, No. XX. 44.
† As he is no more, I may tell the reader that this was Mr. Pat. Redmond, a man of humanity, who filled his fituation with reluctance.

to take him out and fet him at liberty.” This man, whofe name is James Murphy, never thought of the requeft made by Tate, until the day and inftant they were murdering the prifoners on the bridge; when recollecting that the name of the man he wifhed to liberate was Ifaac Stephens, he fearched the different prifons until he found him among a great number in the market-houfe of Wexford, and not only brought him with him and preferved him, but two more loyal yeomen who were in the fame prifon, and begged of him, for God’s fake, to fave them. He brought out thefe three men in the midft of near one hundred pikemen who guarded the door, and faved them. Their names were, Ifaac Stephens, cooper, at Caftle-bridge, Samuel Maud, farmer, and John Stedman, weaver.

The confeffion of James Beaghan,* one of the murderers of the reverend Mr. Hayden in the ftreets of Ennifcorthy, clearly proves what part the popifh priefts took in the confpiracy and rebellion; and that the name of Orangemen was fabricated merely to make the publick believe that the fanguinary fpirit of the rebels was not directed againft proteftants in general, but merely againft fuch of them as were members of that political fed.

The evidence upon oath of doctor McNevin, a member of the Irifh directory, before a fecret committee of the houfe of lords, dated the thirtieth of Auguft, 1798, proves that they. were deeply concerned in it. His words are, “That the catholick priefts had ceafed to be alarmed at the calumnies which had been propagated of French irreligion, and were well affected to the caufe; that fome of them had rendered great fervice in propagating with difcreet zeal† the fyftem of the Irifh union.”

Many perfons of undoubted veracity affured me, that the popifh bifhop, doctor Caulfield, gave his benediction to the favage pikemen as they proceeded to the maffacre on the bridge; yet I fhould not think of inferting it in this hiftory, if it were not authenticated On the oath of a refpectable gentlewoman who beheld it; becaufe, however fanguine the doctor might have been in the caufe, I could not have fuppofed that he would have been fo void of difcretion. Mrs. Crane, fifter to judge Chamberlain, made this affidavit.‡

* See Appendix, No. XIX. 8.
† He puts thofe who acted with difci-eet zeal in coiitradiftinction to thofe who appeared without difguife and in a military capacity.    ‡ See Appendix, No. XX. 23.

I fhall not take upon me to fay, whether the doctor on this occafion acted in obedience to the councils of Lateran, Conftance, Toledo or Trent, all which are mandatory on perfons of his perfuafion to extirpate hereticks; or whether he acted according to his oath of inauguration, which requires that he fhould, to the utmoft of his power, perfecute and impugn all hereticks, fchifmaticks, and rebels, againft his fovereign lord the pope; but in writing a hiftory of the rebellion, I thought that I could not leave fo extraordinary a tranfaction unrecorded.

On Monday the nineteenth of March, 1800, doctor Caulfield wrote a letter to Bryan Murphy, a prieft of Taghmon, reproving him for having prefumed to give abfolution for fin, without having obtained a faculty for that purpofe. This letter, and two more on the fame subject, one from faid Murphy to a proteftant clergyman, and the other from father Kelly, parifh prieft of Taghmon, to doctor Caulfield, the reader will find in Appendix, No. XX. 23. Bryan Murphy is the perfon alluded to in Michael Aikin’s affidavit relative to Scullabogue, Appendix, No. XX. 9.

It is moft certain, that a refpectable inhabitant of Wexford fent a meffage to the friary near the chapel, to requeft the friars would order the rebels to defift from the maffacres; but they faid, that they would advife but not order them to do fo.
A proteftant clergyman of Wexford affured me of the following fact: About fix o’clock on the morning after the maffacre, one of the friars expreffed great joy to him on the profpect of peace, (as the defeat of the rebels at Foulkes’s mill was known); and he expreffed great concern that the priefts happened to be out of the way, and were ignorant of the maifacre, for other wife they could have stopped it, but foon after he faid, “We knew from the talk of the people in the morning, that we could not have faved Mr. Turner.”

The black flag was carried in proceffion again on the morning of the twenty-firft of June by Thomas Dixon, and his band of affaffins, as a fignal to murder the reft of the proteftant prifoners; but the large army which had furrounded Vinegar-hill the day before, and the victory obtained by general Moore the preceding evening at Foulkes’s mill, had intimidated the blood-hounds fo much, that they fearing left they

might provoke the vengeance of the royal army, refolved to fue for mercy.

Doctor Jacob and his family, were not molefted for the following reafon: Being a gentleman of great medical fkill, not only as a phyfician, but as a furgeon, and as the rebels compelled him to take care of their fick and wounded men, as before-mentioned, they were not only anxious to preferve his life, but shewed confiderable refpect for him and his family who were lodged in Mr. Hatchel’s houfe.

The news of the victory at Foulkes’s-mill having been received at Wexford the fame evening it was gained, a number of rebel leaders, who had been prefent at the maffacre, affembled at governor Keugh’s houfe, and concerted meafures of conciliation, in hopes of procuring an amnefty. Next morning they waited on lord Kingfborough, requefting that he would be their mediator, and write to the different general officers to fpare the inhabitants of Wexford and their property, on laying down their arms, and returning to their allegiance; which he agreed to do, on their invefting him with the military command of the town, and reinftating the civil magiftrates.

During this negociation, the bloody Thomas Dixon, and many other rebel officers and privates, flocked to his lodgings, and implored his protection in confideration of their humane conduct in having faved the lives of many proteftants.
General Keugh and his friends having acceded to lord Kingfborough’s defires, his lordfhip agreed to forward the following propofals made by them to the different general officers:

“That captain McManus* fhall proceed from Wexford towards Oulart,† accompanied by Mr. E. Hay, appointed by the inhabitants of all religious perfuafions, to inform the officer commanding the king’s troops, that they are ready to deliver up the town of Wexford without oppofition, lay down their arms, and return to their allegiance, provided their perfons and property are guaranteed by the commanding officer; and that they will ufe every influence in their power to induce

* Captain McManus of the Antrim, was a prifoner. E. Hay, was a rebel leader, who went to protect him.
 † Plate III. 2.

the people of the country at large to return to their allegiance alfo. Thefe terms, we hope, captain McManus will be able to procure.

Signed by order of the inhabitants of Wexford, MATT. KEUGH.”

Captain McManus was to have gone to general Needham to Oulart but finding that he had changed his pofition, he repaired directly to general Lake at Ennifcorthy, where he found captain O’Hea of the North Cork, and captain Burke of the Mayo, who were fent on the fame errand, the former to general Lake, and the latter to, general Moore.

Soon after the departure of captain McManus, the rebel leaders being uneafy left the victorious army of general Moore fhould arrive before their terms had been accepted by general Lake, urged lord Kingfborough to fend a fecond meffenger to general Moore, to requeft he would encamp at Carrick-bridge,* before he advanced to the town. His lordfhip employed for that purpofe enfign Harman of his own regiment, who was attended by one Carthy, a rebel captain.

Soon after he left the town, he was met by father John Murphy, and one Whelan his aid-de-camp, who were leading a large rebel column from Vinegar-hill. Murphy afked Harman, (who unfortunately was in full uniform,) whither he was going? he anfwered, to propofe terms to general Moore on the part of the people of Wexford. Murphy faid, in a great rage, “I will hear of no terms. Then addreffing his aid-de-camp, and pointing to Harman, he faid, “That fellow ought to die, for he has been condemned by a committee” on which Whelan drew a piftol, and fhot Mr. Harman through the head.

As captain O’Hea met one of the rebel columns retreating from Vinegar-hill, I give the reader his defcription of it He was accompanied by two rebel captains, one of the name of Clooney, as guides and protedlors. The column which he met was very numerous, and many of the men who formed it were well armed with mufkets, piftols, and blunderbuffes, and the remainder with pikes. General Edward Fitzgerald, who commanded, and rode at the head of the column, on feeing captain O’Hea in his regimentals, halted it; and after a cool falute, demanded his difpatches, which he read and returned, with an appearance of diffatisfaction. Many of the rebels cheered him, and feemed much pleafed with the idea of peace; and but a few curfed the idea, and faid, they would

* Plate III, 5, 6, now called Carrickferry.

ftill fight. At the rear of the column he met Edward Roche, the lay-general, who faluted him, and fuffered him to pafs, when Clooney had explained the purport of his embafy.
General Lake gave the following anfwer to Keugh’s letter:

“Lieutenant-general Lake cannot attend to any terms offered by rebels in arms againft their fovereign; while they fo remain, he muft ufe the force entrufted to him, with the utmoft energy, for their deftruction. “To the deluded multitude, he promifes pardon, on their delivering into his hands their leaders, furrendering their arms, and returning with sincerity to their allegiance.

Ennifcorthy, 22d June, 1798. G. LAKE.”

The inhabitants of Wexford, who faw this rebel column advancing at a great diftance, were very much alarmed, dreading that they would plunder and burn the town.
When lord Kingfborough was invefted with the command of it, he fent a note to Scallion,* who was on board the prifon-fhip, to defire he would bring Mr. Solomon Richards of Solfborough to him, as he wanted his advice and affiftance, in the critical fituation in which he then ftood. The rebels attempted to fmk the boat in which he went, as he paffed under the bridge, which was very high, by darting their pikes through it; and would have effected it, but that they were prevented by Scallion.
Soon after Mr. Richards waited on lord Kingfborough, the rebel column entered the town, headed by father Murphy, who advanced to his lordfhip’s lodgings, mounted on a fine horfe fully caparifoned, having a cafe of piftols and a broad fword. Lord Kingfborough addreffed him from his window, and told him he would endeavour to obtain favourable terms for him and his friends, provided they conducted themfelves properly; and faid, he hoped he was coming to give up his arms: On which, the facerdotal hero, in a paroxyfm of rage, difmounted, and afcending to his lordfhip’s apartment, afked him, with much rudenefs and petulance, who he was? and on being informed, he faid, with great indignation, “I had you tried and condemned this morning at the camp at Vinegar-hill, and I’ll have you taken out and executed this night.”

* He was created an admiral by the fepublick, for having taken his lordfhip prifoner.