ATROCITIES COMMITTED AT CASTLECOMER AND
IN ITS VICINITY.

On the night of the twenty-third of May, the colliers firft appeared in arms, and attacked the barrack of Doonane, (about three miles from. Caftlecomer,) in which there was a company of the Waterford militia. The object of the rebels was, it is faid, after taking the barrack, and putting all the loyalifts to death, to march to Carlow, and join the body deftined for the attack of that town. It unfortunately happened, that moft of the Waterford were billeted through the village of Doonane; however, the few that were in the barrack, though taken by furprife, completely beat the rebels off, confifting of at least feven hundred men. Several of the foldiers turned out of the barrack in their fhirts, and kept up a fmart fire for a few minutes, when the rebels fled precipitately. As they carried with them their killed and wounded, it never was afcertained how many fell in that action.

The honourable James Butler, brother to the earl of Ormond, who commanded the Faffaghdineen yeomen cavalry, as foon as he got intelligence of the attack on Doonane, collected as many of his corps as were near the town of Caftlecomer; and, together with a detachment of the Waterford militia then quartered in the town, marched with the utmoft fpeed to the relief of Doonane; however, too late to come up with the rebels, who by that time had gained the mountains, and were difperfing.

It providentially happened, that the proteftants of Caftlecomer were not attacked that night, while the garrifon had marched to Doonane; as they muft have inevitably fallen a facrifice to their favage fury. Had they fucceeded in the attempt on the barrack of Doonane, they would unquestionably have afterwards attacked the town.

On the twenty-fourth of May, captain Butler’s yeoman corps was ordered on permanent duty; and the day after a troop of the 5th, or Royal Irifh dragoons, under the command of captain Green, marched in, to ftrengthen the garrifon. With this reinforcement, they conceived themfelves tolerably fecure.

Early in the month of June, Sir Charles Afgill received information againft feveral of the Faffaghdineen cavalry, as rebels, and in confequence seven of them, all papifts, were lodged in Kilkenny gaol. The people of the neighbourhood continued to give up their pikes, and to take oaths of allegiance, in order to lull the magiftrates and proteftant inhabitants into a fupine and fatal fecurity.

They were frequently alarmed by reports of the rebels coming to attack them, and the garrifon were feveral nights under arms; but thofe reports were generally occafioned by ill-grounded apprehenfions. The minds of the people were in fuch a ftate, that any unufual noife at night occafioned infinite alarm. However, at length they heard that a body of rebels, who efcaped from Wexford, were making their way to that country, in order to join the colliers, and then proceed to attack Kilkenny.

In the courfe of Saturday the twenty-third, feveral loyalifts from the mountains, between Caftlecomer and Leighlin-bridge, brought intelligence, that the rebels were bending their courfe that way. They ftill remained in heedlefs fecurity. They had often been alarmed by falfe reports, that they would not now believe the approaching danger, though each fucceffive exprefs ftrengthened the former; and though a poor man who was moft dreadfully mangled and left for dead by the rebel advance-guard was brought into the town, to have his wounds dreffed. It is impoffible to defcribe the diftreffing fcene which on that evening prefented itfelf, all the proteftants with their families flying from the mountains and the colliery. For feveral hours the roads were crowded with thofe unfortunate fugitives, with infancy and decrepitude in their train, dreading the fpirit of fanaticifm.

On Saturday night the garrifon was reinforced by a troop of the 4th dragoons, a company of the Waterford militia from Doonane, a company of the Downfhire, twenty of the Cullinagh infantry, and forty of the Cullinagh cavalry, fo that the whole might confift of nearly three hundred, but being moftly cavalry, they were not at all calculated for that country, where the ground is much broken up with colliery pits. That night, the rebels flept at a place about five miles from Caftlecomer, on a ridge of mountains, near Leighlin-bridge.

Among the loyalifts who fled from the colliery and the adjacent country, there were about one hundred who had arms, but very little ammunition.

They were ordered out in different parties, to watch the movements of the rebels, many of them with not more than fix rounds of cartridge. The whole force was drawn feparate on the bridge, and in the main ftreet; and a reconnoitring party, confifting of one hundred men, were fent out about four o’clock in the morning, to watch the rebels motions. There was fuch an immenfe fog early on Sunday morning, that it was utterly impoffible to difcern objects at twenty yards diftance.

About four o’clock, the rebels arrived at a place called Gurteen, near three miles from Caftlecomer,* where they heard mafs. It being St. John’s day, they had prayers again about two miles off, where they halted. They had proceeded under cover of the fog, fo that the troops who were fent to reconnoitre, were fired on before they could fee them. At length the fog began to difperfe a little, which opened to the aflonifhed troops a view of not lefs than from eight to ten thoufand rebels, thofe armed with mufkets in the front, the pikemen in the rear. The main body had halted on the road, and two wings were extending themfelves on each fide; the whole formed a crefcent. In order to underftand the perilous fituation of our troops, it is neceffary to obferve, that for nearly two miles of the road to the town of Caftlecomer there is a long range of wall on each fide; and about half a mile of it is planted. While the fog was fo thick, the troops could not perceive that the wings of the rebel army had confiderably fpread themfelves, and were advancing in a fmart trot, to furround the town, while the main body remained ftationed in the road; fo that when captain Green, judging from their numbers that all refiftance was fruitlefs, ordered a retreat; and the rebels who had got before them, and lined the walls, kept up a fmart fire on them. The retreat was very diforderly; and many of the infantry were overturned by the cavalry, and left expofed to the rebels fire.

An inftance of uncommon audacity occurred within a few perches of the town: A rebel captain, with a green fafh, rufhed out from a bye road on horfeback, and accofting captain Butler, at the head of his corps, defired him to furrender, and that he, his men, and the town fhould be faved. Captain Butley miffing fire at him, the rebel wheeled about, fired without effect, and was fhot by a yeoman within a few yards of the rebel army.

* Plate I. 8, 9,

The retreat of our troops had not been fo precipitate, but that many of the rebels had rufhed to the bridge, almoft as foon as the foldiers; but with fuch a confufed rapidity did the retreating party gallop into the town, overturning every thing before them, that the rell of our force that was pofted on the bridge joined the throng, and fled up the ftreet. A very few of the Waterford and Downftiire militia kept their ground on the bridge for a few minutes, killed feveral rebels, and gave the whole a check. At length they took refuge in four houfes which were next to, and completely flanked the bridge and, together with a few loyalifts of the town, kept up a warm fire from the houfes. The right wing of the rebels forded the river above the town, and being joined by the traitorous inhabitants, fet fire to the fuburbs.

The perilous fituation of the loyal few in thofe houfes already mentioned, can be better imagined than defcribed; the bridge crowded with rebels, yelling with rage, crying out for blood, and not a foldier to oppofe them: the back-houfes all on fire. Here, amidft furrounding flames, and to the very breafts of the rebels, might be feen the gallant captain Butler, fingle and unfupported, riding down the jftreet, within a few yards of the rebels, endeavouring to rally the fcattered force, calling them back in words that would animate the dead. Amidft balls thick as hail, twice did he ride up and down the ftreet, with an heroick intrepidity, as laudable as it was unavailing. And now commenced a very fharp, but ill-directed fire from the rebels on the bridge, which was as warmly and more effectually anfwered from the houfes; for three hours and a half this fire was kept up, and not a rebel was fuffered to crofs the bridge alive. At length when their ammunition was almoft expended, general father Murphy, who had kept aloof from the heat of the action, near the church, where they tried their prifoners, fent a black fervant of the countefs of Ormond, whom they had taken prifoner, to inform thofe who fired from the houfes, “That if they marched out with their hats on the top of their guns, their lives fhould be faved; that it was in vain to refift any longer, as he expected a reinforcement from Ballyragget immediately.” They detained his ambaffador for fome time, and at length fent the reverend general word, that they would fubmit if he would, by the fame meffenger, fend them a written affurance of mercy. This they did to gain time; and foon after they obferved the troops from Kilkenny lining the

hills, and taking their pofitions to attack the rebels. General Sir Charles Afgill with nine hundred men, went to their relief, and a few rounds of grape-fhot foon diflodged the rebels, who retreated the way they came, in a flow pace, and in, an irregular manner.

When Sir Charles arrived near the town, he fent a detachment of the Wexford, under lieutenant-colonel Ram, (which were foon joined by the grenadiers of the Wicklow) and a party of cavalry, to take poft on a bridge contigueus to it, and on the Doonane fide of it; and after firing a few rounds of grape into Caillecomer, they marched into it. At that time the rebels, a few ftragglers excepted, had abandoned it; but two of them, who remained under the bridge, fired up the ftreet feveral times, and wounded two of the Wicklow regiment. Lady Ormond’s manfion, and feveral other houfes in the town were then in a blaze; and the heat was fo great, that the bombadier of the Wicklow regiment requefted that Sir Charles would change his pofition, as he was afraid that the guns might go off; upon which he took poft on an eminence which commanded the town.

The family of Mr. Kane, agent to lady Ormond, had been in a deplorable ftate. The females had been prifoners in their own houfe, which the rebels locked up and fet on fire; and they retired to the cellar to avoid the flames, but the troops arrived and liberated them before it was confumed. They had taken Mr. Kane prifoner, and carried him before father Murphy, who continued in. the body of the church, trying, as orangemen, fuch proteftants as they had taken prifoners; and two of whom they maffacred before Sir Charles arrived. He tried and would have had Mr. Kane put to death as an orangeman, but that fome poor women of the colliery by their tears and entreaties (as he is a gentleman of great humanity); prevailed on the reverend general to let him efcape.

Sir Charles, having taken an elevated pofition, pofted his guns fo as to rake the woods, in which he killed a good many of the rebels, who compofed the rear guard of the main body, at that time two miles out of the town, and fuppofed to be between fix and feven thoufand men.

As Sir Charles Afgill returned to Kilkenny without leaving a foldier in Caftlecomer, the proteftants were obliged to defert their houfes, and leave them and their property to the mercy of thofe, of whom they foon found they had formed but too juft fufpicions. To remain in the town,

without military protection or ammunition, would furely have been madnefs; for at the time of the general’s orders to return, the rear of the rebel army was ftill in view.

I fhall not attempt, for I could not defcribe, the heart-breaking fight of all the proteftants quitting their homes. The whole road, from Caftlecomer to Kilkenny, was one continued and melancholy train of fugitives, men, women and children, who but a few hours before were poffeffed of peace and comfort, now outcafts from their houfes, feeking an afylum among Grangers, from the mercilefs hands of their popifh neighbours. That evening the rebels of the town burned every loyalift’s houfe; infuriate with the plunder of lady Ojmond’s cellar, they committed every excefs. From Sunday to Thurfday thofe favages rioted in the pillage of the town, when at length Sir Charles Afgill, on the twenty-eighth of June, fent a party of the Glangary fencibles and the Faffaghdineen cavalry, who furprifed them in the midft of their excelfes, and killed about twenty-four and took feveral prifoners, from whofe confeffion it appeared, that a party of Cufllecomer rebels, all Roman catholicks, had gone to meet the Wexford army, on Friday the twenty-fecond, and induced them to come on to attack it. Moft of thefe have fince been hanged or tranfported.

It would be tedious to mention the feveral inftances of atrocity which occurred at that time in Caftlecomer and its vicinity: I fhall, however, fubjoin a few undoubted facts, which are well known.

On Sunday morning the twenty-fourth of June, James Anderfon, who was a vidette in the colliery, was met by the advance-guard of the rebels, as he was returning from his watch, not fufpecting that the rebels were in the neighbourhood. They afked him if he was a chriftian; on anfwering that he was, they defired him to blefs himfelf as a proof of it. This he could not do; they then dragged him into a houfe on the road fide, drove a pike through him, under his arms, raifed him up from the ground on their pikes, and ftabbing him under the ear, bled him like a pig, in a crock which had milk in it. He was a quiet, inoffenfive man. He was not an orangeman, but, what is the fame in the eyes of the rebels, a proteftant.

An inftance occurred, which very ftrongly marks the defigns and fentiments of the rebels: A poor man of the name of Coogan, was purfued by a party of rebels through lady Ormond’s plantation; he

was overtaken, and moft miferably mangled with pikes; when almolft expiring, he begged of them to fend for the prieft. They curfed him for a ftupid vagabond, that he did not tell them at firft he was a chriftian,* and they would not have ufed him fo. This poor man luckily furvived to tell the ftory.

Arthur Williams, a quiet induftrious tradefman, was taken prifoner in Mr. Kane’s houfe in Caftlecomer, and was brought to the church, and then was on the point of being fhot, when the army appearing in view, they took him with them to Wolf’s-hill, where his diftrafted wife followed him, and endeavoured to have him faved by the interference of a rebel captain; but as father Murphy was not then on the fpot, he could not be releafed.

The Downfhire militia from Maryborough appearing at a diftance, the whole rebel army moved off about feven o’clock in the evening (Sunday) to Doonane, and thence to the Ridge, bringing Williams along with them. Here they put him on his knees, and in the act of prayer, they run him through with pikes, and then fhot his face almoft off. This happened on Monday morning; his wife could not find him till Saturday after, when fhe difcovered him in a lonely part of the mountain, two miles off the road, fo disfigured, that fhe could fcarce recognife him: He was not an orangeman.

Two men of the name of Conn and Salter, having taken refuge in Caftlecomer the night before the attack, brought their families with them. In the buftle and confufion of the engagement they were feparated from their wives and children: When the action was over, anxioufly looking for their families, they met a man who had been a fervant for many years to the former, (Conn,) who told them that he would fhew them where their wives and children were; when bringing them about two miles from the town, collecting near twenty rebels, and fnatching a gun from his old mafter’s hand, he fhot him almoft in the prefence of his wife, and then they piked both him and Salter: They buried them immediately; the latter not quite dead: They then took the bodies up, fcooped out Salter’s eyes, and buried them in a place where they could never fince be found.

* Meaning thereby a papift.

William Bradley, his daughter Catherine Nesbitt, and nephew David Leycock, going from their houfe on Wednefday the twenty-feventh of June acrofs the hills, in order to reach Kilkenny, were purfued by a party of Caftlecomer rebels, robbed and barbaroufly murdered: The woman was pregnant. Their bodies were not difcovered until the Chriftmas after. Neither Bradley or Leycock were orangemen.

The county of Wexford rebels, after having burned Caftlecomer, encamped within four miles of Athy, intending to attack it next morning, and thence to have joined Doorly, the traitorous yeoman and affaffin of Rathangan, and William Aylmer at Profperous.

General Dunn, at that time quartered at Monaftereven, hearing the perilous fituation of Athy,* with that fpirit which he difplayed on all occafions, flew to its affiftance, with a fix-pounder and one hundred of the city of Cork militia. His arrival gave fuch fpirit to the yeomanry, that they only wifhed to be led againft their enemies. The general felected one hundred of the yeomen, in addition to the city of Cork detachment, and confcious of the goodnefs of his caufe, at twelve o’clock at night marched to the attack of the rebel camp. His intentions, were fruftrated, as the moment he arrived at Athy, the reverend Mr. K——, a popifh prieft, was feen pofting to the rebel camp with great expedition, to inform them of the intended attack.

When the general arrived there, he found it had been deferted at an early hour in the night, and that they had retraced their fteps. He purfued them for many miles without any fuccefs, except that in flying from him, they fell into the track of the gallant major Mathews of the Downfhire, who, with four hundred men, purfued them; and having apprifed Sir Charles Afgill of it, he joined in the purfuit, overtook them at Kilcomney, near Gore’s-bridge, and completely defeated them.

A body of troops having marched from Maryborough, on the twenty-fourth of June, by order of Sir Charles Afgill, for the purpofe of cooperating with, him, proceeded towards the collieries of Caftlecomer and Doonane, and on the road they faw Caftlecomer on fire, after Sir Charles Afgill had retreated from it to Kilkenny; they confifted of four hundred of the Royal Downfhire militia, commanded by major Mathews, captain Poole, with the Ballyfin yeomen cavalry, and captain Gore, with the Maryborough corps.

* Plate I. 8.

As foon as they arrived at Moyad, they faw the rebels under father Murphy in great force, on the high grounds above Doonane. As it was late in the day, they refolved on retiring to Timohoe, and to attack them early next morning. Soon after they received an exprefs from Sir Charles Afgill, defiring them to return to Maryborough; but they anfwered, by propofing to him to attack the rebels next morning on the Doonane fide, and that they would attack them on the road from Timohoe in the oppofite direction:

Sir Charles anfwered them next morning, at feven o’clock, ‘by faying that his troops were too much fatigued to co-operate with them, but that they might engage the rebels, fhould circumftances prove favourable for that purpofe.

They then returned to Moyad, with an intention of attacking the rebels next day; but the cavalry who were fent out to reconnoitre, having brought intelligence that the rebels had retreated to the bridge of Old Leighlin, they again purfued them, but were difappointed in their defign of bringing them to action, as they had marched to Gore’s-bridge. The cavalry having proceeded to Old Leighlin,* captain Poole fent an exprefs to Sir Charles Afgill of the enemy’s motions, and of their intention of attacking them the firft opportunity that offered. At Old Leighlin they met Mr. Vigors, an active and intelligent officer, who had retired from the fervice; and he fupplied them with a number of cars to carry their men, as fome of them were overcome with hunger and excefs of fatigue; and he alfo accompanied them to the fcene of action, giving them at the fame time his advice, and every affiftance in his power.

About twelve o’clock at night, they arrived at Leighlin-bridge, and in two hours after received an exprefs from Sir Charles Afgill, defiring them to meet him at Gore’s-bridge, at five o’clock in the morning. They inflantly marched in purfuit of the rebels; but foon after, major Mathews having received intelligence that they had bent their courfe towards the mountains, changed his route for the purpofe of intercepting them; and fent intelligence of his defign to Sir Charles Afgill, by Mr, Moore, coliedor of Leighlin, who, with his brother, Mr. Pierce Moore, attended them, and to whofe advice and affiftance major Mathews attributed their having intercepted and overtaken the enemy.

After a march of three hours, they came in fight of the rebels pofted i&R Kilcomney-hill, near Gore’s-bridge,‡ and fired fome cannon fhot at

* Plate II. 3, 4.     ‡ibid. 6.

them, on which they retired about a mile and a half, to form their line. Our troops followed them in column, with the cannon in front, and the cavalry in the rear. They no fooner formed, than they heard Sir Charles Afgill’s cannon on the other fide of the hill. After a few difcharges of our artillery, the rebels were broken and fled, and our troops continued to purfue them for fix miles with great flaughter.

All their cannon, baggage, horfes, ftores and provifions, fell into our hands, and fome unfortunate foldiers and proteftants, who happened to be their prifoners, were retaken. The remainder of the rebels fled into the county of Wexford, through the Scullagh-gap.

Father John Murphy, a prieft, who acted as aid-de-camp to the great facerdotal hero John Murphy, of Boulavogue, and who had accompanied him from Vinegar-hill, fell in this action. He had a dove and a crucifix on his buttons; and letters directed to him were found in his pocket, recommending to him proper places for encamping.

Father John Murphy, the commander in chief, who fled from the field of battle, was taken at an alehoufe by three yeomen, one of them, of the name of McCabe, and was led a prifoner to Tullow,* the headquarters of Sir James Duff. He was introduced into a room where the general, his aid-de-camps, colonels Fofter and Pigot, the earl of Roden, captain McClintock, and in all about twenty officers were fitting. Major Hall having afked him fome questions which gave him offence, he in a violent rage made a blow of his fift at the major, which would have knocked him down, but that he warded it off with his arm, on which he received a fevere contufion. On fearching him, they found in his pockets his veftments, and fome letters from Mrs. Richards and other ladies prifoners at Wexford, imploring him to fave the lives of their hufbands and relations. He was hanged on the fame day. His body was burned, and his head was fixed on the market-houfe of Tullow. He was about, forty-five years old, light complexioned, bald-pated, and about five feet nine inches high; He was well made, uniting ftrength and agility: He was irafcible, and when in a paffion, had fomewhat the afpect of a tiger. His pix, his oil flock, and a fmall crucifix were found in his pocket.

In order to do away in fome degree the ftain which his infamous conduct might bring on the Irifh priefthood, it has been feduloufly propagated that he was excommunicated; but this is abfolutely falfe, for he

* Plate II. 1, 2.

continued to exercife his clerical funftion, and was regarded as a pious and learned prieft, till the breaking-out of the rebellion; when,

“He did fo ill tranflate himfelf, Out of the fpeech of peace that bears fuch grace, Into the harfh and boifterous tongue of war, Turning his books to glaives, his ink to blood, His pens to lances; and his tongue divine To a loud trumpet, and a point of war.”                     ——Shakspeare

It is no lefs fingular than true, that the lower clafs of Irifh papifts never think that their priefts can fuffer any ftain or contamination from the commiffion of crimes, how heinous foever; juft as Shadrach, Mefhach, and Abednego remained uninjured from the flames.

Father Nicholas Sheehy is added to the bead roll of their faints; and I need not give any other proof of the reverence in which the memory of that famous facerdotal hero, John Murphy, is held, than the following:

A piece of fuperftitious trumpery is now printed by William Jones, No. 75, Thomas-ftreet, Dublin, entitled, “Revelations revealed to faint Auguftine, faint Bridget, and faint Anne, by our Lord and Saviour Jefus Chrift.” The fecond part of it is faid to explain the twelve golden Fridays in the year; and the devotions, together with fome folitary acts, by the late reverend father John Murphy, D.D. In this he points out the number of paters and aves that are to be faid each golden Friday, and on certain holy days; and it is ftated in it, “That what man or woman foever fhall carry it about them, fhall be not only free from our enemies, but alfo from a fudden and unprovided death; and if any woman travelling with child, fhall wear it about her, fhe fhall be not only fafely delivered, but likewife be free from the fear of death in child-bed; and what houfe or place it is kept in, fhall be free from evil fpirits; to him or her who fhall carry it about them, the bleffed Virgin fhall appear to forewarn them of their future blefsed ftate: The devil fhall have no power over them at their laft hour: They fhall fee our bleffed Saviour nailed to the crofs, (in the fame manner as he fuffered for our redemption,) before their death.”

This curious piece is in the hands of the popifh multitude in the founty of Wexford, who regard this church militant hero as a martyr in the caufe of French republican liberty and religion.

The confpiracy had been more alarming in the north than in any other part of the kingdom, as numbers of prefbyterians concerned in it there had more improved intellects, more courage, and knew better the life of arms, than the inhabitants of Leinfter and Munfter; but the conciliatory meafures ufed by government had detached numbers from the union, and the falutary coercion ufed by the general officers in difarming the multitude, abated the fpirit of the confpirators, by diminifhing their hopes of fuccefs.

For thefe reafons we may fuppofe, the confpiracy did riot break out in the North for fome days after it exploded in the province of Leinfher. Though the detention of the mail coaches had been the fignal for a general infurrection, the prefbyterians, wary and cautious, hefitated to rife,till they had heard that their friends in the fouth were actually in arms, and yet had made preparations for that purpofe; but in Leinfter, the war being purely religious, and tKe people being blinded by fanaticifm; and impelled by the irrefiftible influence of their priefts, rufhed into action on the night of the twenty-third of May, appointed for the general rifing.
Lord O’Neil, who refided at Shane’s-caftle in the county of Antrim, having received certain intelligence that an infurrection was fhortly intended, as governor of the county, fummoned by publick notice the magiftrates of it, to meet at Antrim, on the feventh of June, 1798, for the purpofe of concerting meafures to prevent it. To counteract his defign, the leaders of the confpiracy refolved to bring forward the rifing on that day, to attack the town of Antrim, to feize his lordfhip and the magiftrates,and to keep them as hoftages; and they intended at the fame time to have feized a quantity of arms furrendered at different times, which were depofited in that town.

General Nugent, having received intelligence of their intentions, fent orders to Blaris camp for the fecond light battalion, confifting of the 64th regiment, and the light companies of the Kerry, Dublin, Tipperary, Armagh, and Monaghan militia, and one hundred and fifty of the 22d light dragoons, with two curricle fix-pounders, and two five and a half inch howitzers, to march to Antrim with all poffible difpatch; and two hundred

and fifty of the Monaghan militia, a troop of the 22d light dragoons, and the Belfaft cavalry, under the command of colonel Durham, to march to Antrim, by Carmoney and Templepatrick; and the light battalion from Blaris, commanded by colonel Clavering, and the dragoons by the honourable colonel Lumley. He alfo difpatched orderly ferjeants to major Seddon at Antrim, to inform him of the intended attack, and of the reinforcements which were going to his affiftance.

The orderlies arrived at Antrim at nine o’clock, but did not perceive any extraordinary movement in the country, or any indication of infurrection. However, the drums immediately beat to arms, the yeomanry affembled in a fhort time, and the inhabitants of the town were called on to turn out in its defence. In fending the fummonfes through the town, it was difcovered that all the notorious united Irifhmen had left it early in the morning, which convinced major Seddon that general Nugent’s information was well founded. Of four hundred man, capable of bearing arms, two hundred turned out on the occafion; but they could be fupplied with no more than eighty ftand of arms, as there were no more ferviceable; and there was fo great a fcarcity of ammunition, that after borrowing eight hundred rounds from major Seddon, the yeomanry had but twelve rounds a man, and thofe who volunteered but five.

About ten o’clock, many perfons came in from different parts of the country, with intelligence that the rebels were forcing great numbers to join them, and that the mafs of the people were in motion.

At twelve o’clock, James Stewart Moore, efquire, captain of the Dunfqoverick cavalry, and Mr. Gamble, lieutenant of the fame, with fifteen men, came into Antrim from Ballymena, after having cut their way through jibout two hundred rebels near Kells: Both thefe gentlemen were magiftrates.

Lord O’Neil flept at Hillfborough the night of the fixth of June, on his way from Dublin to Antrim, and paffed through Lifburn at ten o’clock in the morning of the feventh, without being known, and got to Antrim at half paft twelve. He did not perceive any movement in the country, though his fervants, who were about ten minutes after him, were robbed of their arms by the rebels. Had lord O’Neil been known in Lifburn, he would have been prevented from proceeding, as general Nugent had fent

orders to have the intended rifing communicated to all the maglftrates in that neighbourhood, and to prevent them from going to Antrim.

The plan of the rebels was, to advance with four columns, one from the diftrict between Antrim and Belfaft, and to enter the town by the Belfaft road;* the fecond from Ballynure, Ballyclare and Doagh, to enter by the Carrickfergus road, and join the Belfaft column at the end of the Scotch quarter; a third from Connor, Kells, and Ballymena, and to enter it by Paty’s-lane; a fourth from Shane’s-caftle, Randalftown, and Dunoilty, to enter by Bow-lane. The three firft columns were to make their attack at half past two o’clock; and at the fame moment, the fourth, under the command of colonel Samuel Orr, brother to the famous William Orr, was to make its attack a few minutes after. The two firft columns reached the end of the Scots quarter, juft as the advanced guard of our fecond battalion was coming over the bridge from Lifburn, which is at right angles with the main ftreet, and nearly the centre of the town.

The advanced guard was commanded by the honourable colonel Lumley, and confifted of one hundred of the 22d light dragoons, and two curricle guns, which opened with cafe fhot from the centre of the main ftreet, oppofite the bridge, and were flanked by the yeomanry. The cavalry were diawn up in the rear.

The town of Antrim is nearly a mile long, and that fpace from the Scott quarter to the market-houfe, is about two-thirds of its length, and nearly a ftraight line. The main ftreet is a continuation of the Scots quarter* and is at right angles with the wall of lord Maffareene’s garden, which is about forty yards from the market-houfe, and lies nearly in the centre of the ftreet. The wall of the garden completely commands the main ftreet, and the entrance to the market-houfe, which is a fquare building, fupported by ftone pillars, and very difficult to fet fire to. The guard-houfe was there, and a number of prifoners confined in it. There was a fecond wall at right angles with the garden wall, which flanks it, and commands Bow-lane. The two walls are joined with each other, and with one part of aa old fortification. The wall is about fifteen feet high towards the ftreet, and being but four feet high on the garden fide, forms a good parapet or breaft-work. The church is about half way between the market-houfe and the end of the Scots quarter. It is built on a rifing ground, and is

* See Plate IX.

furrounded by a wall, which is about eight feet high towards the ftreet, and four on the infide. The church is nearly in a line with the houfes on one fide of the Scots quarter, and part of the wall is parallel to the houfes at the oppofite fide, and the diftance between it and the houfes is about twelve yards.

The church is about feventy yards from Maffareene-bridge, where theguns began to play on the rebels, who were at that time about feventy yards above the church, advancing from the upper part of the Scots quarter, ina clofe column of about twenty-two in front, and about four thoufand ftrong. Their front was compofed of about eight hundred mufketeers, who were excellent markfmen. Whenever, they came within fight of the dragoons and yeomanry, they commenced ftreet firing, and by the time they came within one hundred and fifty yards; of the army, they filed to the rear. Their fix-pounder* was then in front; with which they fired two rounds of grape fhot, and did great execution, having killed and wounded three yeomen, two artillery men, and four or five dragoons. The recoil of the fecond fhot difabled the gun fo much, that they could not fire any more. The cafe fhot from our curricle guns did fuch great execution, that the rebels perceived they could not advance without immenfe lofs. However,their mufketeers preffed on, and got poffeffion of the churcL-yard, from whence they maintained a heavy fire.

The greater part of the pikemen went acrofs the fields, and formed in Bow-lane, to take our army in the rear, which being perceived, the gunners were ordered to retreat under lord Maffareene’s wall, where the guns could play on the rebels advancing up that lane; and at the fame time the dragoons were ordered to charge, in order to cover the retreat of the guns: but before they could reach the rebel column, they had to pafs the church-yard, within four or five yards of the rebel mufketry, planted in. fee urity behind, the wall. About eighty dragoons, headed by the honourable colonel Lumley, having, made the charge, near twenty of them were killed and

* They brought this gun from Temple-patrick, where they had it and another brafs fix- pounder, concealed under one of the feats of the diffenting meeting-houfe. They cut a tree, of which they made a trail, and they mounted the gun on the wheels of Mr. MVickar’s carriage, lord Templeton’s agent, and had wedges to elevate and deprefs it. It was formerly, attached to the Belfaft volunteers, but lay concealed for fix years. They had originally eight, which a!fo lay concealed, but fix of them were difcovered by general Nugent about a week before.

wounded. However, they bravely cut their way through, totally broke the rebel column, returned and renewed the charge by the church-yard wall, after leaving feventeen men dead in the ftreet, about thirty wounded, and forty horfes killed, all in the fpace of about two minutes. The officers who made that charge, were colonel Lumley, major Seddon, captain Baker, cornet Dunn, cornet Reid, and Mr. Gamble of the yeomanry, of which, cornet Dunn and Mr. Gamble were killed; the former fhot through the heart, the latter had his horfe fhot under him, and was afterwards perforated with pikes. Colonel Lumley, major Seddon, and cornet Reid, were wounded; the two latter with pikes. The former was fhot through the ankle bone. Quarter-mafter Simpfon was likewife killed. The yeomanry retreated, and took poffeffion of lord Maffareene’s garden, from whence they could command the main ftreet and Bow-lane, and in fome degree protect the guns, which were under the wall along with the dragoons. Lord O’Neil and the reverend doctor Macartney, of Antrim, had remained in the ftreet, with a party of dragoons, during the whole of the action.

When the rebels came within the range of the cafe fhot in Bow-lane, they were warmly received. However, they continued to advance with great intrepidity; on which, colonel Lumley, who was wounded, feeing the lofs he had fuftained in the charge, ordered a retreat, and the guns to be abandoned. The former retreated acrofs the river, and proceeding by the ftiore of the lake, to the Liftjurn road, joined the fecond battalion of our troops which were within two miles of the town. Lord O’Neil’s horfe having been wounded, became reftive and refufed to advance. Doctor Macartney ftaid with him a confiderable time, after the dragoons had retreated, endeavouring to get him to proceed with him; but finding it impoffible, he galloped his horfe through the rebels; and being unable to overtake the dragoons, he joined Mr. Staples, member for the county, and got with him into a boat, rowed acrofs tathe county of Tyrone, and informed general Knox, at Dungannon, of the events which had taken place at Antrim, and of which he had been ignorant until that moment. The general immediately affembled all the yeomanry of the country, marched to Toome with one thoufand five hundred of them, and prevented the county of Derry rebels from rifing, and joining the other infurgents.

Lord O’Neil, while endeavouring to get his horfe forward, was knocked down by a pikeman, and then mortally wounded, within thirty yards of the yeomanry behind the wall. His lordfhip fhot one of the men who attacked him, and the yeomanry two more; but the man who had given him the mortal wound efcaped.

On the retreat of the dragoons, the rebels, flufhed with fuccefs, rufhed on with a horrid yell, and feized the curricle guns; but every man of that party was killed by the yeomen, and the remainder retreated into the houfes and bye lanes of the town. On that, Mr. John Macartney,* lieutenant of the Antrim yeomanry, affifted by his brother, Mr. Arthur Macartney, lieutenant of the Royal Irifh Artillery, who volunteered on the occaflon, made a fally from the garden, with twenty of the Antrim corps, and drew up, in the midft of the rebel fire, the guns and the ammunition cart; and having planted them on the garden wall, they diflodged the rebels by a few difcharges of round fhot; however, they affembled again in feveral places round the town, to renew the attack; but colonel Orr, frightened on hearing the cannon, marched his column, which was one thoufand five hundred ftrong, back to Randalftown.

Before the rebels had arranged matters for a fecond attack, the reinforcement from Blaris and Belfaft arrived, on which they fled in all directions. But a great many of them were killed by the dragoons and the light companies of the Armagh and Monaghan militia, who were detached acrofs the fields to cut of ftragglers. Colonel Durham on arriving over the town, was informed that the rebels were in poffeffion of it; and therefore opened his guns on it with round fhot, and was on the point of doing much mifchief before he found his miftake. The rebels left about one hundred and fifty dead in the town, , and nearly two hundred

* At that time this young gentleman was little more than fixteen years old, and his brother was but in his eighteenth year. The courage and the loyalty of thefe amiable gentlemen render them an honour to their parents and their country. Mr. Arthur Macartney difplayed great fpirit and patriotifm, in detecting and oppofing the bafe delfgns of fome traitors who had infinuated themfelves into the univerfity of Dublin. Their father, the reverend doctor Macartney, a gentleman highly refpecttable, was the firft perfon who gave any important information to government on the alarming ftate of the confpiracy in the North. It confifts of papers inferted in the report of the fecret committee of the houfe of commons, under the head of papers feized by a magiftrate in a diftant part of the county of Antrim.

were killed in the purfuit, in which lieutenant Murphy of the dragoons was feverely wounded with a pike.

It has been fince difcovered, that a confiderable number of rebels had got into the town previous to the action in fmall parties, through lanes and the back doors of the houfes. About one o’clock, and before the rebels arrived, feveral pikes were difcovered in a garden in the Scots quarter: in confequence of whichy the houfe to which the garden belonged was fet on fire, and the flames communicated to feven more, which were confumed. The rebels having perceived the fire as they were marching towards the town, halted for near half an hour, doubtful if they fhould make the attack, not knowing the real caufe of the fire. During that delay, there arofe a difpute among the Roman catholicks and proteftants of Orr’s column; the former infifting on putting the orangemen in Antrim to death, but were oppofed by the latter, who declared they would not confent to any act of cruelty.

The attack upon Antrim was made a quarter before three o’clock. The reinforcements arrived at four. If the rebels had not halted on feeing the fire, they would have been in Antrim before coionel Lumley arrived; and of courfe would have taken the town.

Nearly one half of the rebel force which attacked Antrim was compelled to join them by terror. In their flight they left behind them about three thoufand pikes and muskets; and as they could not mount the two fix-pounders at Temple-patrick, they fell into the hands of our army on the ninth of June.

The rebels attacked Randalftown at half paft one on the feventh of June, and got poffeffion of the lower part of the market-houfe, in which there were fifty of the Toome yeomanry, and fet fire to it; on which they furrendered, and were taken out of the windows by ladders.

Colonel Clavering and colonel Durham marched to Shane’s caftle the evening of the feventh. The rebels evacuated Randalftown at ten that night, and marched to Toome, where they remained two days; and on feeing general Knox advancing towards them, they broke down the bridge to prevent him from croffing the Bann. The rebels went from Antrim* to Ballymena and Donegore bill, where they remained till Monday the eleventh, when colonel Clavering granted them an amnefty, on furrendering their arms, and promifing to return to their allegiance. The

* See Plate I. 3.

rebels pofted at Ballymena, faid to be ten thoufand ftrong, attacked Larne on the morning of the feventh, but were repulfed by a detachment of the Tay fencibles, aided by the yeomanry, and the loyal inhabitants.

The death of lord O’Neil was univerfally and defervedly lamented, as he poffeffed in a very eminent degree every good and amiable quality. He was generous and humane, warm and fteady in friendfhip, and fo mild and beneficent, that he was ever ready to forgive injuries. He had fuch innate goednefs and philanthropy, that he could fcarce be induced to think ill of others, and he had fuch fine feelings, that he never heard a tale of woe without fympathizing with the fufferer, and wifhing to adminifter to his relief. It might be truly faid, that,

“He had a tear for pity, and a hand “Open as day for melting charity.”

As a report prevailed on the ninth of June, that there was a rifing at Newtownards* in the county of Down, colonel Stapleton marched with a detachment of the York fencibles, and fome yeomen cavalry and infantry, and two pieces of cannon, towards Saintfield, and was informed between Comber and that town, that there was no appearance whatever of a rifing. The main body of the rebels lay in ambufh, in a hollow way, through which he was to pafs, within a quarter of a mile of Saintfield. The hedges on each fide were very high and numerous, and the rebels who were concealed behind them and in fome plantations, having fuffered the principal part of colonel Stapleton’s party to pafs unmolefted, opened a very heavy fire on their rear, confifting of the yeomen cavalry, whom they threw into confufion; as they were expofed to the enemy in a narrow road, where they could not deploy, or make any movement for their defence. The reverend Mr. Mortimer, vicar of Fortaferry, his nephew, and feven or eight yeomen, who had juft joined them, were inftantly killed. Thofe who attempted to crofs into the fields to form, were butchered with pikes. At laft, colonel Stapleton, with the moft cool intrepidity, difmounted, went into the fields, and formed the grenadiers there. Captain Chetwynd, lieutenant Unit and enfign Sparks, in attempting to follow him, were killed. Colonel Stapleton having attacked the infurgents with the grenadiers and the cannon which he brought to bear upon them, repulfed and killed three hundred and fifty of them.

* See Plate I. 3.

The rebels having retreated towards Newtownards attacked, next day, a fmall party, confifting moftly of invalids and old men, who were pofted in the market-houfe there, to guard a quantity of baggage and ammunition, and who repulfed them; but, expecting next day to be attacked by a much larger party, they capitulated, evacuated the town, and marched to Belfaft, eight miles off.

The rebels, flufhed with their fuccefs, and with the acquifition of a confiderable quantity of ammunition, formed a committee, and having laid a plan for their future operations, fent horfemen round the country, to fummon their friends, and by force compelled thofe to join them who shewed an unwillingnefs to do fo.

In confequence of this, a large body having affembled, they, on Sunday, entered the town of Bangor, where they compelled great numbers to join them, and plundered Mr. Ward’s houfe of arms. The reverend James Clewlow, with laudable fortitude, and in the moft pathetick manner, reprefented to them the fatal confequences of their conduct, and advifed them to lay down their arms; but could not fucceed. They then repaired to a hill near Newtownards, where, having difagreed, the Bangor people quitted them, returned and reftored Mr. Ward’s arms to Mr. Clewlow, in hopes of his getting for them a protection from general Nugent to obtain which, he repaired to Belfaft; but before he could return, two prefbyterian clergymen, Meffrs. Townfend and Hull, abufed them as cowards and traitors to their caufe, compelled them to re-affume their arms, and marched them to a hill called Scrabo, near Newtown, and thence to Saintfield, where they took poffeffion of the houfes of Meffrs. Price and Clewlow, which they plundered. They fent a party from Saintfield to the houfe of a farmer in the neighbourhood, and having fet fire to it, he and his whole family perifhed in the flames. He was obnoxious to them, becaufe he had profecufed fome united Irifhmen. He, at firft, with very great bravery, beat off a party of about twenty, but was overpowered by a large reinforcement. Though old, he difplayed great fpirit, having been feen firing at them in the midft of the flames.

A numerous body of rebels kept poffeffion of Saintfield, till Monday the eleventh of June, when they marched to Ballynahinch, and joined the main body, who were pofted in what they called a camp, on the lawn before lord Moira’s houfe, which was a favourable pofition, on a

commanding eminence, and fkirted with thick wood. The commander in chief was general Henry Munroe, a linen draper, and inhabitant of Lifburn, who had been formerly adjutant to a volunteer company, and acquired fome reputation for military knowledge.

On the morning of the twelfth of June, general Nugent marched againft them from Belfaft, with the Monaghan regiment of militia, part of the 22d dragoons, and fome yeomen infantry and cavalry; and was joined by lieutenant-colonel Stewart, near Ballynahinch, with his party from Downpatrick, making in all about one thoufand five hundred men. Information having been received at the rebel camp, that general Nugent was on his march to attack them, a party of five hundred was detached by Munroe, under the command of one Johnfon, to annoy the general, and retard his progrefs. They advanced near four miles to Creevy rocks, at the Ballynahinch fide of Saintfield, but were difperfed by the flanking parties of the army, and did not return to their friends at Ballynahinch.

A numerous body of the rebels were pofted on the Windmill hill, about a quarter of a mile from the town, but were foon driven from their pofition by the difcharge of the artillery, and joined the camp at lord Moira’s houfe. On that occafion, one M’Cullogh, a rebel colonel, was taken prifoner, and immediately hanged. General Nugent and his party then occupied the Windmill hill, where he halted that night, and made proper difpofitions for attacking them next morning.

A council was held in the rebel camp, in which the expediency of an immediate attack was debated with fome warmth. Munroe advifed them to wait till morning, and his recommendation ultimately prevailed.

Between two and three o’clock in the morning of the thirteenth, colonel Leflie and the Monaghan militia marched into the town, and were vigoroufly attacked by a detachment of the rebels, and obliged to fall back. They, however, immediately rallied, and repulfed them with confiderable flaughter. The rebels were fo furious in their charge as to lay their hands on the carriages of the battalion guns, and fome of them were almoft burnt to a coal by their explofion.

The detachment under lieutenant general Stewart, confining of a part of the Argylefhire fencibles, and fome of the 22d dragoons, and fome yeomanry corps, were likewife attacked; but they defeated the rebels, and killed a great number of them. The difperfion now became general,

and though the retreat was made in a confufed and irregular manner, it was much favoured by the woods and the nature of the country, which prevented the cavalry from any long or effectual purfuit. Near five hundred rebels are faid to have been killed. The town of Ballynahinch was burned by the military.

Munroe fled towards the mountains without any guard or efcort, and was afterwards accidentally difcovered and taken by three orangemen, as he lay concealed in a potatoe furrow, under fome litter, in an open field, about fix miles from Ballynahinch. He offered them forty guineas to let him efcape; but the loyalty of his captors was not to be corrupted. they brought him to Hillfborough, together with a young man of the name of Kane, taken with him in the fame furrow, and who was formerly employed as a clerk in the office of the Belfaft Northern Star. They were fent under a guard to Lifburn, where Munroe was tried by a court-martial, and executed oppofite to his own door. His head was fixed on a pike, and placed on the market-houfe. Juft before he was fufpended, he faid that he wifhed to fettle an account with a neighbour, to whom he was indebted. He accordingly got a pen and ink, and adjufted it with all the coolnefs of deliberation.

The rebel-army at Ballynahinch chiefly confifted of prefbyterians, and other denominations of proteftant diffenters, with few, if any, Roman catholicks, as they deferted the night before the battle, which inflamed the prefbyterians very much againft them.

On the night of the ninth, and the morning of the tenth, the infurrection from Newtownards to Portaferry was general; and a body of rebels, to the number of one thoufand, attacked the latter about four o’clock in the afternoon. They were faid to be chiefly under the direction of one Warwick, a prefbyterian probationer, fince hanged; and they were headed by one McMullin, of Portaferry, a fhopkeeper, and two farmers in its vicinity. The town was gallantly defended by that brave veteran, captain Charles Mathews, and the Portaferry yeomanry, who took poft in the market-houfe, and converted it into a garrifon.

Captain Mathews having received intelligence in the morning, that the town was to be attacked, had the arches of the building filled up with a dry temporary wall, to prevent the rebels from fetting fire to the loft, which their leaders had refolved to do. Captain Hopkins being in

the river, with the revenue cruifer which he commanded, rendered the moft important fervice on the occafion with his guns. The lofs of the rebels was confiderable, while not a fingle yeoman was hurt. Three volunteer loyalifts, who worked two fwivels outfide the market-houfe, having no cover, were killed.

The event of this action was of the utmoft confequence, for had the rebels fucceeded in it, they were to have croffed the lake at Strangford; and the rebels in the barony of Lecale, who were numerous, were to have joined them.* Downpatrick muft have fallen, and an immenfe force, thus prevented, would have encreafed the army of Ballynahinch.

The boldnefs and courage which the infurgents in the North difplayed during the very fhort period that the rebellion exifted, prove how dangerous and terrifick it would have been, but that government very wifely and feafonably averted the horrors of it, partly by conciliatory meafures, and partly by coercion; and the dreadful and cold-blooded maffacres of proteftants perpetrated in the fouth, having convinced the northern rebels of the cruelty and treachery of their Roman catholick confederates, and that their own deftruction would be involved in that of the conftitution, detached them from the union, and completely extinguifhed the flame of rebellion in the north.

Dickey, a rebel leader, who was hanged at Belfaft, declared a fhort time before his execution, that the prefbyterians of the north perceived, too late, that, if they had fucceeded in fubverting the conftitution, they would ultimately have to contend with the Roman catholicks.

Some refpectable gentlemen of the county of Donegal have affured me that the prefbyterians and Roman catholicks of a large and populous diftrict in it, called Fanet, were fo jealous and fufpicious of each other, as foon as the maffacres in the fouth were known, that they continued for fome time watching each other, without going to bed at night; the former dreading the fate of the proteftants in Leinfter, and the latter fearing that the prefbyterians would be revenged of them for the maffacre of their brethren. Numbers of prefbyterians who had been united, deferted their affociates, joined the yeomanry, and became orangemen.

The judicious difpofition and active exertions of lord Henry Murray, under lord Cavan, from Coleraine, in June, 1798, aided by the yeomanry

* See Plate I. 1.

of that town, and the like conduct on the part of colonel Leith, aided by the Londonderry and Bevagh corps of cavalry, not only checked the defigns of the ill-affected in the country which they occupied, but completely checked the progrefs of the Antrim rebels, and kept them at the Antrim fide of the Bann; all the bridges of that river having been well fecured, and the boats drawn on fhore to the Derry fide.

The maffacres of the fouth alarmed and animated many thoufand proteftants, who fuddenly volunteered, armed themfelves, and joined general Knox, whofe approach from Moneymore, towards Toome, convinced the Antrim rebels, that they had no bufinefs to quit their own country; and he would have given them a complete overthrow, and have extinguifhed, for a century, a difpofition to rebellion in that county, but that colonel Clavering, who had made terms with them at Ballymena, went exprefs to Hop the general’s approach.

The amnefty granted to the rebels by colonel Clavering, though it was done with the beft intentions, has been condemned by many northern gentlemen of very good fenfe, as it was faid to have fed the flame of rebellion in the county of Antrim for many months after it took place, as much as general Dundas’s negotiation did in the county of Kildare.

It fhould be remembered with the livelieft fenfe of gratitude by the loyal fubjects of Ireland, that fome regiments of Englifh militia, feeling for their danger and diftrefs, voluntarily offered to go to their relief and affiftance; that fome of them went there fo early as the month of June, 1798, and that no lefs than thirteen of them arrived there in that year.

It will reflect immortal honour on the marquis of Hertford and the marquis of Buckingham, that they firft fet the example, and arrived in Dublin early in the month of June, at the head of their refpective regiments.