at night occasioned great alarm. However, at length, they heard that a body of rebels, who escaped from Wexford, were making their way to that country, in order to join the colliers, and then proceed to attack Kilkenny. In the course of Saturday the 23d, several loyalists from the mountains between Castlecomer and Leighlin Bridge, brought intelligence that the rebels were bending their course that way. They still remained in heedless security. They had often been alarmed by false reports, and, therefore, did not now believe the truth, though each successive express strengthened the former, and though a poor man, who was most dreadfully mangled, and left for dead by the rebel advanced guard, was brought into the town, to have his wounds dressed. It is impossible to describe the distressing scene which on that evening presented itself; all the Protestants, with their families, flying from the mountains and the colliery. For several hours the roads were crowded with these unfortunate fugitives, with infancy and decrepitude in their train, dreading the fruit of fanaticism. On Saturday night, the garrison was reinforced by a troop of the 4th Dragoons; a company of the Waterford Militia from Doonane; a company of the Downshire; twenty of the Cullinagh Infantry, and forty of the Cullinagh Cavalry; so that the whole might consist of nearly three hundred; but, being mostly cavalry, they were not at all calculated for that country, the ground being much broken up with coal pits. That night the rebels slept at a place about five miles from Castlecomer, called the Ridge of Old Leighlin. Among the loyalists 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 six rounds of cartridge. The army was drawn up on the bridge and in the main street, and a reconnoitering party consisting of one hundred men, were sent out about four o'clock in the morning to watch the motions of the rebels. There was such an immense fog early on Sun day morning, that it was impossible to discern objects at twenty yards' distance. About four o'clock, the rebels arrived at a place called Gurteen, near three miles from Castlecomer, where they heard mass. They had proceeded under cover of the fog, so that the troops who were sent to reconnoitre were fired on before they could see them. At length the fog began to disperse, when the astonished troops discovered not less than from eight to ten thousand rebels-those armed with muskets in the front, and the pikemen in the rear. The main body had halted on the road, and two wings were extending themselves on each side: the whole formed a crescent. In order to understand the perilous situation of our troops, it is necessary to observe that, for nearly two miles of the road to the town of Castlecomer, there is a long range of wall on each side, and about half a mile of it is planted. While the fog was so thick, the troops could not perceive that the wings of the rebel army had spread themselves, and were advancing in a smart trot to surround the town, while the main body remained stationed on the road; so that when Captain Green, judging from their numbers that all resistance would be fruitless, ordered a retreat, the rebels who had got before them, and lined the walls, kept up a smart fire on them. The retreat was very disorderly, and many of the infantry were overturned by the cavalry, and left exposed to the fire of the rebels. An instance of uncommon audacity occurred within a few perches of the town. A rebel captain, with a green sash, rushed out from the bye-road, and accosting Captain Butler, desired him to surrender, and that he, his men, and the town, should be saved. Captain Butler presented his pistol at him, pulled the trigger, but missed fire. The rebel wheeled about and discharged at him, but without effect, and was shot by a yeoman, within a few yards of the rebel army. The retreat of our troops had not been so precipitate but that many of the rebels had rushed to the bridge almost as soon as the soldiers; but with such a confused rapidity did the retreating party gallop into the town, overturning everything before them, that the rest of our force that was posted on the bridge joined the throng, and fled up the street. A very few of the Waterford and Downshire Militia kept their ground on the bridge for a few minutes, killed several of the rebels, and gave the whole a check. At length they took refuge in four houses, which were next to, and completely flanked, the bridge; and, together with a few loyalists of the town, kept up a warm fire from the houses. The right wing of the rebels forded the river above the town, and being joined by the traitorous inhabitants, set fire to the suburbs. The perilous situation of the loyal few, in those houses already mentioned, can be better imagined than described. The bridge crowded with rebels yelling with rage, crying out for blood, and not a soldier to oppose them; the back houses all on fire. Here, amidst surrounding flames, and to the very breasts of the rebels, might be seen the gallant Captain Butler, single and unsupported, riding down the street, within a few yards of the rebels, endeavouring to rally the scattered force, calling them back, and using the most forcible arguments, in order to induce them to rally. Twice did he ride through the streets amidst showers of balls, thick as hail. Now commenced a sharp, but ill-directed, fire from the rebels on the bridge, which was warmly and more effectually answered from the houses. For three and a-half hours was this fire kept up, and not a rebel was suffered to cross the bridge alive. At length, when their ammunition was almost expended, Father Murphy, who had kept aloof from the heat of the action, near the church, where they tried their prisoners, sent a black servant of the Countess of Ormond, whom they had taken prisoner, to inform those who fired from the houses, "that if they marched out with their hats on the tops of their guns, their lives should be spared; that it was in vain to resist any longer, as he expected a reinforcement from Ballyragget immediately." They detained his ambassador for some time, and, at length, sent the rev. general word that they would submit, if he sent them a written assurance of mercy. This they did to gain time and soon after they saw the troops from Kilkenny, lining the hills, and taking their positions to attack the rebels. General Sir Charles Asgill, with nine hundred men, went to their relief, and a few rounds of grape shot soon dislodged the rebels, who retreated the road they came, in a slow pace and in an irregular manner. When Sir Charles arrived near the town, he sent a detachment of the Wexford, under Lieutenant-Colonel Ram, which were soon joined by the grenadiers of the Wicklow, and a party of cavalry, to take post on a bridge contiguous to it; and, after firing a few rounds of grape into Castlecomer, they took possession. At that time the rebels had nearly abandoned it; but two of them who remained under the bridge, fired up the streets several times, and wounded two of the Wicklow Regiment. The family of Mr. Kane, agent to Lady Ormond, had been in a deplorable state. The females had been prisoners in their own house, which the rebels locked up, and set on fire, and they retired to the cellar to avoid the flames; but the troops arrived, and liberated them before it was consumed. They had taken Mr. Kane prisoner, and brought him before Father Murphy, who continued in the body of the church trying the Protestants whom they had taken-two of whom they had murdered before Sir Charles arrived. Mr. Kane was also tried, and would also have been butchered, but for the interference of some of the colliers. Sir Charles, having taken an elevated position, posted his guns so as to rake the woods, in which he killed a number of the rebels who composed the rear guard of the main body. As the general returned to Kilkenny without leaving a soldier in Castlecomer, the Protestants were obliged to desert their houses, and leave them and their property to the mercy of those of whom they soon found they had formed but too just suspicions. To remain in the town without military protection or ammunition would surely have been madness; for, at the time of the general's orders to return, the rear of the rebel army was still in view. Vain would it be to attempt to describe the heartbreaking sight of so many Protestants leaving their homes. The whole road from Castlecomer to Kilkenny was one continued and melancholy train of fugitives, who, but a few hours before, possessed peace and comfort, but were now outcasts, seeking refuge among strangers from the merciless hands of their Popish neighbours. That evening the rebels of the town burned every loyalist's house; plundered Lady Ormond's cellar, and committed every excess. From Sunday to Thursday those ruffians rioted and pillaged the town, when at length Sir Charles, on the 28th of June, sent a party of the Glengarry Fencibles, and the Fassaghdineen Cavalry, who surprised them in the midst of their excesses, and killed about thirty of them, and took several prisoners, who confessed that a party of Castlecomer rebels had gone to meet the Wexford army, on Friday the 22d, and induced them to come on to attack it. Most of these have since been hanged or transported. It would be tedious to mention the numerous instances of atrocity which occurred at that time in Castlecomer and its neighbourhood. We shall, however, subjoin a few undoubted facts, which are well known. A poor man, of the name of Coogan, was pursued by a party of rebels through Lady Ormond's plantation; he was overtaken, and most shockingly wounded with pikes. When almost dead, he requested them to send for the priest. They cursed him for a stupid blockhead, that he did not tell them at first he was a Christian, and they would not have used him so. Fortunately, this poor man survived to tell the story. An instance of this kind strongly marks the design and sentiments of the rebels. Another man of the name of Williams was taken prisoner in Mr. Kane's house in Castlecomer; he was brought to the church, and was on the point of being shot, when, the army appearing in view, they took him with them to Wolf's Hill, where his distracted wife followed him, and endeavoured to have him saved by the interference of a rebel captain; but, as Father Murphy was not then on the spot, he could not be released. The Downshire Militia appearing at a distance, the whole rebel army moved off to a place called the Ridge, |