CHAPTER VII.

THE town of Wexford, whither the garrison of Enniscorthy and as many of the loyal inhabitants as could make their escape, had retreated, had been in a state of the greatest alarm and consternation since the commencement of the insurrection, especially since the defeat of the royal troops at the battle of Oulart by father Murphy, on the twenty-seventh. The garrison had now laid aside all thoughts of giving the enemy battle in the field, and confined themselves to making every preparation for a vigorous defence. Amongst other measures taken for this purpose, all fires were ordered to be extinguished, and the roofs of thatched houses to be stripped, lest those inhabitants who were disaffected should assist the assailants by setting fire to the

town.

In consequence of a suspicion of treasonable designs the sheriff and others had resolved to apprehend Beauchamp Bagenal Harvey, of Bargycastle, John Henry Colclough, of Ballyteig, and Edward Fitzgerald, of Newpark, all of them gentlemen of the county of Wexford; who were accordingly arrested on the twenty-sixth and twenty-seventh, by captain Boyd, of the Wexford cavalry. On the twenty-ninth, Mr. Boyd, who had hopes of dispersing the insurgents without either giving them battle or making any concession in their favour, or who concluded that he might at least be able to divert their attention and to retard their progress, visited these three gentlemen in prison, and proposed that one of them should proceed to the

rebel camp and endeavour to persuade the insurgents, to retire to their respective homes. It was agreed that Mr. Colclough should undertake the mission, provided he was allowed to take Mr. Fitzgerald with him. When these two gentlemen arrived at the camp, the rebels were in a state of the utmost distraction; being undetermined in their plan of operations; some proposing to attack Newtown-Barry, others Ross, others Wexford, many to remain in their present post, and not a few to return for the defence of their own property, against the Orangemen. On the appearance of the two gentlemen prisoners, however, as they termed them, the divided multitude collected around them with loud shouts of joy and welcome. When Mr. Colclough had delivered his message, which was treated with neglect, he retired to put himself again into the hands of those by whom he had been sent, but Mr. Fitzgerald remained with the rebels, and that evening accompanied them to a post called Three Rocks, the termination of a long ridge called Forth Mountain, which forms the boundary of the Bargy and Forth barronies. As Three Rocks is only two miles and a half from Wexford, and as they were now fully determined to attack that town, they remained there during the night.

Meantime the several successful operations of the rebels and their increasing numbers, had spread so great an alarm, that, on the morning of the twenty-seventh, two hundred of the Do negal militia, commanded by lieutenant-colonel Maxwell, and a six pounder, arrived in Wexford accompanied by colonel Colville, captain Young, and lieutenant Sodon, for the purpose of strengthening the garrison, consisting of the remains of the North Cork militia, about three hundred men; the Healthfield and Enniscorthy cavalry, captain Ogle's infantry, the Ennis corthy infantry, the Wexford infantry commanded by doctor Jacob, the Scarawalsh infantry, and the Wexford and Taghmon cavalry. Colonel Maxwell's reinforcement not being deemed sufficient, a letter was conveyed to general Fawcett at Duncannon-fort from the mayor of Wexford, imploring further as sistance, by a Mr. Sutton, who returned with the exhilerating tidings, that the general would that evening commence his march to Wexford in person, and bring with him the thirteenth regiment, four companies of the Meath militia, and a party of

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artilery, with two howitzers. Colonel Maxwell, on the receipt of this intelligence; leaving the five passes, which lead into the town, guarded by the North Cork militia and yeomen, took post with his men on the following morning (May 30,) on the Windmill-hill above the town, with intention to march against the enemy on the arrival of general Fawcett's reinforcement.

That general, however, unfortunately for the royal cause, advanced no farther than Taghmon, seven miles from Wexford, from whence he sent forward a detachment of eighty-eight men, eighteen of whom belonged to the artillery, with the two howitzers, the whole commanded by captain Adams, of the North Cork militia. The general was unacquainted with the position of the rebels at Three Rocks, which the detachment was obliged to pass on its way to Wexford. At the distance of four miles from Wexford, the detachment observed ten or twelve men on an eminence, and immediately prepared for action. As there was no further appearance of resistance, the detachment again continued its march; but at Three Rocks, they were suddenly attacked by the insurgents, who, raising a white flag, and uttering loud shouts, cut to pieces nearly the whole party, together with captain Adams. The two howitzers and a considerable quantity of ammunition were also taken. The general, on intelligence of this disaster, instead of making any attempt to recover the howitzers, fell back with precipitation on Duncannon, from whence he sent his family to England, detaining the packet boat two hours for that purpose.

Meantime intelligence was conveyed to colonel Maxwell, at Windmill-hill, of the same defeat by lieutenant Fairclough of the Meath militia, and lieutenant Birch of the artillery, who had with great difficulty escaped the slaughter. That gentleman, who could have no suspicion of general Fawcett's retreat, instantly advanced to co-operate in the attempt he naturally concluded would be made to retake the howitzers. When he arrived within cannon-shot of the insurgents, he was attacked by the enemy with the two howitzers, which they had drawn to the top of the ridge, and which they used with a precision, that evinced the management of skilful hands. After discharging his six pounder several times in return, the colonel retreated in good order to Wexford, there being no, appearance of general Fawcett's army, his flank being exposed by the flight of the

Taghmon cavalry, and the insurgents having made a movement to surround him. In this action lieut. colonel Watson was killed, and two privates wounded. During these transactions, the magnificent wooden bridge of Wexford had been set on fire by the disaffected, perhaps with a view to prevent the arrival of succours from the opposite side of the river, or to cut off the retreat of the garrison, should the town be taken by the rebels. It was fortunately recovered from the flames by the inhabi

tants.

On the return of Colonel Maxwell a council of war was held, by which it was determined that the town be evacuated, as untenable, for the following reasons:

I. That the town of Wexford is so situated amidst surrounding hills, as to be indefensible against a numerous enemy, provided with cannon, by a garrison of only six hundred men.

II. That many disaffected yeomen had strengthened the enemy, and weakened the garrison, by deserting to the rebels; and that a spirit of mutiny and disobedience to orders, appeared amongst the military, who were dispirited by the successes of the rebels.

III. That numbers of disaffected persons were within the town, furnished with arms and ammunition, ready to assist the rebels, when they should begin the attack, and to fire at the garrison from the houses, whilst they should be engaged with the enemy in defence of the town.

To complete the dismay and distrust of the garrison, the North Cork militia, about half past ten, had deserted their post near the barrack, and marched to Duncannon, in which retreat they were joined by captain Cornock's yeomen infantry. On' all these accounts colonel Maxwell immediately abandoned the town, sending two gentlemen to notify the evacuation to the rebels, to prevent its being treated as if taken by storm, and began to retreat to the fort of Duncannon, twenty-three miles distant, in such confusion, that, if the rebels had pursued, which

This bridge which was completed in February, 1795, stands on seventy-five piers of piles, of six uprights each, with a drawbridge for vessels to pass through. It is one thousand five hundred and fifty-four feet long, and thirty-four broad; standing in twenty feet of water. It was built by a subscription of 14,000%,

was strenuously advised by some of the leaders, nearly the whole must inevitably have been destroyed. A great many loyal inhabitants, ignorant of the intended evacuation, which was determined on and executed with the greatest precipitation, were left in the power of the rebels. Many of these crowded on board the vessels in the harbour, in order to take refuge in Britain; but as most of the vessels were manned by Romanists, few of them effected their purpose, the ships returning to the harbour when the town was taken possession of by the rebels, and re-landing the people. The insurgents took possession of Wexford without opposition, to which the licentious conduct of the king's troops in their flight, burning cabins, shooting peasants, and committing every species of outrage, sent many to jøin their standards.

The northern parts of the county of Wexford were, in the mean time, greatly agitated, as well as those of the south. As the judicious and liberal Mr. Gordon, rector of Killegny, in the diocese of Ferns, by his residence in that disturbed part of the country, possessed the most ample means of information, was even witness himself to several of those scenes which he relates; and is justly esteemed for the veracity, candour, and impartiality of his details, we shall give his pathetic › descrip, tion of the distresses of the loyalists, in and about Gorey in that quarter, in his own words :—

"The retreat already mentioned of the yeoman cavalry from Oulart, early on the morning of the 27th of May, to Gorey, was followed by great numbers of the people hastening to the town for protection, and carrying what they could of their effects with them; many, however, through terror and precipitation, leaving all behind. As Gorey consisted only of one street with a number of lanes, was garrisoned by no more than thirty of the North Cork militia, under lieutenant Swayne, and a number of yeomen, assisted by an undisciplined crowd, some of whom were armed only with pikes, to abandon the town, and retreat to Arklow, nine miles to the north, in the county of Wicklow, was at first resolved; but afterwards to defend the town was determined, carts and wagons being drawn by way of ramparts, across the avenues and the street, the undisciplined men placed at the windows to fire on the approaching enemy,