Page images
PDF
EPUB

ships. In the evening vast numbers went to visit their several dwellings in the country, to be informed of the condition of their families and properties; but very early on the morning of the 31st, the streets were as crowded as before, and the confusion and plunder of the day preceding now recommenced. The people were much discontented with the inhabitants for not detaining for their use, the arms and ammunition of the garrison; as the entire of their military stores at this time amounted to no more than three barrels of gun-powder found in the barracks, a few hundreds of cartridges, with some odd casks and pounds of powder found in shops and gentlemens' houses. The insurgents were induced to move out of the town and encamp on the Windmill-hills, where after much confused consultation they divided into two bodies, one of which, consisting of those who inhabited the Wexford-side of the Slaney, marched to Taghmon. As in such a mixed multitude there must be many of all dispositions, it is not wonderful that there were some who would incite to and practise outrage. Some of this description of persons hunted for orangemen, whom they denominated their enemies; while others, imitating the conduct of the military on the bay before, but in a far less degree, plundered private property, burnt the houses of four respectable farmers, and put one man to death on their way to Taghmon, outside of which town they encamped for that night. The encampment on Vinegar-hill, by the bye, continued a permanent one during the whole period of the insurrection.

Now, that the insurrection of the county of Wexford was at its height, there existed no kind of subordination or controul; individuals assumed the privilege of indulging their own dispositions, and of gratifying private malice. On this very day Mr. Harvey, who had been released from confinement by the people, as soon as they took possession of the town, and was by them appointed, whether he would or no, their commander in chief, had engaged several gentlemen,

among whom there were many apprehensive of popular violence, to an entertainment at his former lodgings, which he had then resumed; and all these he naturally supposed under effectual protection with him, from the nature of his appointment, against all popu lar outrage ;-but he soon had lamentable proof how groundless were his fond expectations. In the evening soon after dinner, a great mob of country people assembled in the street before the house, some of whom knocked violently at the door, and insited that Mr. Turner, whom they knew to be within, should be delivered up to them, to be put to death, for having burned some of their houses. I was one of those invited by Mr. Harvey, and, as Mr. Turner was a most particular friend of mine, I instantly went out, and was, as I fondly imagined, so far successful as to prevail on the populace to retire; but to my great mortification they returned shortly after, and insisted with redoubled violence, on Mr. Turner's being brought out to them. Mr. Fitzgerald who had now come to my assistance, and myself, urged every argument that friendship could suggest, to dissuade them from their dreadful purpose, and Mr. Harvey also interposed for the same intent, by which means the multitude was once more induced to retire. It was but for a short time however, as they quickly came back to the house with more violence and fury than before; a shot was fired at the door, as the first notice of their approach, and they reiterated their demand with the loudest and most desperate vociferations. Some of the gentlemen, who on that day dined with Mr. Harvey, now came out, and all their united entreaties and remonstrances could obtain from the enraged multitude was, that Mr. Turner might be lodged in the goal to abide his trial, but the demagogues denounced that if he was not sent thither directly, Mr. Fitzgerald and Mr. Hay (meaning myself,) must forfeit their lives.

THESE Outrages determined many to surrender themselves, in order to be sent to goal, in hopes of greater security, as well as it induced others to re

main in confinement, from similar expectancy of protection from the resentment of their neigbours. From considerations of this nature, Mr. Harvey, constrained as he was to conduct Mr. Turner to the goal, released from thence every other person not violently accused, and the number was considerable whom he thought to be obnoxious to, but by these means secure from the intemperate vengeance of the people.

AFTER the insurgents, as has been related, moved off in two separate divisions from Wexford, there still remained several of their number in the town, who assumed the office of supplying the camps with necessaries, and this, by their own authoriy, they declared must be done from Wexford. These self-created commissaries, having put all necessaries accordingly in requisition, began to search all the houses, and in the course of such survey, plundered them of every article they thought proper, asserting that all they took away was for the general service. As whiskey and leather were the articles most in demand in the camps, distillers and tanners especially entreated the committee to issue regular orders for the supplies from their stores, to prevent as much as possible the total destruction of their substance and concerns; adding, that they were very willing to give up their whole stock for the general service; yet strange as it may appear, some of this description of persons were most forward afterward in prosecuting those very men, who, by their humane interference, were instrumental in saving their lives and properties; and, what may not appear unworthy of observation, although chosen by the inhabitants at large from among themselves, there was but one united Irishman among them, which could not be the case, had the people been generally sworn.

CAPTAIN KEUGH was appointed military commander of the town, which was now divided into wards, each of which had a company of men, armed with guns and pikes as they could procure them, and these appointed their own officers. There was a regular

[ocr errors]

parade morning and evening on the custom-housequay; guards were struck off and relieved, and a pass-word and counter-sign regularly given out. The insurrection had, by this time, become so general in all parts of the county, forsaken by the military, that even the inhabitants of the baronies of Forth and Bargy, thought it incumbent on them to shew their disposition and to appear in Wexford;-in short, every person remaining in the county, thought it best at this period to come forward and make common cause with the insurgents. The inhabitants of the last * mentioned baronies, however, being a race of men of peaceable and industrious habits, and not having experienced the persecutions practised in other districts, were not easily excited to commit those acts of outrage which took place in other quarters; but they were at length terribly alarmed and roused to resistance, by the cruel and merciless conduct of the military in their flight from Wexford; but even then their determination of vengeance appeared solely directed against the body whose unprovoked fury had affected them with injury. These people, on their march to Wexford, halted near Johns-town, the seat of Cornelius Grogan, Esq. for whom a party was dispatched to bring him out and oblige him to join them; and thus this aged gentleman was constrained to accommodate himself to the crazy temper of the times, and being placed on horse-back, then ill of the gout, he was conducted along by the multitude, consisting of several thousands on foot, and many hundreds of horsemen. On their entrance into the town, and defiling through the streets, not many pikes could be seen, but vast numbers were equipt with spits, pitchforks, and such like offensive weapons, with which they endeavoured as much as in their power, to imitate and assume the appearance of pikemen; and after having shouted and paraded for some time through the streets, they retired peaceably to their homes, without committing further outrage. All the forges both in town and country were instantly em

ployed in the fabrication of pike-blades, and timber of every description fit for handles was procured for that purpose wherever to be found; so that in a very short time, no person could be seen, (so general was the principle of affectation of arming,) without a war-like weapon of some kind, a green cockade, a hat-band, sash, or other ornament of that colour. Four oysterboats were fitted out in the harbour, and manned with five and twenty men each, to cruise outside the bay; and these, from time to time, brought in several vessels, mostly bound for Dublin, laden with oats, potatoes, and different other kinds of provisions; which became very seasonable supplies for the town, that must otherwise have suffered great distress, as the markets were deserted by the country people.

MONEY seemed to have vanished during the insurrection, as no person was willing to admit being possessed of any currency exclusive of bank-notes, which were held in such little estimation, that great quantities of them were inconsiderately destroyed; some in lighting tobacco pipes, and others used as waddings for fire-locks; but whatever little provisions appeared at market, sold very cheaply for ready money; for instance, butter sold by the pound for two pence, and butchers' meat, of any kind, for one penny. bank-notes, any one might starve who had no other means of procuring the prime necessaries, for which, when offered for sale, nothing but specie would be accepted as payment.

As to

IN the country the people formed themselves generally into parish divisions, and each division elected its own officers. All persons capable of carrying arms were to attend the camps, on being furnished with pikes or guns, as either could be best procured; some on foot and others on horseback, as they could best accommodate themselves. Most persons were desirous to wear ornaments of some kind or other, and accordingly decorated themselves in the most fantastical manner with feathers, tippets, handkerchiefs, and all the shewy parts of ladies' apparel: green was

K

« PreviousContinue »