might have been expected. One officer and six rank and file were killed-five officers and twenty-two rank and file were wounded. On the side of the French, by their own account, above twenty were killed, and about thirty wounded, fourteen of whom very badly, they were brought in here; of these four have since died in the hospital. The number of rebels must have borne a greater proportion, but have not exactly been ascertained.

I HAVE great pleasure in expressing my entire ap obation of the conduct of the officers and soldiers on this occasion. To lieutenant-colonel Gough, I have to return my warmest thanks, for the very great zeal and spirit displayed by him-to major Ormsby my thanks are justly due-as also to captain Waller, of the Limerick regiment, who, with his light company, was extremely active. I have, likewise, to express my obligations to captain Slessor, of the Royal Irish artillery, for his conduct in the action, and for his great exertions, under a very heavy fire, to bring off his guns, as well as to captain Whistler, of the 24th light dragoons, who, with great bravery, met the charge of the French cavalry, and obliged them to

retreat.

I HAVE great satisfaction to think, that although we were obliged to retreat, the object of the action was attained-namely that of saving this town, as, from the acknowledgment of the French officers, it was their intention to have attacked it but for the check they got, and believing that we would not have gone out to meet them, if not supported in our rear; they therefore changed their direction.

RETURN of the officers killed and wounded of the Limerick city regiment, in the above action.-Colonel Vereker, lieutenant-colonel Gough, major Ormsby, captain Nash, ensign Lindon, slightly wounded. Captain Crips, wounded through the neck and jaws. Ensign Rumley, shot through the body, since dead.

arce 7ip Sta ACOLONEL VEREKER, previous to his having published the foregoing account, was honoured with a letter from major-general Nugent, expressing his approbation of his conduct, of which the following is an

extract.i

3

ENISKILLEN, SEPT. 9th, 1798. FAM extremely happy to find, on enquiry, that although the Limerick City Regiment has suffered much in the action which they sustained with the French force at Colooney, the officers are, in general, likely to recover from the wounds they received.

I CONGRATULATE you on the gallantry manifested by the whole corps on this occasion, and beg my best compliments may be presented to lieutenant-colonel Gough, and all the officers.

The following letter was written by Mr. W. H. G. to a gentleman in Tyrrell's-pass, who was pleased to enclose it to the Publisher. The Editor has studied, as far as possible, to meet the wishes of those gentlemen who have transmitted the materials for this work, by sometimes recapitulating nearly the same particulars— this being solely his motive, will, he hopes, exculpate him from seeming tautology.

FURTHER RELATION OF THE ENGAGEMENT WITH THE FRENCH.

BALLINA OCTOBER 3, 1798.

My very dear Friend,

I WAS in Dublin the evening the express brought Intelligence that the French had landed. I went same day to Naas; it was eleven o'clock at night when I arrived there: you will admit I had a great escape. The army had marched, I followed, and overtook them in Frankford ; we marched from

thence to Athlone, where we joined the Commander in chief's grand army destined for Castlebar; we then marched forward, and encamped at a little village called Balnimore; the next evening we lay at Knock, on the side of a mountain; from that we pro/ceeded to Tuam, and there encamped; we were then ordered to join General Taylor's brigade, on their march from Sligo. Our regiment (the Armagh) and the Reay fencibles left Tuam camp (consisting of : fourteen thousand brave soldiers,) and marched through Castlerea for Ballaghadareen, where we lay that night; here it was that I met my brother with the light brigade from Blaris-you may conceive what I felt on the occasion. About two in the morning we marched by Swineford for Castlebar, but the French had given us the slip and went for Sligo; we encamped at Tubbercurry. The French and Limerick militia had a skirmish at Colooney; many were killed on both sides; we lost two pieces of cannon ; -same evening we lay near Drumahair. Our advanced guard pressed so hard after the French, that they left seven pieces of cannon, and a great quantity of ammunition, on the road: the road was dreary and waste, owing to their depredations, the houses being all plundered. Next day we marched upwards of twenty miles, and encamped near Leitrim. They attempted to break one of the briges down, but the Hessians charged and killed many of them, which forced them to retire the road was strewed with dead bodies. Near to Cloon they drew up in line of battle, but on our advance they retreated towards Granard. At Ballinamuck they drew up again, and extended their line across a bog, to prevent the cavalry from charging them, and planted their cannon on a hill to the left of the road as it led through the bog: in this order they waited our approach. The light brigade attacked them first; our light company, after a few fires, leaped into their trenches, and dreadful carnage ensued; the French cried for mercy. Wẹ ran for four miles before we could get into action;

the men forgot all their troubles and fought like fueries. We pursued the rebels through the bog-the country was covered for miles round with their slain. :We remained for a few days burying the dead-hung -General Blake and nine of the Longford militia: we brought an hundred and thirteen prisoners to Carrick on Shannon, nineteen of whom we executed in one day and left the remainder with another regiment to follow our example, and then marched for Boyle, and from that to Cultimagh near Castlebar; same night we received orders to march for Foxford and relieve that place which had been plundered. On our arri- ̈ val we fortified the town, casting up barriers across the streets-it was well we used this precaution, for we had no cannon, and the rebels next evening surrounded the town in great force, kept up a smart fire for two hours, then gave way; we remained under arms all night. Next day, being Sunday, we brought the Protestant inhabitants with us, and marched for Killala, where we engaged and defeated the rebels with great slaughter, making many prisoners whom we hung. A few days after the battle we scoured the country towards the mountains, and after a march of thirty miles in one day returned home, leaving many dead.

OUR regiment suffered much, being in seventeen engagements. I never suffered so much as on this expedition, from hunger, want of sleep and fatigue'; marching forty-eight hours without tasting meat, nature was almost exhausted.

Yours, &c.

W. H. G.

THE following is an extract of a letter which was received by a gentleman after his liberation at Castlebar, where he had been a prisoner during the time it was in possession of the French-it is given in the words of the writer; and is corroborated by the suc ceeding accounts:

KILLISHANDRA, SEPTEMBER 1798.

My dear Brother,

GOD only knows my grief of mind for your present situation-your being yet alive is a strong argument that the hearts of all men are in the hands of the Most High.

SOME days before the battle of Ballinamuck we were much alarmed here, although we little thought that the French were so near us. The day previous to the battle, our yeomen, horse and foot, Carrickgallon and Oakhill men, one hundred and six in number, went to Ballinamuck, on an information that a vast body of rebels were there the day before; yet after traversing the mountains, not a man could be seenthey returned by Ballinalee and Bunlachey. That evening expresses from Ballinamuck informed us that the French were there. The yeomen of that place fled to Ballyconnel and Belturbet. The main body of the French lay in Cloon that night; a Lieu, tenant West had his horse shot under him, while reconnoitering the enemy, the wounded beast carried his master two miles, when he fell; the helmet was also shot off the Lieutenant's head. The French General and most of the officers agreed to take some rest in Cloon, giving orders that they should not be suffered to sleep but two hours-the guard let them sleep four; by which time the English army came much nearer than the French expected. Such is the Providence of God; for had they got seven miles farther in the county of Longford, it is said they would have been joined by many thousands, who only waited the coming up of the grand army to lead them. This