the Wexford leaders in that fatal enterprise. I shall now turn to the more immediate object of my excursion, and from which, perhaps, I have too long digressed. I had made but slow progress in the latter part of my journey, and the evening was far advanced when I reached the hospitable mansion of my venerable friend. Our interview was such as might naturally have been expected after so long a separation. from Kildare, the Wexford division reached | sufficient to acquaint the reader with the the banks of the Boyne, and so far-in a primary motive and the ultimate object of route of nearly fifty miles-had encountered no serious interruption to their advance. But now, pressed by a squadron of British cavalry which had for some time hung on their rear, the leaders found themselves constrained either to halt and give battle to the enemy, or to attempt the passage of the river under disadvantageous circumstances. Prompt in all their resolves, they quickly decided on the expedient; and after a sharp contest, succeeded in repelling their pursuers. But the star of these adventurous chiefs was no longer in the ascendant. They had traversed a large section of Meath without experiencing that popular demonstration in their favour, which they had too confidently anticipated. Few or none of the rural population had joined their ranks, and the aspiring hopes with which they had entered on their daring enterprise, could no longer be entertained. Having crossed the Boyne, and pressing onward, with unabated vigour, which they maintained to the last-they encountered the two British Generals, Meyrick and Weyms, at the head of their concentrated forces, and an immediate conflict ensued. The position occupied by the Wexford troops, eventually exposed them to a destructive fire from the enemy's cannon, which had not come up in the early part of the action; and in a little time their ground became untenable. It was now evident to the commanders on either side, that no alternative remained but unconditional surrender, or immediate retreat. The former was an expedient which no disaster could compel the Wexford leaders even to contemplate, while, in the preparatory arrangements of the enemy, they perceived his intention to render the latter impracticable. It, however, was accomplished. In a desperate charge they forced the English line, and extricated their followers in the moment the most critical to their fortune. * This bold and successful measure frustrated the contemplated design of the British commander, who saw the enemy escape as from a net, before him. For a time, with his cavalry, he followed up the retreat, but deriving no aid in the co-operation of his infantry, he abandoned the pur suit. The preceding review, which I have confined to a brief outline, will, I presume, be • The vanquished "Rebel" never received quarter in the field, nor mercy in the tribunal. Time, I was happy to perceive, had not wrought the customary changes in the appearance of my friend. He was still hale in constitution and vigorous in frame, while the gay and lively disposition of his nature remained unclouded. I soon found that “long by-gone occurrences" were yet green in his remembrance, and that passing years seemed rather to have matured his judgment, than to have impaired the energy of his mental powers. The night was well nigh spent before either thought of retiring to rest; but the morning avocations of my host were not interrupted by the social enjoyments of the evening before. I had arisen at what I conceived a reasonable hour, and observed him from the windows of my apartment, brushing with his dogs and his gun, through the thick green furze yet dripping with the morning dew, while he kept moving on in the apparent energy of youth, and with the wary eye of the veteran sportsman. I hastened to join him; but he was now on his return homeward: and while at some distance, displaying (as if in raillery of my indolence) a portion of his morning's sport," see here," said he," the fruits of early industry." "To-morrow," I replied, "you will find me no sluggard." "We shall see that," he significantly rejoined; "but come, if you be determined on the excursion which we talked over last night, let us now to breakfast, and then we shall proceed on our tour of observation." The excursion which we had planned, although at no point very distant, embraced a considerable range of the country, and was interesting as the scene of some memorable events in the earlier as well as in the more modern period of our History; but, the chief object of my curiosity was the line of THE WEXFORD RETREAT,-the scene of that day's rout and disaster, when having been defeated by the divisions of Meyrick and Weyms in the morning, a portion of the scattered forces assembled in thern bank of the Boyne. the evening of the same day, on the nor Our preparatory arrangements were soon formed, and while the day (as my friend expressed it) was yet young, we commenced our tour. tions. No doubt the moment was a critical one, the Wexford band was yet formidable, and the ground you perceive favourable either for action or retreat. There then they rallied on the instant, and if they did not actually drive back their pursuers, it must be admitted they conceived themselves in a condition to face them; and recent example had already shown what might result from pressing a bold and determined foe, to the extreme point of resistance. "These considerations might have operated on the mind of a prudent commander to exercise moderation in victory; and not less influentially, if he conceived that a large and excitable population, in any of the adjacent towns, required, at this period, a more impressive display of that salutary control which it was the duty of the army to impose. For it is to be remembered that military authority in Ireland had superseded the civil power! But a truce to conjecture, let us now trace the line of retreat. We first visited the deep marshy plain, which formed the memorable theatre of contest, and was at the same time the field of their defeat, and of that bold achievement, which rescued the Wexford band from impending ruin. Adjacent to this, is the more eligible position on which the Wexford leaders commenced the action, and for a time successfully maintained it against his Majesty's troops, until the British generals, reinforced, compelled the enemy to abandon his ground. Whatever advantages the former position afforded, the latter presented none, and the result has already been told. In reviewing this field of strife, earlier remembrances crowded on my mind, and while I turned on the moment, to contrast with the unruffled serenity of nature around me, the restless dispositions of men, and the vicissitudes of human fortune, my friend "It was on the first of those open and conaddressed me "Look here," said he: "you tinuous levels which meet your eye, that see that elevated ground to the west, the Wexford division enjoyed a momentary scarcely, as you would suppose, a mile off; respite, after a rapid flight and disastrous but by the very shortest line of approach, conflict; and there, the feelings of the leadyou will find that it is more than double the ers and the fortitude of the men were tesdistance. The plains beyond it, now shel- ted by no ordinary trial. They had detered from our view, lie open and exposed feated by their bold and successful charge in every other direction, affording facilities the contemplated design of the enemy, and by which the fugitive chiefs knew how to were now apparently freed from his further profit. Why am I so particular in thus di- pursuit; nevertheless, no prospect remained recting your attention? Because to that on which to found any rational hope of atpoint the British general followed with his taining the object of their enterprise. The cavalry on the enemy's retreat; but," he country was alarmed-the several garrison continued, "let us proceed; we must eco- towns had been aroused from a state of senomise our time, if you would trace through-curity, if not a more censurable state of suout this line of disaster, the many scenes of painful interest." We hastened our pace, and passing through the "Wexford Break," gained in some time the eminence which commands an extended view over a fine campaign country, on the northern side of the river Boyne. "Here," said my venerable companion, "let us rest: there is no point more favourable to our object, and when we have taken in all that this view embraces, we will turn more to the southward and east." "It has often," he observed, pointing to the open and extending plains beneath us, "it has often afforded subject of enquiry, with those perhaps better acquainted with the localities of the country, than the tactics of the field, why the fortunate commander did not follow up his success? and why, having a rebel force still in arms, he remanded his troops to their respective sta pineness, and an important military station* yet lay between the discomfited band and the point of their destination. "Enfeebled in force, though still buoyant in spirit, the only expedient which the leaders could devise, in the emergency of their situation, was to retrace their march to Kildare, and renew the junction with their late confederates in arms. But, however desirable the adoption of this measure, serious impediments stood in the way of its attainment, and the not least embarrassing of these was, how to transport the troops; for the same facilities were not now to be looked for, which, in a prompt supply of Dundalk, then temporary head quarters of of cavalry and artillery. The smaller, but more two infantry regiments, with an ordinary garrison adjacent towns of Collon, Ardee, &c. were garrisoned by supplementaries. horses, had aided the division on its advance. No other alternative, however painful the consideration, could on the moment be suggested, than to dismount the extra horsemen, and trust the issue to fortune and their own unsubdued courage. The expedient was instantly adopted, and embraced with a ready devotion, characteristic of men, who, if not reckless of life, evinced, under the most appalling circumstances, an extraordinary disregard of danger. "The arrangement was but the work of a moment; and as each division formed into line of march, one parting cheer was interchanged between them. The dismounted men, in an easterly direction, and by the shortest route, proceeded direct for the general point of rendezvous assigned for the first night of retreat; while the cavalry division diverged to the west, the better to deceive the enemy as to the ulterior object of both. "The district yeomanry were under arms; they were numerous, and in general well appointed-the cavalry particularly so; and on these devolved the duty, after the withdrawal of the British troops, of marking the movements of the Wexford band. This was a service," observed my friend, "which we prudently performed at a harmless distance. Indeed," he added, " some of our lads, it was presumed, had no great stomach for the fight, nor had we much reason to boast of our military achievements so long as we followed the enemy in the line of their retreat. -But," he continued, with a countenance expressive of painful concern-" there were amongst us some, whose intemperate feelings, with the excitement to plunder, stimulated them to acts neither creditable to their humanity as men, nor to their discipline as soldiers. You, my friend, have not to learn that such acts were sometimes countenanced, if not more directly approved, by those whose duty it was to have restrained the outrage, or punished the perpetrator; while the more humane have reluctantly been compelled to witness that which, however sensibly they may have deplored it, they had not the authority to prevent. How many of those unfortunate fugitives, the weak or the wounded, who, when no longer able to keep pace with their companions, had fallen defenceless in the rear of their division, were wantonly immolated-meeting their fate with that firmness which would have disarmed a more generous assailant! "See that mansion to the left; it is contiguous to the road; and though so conspicu ous from this point, is less exposed as you approach, because of a rising plantation which screens it in front, while it is covered by a gentle acclivity in the rear. That is the parsonage house; and, were it not otherwise remarkable, is memorable for having The afforded shelter to a Wexford rebel. story is short, but it is one which, throughout this neighbourhood, has long been the subject of sorrowful recollection, and will not fail, I am persuaded, to excite your sympathy. "A gentleman who accompanied the Wexford chiefs in their incursion into Meath, was wounded in the recent engagement. From the serious nature of his wound, he found himself in a little time unable to keep up with his division; and his companions, who could afford him no relief, were constrained to leave him behind. Without any other hope of security before him, he proceeded direct for that mansion, the first dwelling within his reach-resolved to commit himself to the honour and humanity of its master. His confidence was not misplaced. "The parsonage house, seldom honoured by the presence of the superior, was then in the occupancy of an humble curate—a kind and hospitable man, whose heart was not closed to the claims of the destitute, whether in the garb of a friend or a foe. The wounded gentleman was received with compassion, and the best offices of the benevolent divine were not wanting in ministering to his relief. But his fate was not to be averted. A small party of yeomanry dragoons, who had occupied themselves throughout the day, in the pursuit of strag gling men, and the capture of abandoned horses, were now seen approaching the retired and peaceful asylum. Whether this movement was preconcerted or incidental, it was regarded with considerable excitement by the stranger, who, not less alive to his friend's safety than to his own, insisted on quitting the house, and retiring for concealment into a thick shrubbery of ornamental planting, which was covered from the road by a high beechen hedge. His host expostulated against any present movement or change of position, and even bantered him on his scrupulous delicacy and imaginary fears. Do you think,' said he, they will enter my dwelling?—is this a quarter where they could contemplate the concealment of an enemy? Rest satisfied you have no cause for alarm.' 'There is,' replied the wounded stranger, but your roof-tree shall never blaze for having shel ་ tered a rebel ! Are you aware that my detection here would justify the incendiary in wrapping your mansion in flames?' During this generous parley the dragoons had neared the dwelling. The stranger was resolute the moment was pressing, and the benevolent host with reluctance yielded to the importunity of his guest. Fatal importunity! The tottering step of the wounded man betrayed him as he left the house. He was called on to stand and surrender: but without being afforded time for reply, he was fired on by the leading file of the partymortally wounded, and, in the convulsive agonies of death, literally sabred to pieces. "In the fate of this unfortunate gentleman," continued the humane narrator, " is comprized the only authenticated portion of his history which we have been able to trace. Many and various were the reports and conjectures as to his rank, his family, and station in life. It was rumoured, but I have no better authority to advance, that the humane clergyman recognized in the person of his unfortunate guest, an early friend, and college companion. Nothing certain, however, is known about him. "The only article of value found on his mutilated corpse, was a golden ring of exquisite workmanship, richly embossed, displaying in the centre ground of a deep enamel, the popular device of the day, ERIN GO BRAGH. This was torn from the dismembered limb by the rapacious hand of the assassin; and was subsequently purchased by a gentleman who could more highly appreciate the national symbol." During the recital of this melancholy tale, I could perceive in the countenance of the compassionate narrator, a manly glow of indignation, with a vain effort to restrain the unbidden tear. But resuming a mild and placid composure," it were idle," said he, "to dwell too much on individual suffering, where a mass of human misery meets the eye, Yonder is Chamberstown Hill; and the deeds it records are scarcely less atrocious than that I have mentioned, though perpetrated under the mockery of justice. Let us, however, before we visit that scene of suffering, mark the further route of the cavalry division, in which the leaders displayed such admirable address. The ruse proved successful, in the detour which they made to the west; it served as designed, to withdraw the attention of the yeomanry troops from the dismounted men, who were then in close and compact order, proceeding by the more direct line of march, to the station which their chiefs had appointed for the general rendezvous of the forces. The cavalry having diverged so far to the west as was conceived sufficient for the attainment of their object, changed their course; and entering Louth in an easterly direction, they took post in Dowth demesne-the seat of Lord Netterville-a bold commanding position, overhanging the Boyne, at a point where the river is deep and wide. Here the division halted, and promptly formed their line of defence, which the pursuing squadron perceiving, as quickly withdrew, leaving the enemy in the undisturbed possession of the post, which they occupied for the night, about midway between the garrisoned towns of Drogheda and Slane, and some three or four miles distant from either. The actual loss sustained by the cavalry in this day's retreat, after having separated from their dismounted companions, was inconsiderable. It chiefly consisted in horses; several, from fatigue and want of provender, were unable to bear up in the hurried march, and consequently were abandoned by their riders. As the straggling horses became the gratuity of the captors, they were eagerly contended for; but in general they proved of little service to their new masters; some were high-bred animals of fine form and figure, and the lucky possessor of these already contemplated the acquirement of his fortune. But woeful was the disappointment; for as, in the best blood, the high spirit only yields when animal vigour is exhausted; few or none of this description were recoverable from the excessive fatigues they had previously endured. "We shall, for the present," said my friend, "leave these chiefs in their defen. sive position on the Boyne, where, in the course of the night, they received as many of their dismounted companions as had the good fortune to reach that point of general rendezvous." “When the Wexford band," he continued, "was necessitated to make a division of their forces, the dismounted men were placed under the trustworthy leadership of a bold and experienced Shelmalier marksman, named Doyle, who commenced the retreat in orderly and well organised movement. In the absence, however, of the more influential leaders, and from that temperament of mind, which is not, under such circumstances, at all times. easy of control, a certain laxity of discipline had become discernible in the ranks. Impelled by a natural levity of disposition, and impatient of delay, some of the more active and robust had gained ground in advance of their companions; elated with the prospect of reaching the rendezvous of the night, ere, as they conceived, their expectant friends on horseback would contemplate their arrival. Others, from their previous toils and increasing fatigues, were constrained to slacken their pace; while many of the still more weak and wearied, falling in the rear, were reluctantly compelled to lag behind. "The disorder in Doyle's ranks had now become observable to such bodies of the yeomanry infantry, as in the general state of alarm had sought security by congregating at remote and different points for selfprotection. But emboldened by the apparent disorganization of the enemy's line, they made a better arrangement of their force; and at intervals were to be seen to the right or the left, or following at a distance in the rear of Doyle's division. Although at no time formidable to the main body under his command, they proved destructive assailants to all who, when separated from their companions, fell within the range of their arms. Many unfortunate men, in order to avoid a fate, otherwise inevitable, when broken down or exhausted by privation and fatigue, sought concealment in the high standing fields of corn-in the break-in the brushwood, or under the thick spreading foliage in the dense plantations which lay contiguous to the line of their retreat. "These coverts further afforded temporary shelter to numbers who, though weakened by the oppressive heat of the day, required only renovating rest to resume their march; and hence, in the coolness of the night, many of them effected a retreat, and rejoined their friends on the Boyne. But many also perished in the shade of those recesses, which for two successive days were invested by the enemy. But, to return from this digression to the more immediate subject before us. "In appointing Doyle to the command of the dismounted men, the superior leaders evinced their prudence and discernment. They had neither overrated his abilities for the trust, nor his zeal in the service; and throughout the entire Wexford band, there was no one, perhaps, so well adapted to the emergency of the occasion. 66 Doyle was a man of much native humour, of great muscular strength, and intrepid courage, qualities which could not fail to render him a favourite with all his companions in arms. Of easy circumstances in life, and of lively habits and disposition, a considerable portion of his earlier years had been devoted to rustic sports and those manly exercises in which he excelled. Ever active and ardent in all his pursuits, his constitutional frame was formed for the toils and privations which it was often his fortune to encounter through the Wexford campaign. From the commencement of his military career, he bore a long Shelmalier musket,* which, from the deadly precision of its fire, was, in compliment to its owner, pronounced "Doyle's ordnance," for whether on land or water, Doyle never missed his mark. When ammunition was scarce in the ranks-a circumstance which often occurred during the insurrectionary war-no man ever thought of reserving his own if Doyle wanted a charge; and that charge was sure to tell with effect. "However popular the qualities of the leader, or unreserved the confidence of his men, Doyle's situation had now become an arduous one,-presenting difficulties, as he advanced, which required all the energies of his active mind, and the firmness of his bold and daring spirit to surmount. The intemperate ardour of some-the physical weakness of others--the many incidental occurrences attendant on a retreat, had reduced his once formidable band to a slender and comparatively inefficient force. In proportion to his weakness the enemy acquired confidence; and while they avoided a contact, they omitted no opportunity of annoyance when it could be resorted to with impunity. But beyond a certain line of district where the country became more open and less favourable to the system of their pursuit, they conceived it imprudent to advance. "Doyle was scarcely freed from the teasing, but (to the unfortunate detached of his followers,) destructive enemy, when he had to contend with fresh difficulties, where he had least contemplated any obstruction. An outpost, consisting of a subaltern officer, with a detachment of dragoons, had that morning been established by order of the British general, at a considerable distance * A firelock of more than ordinary dimensions, and in the exercise of which, the inhabitants of certain districts in Wexford displayed peculiar address. In more peaceful times those arms were principally used for shooting waterfowl; amusement in which the Wexford sportsmen were singularly expert. an |