Cromwell In Ireland

This was Cromwell’s last military action in the war. On May 28th he sailed from Youghal, and at Bristol was enthusiastically received by the crowds, who had already learned how he had crushed and slaughtered the Irish Papist rebels. In the country he had left his deeds were naturally regarded differently ; but they were longer remembered. To the English ploughman or artizan, the great Purtian General is now no more than a name, if indeed that; while still, in our own day, the Irish peasant can utter no deeper imprecation than to invoke ” the curse of Cromwell ” on his adversary.

In March, 1649, Oliver Cromwell was appointed by the English Parliament Commander-General for Ireland, and in July he left London in State to take up his office. He landed in Ireland in August, and marched at once to Dublin. He desired to put down as quickly as possible all resistance, and to proceed with the scheme of Confiscation and Plantation which tho Parliament had already outlined. He had no scruple as to methods, no pity or sympathy for the Irish people.

Above : Portrait Of Oliver Cromwell

Cromwell now advanced to Clonmel, and, after summoning it to surrender, began the siege (April 29th). The garrison was some 1,500 strong, and commanded by Hugh Dubh O’Neill, a nephew of Eoghan Ruadh. The siege dragged on after a fashion very exasperating to Cromwell, whose presence was urgently required in England. Moreover, his losses in men were heavy, as the defenders made frequent sallies. At length a breach in the wall was effected, and on May 9th a general assault was ordered.