The Insurgents Take Possesion Of Enniscorthy & Wexford

Above : Picture Of Father John Murphy

Father Murphy took up a strong position on Oulart Hill, and soon found himself at the head of 5,000 men. They repulsed with great slaughter an attack made on them by the North Cork Militia, and, advancing, captured without much difficulty the town of Enniseorthy. The garrison and many of the inhabitants with their families fled to Wexford. So much were the loyalist party discouraged that, after a fresh victory of the insurgents at a place called Three Rocks, they abandoned the town, of which the insurgents took possession (May 30th). The soldiers marked their line of retreat by the perpetration of disgraceful outrages on the unarmed peasantry ; whereas the conduct of the victors at Wexford was, save in a few isolated instances, very creditable.

Almost the entire county of Wexford was now in the hands of the insurgents, and camps had been established in various places. The most considerable of these was on Vinegar Hill, overlooking the town of Enniseorthy. During the time that the rebels were encamped there —a period of nearly four weeks—a large number, certainly some hundreds, of Protestants whom they had captured were put to death, usually after some form of trial. A good many were flogged, and tortures are alleged to have been used, but this is not certain.

Meanwhile, the main body of the Wexford victors had left the town They had elected as commander-in-chief a Protestant gentleman named Bagenal Harvey, who was a large landowner in the county and had been a prominent United Irishman. He had neither military experience nor any special capacity and accepted the position into which he was thrust with the greatest reluctance. His constant aim was to prevent outrages, and to ensure the humane treatment of all persona captured.

Matthew Keough, another Protestant and an ex-army officer remained in charge of Wexford town, and succeeded in keeping a fair amount of order. Though many Protestants were seized and thrown into prison, very little actual violence took place.

An attack made by about 4,000 insurgents on Newtownbarry was at first successful, but the yeomen returned and drove out the victorious insurgents. On the other hand, Colonel Walpole was defeated and slain near Gorey by a force commanded by Father John Murphy, and the town was captured.