In March 1804, several hundred United Irish exiles in the Castle Hill area (now a suburb of Sydney) conspired to seize control of the colony and to capture ships for a return to Ireland. Poorly armed, and with their leader Philip Cunningham captured, the main body of insurgents were routed in an encounter loyalists--recalling the decisive rebel defeat in Ireland in 1798--celebrated as the Second Battle of Vinegar Hill. Fifteen were killed and nine executed.