The Sun.
London, England, 1867-03-11 00:00:00

THE FENIAN INSURRECTION.

(From the Special Correspondent o je.the Times.)
KILMALLOCK, County Limerick, Friday.
Nobody who visited this dreary, poverty-stricken
Tillage could suppose that it was once a fortified
town, that it possessed a charter, and was the
chosen town residence of Irish nobles. The wonder
now is that it could ever have been worth the
trouble of besieging. But its walls invited many an
assailant until Cromwell ordered their destruction.
One can hardly assume that the Fenians wished to
revive historical traditions when they marched into
Kihnallock last Wednesday ; but if any historian
thinks it worth while to record the Fenian insurrec-
tion of 1867, lie mu.-3t not pars over the three hours'
siege of the police-station here, and the gallant re-
pulse of the Fenians by its little garrison. The bar-
rack, as it is called, is nothing more than a two-
storied house, built substantially of stone, with a
low wall round it, and other houses on either side.
It was held at the time of the attack by Head-con-
stable Adams and 14 men. Here, again, the Fenian
plans were divulged beforehand. The head-constable
heard on Sunday night that the insurgents were
coming, and that he and his men would have to fight
for their lives some day during the week, probably
Wednesday or Thursday. They were, therefore,
prepared, though they hardly knew whether or not
to believe the stories. At a few minutes to 6 o'clock
on Wednesday morning the three constables who
were on the watch heard a noise outside and received
no reply to their challenge. Immediately after-
wards there was a blaze at the front door, oil or
" Greek fire" having been poured upon the panel-
ling. The persons outside made a hasty retreat,
and fortunately the woodwork did not ignite, so
that this attempt to burn out the garrison failed.
The rest of the police force, who had not taken off
their clothes, were soon at their posts. In front
and rear the house has 26 windows, so that 11 of
these were without defenders. The outer wall, too,
afforded good cover to the assailants, and after
pouring in a volley through all the windows, they
got under cover at once. Their number is estimated
at 200 at least, and according to some accounts
they mustered twice as many. Their commander
was a " Colonel" Dunne, who wore a green uni-
form, and a hat of peculiar shape, with a big white
feather. To show that they were on the alert, the
police returned the volley, but acting under the
orders of the head-constable were careful not to
waste powder in the dim light which at first pre-
vailed unless they saw somebody to aim at.
As it grew lighter the firing on both sides became
hotter... Two or three of the Fenians who ventured
to show themselves were then hit from the barrack,
and the rest of them were extremely careful not to
present any target to the practised marksmen within.
These, on the other hand, sheltered themselves as
much as possible at the windows, which were soon
shattered by the shot. Their chief object was to
prevent the bursting open of the doors, either in
front or rear. The Fenians had come provided
with crowbars and sledge hammers to force an en-
trance, but they had not pluck enough to risk the
exposure of their persons in this way. Some at-
tempt was made to pull down the house-wall at a
point which was commanded by no window, but
the wall was so substantially built that they gave
np this attempt also. Frem that moment it
became evident that the garrison would be
able to hold their own. One great source of
anxiety to them was the presence of four of their
wives and 13 children. These were placed in as
safe positions as could be found, but, each room
having its window, there was danger in all. Nor
could the children be always kept in the safest place
in the room. Some were old enough to be fright-
ened ; the rest played about during the attack, and
" just took their chance." I went through the house
to-day, and the numerous bullet-holes in the plaster
and shutters proved bow serious a risk this was.
One man showed me where he stood and fired, his
wife and five children crouching down behind him ;
and a dozen bullets at least must have passed not
many inches above his head. A considerable num-
ber of the Fenians were townspeople, who knew ex-
actly the construction of the barrack, and which
room might best be fired into. Thus the head-con-
stable's room was a favourite target, and at the
window here, commanding the back door, Mr. Adams
planted himself. His most pertinacious enemy was a
militia-man, whom he recognised, and who fired
from the cover of a house close by, or from the low
wall around the barrack. One of this man's bullets
smashed the washhand basin, and the head-consta-
ble made very pretty practice in return, splintering
the wall now and then close by the head of his an-
tagonist. The police fired on an average 18 or 20
rounds per man. One and all behaved splendidly,
though some had not been more than six months in
the force. There was no flinching and no talk of
surrender. " They whistled and joked most of the
time," one of the womeu told me, " and this kept
us up too." The fathers now and then would go to
see that their wives and little ones were unharmed ;
now and then, too, mothers could not be prevented
from running into danger, that they might know
their husbands were not struck down. Only one
policeman was hit by a musket ball, and the wound
was a mere graze. Some three hours passed in this
way, and brought no help. None of the townspeople
seemed to have sent for any. Many, indeed, as I have
said, were in the Fenian ranks, and the rest were too
timid to venture on doing anything for the relief of
the garrison. Meanwhile amounted policeman, bring-
ing despatches from Brough, had been captured by
the Fenians. A pike was put in his hand and he was
forced to go towards the barrack to aid in the
attack under threatsof being shot if he refused. But
the policeman, of course, did not feel bound to ex-
pose himself to fire any more than lus captors, and
found means to escape afterwards. Meanwhile, the
Fenian Colonel, finding the attack languish, ex-
horted his men to " go in," he himself smoking a
short pipe comfortably all the time behind a wall
where he was perfectly safe. He also wrote de-
spatches, using the step of a jaunting car for a desk.
These missives, which are supposed to have con-
tained demands for reinforcements, were sent into
the country by messengers mounted on horses taken
from the neighbouring farmers or gentry, the
policeman's horse being, of course, pressed into the
service. Dunne also found time to shoot Mr. Bourne,
the manager of the Union Bank. He called at this
gentleman's private residence and demanded a re-
volver. Mr. Bourne refused, saying that he should
want it for the defence of the bank. He was imme-
diately shot down by the Fenian colonel, and now
lies in a very critical state. Mr. Bourue's revolver
was afterwards found upon one of the prisoners
taken. About 9 o'clock the garrison heard firing at
the end of the street, and knew that relief was at
hand. It reached them in this wise :—Sub-inspec-
tor Milling happened to be coming to Kilmallock
with three policemen in the mail car from Kilfillane.
At a short distance from the town he heard firing,
and was told that an attack was being made upon
the barrack. He at once ordered the driver of the
mail cart to turn back to a police station about six
miles off and returned with ten men. It was now
about 9 o'clock, and the liilmallock constabulary
gallantly held their own. The sub-inspector, with his
small party, took the insurgents in flank and fired a
volley upon them before they were aware that any
new foe was nigh. At the same time, the new-
comers cheered lustily to give notice to their com-
rades in the barrack ; and the head-constable there
at once ordered the door to be thrown open, and,
Milling's party, dashed into the road in pur-
suit of the retiring Fenians. For some little time
longer the two bodies skirmished in the street, anti
then the insurgents broke and ran in disorder, pur-
sued fur some distance by the police. It was in the
street that young Cleary, the medical student, was
shut by the constabulary. He had been attending
the wounded. Of the two insurgents whose deid
bodies were found one was a shoemaker of ,Rockhill;
the other man is not yet recognised. The second in
command of the insurgents, Patrick Walsh, was
captured. He had received a flesh wound in the
thigh. In all about 30 prisoners were made, of whom
several were slightly wounded. Other wounded or
dead men' are supposed to have been removed to the
houses of Fenian sympathisers, so that the total
casualties will probably never be known with accu-
racy. The trophies of the police were 40 pikes, some
with handles 12 and 14 ft, long,lB guns, two pistols,

two swords, some daggers, a tin can filled with what
is called " Greek fire," butlooks very much like paraf-
fin oil, 12 crowbars and pickaxes, a couple of sledge-
hammers, tin canisters containing bullets and percus-
sion-caps, powder flasks, ball cartridges, and several
yards of the cord-fuse which is used in blasting, and
is supposed to have been intended for use in con-
nection with the Greek fire. There was a railway rug
which the Fenian commander had not disdained to
bring into action, and perhaps in such weather as
this he would give a good deal more for his rug than
for the sword which, in the hurry of his departure,
this terrible chieftain also forgot to remove. It is a
Tower sword, and the handle bears the crown and
cipher " V.R." Inside the leather scabbard of the
other I noticed, written iu ink, the words " John F.
New, West Middlesex Volunteers, F company."
This weapon belonged to Walsh, and was of the same
make as that worn by Dunne. Of the guns four are
double-barrelled, and the muzzles of two have been
shot throughby bullets, which were, no doubt, aimed
from the barrack window at the only mark which
the police could see.
Both Dunne and Walsh are Irish Americans.
The former is a native of Charleville, and was ar-
rested a year ago, but was released on promising to
leave the country. He is supposed to have served
as a captain in the American army. llead-constable
Adams, who maintained so stout and skilful a de-
fence, has been 25 years in the force. His conduct
and that of the whole party, garrison and reinforce-
ment, cannot be too highly spoken of.
TIPPERARY, Saturday.

Ever since the outbreak there have been rumours
in this town of an impending attack 'from the Fe-
nians, and to-day I find the same apprehensions. I
am afraid it is no exaggeration to say that with the
greater number of the inhabitants hope is stronger
than apprehension. Tipperary is a name that does
not carry with it very pleasant associations, and the
population of this town is supposed to be greatly
disaffected. The streets are clean, the houses better
built than those of inland towns usually are in Ire-
land, and the shops are of such pretensions as show
the place to be the centre of an agricultural district
of some importance and wealth. In fact, the land
near here is the most fertile in the whole country—
" The Golden Vale," it is called—and as a class the
farmers are well to do, and the peasantry better
lodged and paid than in other counties. A low range
of hills rises at some little distance from the town,
and towering above these is the well-known Galtee
range, the crests of the mountains now whitened
with a thin covering of snow. From the unfinished
Court-house, now occupied by troops, all eyes were
directed yesterday afternoon to the far mountain
range, where the rebels are believed to be in force,
=id at times have been visible. The highest point of
this range, Galtymore, is over 3,000 ft. above the
sea level, and is only overtopped by three other
mountains iu the South of Ireland. On its bold,
.rugged shoulder many persons were able yesterday
to make out a strong force of men moving towards
the loftiest peak, where it is assumed that some sort
of Fenian stronghold exists. As the sun now and
then lit up the mountain gorges I saw clearly the
same dark objects amid the snow; but whether they
moved, or whether they were trees or mere patches
or gorse, I cannot profess to say. The wild, wintry
weather that now prevails, and the difficulties of
maintaining a large body of men for any time on the
bleak mountain side, incline one to doubt whether
the Fenians can remain there in any numbers. If
so, cold and hunger must soon drive them into the
plains ; but, although cold and hunger may make
men desperate, the Fenians in Tipperary must differ
much from their brethren in other parts if they
venture to attack a town garrisoned as this now is by
infantry, horse artillery, and cavalry, strengthened
this morning by new arrivals from the Curragh.
The Fenians of this party were no doubt in con-
siderable force, and had prepared to do great things;
but here also, as everywhere else, the promise was
great and the performance miserable. As in Dublin
county and other places, the rising began on Tues-
day night. Detachments of the 31st Regiment, under
the command of Major Lind, were at the time sta-
tioned here, and as information was given of an ad-
vance upon the town a reconnoitring party was
pushed forward in the direction of Croughill, under
the command of Lieutenant Waldron. Mr. de
Gernon, the resident magistrate, knowing the roads,
accompanied the party, and while some yards in
advance came upon a Fenian sentinel. As this
man refused to surrender, the magistrate seized
him, but several armed men ran to his aid, and
in the scuffle all escaped. Several blows were
aimed at Mr. de Gernon, who drew his revolver ani
fired three shots; the patrol also fired at the party,
who thereupon took to their heels, leaving about a
dozen pikes behind them. As a pursuit was not
thought advisable no prisoners were taken, nor
could it be seen whether any of the shots fired took
effect. Early on Wednesday morning several men
were arrested. Some of them were making their
way back into the town. One man was found
lying helplessly drunk in the fields, with his pike
close beside him, and was carried ingloriously to
gaol upon a stretcher. During Wednesday informa-
tion was received that the Fenians had fixed their
camp in an old Danish fort at Ballyhurst, about two
miles from Tipperary. The approach to this fort
is by a stiff ascent over a ploughed field, and at the
top of the hill a circular embankment some 15 feet
high remains in fair preservation, and at the foot a
ditch. Some stunted trees within the hallowed
space and on the bank afford capital shelter, and a
body of determined men might have held this
stronghold against a considerable force. A detach-
ment of the 31st Regiment and a troop of Carabi-
neers marched out from Tipperary to dislodge the
insurgents, who were seen in force on the crest of
the hill. Major Lind, who was in command, brought
his men forward at the double, and they charged
up the hill with fixed bayonets. I need not say
that the Fenians did not wait to receive the attack,
but, after firing two or three ineffectual shots, fled
long before the troops mounted the summit. The
leader was mounted on a horse which had been
stolen by the party for his use from a gentleman in
the neighbourhood ; but this man, not being much
in the habit of riding across country, came to grief
at his first bank and was taken prisoner. lle gave
his name as Burke, and upon his person was found
a map of the country. One of the insurgents, a
farm labourer, named Russell, was found hiding in
a ditch, and tried to stab with his pike a soldier,
who at once shot him through the shoulder. The
man is since dead. The Carabineers and infantry
followed two or three miles in pursuit, and captured
17 prisoners, some of whom were wounded ; but, as
the Fenians flung their arms away, were fleet of foot,
and had a considerable start, the main body got
away. Inside the fort about sixty pikes were
found, with loose powder, bullets, and percus-
sion caps, with a commissariat of cold boiled
potatoes, white bread, oaten cakes, and
milk. Along the line of flight sixty pikes and four
guns were picked up. One of the latter is a rifle
which was stolen from a sergeant of the 64th Regi-
ment during the last Tipperary election. And so
ended the first and last encounter of Fenians and
soldiers around Tipperary.
Kilteelly, a small village about 12 miles west of
the Junction here, was occupied by about 150 or
200 Fenians on Thursday. They took posession of
the police-barrack there, which had been evacuated
by the constabulary, and demanded arms and am-
munition from the well-disposed inhabitants and
gentry. These were generally given up without re-
sistance, but a sturdy old farmer named Gearing,
when thus summoned, refused point blank, and pre-
pared to defend himself. The insurgents battered
at the door with a sledge-hammer ; and Mr. Gearing
replied by firing through the door at the people out-
side. His wife, however, who was dreadfully
alarmed, struck the gun upwards, and the contents
passed through the -panel above the heads of the
Fenians. These men broke his windows, and pounded
at the door till it was nearly off the hinges. Then
a parley took place, the gun was handed out to the
mob, and they were satisfied to retire without ac-
tually effecting an entrance. This took place before
daybreak on Thursday morning. Kilteelly is five
or six miles from any railway station. Some time
elapsed, therefore, before any alarm was given. Still,
if the mass of the inhabitants had not sympathised
with the insurgents, troops would have been sum-
moned from here or from Limerick in time to inter-

cept them. As it was, the Fenians ate, drank, and
made merry with their friends ; and the whisky
flowed in such plenty that some of the men got
exceedingly drunk, and lay about the street for
some hours in a helpless state. Meanwhile, others
were occupied in searching for arms, and one party
impressed into the Fenian service several young
men of the place, much against their will. This
forced levy has prevailed largely during this
rising, chiefly among the peasantry, who are much
less disaffected than the townspeople, or at all
events, are more timid and disinclined to commit
themselves. In more than one case men have been
shot down by the Fenian leaders for refusing to join
their ranks. By examples like this, and by threats
of vengeance, many men have been taken away
from their homes, and the people you meet are not
inclined to talk much about the Fenian doings. The
people at Kilteelly would give little information,
and said as little as they could possibly help about
their visitors. It appeared, however, that these
men preserved some attempts at discipline, and paid
for all that they ate and drank, so that they were
probably welcome. They were badly armed, and
were extremely anxious to procure guns and re-
volvers. They left the village at about seven in
the evening, moving towards the Galtee mountains,
and were followed for some distance by women be-
wailing, with the demonstrative grief common to
their class in Ireland, the sons, brothers, or hus-
bands who had been forced into the service of the
" Irish Republican army." Yesterday morning a
detachment of the 74th Regiment from Limerick
and a small force of the 31st Regiment and the
4th Dragoon Guards stationed at Limerick Junc-
tion and Tipperary marched to Kilteelly, but of
course were too late to be of serviee, except by re-
assuring the well-disposed inhabitants. The party
of Fenians who performed this exploit are supposed
to be among those who were seen on Galtyinore
mountain yesterday.
LIMERICK JUNCTION, Sunday Evening.

A movable column, under the command of
Colonel 111'Neill, 48th Regiment, left Tipperary
this morning for the Galtee mountains where bodies
of Fenians are believed to have taken refuge.

Around Mallow, on Friday night, several farm-
houses and other residences were entered by the
insurgents, who took away arms, but committed no
other outrages.

Troops were sent yesterday from Mallow junction
to Millstreet, county Cork, where an attack was
expected last night ; the Fenians, however, did not
appear. _ _ _

Troops have passed through Limerick junction
to-day from the Curragh, en route for Ennis and
Clare.

Three milesmen employed upon the railway here
were arrested yesterday for having joined the in-
surgents. They say that they were forced into the
Fenian ranks.