The war forced the Government to withdraw regular troops and replace them with much lower quality Militia and Fensible regiments raised in Ireland and Britain. The Government was faced with a strategic dilemma. When the French arrived in Bantry Bay in 1796 the army was so dispersed it would have required a week to concentrate a force large enough to meet them in a pitched battle. By then they would have taken Dublin. The threat of an internal uprising remained strong and most of the army remained dispersed in the counter insurgency role.
Troops make poor police and when given free rein to act the usual outcome is terror.
In Ireland terror was the policy of first choice. He took immediate steps to concentrate troops and restore discipline. He stopped the reign of terror and began to reorganise the army. Abercromby s comments created a political storm, which forced his resignation in March 1798. His policies were reversed, terror was restored and troops again given free rein to torture.