The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1860-03-09
Mcmahon and O1Donnell


When the names Of McMahon and o.
Donnell occupy such an important place
"a our contemporary drama, X will not
perhaps, be without interest to recall BY
what revolutions the representatives Of
these two lilusirlous names left their ma
tive land, to fix themselves on the Cont
nent. The family of Mcmahon. a French
one TO day, Is one Of the most ancient Of
ireland It's origin dates from Constantia,
hing OF Ireland, in the twelfth century,
being the trunk of the great families Of
A*cMahon, MacNenv and MacGuirs.-
These three branches Of the same family.
after having gloriously gone through the
long struggle fer national independence
against the conquest, became illustrious
together in the seventeenth century, BY
their chivalrous deyotedness to a vanquish-
ed cause Tie MacMahon family was rep
resented in 1916 by Bernard MacMahon,
Count de Dar'ry, SIzerain of Monaghan,
IN Ulster. lie was a brother Of Hugh.
who with lis unfortunate relative. Lord
Mac'ruire persisted victim TO his fidelity
10 Charles l., in endeavorino to take the
castle Of Dublin in 1911. Bernard, ami
mated by the modest sentiment, raised at
his expense the regiment which he com
inande4, and an episode Of his military
lite offers curious analogy with the brill
liant action Of General MacMahon at he
battle Of Magenta. Munroe was sent to
Ireland By the Parliament with An English
and Scotch army. D'Neil, Count Of Ty-
rome, Chief Of the Irish, endcayoring to
prevent the Junction Of Munroe with his
young brother George, sent against Linn
MacN 1Eou aud his l. other in law, Mac
Neny, Wi,h three regiments then without
knowing tie result OF their meeting he
offered battle The day was already ad
vance,, the victory uncertain, when Mac
Mah0n, victorious on his side, came back
and gave such important assistance % o.
Neil, that Munroe took to flight, abandon
Ing the town. he had taken BY this it
can be seen that the MacMahous already
knew how to arrive IN time
In 1890 james II. had just been defeat
ed at the battle Of the Boyne, and in their
grief and contempt for their chief, the
Irish sail let IL change generals, and
we will begin the battle again. William,
victorious, beseiged Limerick, where the
French troops, commanded by General
Borban, were joined with the Irish
Among the latter was Hugh Mcmahon,
lieutenant colonel Of q regiment Of infan
Try Of Charlemont. Obliged to give up
tie siege, William confded to Gen. Sol
RES and to Gen Gincle, the care of carry
ing on the operations and repairing his
repu.se. We cannot enter into the de-
tail of the terrible siege in which women
and young girls were seen to take up the
gun Of their dead husband or brother
when an entire regiment Of Brandebour
geois was DESTROYED in a battery into
which they had penetrated; where, af er
yrodigics Of vaIor against valorous attacks.
which have remained proverhial in Ire
land, the two armies ceased fighting, one
in its ruined encampments, the other on
lhe half DESTROYED ramparts, and said,
= Let us give up thu terrible struggle"
James II. had abandoned Ireland after
his defeat, and tIa Irish scarcely knew for
whom they fought. A truce was concu-
ded, and then a treaty was signed, the ba
sis. that Limerick shorld be given up to
should leave the city with the honors of
war, AID be left then to choose either
to return to their homes. continue their
services in the English army, or be taken
10 France at the expense Of England. The
Oh Of October, 1851, witnessed most
solemn and imposing scene. The Irish
troops were all drawn up on the ramparts
opposite Thonond Gate. They were pass
Ell in review By the leading Dutch gener-
ais, and 10 their enemies Of the day be
fore they cour.eously presented their arms.
The brave defenders of Limerick were to
pass before a flag staff placed in the
ground whoever wished to serve Eng
land was to sep before the flag, the 9th
ers TO move on. The review ended there
WAS complete silence in the ranks; then
the General SarsGed, Count Lucan, gave
tho order, March - The royal regiment
of Irish Guards advanced towars the flag
staff; nothing was heard but tie regular
tramp Of the soldiers and the throbUng
of tho hearts of the bystanders. The first
battalion passed on without stopping,
then the second, then the third-all the
regiment-1, 400 men strong then the
compressed feelings of emotion broke out
into chreer of admiration end enthusi
asm.
Sever men, seven renegades only, step
ped out & the ranks. Standing near the
fig ashamed Of their inferior number, they
seemed to wish 10 become invisible to the
crowd. Then came the principal corps
darmes, composed Of $4,000 men. OF
this number, 80 only remained in the
country or took service in the Engliah ar
my. The rest emigrateI to France, and
formed the Irish Brigades, in which dis
tinguisbed themselves tue regiments OF
MacMahon, Dillon and others, under the
command o. brave Count Thotnoud. His
tory has unregistered their exploits under
the Gag of France at the LangfeId and at
Fontenoy Such are the memorable
events which brought to the Continent
that valiant Irish emigration which was
destined 10 paw 50 nobIy the anicabIe hos
pitality that they received in different
countries.
France has Just right TO be proud of her
adopted sons, and the titzjameseS the Mac
IpppaIla The G}f,uar,s's orI tba MacNa