The Irish republic. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1867-18??, 1867-10-12
SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE.
Letter from Father Vaughan.
NO. II.
BAREFIELD, ENNIS, Co. CLARE IRELAND,

|
SIRs Had the namesake and great prototype of our
present American patriot and soldier followed up
the sound leatherng given the enemy BealAnagha,
the soil of Ireland would not at this hour polluted by
the tread of the English robber and stranger Green
Erin of Streams" would rival the proudest nations in
Christendom, unfurling her sunburst before Heaven
chershng in their native land and caspng to her heart
like fond yearning mother, her brave athletic and
chase beautiful daughters that are now ANONYMOUSLY
driven out" cast forth like abortive from the womb
and doomed to painful but, ervently hope not per-
petual exile 4
At Beal-Anagha the want of due preparation, of a
commssarat, etc. the part of ONeil saved the Eng
fish from total defeat and being routed forever from the
soil of Ireland. The English historians acknowledge
the temporary triumph of ONeil and the terrible saugh
ter of their army. Ormond writing to Cecil said,
Sure the devil bewitched them, (the Engsh) that
| none of them did prevent this error" The General,
% officers and 200 rank and file lay dead the field
The loss of ONeis forces amounting to about 700.
The army of O'Ne according to the Irish annalists,
was nearly equal in number to the English, but much
inferior to them in military equipments but the struggle
for fherland and freedom the CALLING recollections of
the wholesale massacre by fire. sword and famine-of
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heroic, avenging courage to the patriot army, when
down rushed the chivalry of Trowen that swept like
hurricane over the Saxon ranks, whose mailed armor
cloven down-shivered to fagments-by the battle
and long ashen spears pixies of the Irish Some
additional encouragement it is said, given the Irish
by the poet Fearassa OCleary who rected ancient
prophesy of St Bearchaine, stating that at place
called the Yellow Ford the foreigners would be de-
feated by Hugh O'Neil"
I firmly believe O'Neil was the real prophet, and
greater than the prophet and that the lightning that
flashed from his sword effective and enchant
ing to his followers than what came from the prophets
Tyre.
As history is philosophy teaching by example,"
place this historical fact before my exed countrymen in
the United States that they may reflect the folly of
rushing precptatey and unprepared either at home
abroad like ONeil in any engagement with their ene
mics What irreparabe evils had nearly come on the
poor disarmed people of Ireland last March, by driving
them madly into revolt that should prove disastrous
failure and throw the nation back as in 49, another
quarter Of century. Let them ever recollect that
| THE patient dnt and powder shock
| Will blast an empire like rock.'
Don't suppose that, when counselng them to patience
and preparation, wish to throw wet blanket on the
rushing energetic resolve of my exed countrymen;
because I solemnly believe people in ancient or
modern history prominently possess, at this hour
all the elements of greatness, national and military as
the home and exied nation of Ireland Let them blde
their timeconcentrate the mighty power Of their mill
ion hoss-and as sure God is in heaven, they WILL
and shall, become redeemed and free people,
In the order of an eernaly just Providence punish
ment invariably follows crime and above all the revolt
ing crime of murder Before God, angels, ana men,
England in the famine period of AZ 40 and 49, when
fifteen millions worth of food was annually exported
from Ireland murdered million Of our 60oa ana 6'nd~