North Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1867-current, 1868-03-25

More Ireland.
The country Of one of our ancestors,
Arthur O'Ncil, is exciting much inquiry.
We occasionally refer to tho subject be-
cause OF the interest taken in it by others.
A writer signing A. Goucu, is eliminating
Irish History through the columns of the
Chippewa Union, of Wisconsin. His first
essay is lost to US here is his second. II
is written in all the glow of tho "ould
blood and describes battles of charac-
ter disgusting to even scmicivilization.-
We publish it as n curiosity, and also be-
cause we suppose it true, except in the
last line
Tho longest wars on record are those Of
the Greeks against the Pcrsians of tho
Romans against tho Carthagcnans of tho
States Of Europe, consequent upon tho
disruption Of the Norman Empire. Ent
all these wars are trining compared to the
duration and intensity of the wars of Ire
land. From the invasion Of Caesar till the
last legion left the shores Of Britain, the
Irish waged successful and continual war
with the Roman powers nor were the
latter ever able to affect landing on the
Irish coast. In those days lived the fa-
nous Fcnian Bands--they were national
militia, organized to prevent foreign inva-
sion, and well they did their work, for dur
ing their existence no foreign Toe was ablo
to set foot on Irish soil.
From the eighth to the twelfth century,
the history of Europe is little else than
record of the ravages of Danes. These
hardy warriors, trained to embrace death
with rs much ardor as victory, carried
slaughter and dsmay wherever they went.
They conquered the Dukedom of Norman
dy in France they passed over the Alps
and carved out Kingdom in Italy Eng
land fell beneath their prowess her an
cicnt rulers were driven into exile and a
Danish monarch placed upon her throne.
In Ireland alone the Raven of the North
never found rest for the sole of his foot
Whenever he made descent he was met
with steel instead Of presents and, some
times .vanquished, sometimes victrous.
the Irish continued the struggle for four
centuries, till king arose who knew
how to WELD the valor of his countrvmen
then the warrior bands of all the North
were met one dusty Good Friday, on tho
plains of Clontarf, near Dublin, and bat
tic was fought which broke the power of
the Sea rovers forever. It was such a
battle as seldom comes within the province
of the historian to record.
"Ne wcre," says the commander of tho
Irish reserve about the breadth of
fallnw field from the combatants. After
casting their javelins they rushed on each
other, hand to hand, and the earth tren.-
bled beneath the shock. In few mo-
ments they were SO cntangled that faith
or could not have known his son o. son
his father, save by the voice. Instantly n
shower of blood rose from the swing of
their weapons, forming crimson cloud
over the whole field. Our arms and bod
les were covered with blood and hair,
which the wind, blowing from the sea, car
ried towards us, and many fnrlon.s be-
yond. Fifty thousand battle axes, stream-
ing with gore. rose and fell each instant,
making picture far more terrible to those
looking on than to those engaged From
early morning till sundown that crimson
cloud overhune both armies. At length,
it was broken into fragments, the Danes
fled. But the tide was out, their ships
stranded, and the full noon. gave the VIC
tors all the advantages Of daylight. No
quarter was asked, no quarter given, and
before the tide returned the Mortimer
were annihiated Their raven standard
never scared southwark to conquest and
plunder. Denmark found her grave in
Ireland, where England will ultimately
find hers. y. GoUGH