The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1893-02-28
A FRENCH INVASION.
An Unknown But Interesting
Chapter In Irish History.

/
That the soil of the British islands
was desecrated by French campaign
within hundred years ago is known
to comparatively few; fewer still are
acquainted with the details, English
historians contenting themselves gen
orally with bare mention of the fact
| Although the occurrences about to be
narrated took place in the west of Ire
| land, yet they were of so extraordinary
nature that history of them will be
found interesting.
By way of preface, 1t may be neces-
sary to say that the Irish rebellion of
1898 had just been suppressed, and al
though during the rising the Irish had
looked to France for aid, for one rea-
son or other it had not been forthcom-
ing, until, fortunately for the British
| government. it was too late. On the
| 22d of August. 1898, as the bishop of
Killala, county Mayo, was holding
visitation of his clergy at his residence
| there, three frigates, two OF forty-four
guns and one of thirty-eight. under
English colors. entered the bay and
dropped anchor. Two of the bishops
sons and the port surveyor rowed out
to the ships with the intention of
boarding them; on doing so, they were
informed. to their great establishment,
that they were the prisoners of the
| French republic. The same even
| ing about three hundred French
troops were landed and i'm mediately
advanced on the town. Notice was
| instantly sent off to Ballina, seven
miles to the southwark, where small
English force was stationed; and, mean
while, the garrison, composed of yeo-
fifty, gallantly advanced to meet the
invaders. Being overwhelmed by num-
bers, however, and losing two Of their
party by fusillade from the French,
they turned and fled, twenty of them
being taken prisoners Thus the
French effected landing and gained
possession of KillalR- The whole
forces of the French were now landed,
consisting of about eleven hundred off,
GERS and men, with two guns, under
Gen. Humbert; but they calculated on
being joined by the Irish malcontents,
for whom they had brought arms and
column Of one hundred men, of whom
forty were mounted on horses ''requisi-
toned" for the purpose, advanced on
Ballina, and were soon followed by the
main body. On the evening Of the 25th
they entered Ballina, the garrison of
which fed after a faint resistance.
Here several hundred Irish joined the
standard of the sLiberators, making,
together with those who had joined
since the landing of the French, about
fourteen hundred auxiliaries. Hum
bert, encouraged by these additions to
his forces. determined not to give them
any time for reflection, but advanced
at once on Castle bar, the chief town of
Mayo, where large British force was
stationed.
The troops at Castlebar, made up
mostly of militia and yeomanry, in a
bad state of discipline, numbered about
four thousand, with fourteen guns,
under Gen. Hutchinson; but at the
last moment Gen. Lake, as senior Of
ficer, took over the command, which
occasioned great discomfort and some
confusion among the troops. The
French were expected to advance by
the main road from Ballina, ON which
a force had been stationed to watch
them, and the British dispositions
were made accordingly; but Humbert.
who was veteran in the art Of war,
chose road by which he was not ex-
pected, namely, to the west by the
pass of Barnagee, which had been
considered impossible, and so came
upon the British on their left flank
When Humbert came in sight Of the
formidable array opposed to him, he
concluded that surrender must be his
fate; but, all the same, determined to
make at least some show Of resist
ance The English, on the other hand,
had been taken unawares; and.
surprised by the flank movement
of the French, had hastily to
take up new position about
mile from their former one. This, and
the warlike appearance of the French
troops, did not tend to increase their
confidence. The French advanced on
the right and left Of the English posi-
ton in small bodies amid a cloud of
smoke, and under smart fusillade and
hot fire from the English artillery,
which, however. did not check their
advance. The English, becoming
alarmed at the unusual tactics of the
French, and by a movement to turn
their left, which unfortunately was un-
defended, retreated, were seized with
panic, broke, and fed In confusion
through the town, cavalry and infantry
mixed in wild disorder. A more dis
graceful defeat had. in short, seldom
befallen the British arms. Artillery,
ammunition, arms and everything that
could impede their fight were aban-
doned to the enemy. On they fed
to Tuam, Thirty eight miles from the
field of battle. After short rest,
they posted on again towards Athlone,
where an officer OF carabineers and
sixty men arrived at one o'clock on
Tuesday the 2sth.
The French celebrated their victory
in a characteristic fashion: The officers
gave ball and supper to the ladies OF
the town, and so well did they deport
themselves that they very soon be-
came general favorites. But business
had to be attended to as well as
pleasure. Having by this victory
gained possession Of Mayo. Humbert
Immediately established provisional
government and formed districts. over
eacn Of which he placed magistrate;
and, to make all complete. appointed
Mr. Moore, gentleman OF the district,
as provisional president Proclama-
tions were issued in the name Of the
Irish republic and supplies, etc, were
paid for with notes ON the Irish di-
rectory Having made all ship-shape
and done everything calculated to i'm
press the natives with a sense Of the
power OF their allies, the next move
had to be considered. for Humbert
very well knew that he would not long
be allowed to remain In undisturbed
security.
While Humbert was thus busily EN-.
ployed in providing constitution for
the new republic the viceroy was be-
coming alive to the gravity of the situ-
alton. The malcontents, encouraged
by the successes of the French, were
threatening to assemble in large NUM-
bers, with the ultimate design. it was
said, of joining the French and march
ing on Dublin. On receiving news of
the defeat at Castlebar CORVALLIS
hastened by forced marches In the di-
rection of that town. He arrived on
the 4th of September at Hollymount
fourteen miles from Castleba and was
preparing to advance, when he received
information that the French had aban-
doned their position and had marched
in the direction of Foxford.
Humbert,s position was critical; his
Irish auxiliaries, additional numbers Of
whom had joined him since his victory,