The Forrest City times., 1893-05-05
A FRENCH INVASION.
An Unknown But Interesting
 Chapter in Irish History.

That the soil of the British islands was desecrated by French campaign within d hundred years ago is known to comparatively few; fewer still are acquainted with the details, English historians contenting themselves gen erally with a 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, it may be neces- sary to say that the Irish rebellion of 179S had just been suppressed, and al though during the rising the Irish had looked to France for aid, for one req son or other it had not been forthcom- ing, until, fortunately for the British government, it was too late. On the 22d of August, l79S, as the bishop of killala, county Mayo, was holding a 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 astonishment, that they were the prisoners of the French republic. The same even ing about three hundred French troops were landed and immediately advanced on the town. Notice was instantly sent off to Bailina, seven miles to the southward, where a small English force was stationed; and. mean while, the garrison, composed of yeo- marry and fencibles to the number of 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 a landing and gained possession of killala. The whole forces of the French were now landed, consi isting of about eleven hundred off cers 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 uniforms. Next morning an advance 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 fled after a faint resistance. Here several hundred Irish joined the standard of the "Liberators," 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 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 discontent 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 tae