The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1893-08-25
A FRENCH INVASION.
An Unknown But interesting
Chapter in Irish History.

i Anut inc SOIL OF tNc ttftitsH iNihfiUS
was desecrated BY French campaign
within hundred years ago Is kuoN n
To comparatively fews fcwcr still are
acquainted with the details. English
historians contenting themselves gen.
orally with bare mention OF tile fact
| Although the occurrences about 10 be
narrated took place in the west % ire
land. yet they were 81 so cxtraordsnary
nature that history 81 them will be
found interesting
By way 81 preface, Il may he neees-
sary TO say that the Irish rebellion 81
| iT9s had Just been Suppressed aud ais
| though during the rising this Irish had
looked 81 France for aid, for one rra-
son or other Il had not heen farfhepm
ing. until, fortunately for the Httsish
government. 1t was too late GA the
I'D Of August 1903 MS the bislpap ef
Kiilala, county Mayo WINS holding
visitation u his clergy ~ his residence
there, three frigntcs. two 81 forty
guns and ono ~ thirty-cight, under
I English culors. entered the hay ard
dropped anchor Two ~ tho bish0p'a
sons and the port surveyor ruved ont
10 the ships with the intention uf
boarding them; on doing 50, they were
informed, to their great establishment
that they were the prisoners 81 the
French republic The same evcns
| ing about three hundred French
troops were landed and i'm medi9tclg
advanced on the town. Notice was
Instantly sent of 10 ilallipa, seven
miles 10 the southwark where a small
English force was stationed; and. mean
while, the garrison, composed ~ yeo-.
| mnnry and fencihlcs 10 the number III
fifty, gailantly advanced 10 meet the
invaders. Being overwhelmed by NUM-
bcrs. however. and losing two ~ their
party by fnsillasle from the French,
they turned and fed, twenty Of them
being taken prisoners. Thus the
French effected landing and gained
possession OF Killala- The whole
forces Of the French were now landed.
consisting Of about eleven hundred oiIi-
GERS and men, with two guns. under
Gen. Hnmhert; but they calculated on
being. joined by tho Irish mtfcontents,
for whom they had brought arms and
uniforms Next morning MI advance
column OF one hundred men, Of whom
forty were mounted on horses .'requisi-
toned for the purpose. advanced on
Balfina, and were soon followed by the
main body. On the evening Of the 25th
they entered Ballina, the garrison of
which fed after d faint resistance.
Hero several hundred Irish joined the
standard AZ tho .Libcrnturs milking.
together with those who had joined
i
fourteen hundred nuxiiinrics Hum
bert, encouraged BY these additions 70
his forces, determined not to give them
any time for reflection, but advanced
ut once on Castleb bar, the chief town Of
Mayo. where large British force was
stationed.
The troops at Castlcbar, made up
mostly Of militia and yenmanry. in a
bad state OF discipline, numbered about
four thousand, with fourteen guns,
under Cen hutchinson; but ut the
! last moment Gen Lake. as senior Of
ficer, took over tho command, which
accustomed great discomfort md some
confusion among the troops The
French were expected 70 advance by
4 the main road from Ballinn, on which
a force had been stationed to watch
them, and the British dispositions
were made accordingly; but IluInbert,
who WINS veteran in the art Of war,
choee a road by which he WINS not ex-
tpccted, namely, 10 the west by the
pass Of Bnrnagee, which had bccn
considered impossible, and 50 cnine
upon the British on their left flank
When Humbert came IN sight II the
formidable array opposed 70 him, he
Iconcluacd that surrender must be hia
fate; but, all the same, determined To
4 make at least some show Of resist
ance The English. on the other hand,
had been taken nnawarcsi and,
surprised by the Hank movement
lof tile French, had hastily 10
take mp a new position about a
mile from their former one This, and
i the warIike 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 q cloud 81
smoke, and under d smart fusillade and
hot file from the English artillery,
4 which. however, did not cheek their
advance The English, bccofning
alarmed al the upusnal tactics Of the
French, and by q movement % turn
their left, which unfortunately was I'M
defended, retreated, were seized with
/ panic, broke, and fed in confusion
through the town, cavalry and infantry
mixed in wild disorder more dis.
graceful defeat had. In short, seldom
bcfallen the British arms. Artillery,
ammunition. arms and everything that
could impede their flight were aban.
doned TO the enemy. on they fled
to Tuam, thirty eight miles from the
field Of battle. After a short rest,
they posted on again towards Athlone,
where an officer OF carabineers and
sixty men arrived ut one o'clock on
Tuesday the 2sth
The French celebrated their victory
n IN Characteristic fashion:E The officers
gave ball and supper 70 the ladies 81
the town, and so well did they deport
themselves that they very soon be
came general fayoritcs But business
had to be attended 70 as well AZ
! pleasure Having BY this victory
gained possession Of Mayo, lumber
Immediately established a provisiona
government and formed districts, oyel
eacn Of which he placed > magistrate
and, to make all complete, appointed
Nj. Moore, gentleman d thedistriet
as provisional president, Proclama
tions wera issued in the name Of tn
Irish republic and supplies, etc, wer'
naid for with notes ON the Irish iii