The Irish standard., 1897-06-05

marched into Meath, Joined Sir James
Dillon and reduced the entire district.
In 1914, Monro's army amounted to 49,
600 men. O'Neill, after having for
short time, occupied greater part of
Ulster, again returned to northern Lein-
ster. Here he was Joined by Lord Cas-
tlehaven with 5000 men; but except
triding skirmishes no engagement took
place, and Castlehaven returned, Gis-
gusted with the war, which he had no
patience to value, nor profuQdity to
practice. 1645 passed over in similar
skirmishes, in which the country suf-
fered terribly from the laundering of
Monro's army. The leaders under Owen
Roe were Sir Phelim O'Neill and his
brother Turlough; Con. Cormac, Hugh
and Brian O'Neill; and the following
chieftains with their clans: Bernard
MacMahon, the son of Hugh, chief of
Monaghan and Baron of Dartry, Col.
MacMahon, Col. Pat. MacKenny (who
was married to Helen, sister Of Bernard
MacMahon,) Col. Richard O'Farrell, OF
Langford, Roger, MacGuire, of Ferma-
nagh; Col. Philip O'Reilly, of Ballyna-
craggy castle in the county of Cavan,
(who was married to Rose O'Neill, sister
of Owen Roe,) the valiant Maolmora
O'Reilly, (kinsman to Philip,) who, from
his great strength and determined BRAY
cry, was called Miles the Slasher. The
O'Reillys brought 200 chosen men of
their own name, and of the MacBradys,
MacCabes, MacGowans, Fitzpatricks,
Fitzsimmons, from Cavan. Some fight
ing men were also brought by Mac
Gauran, of Templeport, and MacTeran.
of Croghan; some Connaught forces
came with O'Rourkes, MacDermotts
O'Connors, and O'Kellys. There came
also some of the O'Donnells, and
O'Doghertys, of Donegal; Manus O'Cane
of Derry; Sir Constantine Magennis,
county of Down; the O'Hanlons, of Ar
magh, regal standard bearers, Of Ul-
ster; and the O'Hagans, of Tyrone.
Lords Blaney, Conway, and Montgomery
commanded under Monro.
In the spring of 1916, Owen Roe met
the Nuncio at Kilkenny and received
from the council an ampler provision
than heretofore; and by May he had
completed his force under it to 5000
foot and 500 horse. This army consisted
of veterans trained by the four preced-
ing campaigns, and partly Of new levies,
whom he rapidly brought into discipline
by his organizing genius and stern pun
ishments. With his force he marched
into the. county of Armagh, and Monro,
hearing g. his movements, advanced
against him by rapid marches, hoping
to surprise him in Armagh city. Munro's
forces consisted, according to all the
best authorities of 5000 foot, 800 horse,
and seven feld-pieces, though some ac-
counts raise his foot to $500, and he
himself lowers it in his apologize dis
patch to 3,4oo and states his field pieces
at six.
simultaneously with Monro's advance:
his brother, Col. George Monro marched
from Coleraine, along the west shore of
Lough Neagh with three troops of horse,
anr a junction was to have been effected
between the two Monros and the Tyr
connell forces at Glasslough, a place in
the county Monaghan but only few
miles southwest of Armagh. On the
4th of June, Owen Roe marched from
Glasslough to Benburb, confident, by
means of the river and hilly country,
that he could prevent the intended juno
tion. Monro bivouacked the same night
at Hamilton's Bawn, four miles from
Armagh. Before dawn on Friday morn"
ing, the 5th, Monro marched to Armagh
town, burning houses and wasting crops,
as he advanced. Fearful lest his BROTH
er, who had reached Dungannon, should
be cut of, he marched towards Benburb,
and on finding the strength of the Irish
position there, advanced up the right
bank Of the Blackwater, hoping to
tempt Owen from his ground. In the
meantime body of Irish horse, de-
tached against George Monro, had met
him near Dungannon, and checked his
advance, though with some loss.
A good part Of the day was thus spent
and it was 2 o'clock in the afternoon be-
fore Monro crossed the Blackwater at
Caledon, and had his army down the
left bank of the river against O'Neill.
This advance of Ovens to Ballkilgavin
was only to consume time, and weary
the enemy, for he shortly afterwards re-
treated to Knocknacliagh, where he had
determined to fight. 1t was now past 4
o'clock, when the enemy's foot advanced
in a double line of columns. The first
line consisted Of five and the second of
four columns, much too close to manoel-
vre! The Irish front consisted Of four,
and the reserve Of three divisions, with
ample room. O'Neill's position was de-
Tended on the right by a wet bog, and
on the left by a junction Of tho Black
water and the Oonagh. In his front
was rough hills covered with "scrogs
and bushes"
Lieutenant Colonel Richard O'Farrel]