Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1898-07-30
THE STORY OF '9S.
CONTINUED FROM SECOND PAGE
END OF THE REBELLION.
Insurgents-The Execution Of
Gen. Munro.

Hems m0BrOs
Quite undismayed by the cruel fate
which had overtaken McCracken and
his followers, the men of Down re-
solved to strike a blow for freedom.
They assembled in the little town of
Saintfeld to the number of s, 900 men,
and chose as their commander
trusty patriot named Henry Munro.
Munro was man of proved courage
and, as we shall see presently, Of
exceptional military skill; but he
labored under one great disadvantage.
His instincts were so chivalrous that
they compelled him to treat the rede-
walls as honorable foes, and not as
they deserved to be treated-viz., as
ravenous beasts Of prey, whom it
would be a national service to kill on
sight.
This is fault that can be found
with the general body of the United
Irishmen and their leaders. Their
methods were often better suited to
the days of knight errantry than to
modern warfare. When we recollect
that Ireland was overrun at this epoch
by a horde of brutal soldiers, in whose
vicinity no mans life and no woman's
honor was safe-that murder, lust and
incendiarism stalked through the land
we marvel at the patience of the
peasantry. Perhaps it is his lively
sense of things spiritual, his firm belief
that his enemy is in the hands of God,
which make the Celt often resigned to
suferings that would crush others to
earth or drive them to madness.
After few preliminary skirmishes
at Portaferry and Newtownards Munro
captured Ballinahinch, which he occu-
pied with his men. On hearing the
news the authorities took steps to
crush this formidable enemy. Two
large forces, conspicuous among which
were the Argytshire Highlanders,
we're dispatched simultaneously from
Belfast and Downpatrick, with orders
to effect a junction and move upon
Bafrinahfnch. fafhis naneuver Munro
endeavored to prevent. He sent
body of guardsmen to intercept the
redcoats as they advanced from Down
patrick, but unfortunately it was too
late. Before the rebels were well on
their way the enemy had already
reached headquarters.
Munro now divided his men into
three bodies. The first was stationed
on Windmill Hill, which is a sharp
eminence on the northern line of Bal
linahinch. The second occupied the
town itself, while the third, which
he commanded in person, took aposi-
ton on the hill Of Ednevady, in the
rear of the town. Having come within
artillery range of Windmill Hill Gems.
Nugent and Barber opened fire,
whereupon Capt. McConce, who with
a small body of rebels lay in ambush
a short distance off, poured a deadly
fusillade upon the gunners. This
unexpected volley compelled the red
coats to retreat for a time; but fresh
troops were hurried up and they
attacked McConce in overwhelming
numbers.
They then turned attention to Bal
linahinch itself, training all their can
non upon the town and Smelling it to
such effect that Munro determined
TO abandon it for the moment and
concentrate all his forces upon Edne-
vady Hill. A messenger was straight
way dispatched to McConce bidding
him to retreat; but McConce, who
possessed more of the intrepidity than
the discipline of soldier, refused 70
evacuate his position, and sent the
messenger back for reinforcements,
bidding him tell Gen. Munro that he
would die rather than give way an
inch 10 the "bloody redcoats. Indeed,
so bravely obstinate was he that it
was only under imperative orders and
after many Ruthless messages that he
reluctantly gave the signal to retire.
The royalists now occupied Wind
mill Hill and Ballinahinch, while the
United Irishmen were drawn up in
battle array in the slopes of Edne-
vady. For some time the former