Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1898-07-30

a glorious sight. Under the brilliant
rays of the June sun three thousand
men stood under arms. Considering
their want of training, it was wonder
full with what skill and celebrity they
took their places. The gunsmen were
put in front; next came the pikemen,
and few Insignificant pieces of artil-
lery (all they possessed) brought up
the rear. When the standard of Greer
was unfurled at the head of the insur-
gent army mighty cheer rose from
the ranks. Then the command was
given, "Quick, march," and as they
broke into swinging stride the glo-
rious strains of the "Marseillaise"
made the mountain echoes ring.
The town of Antrim is situated on
the banks of the Six-Mile- Water river,
on the great road from Belfast to Lon
donderry. At that time it consisted
of two principal streets, with others
branching from them. On the north
ern side it was protected by a sharp
rise of ground, and ION the southern
by strongly fortified castle. Col.
Lumley, who commanded the garri.
son, made an able disposition of his
forces. The militia were placed in
guard of the castle, in front of which
a regiment of regulars was drawn up.
At the other end of the town the hill
adjoining the cathedral was occupied
by the yeomanry and the Twenty
second Regiment of Light Dragons,
while the artillery was stationed in the
middle of the main street. In this
order they awaited the advance of the
insurgents, who were marching on
Antrim in four columns by way of
Belfast, Ballymena, Carrickfergus and
ShOne'S castle ROADS.
McCracken, having at last reached
the gates of Antrim and reconnoitered
the enemy's position, divided his men
into two bodies, who were to attack
each end of the town simultaneously.
A few well directed shots from one of
their small field pieces forced the in
fantry to abandon their position in
front of the castle and to take refuge
behind the gates. Here, being under
cover, they were enabled to keep up
heavy fire on the insurgents without
sustaining any damage themselves.
Orders were, therefore, given to the
pikemen to dislodge them. With a
lusty cheer the pikemen dashed for
ward in the face of grapeshot; and
though numbers were moved down,
they were soon at close quarters with
the regulars, whose short bayonets
proved of little service against the
long pixies of their enemies. British
skill and British pluck gave way be-
fore the resistless onslaught of the
despised Croppies. A few minutes
more and tbs soldiers were flying up
the main street and scattering in all
directions.
Meanwhile the northern division of
the insurgents had attacked the cav
airy, and after series of desperate
charges had driven them from their
position. The Dragons and the yeo-
men, dismounting from their horses,
retreated to graveyard in the vicinity
of the cathedral, and took refuge be-
hind the tombstones. But the insur-
gents were not to be baked. Despite
the musketry fire they clambered over
the cemetery walls and piked half the
royalist troops. The remainder took
to their horses and made wild stam-
pede down the street toward where
their artillery WIS stationed. Here
they were met by the infantry, who
were fleeing in the opposite direction,
and in few moments the royalist
troops became an indiscriminate mob
inclosed between two lines of victori-
Gus rebels.
Colonel Lumley, their brave COM
mander, endeavored to rally them,
but it was of no avail. The rout be-
came suave qui peut, and cavalry
and infantry dashed helter-skelter out
of the western streets of the town,
the feet pikemen hanging on their
tanks and bringing them down in
scores. To all appearances the battle
was now won. In face of desperate