The Irish standard., 1898-02-12
HE FIGURED PROMINENTLY IN THE
INSURRECrION OF '9S.
AND COMMANDED A DIVISION OF PlKEMEA
BRAVE SOLDIER AND A MAN OF
INTELLECTUAL GIFTS.
AFTER The DEFEAT At VINEGAR HILL
HE FLED TO FRANCE AND DECAME
A CHIEF OF BATTALION.

When Father John Murphy and his
victorious pikemen took up their station
on the Hill of Carrigrua on June End,
1898, after having chased succession OF
English armies before them within the
previous week, they were joined by
number of young men from the fair
district of Monaseed. They were all
strong and brave fellows-the best
blood OF the barony-ready for any.
thing, eager to take part In the gool
work that was going on, filled with the
high hopes inspired by the primal VIC
tory at Oulart, and confident that before
many weeks they would hail free
Ireland from the halls of Dublin Castle.
The youngest and the most notable OF
the gallant little band was Myles Byrne
Whose name was afterwards known In
military circles throughout two-thirds
OF the countries Of Europe. He was only
eighteen years old when he Joined
Father John at Carrigrua-and the
brave lad went forth from the house
in which he was born with the full
consent and the war1nest blessings of
his nearest relatives-the mother and
sister he dearly loved. With the names
Of the heroes Of '98 must be coupled for
ever the names OF the devoted women
whose courage and self-sacritlce light up
the gloomy pages of the history of the
period. In oil the dangerous and diff
cult hours of his exciting life during the
war in Wexford and Kildare, young
Myles Byrne had friend whose sym
pathy and aid could ever be relied up-
on-his heroic sister. Time after time
he acknowledges. her services in ho
Memories" written well-nigh 60 years
after. She seems to have been to tho
Wexford chief what his sister Mary was
to the intrepid Northern rebel, Henry
Joy McCracken--an adviser and a friend
to be relied on under all circumstances,
-never more loyal, never more de-
voted than when the stOrm-clouds worc
blacklist and the last ray Of hone lost
IN the prevailing gloom. Many Nc
Cracken stood by her brothers side at
the foot of the scaffold in Belfast, after
she had shared in his dangers and failed
to secure his escape. Myles Byrne's SIS
ter saw him go forth to battle with
heart full of pride and Joy; she shared
In his enthusiasm and in his buoyant
hoEs; and when all failed she COM
forted him and helped him to elude the
hInnihn1pdr fP ho l.,
women of ireland in 1898.
The youth OF 18 soon saw active s,,r-
vice after he Joined Father John at
Carrigrua. From that hill the pa-
triot army marched on Corey, meeting
and defeating Colonel Walpple's troops
on tho way. So well did the young
soldier of freedom acquit himself during
that short, fierce struggle. that we soon
find him In command of a division of
pikemen. He fought at Corey, hn
helped to take Carncw, and when the
rebels were at last beaten at Arklu,
On the fatal 9th of June, Byrnc's pike
men-like Jenny Hopes "Spartans"
at Amrirn-Werc among the last to
acknowledge defeat. Hurc Faith
Michael Murphy fell lighting, and here
the wiser OF the patriot chieftains real
lied the terrible disadvantages under
which the undisciplined and unnrmcd
peasants lafnored when confronted by
trained troops led by commanders skill.
cd In handling large forces of so!dery,
and amply supplied with all the mni-
tions OF war. After the Arklow failure
came period Of decentralization. TO
charge superior numbers in the face Of
storm of l,llcts, to take a fortified
position by magnificent rush, to fight
the foe in the Cpan with unparallel val
or-all these were possible to tho un-
trained levics who followed F,thcr John
Murphy and the other civilian leaders
on tac Wexford hills a hundred years
ago. But to conduct a prolonged mill
or supply Of ammunition, withou,
medical assistance fer the wounded, e.:
any OF the Indispensable resources Of
an army in the fic:d-beyond all, to
erals when the leaders Of the undjy-
cipline'l army were peaceful priests
liko Father Murphy or Father philip
Roche, simple country gentlemen like
Bagcnal Harvey, and enthusiastic boys
like Myles Byrne-wcrc fcats which
could not have been successfully nc-
complshcd by any people, however
brave. Had liumhart's thousand men
landed on the Wexford coast in June
instead OF on the western shores two
months late, there il little doubt OF
what the issue wo1ld have been. Tnc
gal!an: rchc!s wanted a skilled leader.
They were neither organized nor cuii,.-
PED. Gnd thc wc3dcr is nst that ;hcy
failed, but that they accomplished
so much despite the terrible odds ar
ray;.d against them. The closer we cx-
anime the history o. the Wexford strug-