The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1909-06-12
Led the Peasanry of Wexford and Slew Thirty Thousand
of England's Redcoats and Yeomanry Cavalry
of Cruel Orangemen
TRAG|CAL DEATH Of THE MILITANT CLERGYMAN
Brave Father John Murphy Raised the Standard of the
United Irishmen and Marched Forth With His Flock
to Meet Marauders.

him behind hedge along the roadside.
About o'clock at night this corps
came along the road, discussing the
days achievements. They encountered
the obstacles and We're at the same
time attacked from front to rear by
Father John and his brave men with
their pitchforks. The cavalry, after
discharging their pistols, got no time to
reload them or to make much use OF
their sabres. In short they were lit
orally lifted out of their saddles and
fell dead under their horses feet.
Father Johns success brought all the
people of the surrounding country to
his standard, so that on May "a he
was at the head of considerable
number. A great many, as might
easily be expected, were totally with
out arms of any sort; some few had
old muskets or fowling pieces; rather
more were armed with pixies, and the
remainder were possessed. Of scythes,
reaping-hooks, p+tcirforks.-, 1axes-ln
fact anything and everything that
would cut or MAIN. All, however, were
inf1amed with the greatest hatred CT
the ruthless destroyers Of their homes
and firesides. and burned with a desire
of meeting them.
Father Murphy proceeded III the di-
rection of Wexford, and encamped on
Oulart Hill. While on the march he
perceived considerable force of the
enemy, cavalry and infantry, following
his movements, but not daring to at
tack him, awaiting evidently until re-
inforced by the infantry from Wexford.
Shortly after he saw a large force.
f1anked by cavalry, coming to meet
them. He pointed them out to his men
and showed them the cavalry waiting,
he said, ito see them dispersed by
the foot troops, to fall ON them and
cut them to peices." He told of his plan
70 march against the troops, ana, as
they were about to attack, to fcign a.
retreat to the crest Of the hill and
fling themselves behind a ditch and
there await the onset.
AS soon as the British came within
two musket shots of the insurgents,
they deployed and prepared for action,
but became enraged when they saw the
insurgents retreating back to the top
of the hill; however, they followed
quickly, knowing that the hill was
completely surrounded by the sew
eral corps of yeomany cavalry, and
that it was impossible for the insur-
gents to escape before they came in
with them. Father John allowed the
| infantry to come within half musket
shot of the ditch and then few men
on each flank and the center stood
up, at the sight of which the whole
line of the infantry fired volley. OF
this formidable expedition which was
sent from Wexford on May 81 to exter-
inmate the insurgents, very few re-
turned to bring the woeful victory OBJ
tanned by the people over their cruel
tyrants.
Father Johns army marched to
Ferns through Camolen, the British
flying before them in disorder on tho
road to Corey and Enniscorthy. The
patriotic priest sent small advance
guard of 200 men. They were met at
the Duffy gate, outside of the town, by
the whole military force of the garrison
with the exception of Capt. Snow, Of
the North Cork militia, who did not
think it prudent to quit the town and
march with the infantry under his or
ders-probably in consequence of the
severe lesson which his regiment had
received the day before at Oulart Hill.
Father Johns advance guard were at
tackled and charged by the cavalry the
moment it approached the Duffy gate,
and was forced, not to retreat, but to
get behind bitches on each side of
the road and thus escape the fury of
the further charges of the cavalry. who