The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1910-07-02
Irregular Irish Troops Defeated
Trained English Soldiers
at Arklow.
Prodigies of Valor Exhibited by
Valiant Leaders of
Irish Forces.
Victory Cost the Irish Four Hours
Desperate Fighting and
Many Lives.

Miles Byrne, a patriotic soldier, who
fought in the battle of Arklow gives
a short but vivid account of that men,
orable engagement which took place
on June 8, 1898.
AT about ten o'clock in the morn
ing" he says, "the order to march from
G~-~ey Hill was given, and never did
witness anything before like the JOY
that seemed to brighten every counte-
nance when the command was repeat
ed from rank to rank throughout the
entire column; it had more the appear
ance of march to some great place
of amusement than to the battlefield
1 think we mustered twenty thousand
strong at least but we had not two
thousand irelocks fit for use
I'VE met no scouting party from
the enerny's camp before we reached
Coolgreny, and after a rest of less
than an hour we resumed our march
on 4Arklow, the enenys cavalry flying
back before US without waiting to ex-
change single shot with our advance
guard. Thus we arrived between
sthreA and md four. O'clock lafter making
zen irish mi1es) In front of thea enc
Emy:s line, which we found entrenched
and barricaded, to commence a regu-
lar battle, with our very irregular
troops, against regular and discip-
lined English army. Esmond Ryan
lost no time in drawing up our artil-
lery to attack this position, and the
very first volley he fired he had the
satisfaction of seeing that he had dis
mounted one of the enemy's cannon.
The Monaseed corps, to which 1 be-
longed, entered the field in front of
the enemy's entertainments, at the
same time with Ryan and the artil-
lery, but we were instantly ordered to
file to the right and attack the out
lets or fishery, where the enemy was
in great force, and the corps not yet
arrived were to take our place to
guard the artillery and force the enc
my's position in that direction.
1--WE Immediately obeyed, marched
to attack the fishery, but we were
greatly exposed to the fire from the
enemy's entertainments in crossing an
open field, and lost a few men. We
were soon Joined by other corps of
our army that had made a circuitous
road. We being now in sufficient force,
began the attack, and in short time
the battle became general in every di-
rection where the kings troops were
perceived, and the yeoman cavalry
showed more pluck on this occasion
than usual. They accompanied the
regular forces in several charges
against our men, but without success,
for we forced them and the English
troops to abandon their position in
the fishery with great loss of men
killed and wounded.
"Such were the prodigies Of valor
exhibited by our chiefs at the head Of
their respective corps that Gen. Need
ham, who commanded in chief the
kings forces, from the outset, de-
SPARED of success, and he had al
ready begun to take the necessary dis
positions to effect his retreat before
the great mass of our pikemen should
be brought against him. His troops
the impetuosity of our attack in the
open field. Besides, he feared every
moment that his forces might disband
in confusion, particularly that part of
Walpole's division which escaped at
Tubberneering, and which, although
now considerably reinforced by the
Cavan militia and other troops sent
from Dublin, could not forget their
late panic at Cloush, where Walpole
was killed.
"Needham had also the cavalry regi-
ment of ancient Britons, and at least
dozen corps Of yeoman cavalry to
bring against us, while we had scarce
" any men mounted to make head
against them, yet we defeated and
dispersed them in every engagement