Belfast, April 29th, 1799.

Sir,

In compliance to your request I shall set down briefly what has been already communicated to a few, but must thro' the medium of your intended publication be more generally circulated.

On Saturday morning June the 9th, 1798. Col.Stapleton having received intimation of a number of people assembled at Saint-field, and neighbourhood, he set out from Newtownards, with a detachment of the York Fencible regiment, accompanied by the Newtownards and Comber Yeomen Cavalry and Infantry; all-together about 320 men, and two Field Pieces.

About half past four o'clock in the evening, this little Army fell in with a body of Rebels, supposed to be between six and seven thousand men, near Saintfield.

The Light Infantry, commanded by Captain Chetwynd advanced with great gallantry to secure an eminence on the right, which having accomplished, he was attacked by a force of at least three thousand Rebels—the front armed with pikes, the centre and rear with muskets, whose fire galled them severely till the body of the Troops and Field Pieces came up, when the Rebels were routed with huge slaughter. The Rebels by their own account lost above five hundred men, among whom were many of their leaders. The King's Troops after routing the Insurgents marched to Comber, where they halted during the night—next morning proceeded to this Town.

I am much concerned to inform you of the loss of three brave Officers by those miscreants hands in this action—Capt.Chetwynd, Lieut. Unite, and Ensign J. Sparks: Lieut. Edenson was wounded. The whole return of his Majesty's Troops were—29 Killed, and 22 wounded. Not only the valour of the other Officers that fell in this engagement deserves to be publickly recorded, but that of the amiable, gallant and much beloved Capt.C. ought not to be passed without particular notice—This brave fellow at the head of his men received no less than nine pike wounds! notwithstanding which he continued his position, encouraging by his example his men to fight like loyal Soldiers; till alas, two wounds from muskets deprived this hero of his existence, and our country of his future services.

Poor Sparks—whose race of glory was now ended, was but sixteen years old, and had just before he fell, received for his intrepid conduct the public approbation of his commanding Officer.

Too much praise cannot be given the Newtownards and Comber Yeomen Cavalry, who, conducted by Captains Houghton and Cleland, evidenced the greatest intrepidity during the whole of the action.

If it be possible to convince those deluded creatures who were then in arms against the peace and prosperity of this Nation, and of their certain destruction, should they again have recourse to such rebellious measures, it must be the event of the above action, where so many were cut off by such an inferior force.

P. S. It was ludicrous to behold the varied badges of distinction as worn by the Rebel chiefs; some were dressed in green jackets, turned up with white, others yellow, white vests, buckskin breeches, half-boots, hats with white cock-neck feathers and green cockades, &c.

Yours, &c.——