Some account of the Battle of Arklow, by H.G. of the Armagh Militia, in a letter to a Friend in Dublin, dated Arklow, June 13th,1798.

Written on the Field of Action.

My Dr. Friend,

I wrote to Mr.H. by one of the Conductors who promised to leave the letter at your house, in which I gave him a circumstantial account[B] of what took place from the time I left Naas, till the battle of Gorey, and our retreat to Wicklow afterwards.

On Saturday last we were informed that the Rebels in great force were pursuing us, the drums beat to arms, and our forces assembled immediately. Our General formed a square of Infantry at one end of the town, and left the Cavalry to defend the other. In a little time the Out-posts were driven in, and shortly after appeared their Colours flying. They extended for more than five miles around us: a most awful sight! In order to intimidate us they fixed their hats on their Pikes and rushed on.

Their Artillery was planted on an eminence which commanded us—Their armed men in Front, and pike to charge in the Rear. In this order of Battle they came forward. We waited the first onset; in a few minutes the firing commenced in all quarters, which lasted from four o'clock in the afternoon, till near nine at night. They endeavoured to break our square in every quarter, but like true Soldiers we cleaved together and repelled them; they stormed our little line twice, but were beat back with slaughter; they drove their dismounted horses to the mouths of the Cannon in order to shelter themselves, but the grape shot made them fall on every side; they even set the town on fire in order to annoy us with the smoak, but the wind at the order of our God turned, drove it from us, and confounded them in their own device; they did every thing like inveterate enemies, and desperate madmen to accomplish their ends; and their Priests informed them that they could catch the Heretics balls in their hands, and threw some (as tho' they had caught them) to their rebellious mob to fire again at us, and declared they could beat us with the dust of the earth. Oh what superstition! This was confirmed by deserters from their Camp, who informed us likewise, that flushed with victory at Gorey, they thought that after they had taken Arklow, nothing could stop them till they arrived at Dublin; and indeed I believe, that this Battle for the present, has decided the fate of this Kingdom.

One of the Antrim Militia, who fled from them after the Battle reports their Army to have been 20,000 strong. Among the slain was Father Murphy from the County of Wexford. They lost about 1000 killed and wounded, and numbers were hanged in the streets. Every Regiment vied with each other for victory; we took several stand of Colours from them, made of green, white and yellow stuff. We have prepared every thing in case of another attempt—If they do not come forward, we will go immediately and retake Gorey, and storm their Camp. They are greatly discouraged. Blessed be God, notwithstanding I was exposed to a heavy fire I never received one wound. On our side we had about 18 killed and 28 wounded. We are all in high spirits. Capt.Knox of the Yeomenry and two of his men were killed pursuing Rebels. Our men (in a former engagement) kept the town of Gorey when the rest of the army left them. They are worth gold. Pardon this scroll, as I am in haste. We have been under arms these four days and nights.

Farewell,

I am yours in friendship,

W. H. G.