The Irish Militia
By Richard Doherty, military historian, writer and broadcaster.
https://www.royal-irish.com/stories/the-irish-militia

There from:

The Monaghan Militia:

“In 1798 the United Irishmen’’s rebellion occurred. It began on 24 May and lasted until 12 July. During this period the Monaghan Militia were serving in Ulster and fought at the Battle of Antrim on 2 June and at a skirmish at Saintfield a week later. On 15 June the Monaghans took part in the defeat of the United Irishmen at Ballynahinch, during which their adjutant, Captain Henry Evatt, was killed and Lieutenant Ellis wounded badly. There were few other government casualties. As the largely Presbyterian rebels fled the battlefield they were pursued by the Monaghans and many were killed by the largely Catholic militiamen. Of the rebel force of 4,000 to 5,000 some 300 to 400 were killed and their rebel leader, Henry Munro, was captured and executed.

The 1798 Rebellion’’s first phase was followed by six weeks of relative peace that ended on 22 August when General Jean Humbert landed in Killala Bay with a small French army. Having captured Killala and Ballina, Humbert marched towards Castlebar. Using a flanking route he took the government force at Castlebar by surprise and defeated them after a short and bloody fight. Not only did he take the town but he also caused many of the defenders to flee in such disarray that their flight was dubbed the ‘‘Castlebar Races’’. Some 5,000 Irishmen joined Humbert’’s force and he advanced towards Dublin, believing that the United Irishmen of Longford and Westmeath would be joining him. His advance was checked briefly at Collooney, some six miles south-east of
Sligo, but he then continued with his advance.

The Monaghan Militia was part of the force marching to engage Humbert’’s small army which had crossed the Shannon and was heading for Dublin, having declared the Republic of Connaught. En route Humbert learned that the rebels of Longford and Westmeath had been defeated by government forces. At Ballinamuck, about eight miles east of the Shannon, the last battle of the campaign was fought. A short, sharp skirmish saw the French lay down their arms.” :
https://www.royal-irish.com/stories/monaghan-militia

The Tyrone Militia:

“During their first period of embodiment the Tyrones took part in the battles against the United Irishmen in the 1798 Rebellion. The Light Company saw most action and fought at Athy and Narraghmore in County Kildare on 24 May and at Ballymore Eustace the following day. In both engagements the Tyrones’’ Light Company was the sole government force involved. It was next engaged at Tuberneering in County Wexford on 4 June where it fought alongside the Armagh, Antrim and North Cork Regiments as well as the Grenadier Company of the Londonderry Regiment. On 9 June it served alongside the Armagh and North Cork Regiments again, as well as
the Cavan Battalion and the Londonderry Grenadiers. The final engagement for the company was at Vinegar Hill on 21 June where it was part of a much stronger government force that included the Sligo, Meath, Roscommon, Antrim, Armagh and Dublin County units as well as the Londonderry Grenadiers and the 1st and 4th Light Battalions of the Militia. The last named battalions were temporary units formed initially as an anti-invasion force from light companies of a number of Militia units.” :
https://www.royal-irish.com/stories/tyrone-militia

The Louth Militia:

“... Not until 1798 and the rebellion in Leinster did the Louths see action and then solely at Whiteheaps in Wicklow on 5 July. Only the Louth Regiment and the Leitrim Battalion were involved in this action. In the subsequent rebel guerrilla campaign in the Wicklow Mountains the Louth Regiment played a part in containing the actions of rebel groups.“ :
https://www.royal-irish.com/stories/louth-militia

The Antrim Militia:

“The Regiment was mobilised from 1793 to 1802 for the French Revolutionary War and saw action during the 1798 Rebellion. Its service during the ’’98 was largely in Leinster: the Antrims were at Baltinglass in County Wicklow on 24 May, Hacketstown, in Carlow, next day and at Kilthomas and Ballinrush in Wexford on the 27th. On 30 May it was at Newtownmountkennedy, Wicklow, and on 1 June at Ballycanew, Wexford, alongside the North Corks. The Antrims were one of several Militia units involved in the action at Tubberneering on 4 June, the others including the Armaghs, the Grenadier Company of the Londonderrys and the Light Company of the
Tyrones, as well as the North Corks. Five days later the Regiment was in action again, this time at Arklow, County Wicklow, alongside the units and sub-units involved at Tubberneering, to which were added the Cavans.

At Vinegar Hill, overlooking the Slaney river, the Leinster rebels suffered a major defeat on 21 June that led to the end of the rebellion in the province. Once again the order of battle of the government forces included the Antrim Regiment, as well as the Sligo, Meath, Roscommon, and Dublin County units, alongside the composite 1st and 4th Light Battalions, the Londonderrys’’ Grenadier Company and the Tyrones’’ Light Company. There was one final action for the Antrims, at Hacketstown in Carlow, on 25 June, a month to the day since they had last been there. Only 50 Antrims under Lieutenant R W Gardner were involved in the battle which followed a rebel attack on the town in a bid to obtain weapons and powder. A body of yeomen provided the bulk of the Hacketstown garrison and they and the Antrims fought a brutal battle with the rebels for nine hours, at the end of which the attackers withdrew. Gardner also withdrew his men to Tullow as they were exhausted and had little ammunition remaining. However, the attack on Hacketstown was one of the final such actions of the rebellion which then resolved into small-scale guerrilla warfare in the Wicklow mountains. The Antrim and Louth Militia, as well as the King’’s County (Offaly), Limerick City and Leitrim Battalions took part in this final phase of the
rebellion.” :
https://www.royal-irish.com/stories/antrim-militia

The Armagh Militia:

“This marked the beginning of a period of active service for the Armaghs, which lasted until the suppression of the United Irishmen’’s rebellion in 1798. For most of that time the regiment was deployed in the south or west of Ireland.

The United Irishmen’’s rebellion began on 24 May and evolved into a series of skirmishes but rarely into pitched battle. Although some regular units were engaged, as well as fencibles from Britain, the burden of the action fell on the Irish Militia. The Armagh Regiment fought in the first action of the Rebellion, at Naas, and the regiment was also involved at Tubberneering in County Wexford before fighting alongside the Cavans at both Arklow and Vinegar Hill. At Tubberneering the rebels gained a victory over the government troops through the arrogance of Colonel Walpole who decided on a pre-emptive attack on a rebel camp and marched his men through a defile in
which they were ambushed and Walpole was among those killed. Walpole had declined to put out troops to the flanks to protect his column and the result was a boost the morale of the rebels. A detachment of the Armagh Regiment, under command of Lieutenant Colonel Robert Cope, was instrumental in extricating Walpole’’s force and then covering the retreat to Gorey. Cope’’s initiative saved the day by reducing the number of casualties.

The first phase of the 1798 Rebellion lasted until 12 July, after which came a six-week period of relative peace. That ended on 22 August 22 when a French force, commanded by General Jean Humbert, landed in Killala Bay. The French quickly captured the towns of Killala and Ballina.Humbert then marched towards Castlebar where he gained surprise by taking a roundabout route and defeated a force of militia, yeomanry and regular troops under General Lake. Although his victory, known as the ‘‘Castlebar Races’’, gained him some 5,000 Irish recruits, there was no widespread renewal of the rebellion across the country. Humbert declared the Republic of
Connaught on 31 August, but this was shortlived.

He suffered his first reverse of the campaign at Collooney, some six miles south-east of Sligo, although the defenders were again defeated. However, Lord Cornwallis had mustered a force of some 15,000 men that was marching to meet Humbert. Included in that force was the Armagh Regiment. The French had crossed the Shannon at Ballintra and were marching towards Dublin, Humbert believing that the United Irishmen were fighting in Longford and Westmeath.

However, the rebels in Longford and Westmeath had been defeated and Humbert chose to make a stand at Ballinamuck. This was the last battle of the campaign and after a bitter, but brief, clash of arms the French surrendered. Of the Armaghs, only the light company was engaged but in the short battle Private Toole of the Armaghs had captured the flag of the 2nd Battalion of the 70th Demi-Brigade, a trophy that may still be seen in Armagh. The Armaghs were said to have ‘‘rushed upon the enemy with fixed bayonets in such a style as to astonish the veterans of the army of Italy’’.” :
https://www.royal-irish.com/stories/armagh-militia

The North Down Militia:

“In the 1798 Rebellion in Leinster the Royal Downshire Regiment fought at Coolbawn and Castlecomer in County Kilkenny on 23 June, followed by Kilconnell Hill three days later. These actions brought the Downshires into battle against rebels led by one of the most famous of rebel leaders, Father John Murphy, whose men had advanced to Goresbridge through the Scullogue Gap in the Blackstairs Mountains on the 22nd. Next day a company from each of the Wexford Militia and the Royal Downshire Militia arrived at Castlecomer to reinforce the troops already present who then moved out to meet the rebels at Gurteen. The resultant clash was a triumph for the rebels and the government troops retreated to Castlecomer where discipline was restored. Two buildings by the bridge were taken over and used as strongpoints. All rebel efforts to advance were rebuffed and, although they demanded the surrender of the Militia, the arrival of substantial reinforcements deprived them of any advantage, forcing a withdrawal towards Wexford.

On their retreat the rebels, some 5,000 strong, camped overnight near Goresbridge. Their camp was on Kilconnell Hill, also known as Kilcumney or Kilcomery Hill. Under cover of thick mist early the next morning the camp was attacked by a Militia force of 1,600 men, 1,200 commanded by General Sir Charles Asgill and 400 of the Down Regiment commanded by Major George Matthews. The rebels fled but Asgill refused to co-operate with Matthews in mounting a pincer operation that could have resulted in a clearer victory. Nonetheless, Matthews pursued the rebels for twenty miles towards the Wicklow Mountains. The Downshires marched for 39 hours through three counties, Queen's (Laois), Kilkenny and Carlow, harrying the rebels. A further suggestion
from Matthews to Asgill for a co-ordinated operation bore fruit. The resulting fresh attack led to defeat for the rebels; their final defeat had been certain since 21 June and the Battle of Vinegar Hill. Throughout, Major Matthews had shown more initiative than did General Asgill, who seems to have been intimidated by the rebels’’ greater numbers.

In September 1798 some 300 of the Downshire Regiment operated as part of General Trench’’s Column against Humbert’’s French invading force in the Killala area where, on the 26th, it was reported that the rebels had lost between 500 and 600 men.” :
https://www.royal-irish.com/stories/north-down-militia

The Cavan Militia:

“The French intention was to support the United Irishmen who rose in rebellion in 1798. The rebellion began on 24 May in Counties Wicklow and Kildare but was a series of skirmishes that rarely became major battles. The Cavan Militia fought at the Battle of Arklow on 9 June and, on the 21st, at the Battle of Vinegar Hill, two of the principal engagements of the rebellion in Leinster. At Arklow six men of the Cavans were killed in action.

The first phase of the rebellion in Leinster and Ulster ended on 12 July and there was a short spell of peace until a French force under General Jean Humbert landed in Connaught at Killala Bay on 22 August. The French quickly captured Killala and Ballina before marching towards Castlebar. Using a circuitous route gave Humbert the advantage of surprise allowing him to defeat the force that awaited him at Castlebar after a short but vicious fight that saw many of the defenders break and flee in what became known as the ‘‘Castlebar Races’’.

With about 5,000 Irish rebels joining his force, Humbert struck towards Dublin, believing that rebellion was breaking out in both Longford and Westmeath. However, the United Irishmen in both counties had been defeated and a strong government force, deployed by Lord Cornwallis, was marching to meet the French. Although Humbert overcame more government forces at Collooney, six miles south-east of Sligo, the delay was a setback to his plans.

The Cavan Battalion was included in the force marching to meet Humbert’’s army which had crossed the Shannon at Ballintra and was making for Dublin. About eight miles east of the Shannon, the campaign’’s final battle was fought at Ballinamuck. Following a short fight Humbert surrendered. His pistol was taken from him and is on display in the Royal Irish FusiliersMuseum in Armagh.” :
https://www.royal-irish.com/stories/cavan-militia

The South Down Militia:

“In the 1798 Rebellion the Royal Down Regiment was engaged in actions at Coolbawn and Castlecomer in County Kilkenny on 23 June, followed by Kilconnell Hill three days later. These actions brought the Downshires into battle against rebels led by one of the most famous of rebel leaders, Father John Murphy, whose men had advanced to Goresbridge through the Scullogue Gap in the Blackstairs Mountains on the 22nd. Next day a company from each of the Wexford Militia and the Royal Down Militia arrived at Castlecomer to reinforce the troops already there, who then moved out to meet the rebels at Gurteen. The resultant clash was a triumph for the rebels who sent the government troops retreating to Castlecomer. However, once there, discipline was restored and two buildings beside the bridge were taken over as strongpoints from where all rebel efforts to
advance were rebuffed. Although the rebels demanded the surrender of the Militia, the arrival of substantial reinforcements deprived them of any advantage and they withdrew towards Wexford. On their retreat the rebels, some 5,000 strong, chose to camp for the night near Goresbridge. Their camp was on Kilconnell Hill, also known as Kilcumney or Kilcomery Hill. Under cover of thick mist early the next morning the rebel camp was attacked by a Militia force of 1,600 men, 1,200 commanded by General Sir Charles Asgill, and 400 of the Down Regiment commanded by Major George Matthews. The rebels were forced to flee but Asgill refused to co-operate with Matthews in mounting a pincer operation that could have resulted in a clearer victory. Nonetheless, Matthews pursued the rebels for 20 miles towards the Wicklow Mountains. The Downshires marched for 39 hours through three counties, Queen's (Laois), Kilkenny and Carlow, harrying the rebels. A further suggestion to Asgill from Matthews for a co-ordinated operation bore fruit and the resulting fresh attack led to the rebels’’ defeat. Throughout, Major Matthews had shown more initiative than did General Asgill, who seems to have been intimidated by the rebels’’ greater numbers.

In September 1798 some 300 of the Downshire Regiment were operating as part of General Trench’’s Column against Humbert’’s French invading force in the Killala area where, on the 26th, it was reported that the rebels had lost between 500 and 600 men.” :
https://www.royal-irish.com/stories/south-down-militia

The Fermanagh Militia:

“Since the records of the unit were lost or destroyed, only a little information about its activities during that period is available.” : https://www.royal-irish.com/stories/fermanagh-militia

The Donegal Militia:

“During the United Irishmen’’s rebellion in 1798 the Donegals deployed against the rebels on a number of occasions. They were in action at Forth, in Wexford, on 30 May, this being in the second action there of that day, and, less than a week later, on 5 June, fought at New Ross, also in County Wexford, alongside the Meath Regiment, the County Dublin and Clare Battalions and the 4th Light Battalion. On 12 June they were again engaged, this time at Borris in County Carlow, while on 15 June they were at New Ross. They were under General Johnston’’s command on 21 June at the battle of Vinegar Hill, overlooking the Slaney river, in Wexford. This was a major defeat for the rebels and although it did not mark the end of the rebellion, the final action in
Leinster was fought only three weeks later on 12 July. The Regiment’’s Light Company had also engaged the rebels on 28 June at Enniscorthy, during which action they were supporting the North Cork Regiment.

Two members of the Donegals were rewarded for outstanding bravery. Before the battle of New Ross a small party of Donegals, Sergeant Finch and twelve soldiers, was surrounded by rebels at Borrisodine. Thanks to Finch’’s leadership the rebels were beaten off. As a result of his distinguished conduct Finch was commissioned as an ensign, or second lieutenant. During the battle of New Ross another NCO, Sergeant John Hamilton, showed such bravery and initiative that he, too, was granted a commission as an ensign. At New Ross the Donegals suffered eight men killed, wounded or missing. Sergeant Hamilton was engaged in an action against a rebel attack on the Main Guard, close to the Barrow river, during which he used two ship guns sited there, and ‘‘very badly mounted’’, to stop the onslaught. His commission was due to the recommendation and persistence of his Colonel, Lord Clements, which saw Hamilton being granted an ensigncy in the 1st Regiment of Foot, the Royal Scots.” :
https://www.royal-irish.com/stories/donegal-militia