BULLETIN FROM THE LONDON GAZETTE EXTRAORDINARY : or JUNE 18th, 1798. A Whitehall, June 18, 1798. DISPATCH, of which the following is a Copy, has been this Day received from His Excellency the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland by His Grace the Duke of Portland, His Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for the Home Department. MY LORD, Dublin Caftle, June 14, 1798. HAVE the Honor to acquaint your Grace, that Intelligence arrived this Day from Major-General Nugent, ftating that on the 11th Inftant he had marched against a large Body of Rebels, who were pofted at Saintfield: They retired on his Approach to a strong Pofition on the Saintfield Side of Ballynahinch, and there made a Shew of Refiftance, and endeavoured to turn his Left Flank; but Lieutenant Colonel Stewart arriving from Down with a pretty confiderable Force of Infantry, Cavalry, and Yeomanry, they foon defifted, and retired to a very ftrong Pofition behind Ballynahinch. General Nugent attacked them the next Morning at Three o'Clock, having occupied Two Hills on the Left and Right of the Town, to prevent the Rebels from having having any other Choice than the Mountains in their Rear for their Retreat. He fent LieutenantColonel Stewart to poft himself, with Part of the Argyll Fencibles and fome Yeomanry, as well as a Detachment of the 22d Light Dragoons, in a Situation from which he could enfilade the Rebel Line, whilft Colonel Leflie, with Part of the Monaghan Militia, fome Cavalry and Yeoman Infantry, fhould make an Attack upon their Front. Having Two Howitzers and 6 Six-Pounders, with the Two Detachments, the Major General was enabled to annoy them very much from different Parts of his Pofition. The Rebels attacked impetuoufly Colonel Leflie's Detachment, and even jumped into the Road from the Earl of Moira's Demefne, to endeavour to take One of his Guns, but they were repulfed with Slaughter. Lieutenant-Colonel Stewart's Detachment was attacked by them with the fame Activity, but he repulfed them alfo; and the Fire from his Howitzer and Six-Pounder foon obliged them to fly in all Directions. Their Force was, in the Evening of the 12th, near 5000; but as many Perfons are preffed into their Service, and almost entirely unarmed, the General does not fuppofe that, on the Morning of the Engagement, their Numbers were fo confiderable. About 400 Rebels were killed in the Attack and Retreat, and the Remainder were difperfed all over the Country. Parts of the Towns of Saintfield and Ballynahinch were burnt. Major-General Nugent ftates, that both Officers and Men deserve Praise for their Zeal and Alacrity on this as well as on all Occafions; but he particularly expreffes his Obliga. tions to Lieutenant-Colonel Stewart for his Advice and Affiftance throughout the Business, and to Colonel Leflie for his Readiness to volunteer the Duty at all Times. The Yeomanry behaved with extreme Steadiness and Bravery. Three or Four Green Colours were taken, and Six One-Pounders, not mounted, but which the Rebels fired very often, and a confiderable Quantity of Ammunition. Their Chief was Munro, a Shopkeeper of Lisburn. Major General Nugent regrets the Lofs of Captain Evatt, of the Monaghan Militia. Lieutenant Ellis, of the fame Regiment, was wounded. The Lofs of Rank and File was Five killed and Fourteen wounded. Several of the Yeoman Infantry were. killed or wounded. The Major-General expreffes his Acknowledgements to Lieutenant-Colonel Peacock and Major of Brigade Mackinnon, who were of the greatest Service. The Portaferry Yeomanry, on the 11th Inftant, under the Command of Captain Matthews, made à moft gallant Defence against a large Body of the Rebels, who attacked the Town of Portaferry; the Yeomanry having taken Poffeffion of the MarketHoufe, from which Poft they repulfed the Rebels, who left behind them above 40 dead; many more were carried off. Captain Hopkins of a Revenue Cruizer, brought his Guns to bear on the Town, and was of great Service in defending it. Advices from Major-General Sir Charles Afgill, dated from Kilkenny, the 13th Inftant, ftate, that on the Evening of the 12th, having heard that a Jarge Body of the Rebels had marched from the County of Wexford against Borris, under the Command of Mr. Baginal Harvey, and were burning the Town, he proceeded to its Relief with 400 Men, but the Rebels had fled before he could arrive. They had attacked Mr. Kavanagh's Houfe, in which were 29 Men of the Donegal Militia, who, notwith ftanding the inceffant Fire kept up on them for fome Hours, defended themfelves in the most galJant Manner, and killed feveral of the Rebels. Nothing could furpafs the determined Bravery of those few Men. The Rebels effected their Escape into the County of Wexford. H A Letter A Letter, received by Lieutenant-General Lake from Major-General Johnfon, dated the 13th Inftant at New Rofs, ftates, that having received Information that the Rebels had fitted out several Boats and other Craft for the Purpose of effecting their Escape, he had fent Lieutenant Hill, with fuch armed Veffels as could be fpared from Feathard, where they were collected, with Orders to deftroy the whole; which Lieutenant Hill effe&ed with his usual Spirit, and without Lofs. Thirteen large failing Hookers and a great many Boats were burnt. I have the Honor to be, &c. &c. His Grace the Duke of Portland, CAMDEN. BULLETIN FROM THE LONDON GAZETTE EXTRAORDINARY OF JUNE 26th, 1798. A Whitehall, June 26, 1798. DISPATCH, of which the following is a Copy, lency the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland by his Grace the Duke of Portland, His Majefty's Principal Secretary of State for the Home Department. MY LORD, Dublin Caftle, June 22, 1798. HAVE the Satisfaction of tranfmitting to your Grace an Extract of a Letter received this Moruing by Lord Viscount Caftlereagh, from LieutenantGeneral Lake, dated Enniscorthy, the 21ft Inftant, and a Letter dated the fame Day at Borris, from Major-General Sir Charles Afgill, which contain Details of the Advantages obtained by His Majefty's Forces against the Rebels in the County of Wexford. Private Accounts mention that LieutenantGeneral Lake had his Horfe fhot under him. I also inclose to your Grace the Copy of a Letter from Sir Hugh O'Reilly, Lieutenant-Colonel of the Wellmeath Regiment of Militia, which end 110043 |