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| TOWN OF NEW ROSS, COUNTY WEXFORD. -Although the town sketched above bears the adjective "new," it is one of the most ancient of Irish burghs, and was once the chosen seat of the Kings of Leinster. But it derives its greatest celebrity from the obstinate and bloody battle fought there on June 5. 1798, between the United Irish army, under General Bagenal Harvey, and the British troops commanded by Major-General Johnson. The engagement was brought on, soon after daylight, by the murder of Mr. Furlong, aide-de-camp to General Harvey, who was treacherously shot, while bearing a flag of truce to General Johnson, by the British soldiery. The Irish pikemen, led by Colonel John Kelly, of Killan, rushed down from the heights, entered Ross by the "Three Bullet" gate, routed the infantry, captured the artillery and turned the guns upon the British, whom they drove over the Bridge of the Barrow into the County Kilkenny. Then they scattered for rest and refreshment. The enemy came back upon them and regained the ground they had lost. The Irish again rallied and defeated them, and this occurred four times, amid frightful carnage on both sides. The tragedy is best told in the words of an Irish poet- We bravely fought and conquered And if we failed to keep them At Ross and Wexford Town, 'Twas drink that brought us down! Had the Irish army at New Ross been under strict discipline, Ireland would be to-day an independent nation. The battle lasted thirteen hours. |
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