Perry’s command ends in defeat when indiscipline …

Years: 1798 - 1798
June

Perry’s command ends in defeat when indiscipline and lack of firearms lead to a bloody defeat by the militia at Ballyminaun Hill.

However, he is then instrumental, together with Father Edward Roche, in planning the devastating counterattack upon an advancing British spearhead at the Battle of Tuberneering on June 4, which destroys half of the British army in North Wexford.

The victory at Tuberneering shocks the military, who withdrew as far as Wicklow town to regroup in safety and give Perry his nickname the "screeching general" from his practice of screaming at the enemy when leading rebel attacks.

The rebels fail to follow up the victory, despite the fact that much of Wicklow county, including Arklow town, is left unoccupied by the British during these critical days.

Part of the reason for this failure to effectively follow up the victory is undoubtedly due the lack of military discipline among rebel forces, but also that the victorious rebels take advantage of their new power to settle old scores by hunting down and taking revenge upon local enemies.

For example, on June 7, Perry leads a raid upon Carnew, scene of the extrajudicial massacre of rebel suspects on May 25, burning most of the town to the ground.

He is also suspected of involvement in the execution of two of his yeomen torturers at the Gorey camp on June 8.

When the decision is finally taken to march on and capture Arklow, Perry's position of leadership is weakened by disagreement over tactics with Fr.

John Murphy, whose units refuse to take part.

The march on Arklow is also a leisurely affair, with Perry having to personally plead with his men to desist from delaying by countless pausing for hurrahs as they pass his house on route.

The disastrous defeat throws the rebels back on the defensive and Perry spends the following days reorganizing the scattered rebel forces and skirmishing with probing British units.

By June 18, the British have built up a force of some 20,000 troops, poised to strike from the north and west.

Rebel forces under Perry withdraw from their base at Mountpleasant to meet the threat and form a large camp at Kilcavan Hill in the north of the county.

The British had not expected a large rebel force opposing them until Enniscorthy is reached and Perry's men threaten to throw the British plans into disarray after holding off several British attacks around Kilcavan Hill on June 19-20.

However, a decision is taken by the Rebel council on June 20 to consolidate all rebel forces in Wexford at the main Vinegar Hill camp for the looming battle, and Perry withdraws as ordered.

Massacres of loyalist prisoners takes place at the Vinegar Hill camp and in Wexford.

After the defeat of a rebel attack at New Ross, between 100 and 200 prisoners are killed, some by gunshot but the majority are burned alive at Scullabogue when the barn in which they were being held captive is set alight.

In Wexford town, on June 20th some 70 loyalist prisoners are marched to the bridge (according to historian James Lydon, first stripped naked) and piked to death.

(Lydon, James F. The making of Ireland: from ancient times to the present pg 274.

Routledge, 1998) The subsequent defeat on June 21 eliminates rebel control of territory in Wexford but leaves at least 10,000 armed men willing to fight on.

Perry manages to withdraw a force of some thousands to the south towards Wexford town and with other leaders such as Garret Byrne, Edward Fitzgerald and Esmonde Kyan fight their way through Wexford reaching Kilcavan Hill again by June 28.

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North Europe (1798 - 1798)
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Northwest Europe (1798 - 1798)

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