Knowledge (XXG)

Battle of Antrim

Source 📝

207: 220: 194: 183: 27: 681:
and the tension between the two groups on the march may have caused some desertions. These difficulties led to a loss of momentum, and the attack was delayed. McCracken was forced to make adjustments to his plan of attack, which had envisaged a simultaneous overwhelming assault on the town from four
750:
At this critical juncture, British reinforcements from Belfast arrived outside the town and, assuming it to be held by the rebels, began to shell it with their artillery. This prompted more desertions and the rebel army began to disintegrate, but their withdrawal was protected by a small band under
759:
When the military entered the town, they began a spree of looting, burning and murder, of which the most enthusiastic perpetrators were reported to be the Monaghan militiamen, who were anxious to prove their loyalty and expunge the shame of the recent executions of their comrades for sedition. The
738:
After routing the cavalry, the rebels attacked the remainder of the garrison, which then began to pull back to the safety of the castle wall; this was mistaken by a newly arrived rebel column as an attack on them, causing them to flee in panic. In the confusion, the county commander, Lord O'Neill,
730:
The rebel withdrawal was mistaken for a full retreat and the cavalry moved out to pursue and rout the supposed fleeing rebels. The cavalry effectively ran into a gauntlet of rebels who were protected by a long churchyard wall and stationed in houses along the main street, suffering heavy losses to
726:
The attack finally began shortly before 3pm when the rebels began a cautious march through the town. As rebel front ranks arrived to face the garrison's defensive line, artillery opened fire on the rebels, causing them to pull back out of range. Large clouds of dust and smoke were thrown up which,
760:
town of Templepatrick was burned to the ground and Old Stone Castle was razed to the ground. McCracken, Hope and their remaining supporters withdrew northwards, establishing camps of ever dwindling size along the route of their retreat until news of the defeat at
673:, many displayed reluctance for the coming fight and stayed on the hill in reserve or deserted later so that probably fewer than 4,000 actually took part in the attack. The United Irishmen in Ulster were mostly 316: 309: 580:
had been severely damaged in a brutal disarmament campaign the previous year, and the new leadership were less radical and were not willing take to the field without
915: 751:
James Hope which fought a successful rearguard action from the church grounds along the main street, which allowed the bulk of the rebels to withdraw safely.
302: 634:
On 6 June, McCracken and James Hope issued a proclamation calling for the United army of Ulster to rise. The initial plan met with success, as the towns of
920: 867:
Guy Beiner, Forgetful Remembrance: Social Forgetting and Vernacular Historiography of a Rebellion in Ulster (Oxford University Press, 2018), pp. 384–386
718:
Meeting House. A part of the Scottish Quarter in the town was also burned by the garrison as it was perceived to be a stronghold of rebel sympathisers.
698:
and armed volunteers but they also had four artillery pieces and the delay in the rebel attack had allowed them to send requests for assistance to
663: 550: 930: 662:
in preparation for the march and attack on Antrim town, where an emergency meeting of the county's magistrates called by the county governor,
852: 819: 549:. The British won the battle, beating off a rebel attack on Antrim town following the arrival of reinforcements but the county governor, 876: 591:
United Irish membership in Antrim decided to hold a number of meetings independent of their leaders. The outcome was the election of
110: 44: 771:
Commemoration of the centenary of the battle, marked by a nationalist parade in Belfast on 6 June 1898, provoked loyalist riots.
599:, quickly formulated a plan to attack and seize all government outposts in County Antrim and then for the main attack to fall on 91: 925: 768:
on 7 July and was hanged in Belfast on 17 July, having refused an offer of clemency in return for informing on his comrades.
651: 63: 48: 654:) were taken and the bridge at Toome damaged to prevent the government rushing reinforcements into Antrim from west of the 410: 70: 340: 706:
from where reinforcements were already on the way. The garrison formed themselves at the base of the demesne wall of
622:
would desert and join him, as disaffection was believed to be widespread, evidenced by the execution of four of the
187: 77: 37: 761: 514: 434: 430: 370: 206: 59: 535: 464: 425: 326: 132: 743:, was fatally wounded by John Clements who avoided trial by joining the army. A rebel attempt to seize the 474: 454: 405: 600: 509: 499: 469: 415: 400: 390: 155: 596: 581: 479: 449: 380: 355: 678: 592: 546: 494: 489: 459: 395: 385: 360: 350: 238: 198: 420: 224: 219: 844: 848: 815: 789: 504: 484: 365: 84: 444: 375: 727:
together with the fires from the Scottish Quarter, obscured the garrison's view of events.
573: 562: 539: 595:
as their adjutant general and the decision to rise immediately. McCracken, together with
576:
to take to the field in support of their southern comrades. However, the organisation in
714:
to the front and cavalry to the rear with their flanks anchored by the Market House and
837: 695: 638:(1st town in Ulster to fall at 3am on the 7th under the leadership of James O Rourke), 345: 251: 909: 732: 707: 531: 715: 674: 211: 647: 612: 26: 740: 655: 643: 588: 542: 891: 878: 744: 711: 639: 604: 747:
was only narrowly beaten off by troops stationed behind the demesne wall.
294: 670: 659: 623: 566: 587:
After waiting for two weeks while the rebellion raged in the south, the
703: 699: 619: 608: 765: 691: 577: 570: 635: 814:(2nd Updated ed.). Northern Ireland: Springfarm Publishing. 791:
The Peerage of the United Kingdom of Great Britain & Ireland
298: 20: 764:
caused their final dispersion. McCracken was arrested by
690:
The town was garrisoned by a small force of about 200
51:. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. 836: 618:McCracken had high hopes that many members of the 611:in conjunction with the United Irish rebels in 125: 607:seized at Antrim, the rebels were to march on 812:The Battle of Antrim – Antrim`s Story in 1798 310: 8: 669:Although almost 10,000 rebels assembled at 317: 303: 295: 122: 111:Learn how and when to remove this message 16:Battle during the Irish Rebellion of 1798 780: 626:militia for treason in Belfast in May. 916:Battles of the Irish Rebellion of 1798 794:. F.C. and J. Rivington. p. 876. 7: 805: 803: 801: 49:adding citations to reliable sources 843:. Irish Historical Press. p.  569:on 23 May had prompted calls from 551:John O'Neill, 1st Viscount O'Neill 14: 921:Military history of County Antrim 677:, but were joined with Catholic 274:~200 – later reinforced by 4000 218: 205: 192: 181: 25: 658:. The rebels then assembled at 36:needs additional citations for 530:was fought on 7 June 1798, in 1: 931:18th century in County Antrim 839:The Courts Martial of 1798-9 584:, which was expected daily. 810:McCracken, Stephen (2022). 538:between British troops and 947: 835:Patrick C. Power (1997). 666:, was due to take place. 336: 280: 261: 232: 174: 138: 130: 553:, was fatally wounded. 536:Irish Rebellion of 1798 328:Irish Rebellion of 1798 289:~150 killed and wounded 233:Commanders and leaders 926:Antrim, County Antrim 788:John Debrett (1816). 696:Lt-Col William Lumley 534:, Ireland during the 281:Casualties and losses 156:Antrim, County Antrim 561:The outbreak of the 45:improve this article 888: /  630:Rebellion in Antrim 593:Henry Joy McCracken 547:Henry Joy McCracken 411:Newtownmountkennedy 249:Major Daniel Seddon 239:Henry Joy McCracken 686:Garrison at Antrim 276:8 Artillery Pieces 60:"Battle of Antrim" 854:978-1-902057-00-2 821:978-1-9162576-2-7 739:trapped with his 682:separate points. 582:French assistance 523: 522: 341:Ballymore-Eustace 293: 292: 270:1 Artillery Piece 170: 169: 121: 120: 113: 95: 938: 903: 902: 900: 899: 898: 893: 892:54.722°N 6.231°W 889: 886: 885: 884: 881: 868: 865: 859: 858: 842: 832: 826: 825: 807: 796: 795: 785: 731:the gunfire and 694:, cavalry under 528:Battle of Antrim 331: 329: 319: 312: 305: 296: 223: 222: 210: 209: 197: 196: 195: 186: 185: 184: 140: 139: 126:Battle of Antrim 123: 116: 109: 105: 102: 96: 94: 53: 29: 21: 946: 945: 941: 940: 939: 937: 936: 935: 906: 905: 896: 894: 890: 887: 882: 879: 877: 875: 874: 872: 871: 866: 862: 855: 834: 833: 829: 822: 809: 808: 799: 787: 786: 782: 777: 757: 735:of the rebels. 724: 688: 632: 574:United Irishmen 559: 524: 519: 332: 327: 325: 323: 256: 254: 250: 245: 243: 241: 217: 204: 193: 191: 190: 188:United Irishmen 182: 180: 166:British victory 158: 133:Irish Rebellion 117: 106: 100: 97: 54: 52: 42: 30: 17: 12: 11: 5: 944: 942: 934: 933: 928: 923: 918: 908: 907: 897:54.722; -6.231 870: 869: 860: 853: 827: 820: 797: 779: 778: 776: 773: 756: 753: 723: 720: 687: 684: 631: 628: 558: 555: 521: 520: 518: 517: 512: 507: 502: 497: 492: 487: 482: 477: 472: 467: 462: 457: 452: 447: 442: 437: 428: 423: 418: 413: 408: 403: 398: 393: 388: 383: 378: 373: 368: 363: 358: 353: 348: 343: 337: 334: 333: 324: 322: 321: 314: 307: 299: 291: 290: 287: 283: 282: 278: 277: 271: 264: 263: 259: 258: 257:Col Cleavering 252:William Lumley 247: 235: 234: 230: 229: 228: 227: 201: 177: 176: 172: 171: 168: 167: 164: 160: 159: 154: 152: 148: 147: 144: 136: 135: 128: 127: 119: 118: 33: 31: 24: 15: 13: 10: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 943: 932: 929: 927: 924: 922: 919: 917: 914: 913: 911: 904: 901: 864: 861: 856: 850: 846: 841: 840: 831: 828: 823: 817: 813: 806: 804: 802: 798: 793: 792: 784: 781: 774: 772: 769: 767: 763: 754: 752: 748: 746: 742: 736: 734: 728: 722:Attack begins 721: 719: 717: 713: 709: 708:Antrim Castle 705: 701: 697: 693: 685: 683: 680: 676: 672: 667: 665: 661: 660:Donegore Hill 657: 653: 650:(captured by 649: 645: 641: 637: 629: 627: 625: 621: 616: 614: 610: 606: 603:. Then using 602: 598: 594: 590: 585: 583: 579: 575: 572: 568: 565:rebellion in 564: 556: 554: 552: 548: 544: 541: 537: 533: 532:County Antrim 529: 516: 513: 511: 508: 506: 503: 501: 498: 496: 493: 491: 488: 486: 483: 481: 478: 476: 473: 471: 468: 466: 463: 461: 458: 456: 453: 451: 448: 446: 443: 441: 438: 436: 432: 429: 427: 426:Tubberneering 424: 422: 419: 417: 414: 412: 409: 407: 404: 402: 399: 397: 394: 392: 389: 387: 384: 382: 379: 377: 374: 372: 369: 367: 364: 362: 359: 357: 354: 352: 349: 347: 344: 342: 339: 338: 335: 330: 320: 315: 313: 308: 306: 301: 300: 297: 288: 285: 284: 279: 275: 272: 269: 266: 265: 260: 253: 248: 240: 237: 236: 231: 226: 221: 216: 215: 214: 213: 208: 202: 200: 189: 179: 178: 173: 165: 162: 161: 157: 153: 150: 149: 145: 142: 141: 137: 134: 129: 124: 115: 112: 104: 101:December 2018 93: 90: 86: 83: 79: 76: 72: 69: 65: 62: –  61: 57: 56:Find sources: 50: 46: 40: 39: 34:This article 32: 28: 23: 22: 19: 873: 863: 838: 830: 811: 790: 783: 770: 762:Ballynahinch 758: 749: 737: 729: 725: 716:Presbyterian 689: 675:Presbyterian 668: 664:Lord O'Neill 652:James Dickey 633: 617: 586: 563:United Irish 560: 527: 525: 475:Vinegar Hill 455:Ballynahinch 439: 273: 267: 212:British Army 203: 175:Belligerents 131:Part of the 107: 98: 88: 81: 74: 67: 55: 43:Please help 38:verification 35: 18: 895: / 741:magistrates 648:Randalstown 613:County Down 601:Antrim town 510:Tory Island 500:Ballinamuck 470:Foulksmills 435:Scullabogue 416:Three Rocks 406:Gibbet Rath 401:Enniscorthy 391:Oulart Hill 286:~400 killed 244:John Storie 146:7 June 1798 910:Categories 880:54°43′19″N 775:References 644:Portaferry 597:James Hope 589:grassroots 557:Background 543:insurgents 515:24 October 480:Ballyellis 450:Saintfield 356:Prosperous 255:Col Durham 242:James Hope 71:newspapers 883:6°13′52″W 755:Aftermath 745:artillery 712:artillery 679:Defenders 640:Ballymena 605:artillery 495:Collooney 490:Castlebar 465:Big Cross 460:Ovidstown 396:Kilthomas 386:Tara Hill 361:Kilcullen 351:Rathangan 225:Loyalists 199:Defenders 671:Donegore 624:Monaghan 567:Leinster 431:New Ross 421:Bunclody 371:Dunlavin 262:Strength 246:John Orr 151:Location 710:, with 704:Lisburn 700:Belfast 620:militia 609:Belfast 545:led by 505:Killala 485:Clonard 268:~4,000 85:scholar 851:  818:  766:yeomen 692:yeomen 578:Ulster 571:Ulster 445:Arklow 440:Antrim 381:Harrow 376:Carlow 366:Carnew 163:Result 87:  80:  73:  66:  58:  733:pikes 636:Larne 540:Irish 92:JSTOR 78:books 849:ISBN 816:ISBN 702:and 656:Bann 646:and 526:The 346:Naas 143:Date 64:news 845:137 47:by 912:: 847:. 800:^ 642:, 615:. 857:. 824:. 433:/ 318:e 311:t 304:v 114:) 108:( 103:) 99:( 89:· 82:· 75:· 68:· 41:.

Index


verification
improve this article
adding citations to reliable sources
"Battle of Antrim"
news
newspapers
books
scholar
JSTOR
Learn how and when to remove this message
Irish Rebellion
Antrim, County Antrim
United Irishmen
Defenders
Kingdom of Great Britain
British Army
Kingdom of Ireland
Loyalists
Henry Joy McCracken
William Lumley
v
t
e
Irish Rebellion of 1798
Ballymore-Eustace
Naas
Rathangan
Prosperous
Kilcullen

Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.