Battle of Ballynahinch
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Ballynahinch was fought outside Ballynahinch, County Down
, on 12 June, during the Irish rebellion of 1798
between British forces led by Major-General George Nugent and the local United Irishmen led by Henry Munro
(1758–98).
linen merchant and Presbyterian United Irishman who had no military experience but had taken over command of the Down
organisation following the arrest of the designated leader, Rev. Willam Steel Dickson on June 5. Upon hearing of the victory at Saintfield
on June 9, Munro joined the rebel camp there and then moved to Ednavady Hill, Ballynahinch to join the thousands who had gathered in support of the rebellion. The response of the British garrisons was to converge on Ballynahinch from Belfast
and Downpatrick
in two columns accompanied by several pieces of cannon.
.
As dawn broke the battle recommenced with the rebels attacked from two sides and although achieving some initial success, confusion in the rebel army saw the United Irishmen retreat in chaos, pursued by regrouping British forces who quickly took advantage by turning retreat into massacre. Initial reports claimed four hundred rebels were killed, while British losses were around forty.
escaped the field of battle but was betrayed by a farmer who he had paid to conceal him and was hanged in front of his own house in Lisburn on 16 June. Ballynahinch was sacked by the victorious military after the battle with sixty-three houses being burned down. Cavalry scoured the surrounding countryside for rebels, raiding homes and killing indiscriminately, the 22nd Dragoons being guilty of some of the worst atrocities. The most famous victim was Betsy Gray
, a young female rebel who, with her two brothers, was slaughtered in the post-battle massacre, ensuring her place in legend to this day.
County Down
-Cities:*Belfast *Newry -Large towns:*Dundonald*Newtownards*Bangor-Medium towns:...
, on 12 June, during the Irish rebellion of 1798
Irish Rebellion of 1798
The Irish Rebellion of 1798 , also known as the United Irishmen Rebellion , was an uprising in 1798, lasting several months, against British rule in Ireland...
between British forces led by Major-General George Nugent and the local United Irishmen led by Henry Munro
Henry Munro (United Irishman)
Henry Munro was a United Irishman born in Lisburn, County Down.Munro was a linen draper, senior freemason and popular raconteur who became leader of the United Irish organisation in Down following the arrest of its leader Rev. Willam Steel Jackson on June 5...
(1758–98).
Background
Munro was a LisburnLisburn
DemographicsLisburn Urban Area is within Belfast Metropolitan Urban Area and is classified as a Large Town by the . On census day there were 71,465 people living in Lisburn...
linen merchant and Presbyterian United Irishman who had no military experience but had taken over command of the Down
County Down
-Cities:*Belfast *Newry -Large towns:*Dundonald*Newtownards*Bangor-Medium towns:...
organisation following the arrest of the designated leader, Rev. Willam Steel Dickson on June 5. Upon hearing of the victory at Saintfield
Battle of Saintfield
The Battle of Saintfield was a short but bloody clash in County Down, in Northern Ireland. The battle was the first major conflict of the Irish Rebellion of 1798 in Down. The battle took took place on Saturday, 9 June 1798.-Background:...
on June 9, Munro joined the rebel camp there and then moved to Ednavady Hill, Ballynahinch to join the thousands who had gathered in support of the rebellion. The response of the British garrisons was to converge on Ballynahinch from Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
and Downpatrick
Downpatrick
Downpatrick is a medium-sized town about 33 km south of Belfast in County Down, Northern Ireland. It is the county town of Down with a rich history and strong connection to Saint Patrick. It had a population of 10,316 at the 2001 Census...
in two columns accompanied by several pieces of cannon.
Battle of Ballynahinch
The battle began on the night of 12 June when two hills to the left and right of Ballynahinch were occupied by the British who pounded the town with their cannon. During a pause when night fell, some rebel officers were said to have pressed Munro for a night attack but he refused on the grounds that it was unchivalrous. As a consequence many disillusioned rebels slipped away during the night, later claims [By Whom?] say the defections were mainly Catholic DefendersDefenders (Ireland)
The Defenders were a militant, vigilante agrarian secret society in 18th century Ireland, mainly Roman Catholic and from Ulster, who allied with the United Irishmen but did little during the rebellion of 1798.-Origin:...
.
As dawn broke the battle recommenced with the rebels attacked from two sides and although achieving some initial success, confusion in the rebel army saw the United Irishmen retreat in chaos, pursued by regrouping British forces who quickly took advantage by turning retreat into massacre. Initial reports claimed four hundred rebels were killed, while British losses were around forty.
Aftermath
MunroHenry Munro (United Irishman)
Henry Munro was a United Irishman born in Lisburn, County Down.Munro was a linen draper, senior freemason and popular raconteur who became leader of the United Irish organisation in Down following the arrest of its leader Rev. Willam Steel Jackson on June 5...
escaped the field of battle but was betrayed by a farmer who he had paid to conceal him and was hanged in front of his own house in Lisburn on 16 June. Ballynahinch was sacked by the victorious military after the battle with sixty-three houses being burned down. Cavalry scoured the surrounding countryside for rebels, raiding homes and killing indiscriminately, the 22nd Dragoons being guilty of some of the worst atrocities. The most famous victim was Betsy Gray
Betsy Gray
Betsy Gray was an Ulster-Scots Presbyterian peasant girl from outside Lisburn in Co. Antrim in what is today Northern Ireland who was killed as part of the 1798 Rebellion of the United Irishmen...
, a young female rebel who, with her two brothers, was slaughtered in the post-battle massacre, ensuring her place in legend to this day.
External links
- http://www.ballynahinchregeneration.org/battle.htm
- http://republican-news.org/archive/1998/June04/04ball.html
- http://www.presbyterianireland.org/congregations/ballynahinch1.html
- http://www.bbc.co.uk/northernireland/yourplaceandmine/down/bhinch_battle.shtml
- http://www.bridgemanartondemand.com/art/114142/The_Battle_of_Ballynahinch_13th_June_1798_c1798