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Battle of Oulart Hill

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Fr. John Murphy
  
Colonel Foote

Unknown number killed
  
105 killed

Result
  
United Irishmen victory.

4,000 – 5,000
  
110

Date
  
27 May 1798

Battle of Oulart Hill taramagickcomplaquejpg

Location
  
Oulart, Republic of Ireland

Combatants
  
Society of United Irishmen, United Kingdom

Similar
  
Irish Rebellion of 1798, Battle of Vinegar Hill, Battle of New Ross, Battle of Three Rocks, Battle of Tara Hill

The Battle of Oulart Hill took place on 27 May 1798 when a rebel gathering of between 4,000 and 5,000 massacred a detachment of 110 militia sent from Wexford town to stamp out the spreading rebellion in County Wexford.

Contents

Battle of Oulart Hill Battle of Oulart Hill Oulart Hill 1798 Battlefield Walking Hub

Background

Battle of Oulart Hill On this day in Irish History May 27 Ireland Calling

When news of the long expected rising on May 23 of the United Irishmen in the midlands reached county Wexford, it was already in an unsettled condition due to fears brought by the recently instituted anti-insurgent disarmament campaign in the county. The measures used included pitchcapping, half-hanging, and house burnings to uncover rebel conspirators. The recent arrival in Wexford of the North Cork Militia who were notorious for their brutality in the "pacification" of Ulster, terror raids by local yeomen and finally news of the massacres at Dunlavin Green, Carlow and Carnew, had the effect of drawing people together in large groups for security, especially at night.

Battle of Oulart Hill Battle of Oulart Hill Oulart Hill 1798 Battlefield Walking Hub

One such group of one hundred or so had gathered on the evening of the 26 May at The Harrow, near the parish of Boolavogue under the tutelage of Fr. John Murphy when they encountered a patrol of about 20 yeomen on their way to the house of a suspected rebel. They burned the suspect's dwelling but returning empty-handed, they encountered Fr. Murphy’s band again. The patrol were pushing their way through when a skirmish began in which they lost two of their number, the rest fleeing with news of the killings.

Night of 26 May

Battle of Oulart Hill Holdings Battle of Oulart Hill Wexford 1798

The reaction on both sides was rapid, vengeful yeomanry patrols roaming, burning and killing indiscriminately while the rebels roused the countryside and made several raids on manors and other houses holding arms, killing more loyalists and yeomen. News of the skirmish and raids had by now reached Wexford town and, on the morning of 27 May, the bulk of its garrison, 110 of the North Cork militia under Colonel Foote were ordered north to crush the nascent rebellion. They were joined en route by some 16 yeomen cavalry under Colonel Le Hunt. However, these yeomanry were of doubtful loyalty, many (including their sergeant) having joined the rebels that morning.

The Battle of Oulart Hill

Battle of Oulart Hill Oulart Hill 1798 Battlefield Walking Hub Oulart Hill Development Group

The militia reached the village of Oulart at 2 p.m. on 27 May. Finding a mass of "from four to five thousand combatants" occupying the high ground of Oulart hill, they rashly advanced and pursued the rebels to the summit. The rebel leaders mistakenly believed a large body of yeoman cavalry was waiting to intercept their flight, so their forces desperately turned to face their enemy and "killed the whole detachment in an instant", leaving only the commanding officer, Colonel Foote, and four other survivors to escape to their base at Wexford

Foote reported that, contrary to his orders, the militia had advanced incautiously and were surrounded and overpowered by the overwhelming rebel numbers, mostly armed with pikes, and that "great numbers" of the rebels were killed.

Following the rebel victory, almost all of North Wexford joined the rebellion. Crown forces and loyalist civilians ceded control of the countryside, withdrawing to towns such as Enniscorthy, Gorey and Wexford.

References

Battle of Oulart Hill Wikipedia