GENERAL ORDERS ISSUED IN CONSEQUENCE

OF THE DEFEAT AT ROSS, AND THE MASSACRE AT SCULLABOGUE.

At a meeting of the general and several officers of the united army of the county of Wexford, the following resolutions were agreed upon:

Resolved, that the commander-in-chief shall send guards to certain baronies, for the purpose of bringing in all men they shall find loitering and delaying at home, or elsewhere; and if any resistance be given to those guards, so to be sent by the commanding officer's orders, it is our desire and orders, that such persons so giving resistance shall be liable to be put to death by the guards, who are to bear a commission for that purpose; and all such persons found to be so loitering, and delaying at home, when brought in by the guards, shall be tried by a courtmartial, appointed and chosen from among the commanders of all the different corps, and be punished with death.

Resolved, that all officers shall immediately repair to their respective quarters, and remain with their different corps, and not to depart therefrom under pain of death, unless authorised to quit by written orders from the commanderin-chief for that purpose.

It is also ordered, that a guard shall be kept

in the rear of the different armies, with orders to shoot all persons who shall fly or desert from any engagement; and that these orders shall be taken notice of by all officers commanding such engagement.

All men refusing to obey their superior officers, to be tried by a court-martial, and punished according to their sentence.

It is also ordered, that all men who shall attempt to leave their respective quarters when they have been halted by the commander-inchief, shall suffer death, unless they shall have leave from their officers for so doing.

It is ordered by the commander-in-chief, that all persons who have stolen or taken away any horse or horses, shall immediately bring in all such horses to the camp, at head camp, at head quarters; otherwise for any horse that shall be seen or found in the possession of any person to whom he does not belong, that person shall, on being convicted thereof, suffer death:

And any goods that shall have been plundered from any house, if not brought into head quarters, or returned immediately to the houses or owners, that all persons so plundering as aforesaid, shall, on being convicted thereof, suffer death,

It is also resolved, that any person or persons who shall take upon them to kill or murder any person or prisoner, burn any house, or commit

any plunder, without special written orders from
the commander-in-chief, shall suffer death.
By order of

B. B. HARVEY, Commander-in-chief,
FRANCIS BREEN, Sec. and Adj.

Head-quarters, Carrickburn

camp, June 6, 1798.

For the same purpose was issued the following

proclamation,

TO THE PEOPLE OF IRELAND,

Countrymen and fellow-soldiers!

YOUR patriotic exertions in the cause of your country have hitherto exceeded your most sanguine expectations, and in a short time must ultimately be crowned with success. Liberty has raised her drooping head: thousands daily flock to her standard: the voice of her children every where prevails. Let us then, in the moment of triumph, return thanks to the Almighty Ruler of the Universe, that a total stop has been put to those sanguinary measures which of late were but too often resorted to by the creatures of government, to keep the people in slavery.

Nothing now, my countrymen, appears neces sary to secure the conquests you have so bravely won, but an implicit obedience to the commands of your chiefs; for, through a want of proper subordination and discipline, all may be endan gered.

At this eventful period, all Europe must admire, and posterity will read with astonishment, the heroic acts achieved by people strangers to military tactics, and having few professional commanders: but what power can resist men fighting for liberty!

In the moment of triumph, my countrymen, let not your victories be tarnished with any wanton act of cruelty: many of those unfortunate men now in prison were not your enemies from principle; most of them, compelled by necessity, were obliged to oppose you: neither let a difference in religious sentiments cause a difference among the people. Recur to the debates in the Irish house of lords of the 19th of February last; you will there see a patriotic and enlightened protestant bishop, with manly eloquence, pleading for catholic emancipation and parliamentary reform, in opposition to the haughty arguments of the lord chancellor, and the powerful opposition of his fellowcourtiers.

To promote a union of brotherhood and affection among our countrymen of all religious persuasions has been our principal object: we have sworn in the most solemn manner, have associated for this laudable purpose, and no power on earth shall shake our resolution.

To my protestant soldiers, I feel much in-.

debted for their gallant behaviour in the field, where they exhibited signal proofs of bravery in

the cause.

Wexford, June 7th, 1798.

EDWARD ROCHE

These orders and proclamations were vain. The following is a letter from Bagenal Harvey to Mr. Francis Glasscott, who had written to him for his protection.

DEAR SIR,

I RECEIVED your letter; but what to do for you I know not. I from my heart wish to protect all property; I can scarce protect myself; and indeed my situation is much to be pitied, and distressing to myself. I took my present situation in hopes of doing good, and preventing mischief, my trust is in Providence : I acted always an honest disinterested part; and had my advice been taken by those in power, the present mischief would never have arisen. If I can retire to a private station again, I will immediately. Mr. Tottenham's refusing to speak to the gentleman I sent into Ross, who was madly shot by the soldiers, was very unfortunate: it has set the people mad with rage, and there is no restraining them. The person I sent in had private instructions to propose a reconciliation; but God knows where this business