General History of the Rebellion of 1798, Also a Brief Account of the Insurrection In 1803

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated.1842 Excerpt: ... were finally conquered only by their insubordination, and the incapacity of their leaders. The battle of Ross, with respect to its incidents and extensive results, was one of the most important of the insurrection. Ross is surrounded on three sides by steep hills, and on the fourth by a river, dividing it from the southern counties, and having a long wooden bridge. The possession of Ross, therefore, would have opened a communication with the southern insurgents, who were prepared to rise en masse, the moment their friends should occupy that town; and the city of Waterford, and probably the whole of the western and southern counties, would have risen in their favour. Nearly 30,000 insurgents assembled on Corbethill, near the town of Ross. Their General, Beauchamp Bagenal Harvey, was, of all men, probably the most unfit for so desperate an enterprise: his figure diminutive--his voice tremulous. He was a Protestant barrister of fortune; good tempered, and of good private character; and was selected, from being Lord of Bargay Castle, and of considerable demesnes in the county of Wexford. Of individual courage he had sufficient; but of that manly, heroic intrepidity, which converts danger into enthusiasm, and is indispensable to the leader of such an army and such a cause, he was altogether unsusceptible. The other officers were little better than himself; and an army of 30,000 intrepid, persevering insurgents could not produce one leader of sufficient tact or influence to guide and secure to them certain victory. A flag of truce was forwarded by Bagenal Harvey, of which Mr. Furlong was the bearer, to Major General Johnson, commanding him to surrender Ross to the insurgents. The letter accompanying it was as follows: --"Sir, --As a friend to humanity, I request yo...