September 12th, 1798: Mullingar is threatened by insurgents on the 6th who, despite defeats at Multyfarnham (Wilson's Hospital) and Granard, rendezvous with Humbert at Cloone.
They are encouraged by Hervey Montmorency Morres of Knockalton, who earlier saw fit to restrain the imprudent `ardour' of the Westmeath and Tipperary rebels.
The seat of Sir John Blacquiere near Fruen Hill is destroyed by 1,500 rebels as another French-inspired rising stalls at Balbriggan, in north County Dublin.
Doubtful rumours of intense strife in Wicklow and Meath are related by Saunder's News- letter. Two yeomen named Brown lose their lives near Leixlip on the 7th.
The Freeman's Journal, on the contrary, obtains "private letters" claiming that "the French had sent a flag of truce to his Excellency, signifying their desire to capitulate, and wish to have included in their conditions some insurgents that had joined their ranks, but that the noble Marquis spurned at the latter part of the intimation, but was inclined to receive a proper surrender from the French."
The out-gunned French are blocked from approaching the capital by the troops under Cornwallis, whilst dogged in their tracks by a separate force under General Lake.
The sudden death of Oliver Bond in Newgate on the morning of the 6th excites "much public attention" and the need to dispel suspicions that the most prominent United Irishman in custody was poisoned occasions an inquest.
Surgeon-General Stewart, Surgeons Lake and Geoghehan, Dr Drennan and the coroner (Alderman Thorse) interview Catherine Poynton.
She recalls seeing Bond "come out of the door of his apartment, which opens into the courtyard, and from which there is a descent of two steps, and coming down one he apparently slipped at one side, into a corner, fell on his back, and not seeming afterwards to stir."
It is implied that Bond's demise had much to do with joining `bed fellow' Samuel Neilson in consuming large quantities of sheep's heart, spirits, punch and wine on the night of his death. They watched ball games in the yard until dusk before retiring. The inquiry finds that Bond died of `an apoplective fit'.
Humbert's 850 French soldiers and 1,000 United Irish auxiliaries are brought to battle at Ballinamuck (Co Longford) on the eighth.
Resistance is futile in view of the overwhelming numerical superiority of crown forces and honour is served by a token fight of 30 minutes.
Humbert's men are treated as prisoners of war but hundreds of Irish rebels are cut down by the army as no protocol binds them to observe moderation. Lake insists that no insurgents be taken alive and hundreds of those seized later suffer death.
Maj Freemantle verifies that "400 croppies" detained after the battle "are by this time nearly demolished, for no quarter has been given them."
His men are abused for keeping six alive. In Ballinamuck, 143 rebels are hanged without delay and 54 more in Ballinalee, while 113 are taken to Carrick-on-Shannon to die in batches.
The nature of this carnage is kept out of the pages of the Journal, which on the 11th relates how the French at Castlebar "gave a civic ball and when their guests were collected, they detached the principal inhabitants until a contribution, or forced loan, was paid in to the amount of 1,000 guineas. This was paying pretty smartly for dancing the Carmagaole."