03/04/2016
"Wexford Ireland would not be the same today.
If not for our historical heroes."
Rare medal to be auctioned that was awarded to one of Wexford’s greatest heroes in 1799
by Whyte’s Auction Dublin March 13th
The story of the Wexford Irish Civil War Medal of 1799
The relief of Wexford, a town situated on the south - eastern tip of Ireland, occurred on June 21st, 1799, during the 1798 Irish rebellion and its success, generally attributed to General Sir John Moore, Major-General of Ireland at the time.
A harrowing and brave account of the relief of the town of Wexford in 1799
"When General Moore's army was within about two miles of Wexford, they perceived a house in the suburbs on fire, from which they concluded, that the rebels were burning the town.
Mr. James Boyd, representative for the town, who commanded the Wexford Cavalry, trembling for the fate of his wife and children, asked permission of the general for him and as many of the yeoman cavalry as would accompany him, to push forward to the town and to make a desperate effort to save their families and their property.
The following persons, with great magnanimity, volunteered in that perilous service, and ran a risk of devoting their own lives to save the property and lives of the inhabitants who remained in the town; they were all members of the corps but one. Captain James Boyd, member of parliament, Lieutenant Percival, high sheriff for the county, Corporal John Stetham, Corporal William Hughes, A.H. Jacob, of the Enniscorthy corps and the following privates, John Tench, Joseph Sutton, Archer Bayly, Marcus Doyle, Abraham Howlin, John Byrne, and William M’Cabe, Mr Boyd’s servant. Christopher Irwine, permanent sergeant of the troop, followed them rapidly on foot, his horse having been shot.
They dashed into the town with a degree of valour bordering on despair, expecting to find a general massacre, announced with a loud voice, that the army was at their heels.
This gave the rebels such an electric shock, that, panic struck, they fled in all directions, some over the bridge, others to the barony of Forth.
Their consternation was so great, that very few of them attempted in their flight to injure the inhabitants of the town.”
As history has it, the rebellion was crushed with great brutality.
This medal may be viewed thru this link to Whyte’s auction Lot 29 in Dublin March 13th 2016.
http://www.the-saleroom.com/en-gb/auction-catalogues/whytes/catalogue-id-srwhy10030/lot-9f05ad07-0e58-47d7-af49-a5b500f3689b
