Military Campaigns
The rebels remained in control of Wexford town for three weeks in early summer 1798. In the short period they controlled most of the county, a group of citizens was appointed to lead the rebels. This included Catholic and Anglican merchants and landlords. Military decisions were also discussed in a committee of rebels. These three weeks, during which the rebels controlled the county, is sometimes referred to as the 'Wexford Republic'.
General Lake, Commander of the Crown Forces
An image of General Lake, Commander in Chief of the Crown Forces, which eventually defeated the 1798 Rebellion in Wexford.
Courtesy of the National Library of Ireland.General Lake, Commander of the Crown Forces
Courtesy of the National Library of Ireland.
Courtesy of the National Library of Ireland.
General Lake, Commander of the Crown Forces
An image of General Lake, Commander in Chief of the Crown Forces, which eventually defeated the 1798 Rebellion in Wexford.
Courtesy of the National Library of Ireland.On 31 May, the rebel army decided to split into two groups. One would go north to Vinegar Hill. The other would go south to New Ross. The army going north camped at Vinegar Hill and attacked towns close to it. They attacked Newtownbarry and Gorey, but were forced to retreat. However, by 5 June, they had driven most of the government forces in the north of Wexford back to Wicklow.
Meanwhile, the rebels who went south did not do very well. They remained at their camp for three days at Carrickbyrne. Rather than attack anywhere in this time, they scoured the countryside in troops and rounded up prisoners.
These prisoners were people who remained loyal to the crown. The rebels put the prisoners under guard at a farm house in Scullabogue. Then they went on to New Ross, to the battle which would decide the rebellion.