Battle of Julianstown facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Battle of Julianstown |
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| Part of the Irish Rebellion | |||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 Royalists |
 Irish Catholic rebels |
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Sir Patrick Wemyss Sergeant Major Roper |
Philip O'Reilly Miles O'Reilly |
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| Strength | |||||||
| 650 | 3,000 | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 500 killed or captured | Unknown | ||||||
The Battle of Julianstown was a big fight that happened on November 27, 1641. It took place near a town called Julianstown in County Louth, during a time known as the Irish Rebellion of 1641. In this battle, a group of soldiers sent by the government in Dublin to help the town of Drogheda was surprised by Irish rebels. Most of the government soldiers were defeated.
Contents
Why Did the Battle of Julianstown Happen?
The Irish Rebellion started in October 1641. Irish rebels quickly took control of most of Ulster, a region in the north of Ireland. After that, they started moving south, heading towards Dublin, the capital city.
By November 21, the rebels had surrounded the town of Drogheda. This meant that the government in Dublin needed to send help to the soldiers defending Drogheda. So, they quickly gathered more troops to send as reinforcements.
What Happened During the Battle?
The soldiers sent to help Drogheda were put together very quickly. Many of them were not well-trained. Some were even hungry refugees from the north who were forced to join the army.
This group of about 650 soldiers was led by Sir Patrick Wemyss and Sergeant Major Roper. On the other side, the rebel forces were much larger, with about 3,000 men. They were led by Philip O'Reilly and Miles O'Reilly, who were important Irish leaders from County Cavan. The rebels were planning to completely surround Drogheda.
The Ambush and the Mistake
On the morning of the battle, the rebels found out that the government troops were coming. They quickly set up a surprise attack, also known as an ambush.
When the rebels attacked, Sir Patrick Wemyss made a big mistake. He told his soldiers to "countermarch." This order meant they should move backward as if they were retreating. The rebels saw this and immediately charged forward. This caused a lot of panic and confusion among the government soldiers. Many of them dropped their weapons and tried to run away.
The Outcome of the Fight
Even though some cavalry (soldiers on horseback) and a few companies of infantry (foot soldiers) managed to reach Drogheda, most of the government troops were either killed or captured by the rebels.
What Happened After the Battle?
The rebels won a complete victory at Julianstown. This win was a huge boost for their spirits and made them feel much stronger. It also helped the rebellion spread even more across Ireland.
For the government, especially for the Earl of Ormond (who was the new commander of the government army), this battle showed how determined the rebels were. It also showed how much support the rebels had among the people.
See also
