Battle of Ovidstown facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Battle of Ovidstown
Part of the Irish Rebellion
Date 19 June 1798 Location near Kilcock, County Kildare Result British victory
Belligerents
British Army Irish loyalists	United Irishmen
Commanders and leaders
John Wolfe	William Aylmer
Strength
~400	~4,000
Casualties and losses
~25 killed	~200 killed

The Battle of Ovidstown was an important fight during the Irish Rebellion of 1798. It happened on June 19, 1798, near Kilcock in County Kildare, Ireland. This battle was between the British Army and Irish loyalists (who supported the British Crown) and a group of Irish rebels called the United Irishmen. Even though the rebels had more fighters, the British forces won this battle.

What Was the Irish Rebellion of 1798?

The Irish Rebellion of 1798 was a major uprising against British rule in Ireland. The Society of United Irishmen wanted Ireland to be an independent republic. They started a rebellion across different parts of Ireland.

In County Kildare, the United Irishmen had some early difficulties. However, many areas stayed under rebel control. This was because the main British forces were busy fighting the Wexford Rebellion in County Wexford. Towns like Prosperous and Clane were held by rebels. Other towns like Maynooth and Kilcock were attacked and briefly taken by them.

British Forces Move In

By June 19, 1798, the British felt that County Meath was peaceful enough. This meant they could send soldiers from Meath into Kildare. Their goal was to take back areas held by the rebels.

A British force was led by John Wolfe. It had about 400 soldiers. These soldiers were from different groups, including the 5th Dragoon Guards, a Highland regiment, and the yeomanry (local volunteer soldiers). They also had two cannons. On June 18, they left Trim to find and defeat the rebel leader, William Aylmer.

Rebels Prepare for Battle

When William Aylmer heard that the British were coming, he gathered his men. He decided to fight them head-on. Aylmer chose Ovidstown Hill as the battleground. This hill was about three miles southwest of Kilcock.

About 4,000 rebels had gathered under Aylmer's command. Before the battle, some rebels found supplies at a nearby large house called Hortland House. They brought these supplies back to their camp.

The Battle Begins

The rebels tried to set up a surprise attack. They hid behind ditches on both sides of a local road. However, their plan failed. A group of British Highland soldiers attacked the rebels from the sides. This forced the rebels to retreat quickly.

The British had some success, but they couldn't organize their horse soldiers (cavalry) fast enough. The ground was uneven, making it hard for the cavalry to chase the fleeing rebels. The British also couldn't get their cannons ready in time.

Rebel Charges and British Counter-Attack

Aylmer saw this chance and ordered his men to charge forward. He wanted them to attack before the British could fully set up their cavalry and cannons. However, the rebel charge slowed down because some fighters hesitated. The rebels ended up taking cover behind some hedges instead of reaching the British lines.

This delay gave the British enough time to use their cannons. They fired several rounds of grapeshot (small metal balls that spread out like a shotgun blast) into the rebels. The rebels were forced to leave their covered positions. Then, they were hit by many shots from the Highlanders' muskets.

The rebels launched another attack. They reached the British lines and almost captured a cannon. But they left one side of their formation open. This allowed the British cavalry to attack them from the side. This counter-attack caused the rebels to retreat again.

Aftermath of the Battle

About 200 rebels were killed in the battle. The British force lost around 25 soldiers. After the main fight, the British horse soldiers continued to chase the fleeing rebels. This caused even more casualties for Aylmer's men.

A group of British dragoons (horse soldiers) led by Lieutenant-Colonel Stewart recaptured Prosperous on the same day. Prosperous had been held by rebels since the Battle of Prosperous. Aylmer moved his remaining rebels to the Bog of Allen. There, they joined up with other rebels from Wexford, led by Anthony Perry.