The garrison consisted of 35 of the City of Cork militia
and 22 ancient Britons who were housed separately near the barracks. Captain
Richard Longford Swayne, commander of the militia, had terrorised the area
at free-quarters, since his arrival on the 20th May. Throughout Wednesday
the 23rd, the rebels gathered in the woods. At 2 o' clock the following
morning, around 500 rebels under Dr. John Esmond and Andrew Farrell, stole
into the town killing two sentries at their guard-posts. The troops billets
were surrounded and attacked, some who were housed separately were killed
in their beds.
At the barracks, the rebels forced their way into Swayne's quarters where he
was piked and shot before the troops could secure the building. Lighted faggots
and furze were thrown through the windows of the underground office and the
barracks was engulfed. Many of those who tried to escape were piked to death
in the streets. Of the 57 soldiers in the garrison, nearly 40 were killed.
Swayne's body was burnt in a tar barrel.
Later Downing's house was burnt and a landlords agent, Stamers was killed.
A cotton manufacturer, Mr. Brewer and a retired army sergeant, over seventy
years old, were also murdered. Prosperous became a rebel icon, the first rebel
victory of 1798. When Lieutenant Colonel Charles Stewart recaptured Prosperous
on the 19th June, he was delighted to report that he had ransacked and burnt
this receptacle of Rebellion regretting only that his orders did not allow
him to pursue the rebels who had fled.
Published by Kildare County Council , Written by Mario Corrigan .