Honoured sir, — Upon Monday last, I left lieutenant-general Douglas four miles from Thurles, and four miles from thence I had an account from one of the country of eleven Toryes. I immediately detached a party who met with them, and after the exchanging some shot on both sides, the Toryes quitted their horses and took the bog, which I having advice of marched up with the grenadiers, and sent them into the bog, who took two of them. One was a captain, his name Jo Meagher, a notorious ringleader of the rogues, and one that had done great mischief in the country. I carried him and his comrade to Maryborough, and there hanged them. I found that country full of English Protestants and Irish Toryes, and therefore left a garrison of forty foot and ten dragoons for to secure these parts, and also at Philipstown fifty foot and twenty horse; from whence, I marched yesterday and encamped at Tyrrell's pass (but in my way had advice from colonel Babington that two thousand of the enemy were got together at this place). Within half an hour after I was encamped, my scouts brought me word the enemy were within a mile of the camp; whereupon I drew my men to their arms, and went out with two squadrons to view the enemy, who were advanced within half a mile of us, with about one hundred and twenty horse, who our men charged and broke and pursued them near two miles, and there we met another body of about two hundred, and routed them, and drove them into this place, which so alarmed the rest of the party that they betook themselves to flight, and every man shifted for himself. The night came upon us, or else we had done great execution upon them; but, as it was, we killed between eighty and one hundred, and have taken prisoners three of the chiefest and the greatest rogues among them, viz., Andrew Tuite, James Ledgwich, Redmond Mullady, late sheriff for king James. They are no soldiers, nor have any commission for what they do, and therefore I conceive are not to be treated other ways than
I am only uneasy here with the disorders of our own men, which has been so great in our march, to all without distinction, that it is a shame to speak of it, and it was not in my power nor the other colonels' to prevent it, having neither bread nor money to give them, which had I had, I would have hanged them to the last man, but I would have reclaimed them.
—I am, honoured sir, your most faithful and obedient servant,— William Wolseley.Just now bread and ammunition is come from Dublin.
I forgot in my letter to acquaint you that the day before I came hither, my lord Granard had been treating with these people, and advised them to submit and lay down their arms; but their answer was that they would die before they would submit to king William's government. Yours, — William Wolseley.