#OnThisDay 1798 Roughly 1000 United Irishmen rebels ambush & defeat a force of more than 300 Crown militia & York fencibles under the command of Colonel Granville Stapylton, at the Battle of Saintfield in Co. Down, killing over 50. The rebels hid in roadside woods which flanked the Crown forces approach. Once in the kill zone, the rebels attacked with pike and fierce hand to hand combat took place. The Government forces were only able to beat a withdrawal when they managed to deploy the two cannon and fire grapeshot into the massed huddle of bodies.
Meanwhile in Arklow, a United Irishmen attack is beaten back with the loss of several hundred.
The Irish at War 