The Battle of Ballyraheen was fought on 1-2 July 1798.  Joseph Halpenny and
William Halpenny were piked to death on that date, though apparently not a
Ballyraheen but at Coolkenno (see reference about 20 lines up from the very end
of this message).  Researchers looking for Halpenny deaths at the Battle of
Vinegar Hill need to be looking for death dates of about 21 June 1798.  The
deaths on 2 July would be associated with the Battle of Ballyraheen.  My wife's
ancestor, Thomas Astleford, was one of the Coolkenno protestants who fled from
Ballyraheen because they were being hotly pursued by Catholic rebels carrying
pikes.  Thomas and his cousin (Leybourne) barely escaped death while retreating
home, and we have a brief family account of exactly where and how they escaped.
My bet would be that Joseph and William Halpenny were also in retreat from
Ballyraheen but were caught and piked within Coolkenno townland.


Don Halpenny has kindly invited me to send a message or two to this list because
some of my recent research seem very applicable to those descended from the
Halpenny's of Aghowle Parish (Coolkenna/Coolkenno).  As Don has mentioned, we
have electronic photos to share, not only of Ballyraheen but also of
Aghowle/Coolkenna.  You may soon view them on website www.halpenny.net or you
may obtain copies as e-mail attachments directly from me.  Just ask.  Should you
wish to visit the area, ask me about the only B&B in Coolkenna--I've had two
wonderful stays there (aspenlodge77@hotmail.com).  Evlyn Hill runs this farm
homestay, and her father-in-law (Desmond Hill) is a well-known  80-year-old
local deviner who can put you in touch with the Dagg family, who live in Captain
Chamney's house at Ballyraheen


Because of the near-certainty that Halpenny men died at Ballyraheen, I want to
share with you some other historical information about this battle.  It may not
have been nearly as famous as Vinegar Hill, but it was, after all, the battle
where the Coolkenna Corps of Protestants died in considerable number.   If you
are still interested in this 1798 tale, I invite your attention to the following
material, which was sent to me by a fellow researcher in Australia.  We are all
in the sharing game.


Cheers from Hal Maynard
On Johnston Atoll (825 miles WSW of Honolulu)
Known to be the foremost Wicklow genealogist within 800 miles <g>


---  ---


Extract from Art Kavanagh's book titled "Ireland 1798: The Battles"  pages
248-250


The Battle of Ballyraheen 2nd. July 1798


According to Musgrave this battle was fought on the 2nd. of July, but Miles
Byrne states that the date was July 1st. Other authorities agree with Musgrave
that the date of the battle was Monday 2nd. July.


On their retreat to Kilcavan hill the rebels burned the new house of John Jervis
White (because it was slated and a possible defensive post for the Government
forces). It would appear that they only stayed on Kilcavan until the 30th. and
then decided to move to Ballyraheen hill near Shillelagh, where they encamped
for that night. It would appear that some of the Wicklow men left the rebel army
that night and made their way to Whelp Rock. This group included Joseph Holt. [
Wicklow History & Society - editors Ken Hannigan & w. Nolan page 382]


Early the next morning the Government forces who had been tracking the movements
of the main rebel army decided to attack them. This small force consisted of
only about one hundred and twenty yeomen composed of the Wingfield and
Shillelagh cavalry units and the Coollattin, Coolkenno and Tinahely infantry
units. The commanders of these units 'were Captain Morton of Tinahely, Captain
Chamney of Coollattin and Captain Nixon of Coolkenno.


The rebel force on the hill must have numbered between two and three thousand
and they were commanded by their vastly experienced leaders such as Garret
Byrne, Anthony Perry , Edward Fitzgerald and Esmonde Kyan. They saw the yeomen
advancing up the hill and units were deployed to meet them, consisting of gunmen
and pikemen. The hill was steep and there were plenty of ditches behind which
the defenders were able to take cover and pick off the advancing yeomen.


According to Miles Byme the rebels carried all before them with 'unexampled
impetuosity and bravery' so that in less than an hour the enemy were forced to
run away to make their escape. The surviving cavalry had no difficulty in
getting away but the infantrymen had to take refuge in Chamney's house at the
foot of Ballyraheen hill. They left their dead and wounded on the field of
battle. Miles Byrne stated that some hundreds of the enemy were killed or
wounded while Musgrave says that Captains Chamney and Nixon were killed, and
seventeen privates while a 'great number' were wounded.


The fleeing infantrymen who had taken refuge in Chamney's house, were commanded
by Lieutenant Chamney and they stoutly defended the house against a determined,
sustained assault. As in previous attacks on strong houses the rebels tried to
get close by sheltering under feather beds and cart loads of straw, but the
bullets easily pierced that clumsy armour. Although they had very few casualties
on Ballyraheen hill, quite a number of the rebels died attacking the house.


As reports began to come in of enemy forces moving in their direction, the
rebels called off the attack and marched towards the Wicklow Gap, where they
halted for a while. En route they burned any slated houses they could see
undefended. They pushed on to the White Heaps - an elevated plateau near
Coolgraney on the Wicklow/Wexford border, where they encamped on the 2nd. July.



Extract from Sir Richard Musgrave's Memoirs of the Irish Rebellion of 1798 pp
483-485


BATTLES OF BALLYELLIS AND BALLYRAHEENE


As that column still continued to infest the country contiguous to Gorey [1]
general Needham, on the morning of the thirtieth of June, sent Hunter Gowan,
captain of the Tinahely cavalry , with a part of his corps, to reconnoitre near
Moneyseed.[2] From a hill near that town, about three o'clock in the morning, he
perceived the rebels in a hollow under him in very great force, having received
great reinforcements since their flight from Vinegar-hill. He sent intelligence
of it to general Needham, who ordered colonel Puleston, of the Ancient Britons,
to join him immediately with detachments from his own regiment, the 4th and 5th
dragoons, the Ballaghkeene, Gorey and Wingfield yeomen cavalry. The latter,
before the reinforcement arrived, killed eight or ten scattered rebels, and
among them one Brien, who the day before went to general Needham, pretended to
return to his allegiance, surrendered a pike, and in consequence of it obtained
a protection; but on that day he was armed with a musket.


The rebels advanced to Tinahely,[3] and having turned off to Wingfield,[4]
burned the old mansion there, and then proceeded to Moneyseed, where our troops
first got sight of them. From thence they pursued them for two miles, to a place
called Ballyellis,[5] where the rebels, being closely pressed, placed their
baggage and their cars in the road, and posted a number of pikemen in their
front. As soon as our cavalry came in sight of them, at the turn of a road, they
charged them with great impetuosity; but when they were within a short distance
of them, the pikemen leaped over the hedges at each side, on which the horses in
front were entangled in the cars; and those in their rear pressing on them, a
shocking scene of confusion ensued; both men and horses were involved and
tumbled over each other: The rebels fired on them from behind the hedges and a
park wall which was near, and while they were in this state of embarrassment,
killed numbers of them with their muskets, and piked such of them as happened to
be unhorsed.


Colonel Puleston, whose horse they shot or piked, was with difficulty saved by
his men. Captain Giffard, of the Ancient Britons, and Mr .Parsons, adjutant of
the Ballaghkeene cavalry, who had served with reputation abroad, and about sixty
privates of the military and yeomen, were killed.


I have been assured, that this action would have been more fatal to the
loyalists, but that the Wingfield corps, who were on the right, went through a
lane to a hill which commanded the rebels, whom they put into confusion by a
well-directed fire, and of whom they killed from twenty to thirty.


The design of the rebels was to surprise the town of Carnew, which was about a
mile distant, to have killed fifty yeomen, who garrisoned it, and to have burnt
the few houses which they had not destroyed before; but the garrison having been
apprised of their design by some of the cavalry in their retreat, took post in a
malt-house, and defended the town so well, that the rebels, unable to pass
through it, retired to Ballyellis,[6] and in their retreat burnt a fine new
house of sir John Jervis White.


They then took post on Kilcavan-hill,[7] near Moneyseed, and to the north west
of Gorey, where the Wexford rebels separated from those of the county of Wicklow
, who were commanded by Garret Byrne of Ballymanus; for, soon after the battle
of Vinegar-hill, they had united and co-operated. This separation was occasioned
by a dispute between their leaders. They repaired from Kilcavan, where they
remained but an hour, to Ballyraheene- hill, which lies between Carnew and
Tinahely.


In their progress they killed twelve protestants, among whom was a farmer of the
name of Driver, and burned some houses. They were pursued by detachments of the
Wingfield and Shillelah cavalry, the Tinahely infantry commanded by captain
Morton, the Coolatin by captain Chamney, and the Coolkenna by captain Nixon, the
whole making about one hundred and twenty. They endeavoured to gain the hill of
Ballyraheene, which was high and steep, before the rebels, but could not
succeed. However, though they were posted on an eminence, and behind hedges, and
notwithstanding their great superiority of numbers, the brave and loyal
yeomanry, with a degree of valour bordering on rashness, attacked and engaged
them for three quarters of an hour; but were at last obliged to retreat, as the
rebels were endeavouring to surround them. Captains Chamney and Nixon, and
seventeen privates, were killed, and many were wounded. Though Garret Byrne had
been the particular friend of captain Chamney, he ordered his house, which was
within a quarter of a mile of the action, to be burnt; but lieutenant Chamney
having taken post in it with forty yeomen, defended it all night against the
whole host of rebels, of whom they killed great numbers. One of them was shot in
endeavouring to set fire to the hall door, bearing a feather bed on his back for
his defence. This engagement took place the second of July, two miles from
Tinahely, and four from Carnew.


Garret and William Byrne of Ballymanus, who headed the banditti, which committed
these outrages and barbarities, piqued themselves on the antiquity of their
family. Garret, the eldest brother, had an estate, and was reputed a gentleman,
from his birth, property and education. Edward Fitzgerald also was a man of
independent fortune, and had received a good education.


[1] Plate II, 4
[2] Plate II, 3, 4
[3] Plate II, 1
[4] Plate II, 2
[5] Plate II, 4
[6] Plate II, 4
[7] Plate II, 3, 4


Note: Plate II is called Musgrave Map


Again from Page 696


On the second of July, killed at the battle of Ballyraheene, captain Chamney,
his nephew Joseph Olamney of Ballyrahin, captain Nixon of Nurney, James Twamley
of Nurney, Christopher Twamley of Nurney, Michael Leonard of Nurney and James
Bardon of Nurney in the parish of Coolakenny; all protestants.


Taken from Coolkenno town the same day and piked, in cold blood, George Davison,
Joseph and William Halfpenny, Thomas Charlton, and also William Mires of
Crownalay.


The same day William Watters and John Restly of Coolatin, parish of Carnew, were
piked. The same day George Driver, William Rice and Annesley Green ofTinahely,
parish of Kilcomen, were piked; all protestants.


The same day, James Smith, and John Waters of Cross Patrick, were piked.


John Waddock, a papist, was taken out of his bed and murdered, for having seized
a rebel with a pistol in his hand, returning from the battle of
Newtown-mount-kennedy.


John Beaghan was murdered in cold blood, parish of Tomriland.
Mr. Robert Freeman, sen. was murdered in cold blood, parish of Tomriland.
John Burbridge was murdered in cold blood, parish of Tomriland.
Henry Marks was murdered in cold blood, parish of Tomriland.
John Mason was murdered in cold blood, of Raheen.
John Langrel was murdered in cold blood, of Cappagh.
Samuel Langrel was murdered in cold blood, parish of Ballynabarny.
William Carter was murdered in cold blood