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| Map of the Chiari campaign. |
CÉADAOIN -- On September 1, 1701 the Irish Brigade of France fought at the battle of Chiari in northern Italy during the War of the Spanish Succession. Prince Eugene, who had beaten Marshal Catinat's larger French army at the Battle of Carpi in July, had entrenched his Austrian army in a strong defensive position near a castle at Chiari. Following the loss at Carpi, King Louis XIV had replaced Catinat with Marshal Duke de Villeroy with instructions to attack Eugene. Among Villeroy's troops were the battalions of Berwick, Galmoy, Bourke and Dillon, along with two squadrons of Sheldon's dragoons of the Irish Brigade. Under pressure from Louis, Villeroy moved immediately to the attack. Eugene's defenses included several buildings along his line along with several rivers, between which he had dug entrenchments. The outcome of the battle was never in doubt, as the Austrians tore up Villeroy's attacking formations while barely exposed to the French fire and thus suffering little damage themselves. The Irish attacked in the 2nd line on the French right flank and were said to have suffered more killed and wounded than any other regiment of the French army, including numerous officers. Villeroy would hold his position near Chiari for a while, hoping Eugene would be foolish enough to leave his impregnable position and attack with his outnumbered force, but he was too good a commander to make that mistake. With winter coming on, Villeroy retreated southward toward the town of Cremona, where the men of the Irish Brigade would "stand the victors crowned" and save the French army in one of their most famous actions early the following year.
Read the story of the Irish Brigade at Cremona.
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Hulton Deutsch
Roger Casement being led out of Pentonville Prison, where he would later be hanged. |
CÉADAOIN -- On September 1, 1864 Irish patriot Roger Casement was born at Sandycove, County Dublin. Casement joined the British colonial service and was knighted in 1911 for his work on behalf of African and South American native workers who were being exploited by whites. Leaving the colonial service in 1912, he became involved with Irish nationalism, joining the Irish Volunteers. In 1916, Sir Roger traveled to Germany and arranged German assistance for the Easter Rising. He traveled back to Ireland by submarine, convinced by then that the Rising could not succeed but that he must join his comrades. He was captured at McKenna's Fort soon after landing on the southwest coast. Casement was later tried in England. To lessen the protests over his expected death-sentence the British circulated small parts of his so-called Black Diaries which purported to reveal his alleged homosexual activity while in colonial service. A debate has raged in the intervening years of the validity of those diaries, with some speculating they were forgeries. Sir Roger Casement was hanged at Pentonville Prison on August 3, 1916. In 1965 Casement's body was returned to Ireland, where he was given a funeral on March 1that rivaled that of O'Donovan Rossa. Eamon de Valera, 82 years old and feeling poorly, insisted on attending and gave the graveside oration at Glasnevin Cemetery, Dublin. Casement had returned to Ireland in 1916 to share his comrades' fate -- 49 years later he was finally able to rejoin them one last time.
Read more about the history of the Irish freedom struggle.
AOINE -- On September 3, 1842, John Devoy, one of the most devoted revolutionaries the world has ever seen, was born in Kill, County Kildare. John showed his commitment to Irish freedom early, refusing to sing 'God Save the Queen' in school at the tender age of 10. He was a faithful Fenian at 18 and later led Fenian recruitment among Irish soldiers of the British army. In 1866 he was arrested and sentenced to 15 years but was released during the '71 amnesty, on condition he leave Ireland. Moving to America he worked as a journalist and joined Clan na Gael which had become the leading Irish-American ally of the Irish republican movement. Devoy was soon its leading member. His greatest early success was the freeing of six Fenians from a penal colony in Australia on the whaling ship Catalpa and he accomplished much through his co-operation with the land reform movement in Ireland. He also became involved with numerous large and small disputes within the organization and saw it through a low period in the late 19th century. Through Devoy, Clan na Gael helped finance many Irish causes, culminating with the group's support of the Easter Rising and the War of Independence . He visited the Free State in 1924 and was given a well-deserved hero's welcome by the government and people of Ireland. Few men have sustained their revolutionary zeal into their 80s as did Devoy. John Devoy died in Atlantic City , N.J., on September 29, 1928, having sacrificed his entire life for Ireland.
Read more about John Devoy in the WGT review of 'Irish Rebel: John Devoy and America's Fight for Ireland's Freedom'.
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Linen Hall Library
A 17th century portrait of Hugh O'Neill, Earl of Tyrone |
SATHAIRN -- September 4, 1607, was a crucial day in Irish history. On that day Hugh O'Neill, Ruari O'Donnell and many other chiefs of their families departed from Lough Swilly for the continent. It is known in Irish history as the "Flight of the Earls." O'Neill and his O'Donnell allies, led by "Red" Hugh, had fought Queen Elizabeth long and hard during the 'Nine Years War.' They had come very close to winning that war. But since their defeat at Kinsale in 1601, the chance of success of their cause had slowly faded. "Red" Hugh had died in Spain in 1602, probably poisoned by a British spy, and O'Neill had submitted to the crown soon afterward. Elizabeth died at the same time but her successor, James I, wanted to plant Ulster more heavily with loyal Scotch and English settlers and O'Neill was sure to object -- he had to go. A plot was devised to arrest O'Neill and Ruari O'Donnell, 'Red' Hugh's brother. O'Neill saw through the British plot, but he had few options -- lacking the resources to fight the English again, flight was the only option. And so they gathered at Lough Swilly and sailed to France, most never to see Ireland again. James I would soon plant the O'Neill and O'Donnell lands with Protestant settlers, helping to sow the seeds of the present 'Troubles.' O'Donnell died in Rome in 1608; O'Neill died there also in 1616.
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'… the most bitter and persistent, as well as the most dangerous, enemy of this country which Ireland has produced since Wolfe Tone.'
-- Excerpt from a story on John Devoy's death in The Times of London, September 1928
O, sad in green Tyrone when you left us, Hugh O'Neill,
In our grief and bitter need, to the spoiler's cruel steel!
And sad in Donegal when you went, O! Rory Ban,
From your father's rugged towers and the wailing of your clan!
-- From The Princes of the North by Ethna Carbery
August -- Lúnasa
BIRTHS
31, 1767 - Henry Joy McCracken (United Irishman - Belfast.)
September -- Meán Fomhair
1, 1864 - Roger Casement (Revolutionary - Sandycove, Co. Dublin)
3, 1842 - John Devoy (Fenian - Kill, Co. Kildare.)
4, 1851 - John Dillon (Nationalist - Blackrock, Co. Dublin.)
SIGNIFICANT EVENTS
30, 1708 - Penal Laws passed in 1695 restricting Catholics rights are
strengthened for the second time.
31, 1803 - Napoleon issues a decree for the formation of an Irish Legion
in his army.
31, 1864 - The 10th Tennessee Infantry (Confederate-Irish) fights at battle of
Jonesborough, Georgia.
31, 1994 - IRA announces a cease-fire, Loyalist UDA and UVF do likewise
several weeks later.
September -- Meán Fomhair
1, 1701 - Irish Brigade of France fought at the battle of Chiari during the War of the Spanish Succession.
1, 1862 - Irish 6th Louisiana fights at the battle of Chantilly.
2, 1939 - Ireland declares its intention to remain neutral in coming war.
2, 1942 - IRA Volunteer Tom Williams is hanged at Belfast's Crumlin Road Jail.
3, 1741 - Irish-born Gen. Peter Lacy commands a Russian army which routs the Swedes at Wilmanstrand.
3 - Oct. 28, 1779 - Dillion's Regiment of the Irish Brigade of France takes part in the siege of Savannah.
4, 1607 - Flight of the Earls - O'Neill and other Irish nobles sail for the continent.
4, 1844 - Conspiracy judgment against Daniel O'Connell is reversed by House of Lords.
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