and General Nugent, on learning that the town of Antrim would be attacked, took the necessary steps to defend it.

A strong light battalion, under the command of Colonels Clavering and Lumley, consisting of the sixty-fourth regiment, the light companies of the Kerry, Dublin, Tipperary, Armagh, and Monaghan militias; two hundred of the twenty-second Light Dragoons, with two curricle guns and two five-and-half inch howitzers, moved from the camp at Blaris-while a regiment of infantry, with part of the twentysecond Dragoons and the Belfast Cavalry, marched on the town by Carmoney and Templepatrick. Orderlies were also despatched to inform Major Seddon, who commanded the garrison of Antrim, of the intended attack, and of the reinforcements which were going to his assistance.

Early in the day, O'Hara having completed his arrangements, issued his orders to the respective leaders, who soon after advanced upon the town. The insurgents moved in four columns to the attack-three by the Belfast, Ballyclare, and Ballamena roads; and the last,

which formed the rebel reserve, by Shanes Castle and Dunoilty.

Antrim, from Lord Massareen's castle to the extremity of the Scots Quarter, is nearly a mile long; in the centre is the church, which, standing on high ground, and being surrounded by a strong wall, commands the streets at either side. At the end of the Scots Quarter, the Belfast and Ballyclare roads converge, and here the rebel columns united, at the same moment that the advanced guard of the royalists, commanded by the Honourable Colonel Lumley, crossed the bridge at the opposite extremity of the town, and occupied the main street. Their guns were in position in front, with infantry on the flanks, and the cavalry formed in the rear.

When the head of the rebel column appeared, the guns opened on it with case-shot at the distance of one hundred and fifty yards; but, unchecked by the cannonade, the insurgents advanced steadily. Supported by a rapid and well-directed discharge of musketry, their sixpounder was brought forward. The gun was admirably served, but after the second dis

charge, the recoil injured its carriage, and rendered it useless. O'Hara ordered the pikemen to advance, and the rebel musketry rushed forward, and took possession of the churchyard. The royalists were obliged to retire, and to cover the retreat of the guns, the cavalry were ordered to charge. This they did with great gallantry, but in passing the churchyard, they were exposed to a murderous fire, and in the short space of two minutes, one half their number were left dead upon the street.

The success of the rebels on this point was now complete the royalists fell back on the Massareen Gardens, and O'Hara, having deployed across the fields with the pikemen, joined the third column, who were advancing by the Ballamena road.

The position taken up by Colonel Lumley was particularly strong. Beneath a high wall, secured on both flanks by demi bastions, his cavalry and artillery were formed. The wall was the remaining part of an old fortification, provided with an excellent breast-work; and while its great height rendered escalade impossible, the only approach was by a narrow and

difficult path, which a few men could easily defend against a multitude.

In a few minutes O'Hara, having put himself at the head of the rebel column, advanced by Bow-lane, and the firing recommenced. The grape-shot of the royal guns and the musketry from the parapet swept the narrow street, and consequently the loss of the assailants was heavy. However they rushed fearlessly on, and, charging with their long pikes, the cavalry were broken, and fled, and the guns captured.

This was the bloodiest struggle of the daythe loyalists fought with distinguished gallantry-they kept up an incessant fire from the garden, and the open area beneath them was covered with the slain. At the moment that O'Hara and the pikemen charged the dragoons, a man, of noble appearance and superbly mounted, was separated from the retreating soldiery. It was remarked that the rebel-chief seemed to forget all danger in endeavouring to close with the deserted horseman. In vain he reined back under the cover of the wall for protection-his determined adversary followed him, and at the foot of the parapet brought him

to the ground with a mortal stab. Of the few who pressed forward to support their leader, not a man escaped; but the desperate homicide effected his deadly object, and retired without a wound.

Finding it would be impossible to force the position of the royalists on this side, O'Hara withdrew the assailants, and contenting himself with keeping up a heavy fire from the shelter of the lanes and houses, he despatched an express to order up the reserve under Colonel Orr.

The town was now in possession of the rebels the regulars were in full retreat, and the yeomanry in the Massareen Gardens must of necessity be cut off, as a strong body of the enemy were detached to penetrate the thick shrubbery behind them, and thus place them between a cross fire. Colonel Lumley, when two miles from Antrim, met the second light brigade coming to his support from Blaris camp; and at the same time an orderly from Colonel Durham informed him that this officer was moving from Belfast with a reinforcement. This intelligence determined him to attempt to