The equipping of an 'Irish Legion'

Before leaving La Rochelle Humbert had raided the stores to acquire 3,000 uniforms of various archaic styles to clothe his new recruits and to and to accompany the 6,000 arms and 160,000 rounds of ammunition he had brought with him. However his destination Killala, in County Mayo, was one of the most underdeveloped and least militant of all the Irish countles and the recruits were simple peasants.

Top: Irish Legion. Bottom: United Irish Pikeman and British Redcoat
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'Patt will look drole in a helmet without any corresponding article of dress' witnessed Matthew Toile, brother of Wolfe Tone who was to follow in a later flotilla. Bishop Stock, a not too sympathetic observer commented 'The coxcombry of the young clowns in their new dress; the mixture of good-humour and contempt in the count -trances of the French, employed in making puppies of them; the haste of the undressed to be as fine as their neighbours, casting away their old clothes long before it came their turn to receive the new, above all, the merry activ ity of a handsome young fellow, a marine officer, whose business it was to consummate the vanify of the recruits by decorating them with helmets beautifully edged with spotted brow" paper to look like leopard skin a task which he performed standing on a powder barrel, and making the helmet fit any skull, even the largest, by thumping it down with his fists, careless whether it could ever be taken off again... ' The good humour dissipated when the new soldiers expended their ammunition shooting at ravens and wrecked the gun barrels by banging them to retrieve stuck cartridges. This picture shows an artillery officer teaching Musket drill to an new recruit clothed in the coat and breeches of the coast guard artillery of the 1770s.

British Redcoat of the 1790s

This look, familiar to all by the '98 as the image of a soldier, is one of the most likely 'looks for the various militias - English, Welsh, and Irish that bore the brunt of most of the Rebellion. Training, equipment, and clothing would have varied tremendously between Counties but in general they were up to the job, which was often simply burning and terrorising the population into remaining loyal.

Top: United Irishman (with flag) and Yeomanry Cavalryman. Bottom: French grenadie--infantry of the line (blue) and 13th Regt of Foot (red)

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Pikeman, United Irishmen

The pike in various forms was the main weapon of the rebels due to the shortage of firearms. This could take many forms ranging from the pitchfork to purpose-made spears with an angled hook for cutting horses ' bridles. The United Irishmen were inspired by the American and French Revolutions and had their military background in the Volunteer units created for defence against French attack during the War of Independence. The Volunteers being too politically unstable were suppressed but the training and some of the weapons and uniforms were put to use in the Uprising of 98. Many United Irishmen made military style clothes with facings and coloured lapels - but the main distinguishing mark was anything green - a cockade, sash or hatband. White was another favoured colour.

United Irishman and Yeomanry Cavalryman

The Rebellion exploded spontaneously causing many local revolts that were often ill-equipped but enthusiastic. The principle weapon the establishment had at their disposal were the many units of Yeomanry cavalry usually clothed and equipped on Light Dragoon lines and working with local and mainland Militias with occasionally a few regulars and Fencibles if they were lucky. This trooper is from Robinson 's rendering of 'The Battle of Ballynahinch' rendered a few years after the conflict but from his own witnessing of the events and is probably from the Seagoe Yeomanry. Favoured by King George as a truly British headwear, this was the age of the Tarleton for the British forces, seeing its use among Light Companies, and Militia. The flag is a typical United Irishmen standard depicted in the various cartoons of the period sometimes with the slogan 'Erin go Brach' - 'Ireland for Ever'.

Fraser Fencible - Castlebar

Stories were told after the storming of Castlebar of a solitary sentinel of the Fraser Fencibles standing firm and causing heavy casualties from the top of a flight of steps until he was flung down and his brains bashed out. Fencible regiments were created in the 1790s to fill the gap caused by Scotland having no Militia, most of these regiments were Highland. Similar to line regiments except their terms of service which precluded duties outside the British Isles. They were all disbanded at tile Peace of Amiens in 1802. [illustration not included].

Grenadier- French infantry of the line

Humbert's small force of 1,019 officers and men were a forlorn hope' for a larger force - the aim being to sustain the dying embers of rebellion and establish a landing place. Humbert's force consisted of seasoned veterans from the Armee d 'Italie and Humbert himself had fought in the Vendee under Hoche. In the first sizeable action at Castelebar, Humbert unleashed a column of grenadiers led by Captain Sarrazin, his second-in-command to attack a battery head on. There was 'no alternative to victory but death' and despite 'cannon balls failing everywhere like hail'. The British/Loyalist line broke and the battery was carried at the point of the bayonet. The uniform represented is the classic look that derived from the National Guard but amended by the troops to create a new look born out of practicalities and style.

Soldier of the 13th Regiment of Foot 1798

The Regiment had recently been decimated in the West Indies and had to reequip with men and clothing The 13th saw action at Vinegar Hill and although theoretically a Somerset Regiment had many Irishmen in their ranks. The uniform depicted is the new 1798 regulations - lapels have gone and the coat is buttoned and laced directly down the front. The mosquito, or gaiter trousers were worn by some formations in Ireland.