Battle of Rathangan

The Battle of Rathangan is the name given to a military engagement between the forces of the British Crown and the United Irishmen during the 1798 rebellion.

Battle of Rathangan
Part of the United Irishmen Rebellion
Date 24–28 May 1798 Location Rathangan, County Kildare Result British victory, rebels repulsed 28 May
Belligerents
United Irishmen	British Army
Commanders and leaders
Captain Doorley	Captain James Spencer Lieutenant-Colonel Stephen Mahon
Casualties and losses
300 dead	20 dead

On 24 May 1798 a group of rebels from the United Irishmen led by a Captain Doorley attacked the town of Rathangan, County Kildare which was being defended by a small corps of yeomanry led by Captain James Spencer; the rebels held the town for four days.[1] However, on 28 May 1798 two squadrons of the 7th Dragoon Guards were sent to re-capture the town. The commanding officer, Lieutenant-Colonel Stephen Mahon, took one squadron into the town while the other waited outside. A pitched battle then took place with heavy losses on both sides.[2]

References

1. O'Kelly, Patrick (1842). General History of the Rebellion of 1798, with Many Interesting Occurrences of the two preceding years. J. Downes. p. 85. Battle of Rathangan.
2. "7th Dragoon Guards". British Empire. Retrieved 5 August 2016.