296 LIFE IN IRELAND 



company^ to turn a flank, or make a charge on a battle 

 day, such as Vittoria or Waterloo? Here no doubt 

 Grammachree acted upon the prejudice of an old 

 soldier, who holds in contempt all that are not of the 

 line. For the Irish militia were the saviours of the 

 country during the Rebellion ; and the battle of Ross 

 never had been gained if the Dublin Militia had not 

 bore the brunt of the engagement. 



To this General Johnson bore testimony ; and he 

 declared, in general orders, that M'Cormach, the man 

 with the helmet, was one of the main causes in saving 

 his army from destruction. 



This man with the hehnet has never been rewarded 

 by government ; he kept a small shop, and he keeps it 

 still, seemingly content with having done his duty; but 

 have the nation done their duty to him ? No. 



Sir Shawn O'Dogherty was not ambitious of any 

 reputation beyond that of his private character; he 



would not, as Sir Tom N and others did, affect to 



be heroes on the parade, and in the battle field cut and 

 run. He had as much courage as any Baronet in the 

 three kingdoms, but he had no more military talent 

 than Sir John Fielding, the thief-taking magistrate of 

 Queen-square, who said he knew a woman to have 

 been a soldier's wife, because she had a mark in her 

 left arm, which must have arisen from bearing the camp 

 kettle. 



He loved to see his men in good order, and he gave 

 them plenty of encouragement in the shape of whiskey 

 and potatoes ; but for himself, he never was or could 

 be a soldier, but always was a soldier's friend. But 

 the fact was, Sir Shawn did not affect any military 



