“After considerable manoeuvring on both sides, Denis, who appeared to be the more active of the two, got an open on his antagonist, and by a powerful blow upon Grimes’s ear, sent him to the ground with amazing force.  I never saw such a blow given by mortal; the end of the cudgel came exactly upon the ear, and as Grimes went down, the blood spurted out of his mouth and nostrils; he then kicked convulsively several times as he lay upon the ground, and that moment I really thought he would never have breathed more.

“The shout was again raised by the Ribbonmen, who threw up their hats, and bounded from the ground with the most vehement exultation.  Both parties then waited to give Grimes time to rise and renew the battle; but he appeared perfectly contented to remain where he was:  for there appeared no signs of life or motion in him.

“‘Have you got your gruel, boy?’ said Kelly, going over to where he lay;—­’Well, you met Denis Kelly, at last, didn’t you? and there you lie; but plase God, the most of your sort will soon lie in the same state.  Come, boys,’ said Kelly, addressing his own party, ’now for bloody Vengeance and his crew, that thransported the Grogans and the Caffries, and murdered Collier.  Now, boys, have at the murderers, and let us have satisfaction for all!’

“A mutual rush instantly took place; but, ere the Orangemen came down to where Grimes lay, Kelly had taken his staff, and handed it to one of his own party.  It is impossible to describe the scene that ensued.  The noise of the blows, the shouting, the yelling, the groans, the scalped heads, and gory visages, gave both to the ear and eye an impression that could not easily be forgotten.  The battle was obstinately maintained on both sides for nearly an hour, and with a skill of manoeuvring, attack, and retreat, that was astonishing.

“Both parties arranged themselves against each other, forming something like two lines of battle, and these extended along the town nearly from one end to the other.  It was curious to remark the difference in the persons and appearances of the combatants.  In the Orange line the men were taller, and of more powerful frames; but the Ribbonmen were more hardy, active, and courageous.  Man to man, notwithstanding their superior bodily strength, the Orangemen could never fight the others; the former depend too much upon their fire and side-arms, but they are by no means so well trained to the use of the cudgel as their enemies.  In the district where the scene of this fight is laid, the Catholics generally inhabit the mountainous part of the country, to which, when the civil feuds of worse times prevailed, they had been driven at the point of the bayonet; the Protestants and Presbyterians, on the other hand, who came in upon their possessions, occupy the richer and more fertile tracts of the land; being more wealthy, they live with less labor, and on better food.  The characteristic features produced by these causes are such as might be expected—­the Catholic being, like his soil, hardy, thin, and capable of bearing all weathers; and the Protestants, larger, softer, and more inactive.