nvs1408: переводы

→For more information on the events of 1798, I recommend Thomas Pakenham's The Year of Liberty, a masterly telling of that violent and deeply unfortunate chapter of Irish history.

→Colonel Black is another creation, but derived from a group of looters who styled themselves 'The Black Mob' after the conflict coupled with the fear and murderous hatred that had sparked across the country. De Marin was invented as Mullone's nemesis; they have a history and will undoubtedly meet again as the Frenchman mockingly hopes.

→The rebel force streamed away. The defeat was not catastrophic, but it did alter the course of the continued fighting in the form of raids and hit and run operations.

→Although much of the rebel army escaped, many were left behind
and killed in the rout, from both cavalry and infantry attack, but also from the advanced field guns firing grape shot to maximize casualties. Eyewitness of the engagement said that the rebel casualties were around 1200.

→Meanwhile, a detachment of light infantry under the command of General Johnson attacked Enniscorthy, but were met with fierce resistance. Buildings in the town had been fortified, and the initial attack was driven back, with the loss of munitions and men. A second attack commenced with reinforcements and the rebels were slowly driven out of the town but managed to hold the Slaney bridge and prevent the British from crossing.

→The battle began shortly before dawn with an artillery bombardment of rebel positions on the summit. Advance units quickly moved against rebel outposts under cover of the wafting smoke and moved artillery closer as forward positions were secured. The tightening ring forced the rebels into an ever-shrinking area and increased exposure to the constant bombardment.

→The Act of Union, having been passed in August 1800, came into effect on 1st January 1801. It was passed largely in response to the rebellion and was founded by the perception that the rebellion was provoked by the brutish misrule of the Ascendancy as much as the efforts of the United Irishmen.

→Small fragments of the rebel armies survived for a number of years and waged a form of guerrilla warfare in several counties. It was not until the failure of Robert Emmet's rebellion of 1803 that the last organised rebel force finally capitulated.

→On 12th October, another French force, including Wolfe Tone, attempted to land in County Donegal near Lough Swilly. They were intercepted by the Royal Navy, and finally surrendered after a three hour battle without ever landing in Ireland. Tone slit his own throat rather than wait for the noose and died a week later.

→On 22nd August, one thousand French soldiers under General Humbert landed in County Mayo. Joined by several thousand rebels, they inflicted a humiliating defeat on the British at the Castlebar, which became mockingly known as the 'Castlebar races' to commemorate the speed of the retreat. But luck ran out for the French who were defeated and repatriated to France in exchange for British prisoners of war. For the hundreds of captured Irish rebels, their fate was the hangman's noose or firing squad.

→Mullone knew that to be true, but when that time came he would be ready. He vowed it.

→From the slaughter of New Ross, to the blood-soaked battle on the hill and here at Enniscorthy today, De Marin had escaped. The Frenchman had boasted after New Ross that their paths would cross again.

→Bile rose into the back of Mullone’s throat. He had failed and he knew it. He thumped a hand down on one of the iron-rimmed wheels and swore.

→The Frenchman looked around and smiled. He had shaved off his beard and was now dressed as a civilian, but at his hip hung his expensive sword. He waved once and disappeared in the seething horde.

→‘De Marin!’ He ran to an upturned cart and stood up on it, nerves taut, shouting furiously. ‘De Marin! You bastard!’

→Mullone’s skin prickled.

→But Mullone wasn’t listening. He was staring at a man wearing a long brown coat with a green sash and a black top hat. The rebel leader was standing on the bridge’s stonework as a mass of fugitives were crossing the Slaney to where the survivors of Vinegar Hill were continuing to flee.

→Vesey shifted in his saddle, mouth turned down at the corners. ‘I’ve never seen such blood-letting in all my life. New Ross was a butcher’s yard. Men, women and children slaughtered. I can still smell the scent of death.’

→‘I was there.’

→Vesey’s eyes clouded with sorrow, but not for long for he had achieved command of the regiment, which was something he had yearned for. ‘Yes. A God-faring man to the end. You were there then? A terrible day and night that was.’