A Crown victory over a large rebel force near Kilcock that helped restore British control over County Kildare during the 1798 Irish Rebellion.
Key Facts
- Date
- 19 June 1798
- Rebel force size
- ~4,000 men
- British force size
- ~400 troops
- Rebel casualties
- ~200 killed
- British casualties
- ~25 killed
- Artillery pieces
- 2 guns
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
After early rebel successes in County Kildare left towns such as Prosperous and Clane in United Irishmen hands, British attention had been diverted to suppressing the Wexford Rebellion. By mid-June 1798, County Meath was considered sufficiently pacified, freeing government forces to march into Kildare and reclaim rebel-held territory.
A British column of roughly 400 troops with artillery, dispatched from Trim under John Wolfe, engaged a rebel force of nearly 4,000 under William Aylmer at Ovidstown Hill on 19 June 1798. Aylmer's attempted ambush failed when Highland light infantry attacked both rebel flanks. Subsequent grapeshot fire and a cavalry counter-attack broke the rebel charge, routing Aylmer's men and inflicting around 200 killed.
Following the battle, dragoons under Lieutenant-Colonel Stewart recaptured Prosperous the same day. Aylmer withdrew his remaining rebels to the Bog of Allen, where they joined forces with Wexford rebels under Anthony Perry, prolonging resistance but effectively ending organised rebel control over much of County Kildare.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
John Wolfe.
Side B
1 belligerent
William Aylmer.