Six Mutinous Soldiers, Clare Militia, July 1856

[Sduddy]

The Militia, which had been recruited as a home guard during the Crimean War, was disembodied in July 1856. The men were required to exchange their uniforms for the clothes they had worn upon enlistment. In many cases, it seems, these were very shabby. The reluctance of some men in Nenagh to surrender the trousers sparked a mutiny, often called “The Battle of the Breeches”. The mutiny started on 7th July and ended on 8th July; an account is given in an article, “1856 Mutiny of the North Tipperary Militia,” by Brendan Hall: http://homepage.tinet.ie/~jbhall/1856_t ... mutiny.htm

It may be that, after that event, the surrender of all of parts the uniform was not insisted upon. This report in The Clare Journal and Ennis Advertiser of Thur 24 Jul 1856 suggests that the men continued to wear parts of the uniform:

Local Intelligence: The Militia. – A considerable number of our County Militia have taken their discharge, and the strange admixture of military and civic attire is becoming frequent. At present not the slightest evil consequences or breach of the peace has resulted from their discharge. They have conducted themselves orderly and quietly.

However, there was an event in mid July, which was described as “bordering on mutiny”:

The Clare Journal and Ennis Advertiser, Mon 21 Jul 1856: The Clare Militia. – The Limerick Chronicle says, Lieut. Colonel Dickson, County Limerick Royal Militia, was president of a garrison court martial, which assembled at the new barracks, Limerick on Wednesday and Friday for the trial of Privates Patrick Fitzpatricks, Patrick Boyle, Michael Keough, Jeremiah Mahony, Patrick Ellis, and Martin Nolly, Clare Militia, for refusing to give up their ammunition when required so to do. The other officers composing the court were Captains Walnutt, and Shelton; Lieutenants Lloyd, Browning, O’Connor, and Bell. Lieut. Browne was the officer who prosecuted, and the charge was of a serious character, bordering on mutiny, which was promptly checked by Lieut. Browne, that Major-General Sir James Chatterton and Lieut Colonel-Colonel McNamara looked upon the case as one which ought to be adjudicated by a general court martial, and gave credit to Lieut Browne for the bold and energetic manner in which he suppressed the threatened outbreak. Captain O’Callaghan, Acting Adjutant, attended to watch the progress of the proceedings. Sergeant-Major Lewis also attended the court.

Thur 24 Jul 1856: The Clare Militia.- The sentences upon the mutinous soldiers of the Clare Regt., tried at court-martial, as notified in our last, have been promulgated, having been approved and affirmed by the Major-General of this district. One man is to be imprisoned, with hard labour, for 18 months; a second for 9 months; and four for 6 months each.

Sheila