ROINN COSANTA. BUREAU OF MILITARY HISTORY, 1913-21 ...

-20-We then moved on to the opposite side of the road,and remained in a position about one hundred and fiftyyards from the main road. There was a high ridge behindthis position, and fortunately I took the precaution ofcutting holes through sod fences in case of having anengagement and having to retreat. This precaution wasinstrumental in saving us from casualties later on.At about 7 p.m., one R.I.C. man and a little girlcame along, cycling from Mountbellew to Moylough, and welet them pass on. Later, another R.I.C. man, namedNeilan, passed, cyling from Mountbellew to Moylough. Isent four men from the column, viz., Captain PatrickTreacy, Captain Brian Conniffe, Captain Tim Feerick(deceased) and Battalion Quartermaster John Knight, intoMoylough, armed with revolvers and a few bombs, and toldthem to shoot these two police and return by adifferent route, and to man their positions again, armedwith rifles, for an engagement.I expected that Mountbellew barracks would benotified immediately, as there were no wires or roadscut in the area. These men carried out my instructions,but only succeeded in wounding Neilan as he got awaythrough a hedge. The other man escaped from a publichouse, although Conniffe and Knight fired seversl shotsat him. These four men moved off in the Tuam directionand then returned, by a circuitous route, to the mainbody as instructed. They were just back in positionwhen two lorries, and a private car of R.I.C. and Tanscame from Mountbellew to Moylough. They weretravelling a good distance apart, and I decided to letthem pass, on account of the distance between eachvehicle, and rise on the ground at the Moylough side ofourposition.