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

29.an attack had been arranged on the local R.I.C. post. Imoved into Bantry, Castletownbere and Schull areas to see whatprogress was; being made on the formation of battalion columns,etc:.On my way back to brigade H..Q.. after this tour, I madecontact; with the column in the vicinity of Crosspound. Thenit moved in to attack Innishannon B.I.C. Barracks on the nightof January 26th, 1921, I was in charge of a section at BrinnyBridge: with instructions 'to hold' off any enemy reinforcementscoming from Bandon.. Our' party numbered about forty and werearmed? with rifles and shotguns. Dick Barrett was second incommand.Two other sections of the column under the brigadeadjutant (Liam Deasy) and column o/c (Tom Barry) were deputedto carry out the attack on the barracks. The mine laid atthe door of the barracks failed, and despite: intense riflefire by the attacking party we. failed to make any impressionon the garrison. There: was no attempt to send reinforcementsvia, my position. When the signal to withdraw was givenI moved with my section to Crosspound where I joined up withthe remainder of the column..Following this engagement I was deputed to go toCastletownbere and Bantry Battalions on a tour of inspectionthe other brigade officers' being similarly engaged for somedays in the other battalion areas. I: was back again in theKilbrittain area for a. Brigade Council meeting on 5th February1921.. This meeting continued throughout the night, endingsome time about 1 a.m. At this' meeting the brigade 0/C(Charlie Hurley) insisted that there should be increasedactivity in an battalion areas; in the immediate future.Leaving this meeting, I proceeded'. to Pantry area where Idiscussed plans for intensifying the campaign with the: 0/C