the Irish failure into a rout was defeated when pikemen and sharpshooters drove a cavalry charge back across the Avoca River, but an attempt to force a way into the town through the outlying fishing port was bloodily repulsed. As Irish casualties mounted, the lack of ammunition and proper leadership began to work against them, and after Fr. Murphy was killed leading a charge, their attacks started to peter out. As nightfall came, the rebels began to withdraw under cover of darkness and collect their wounded and were not pursued or molested by the garrison who were, unknown to the rebels, down to their last three or four rounds per man and were themselves at the brink of defeat. Aftermath While rebel casualties were estimated at about 1,000 no full casualty list seems to exist on the British side, but were probably in the region of 100 dead and wounded. The defeat at Arklow marked the third failure to extend the fight for Irish independence beyond the borders of County Wexford following the other bloody repulses at New Ross and Bunclody. The rebel strategy now changed to a policy of static defence against the encroaching British forces. See also Battle of Arklow (1649) Notes Primary References Myles Byrne (1780-1862) "Memoirs of Myles Byrne" (1863) J.B Gordon "History of the Rebellion in Ireland in the year 1798" (1801) Edward Hay (County Wexford), "History of the Insurrection of County Wexford" (1803) Richard Musgrave "Memoirs of the different rebellions in Ireland" (1801) H.F.B Wheeler & A.M Broadley "The war in Wexford: an account of the rebellion in the south of Ireland in 1798, told from original documents" (1910) Secondary References C. Dickson The Wexford Rising in 1798: its causes and course (1955) G.A Hayes-Mc Coy Irish Battles (1969) Battles of the Irish Rebellion of 1798 History of County Wicklow