Battle of the Diamond
Over the years there have been many accounts written or repeated of the sequence of events that led up to and continued throughout the campaign of genocide that led up to the Battle of the Diamond in 1795.
In an old publication dated 1973, found by the way in a rubbish skip on the shores of Belfast Lough many years ago, gives an eyewitness account into the happenings; and afterwards; by Lt. Colonel William Blacker to a select committee on Orange lodges.
The wording, mainly in question and answer form, is taken verbatim from that old publication and repeated here in the exact word, fact and context as it was written all those years ago.
Protestant Religion
For some years previous to 1798, the spirit of disloyalty to the Crown and hatred of the Protestnat religion evidenced itself in open dissatisfaction and midnight outrage of robbery, carnage and assination.
in the years of 1794 and 1795, a lawless and sanguinary confederacy was formed in the north under the name of 'the Defenders', a title very inapplicable as it composed of men, bigoted,bloodthirsty and aggresive.
Their villainy became so wide-spread that the Protestants formed themselves into a protective body for defence and the famous Battle of the Diamond ensued, fought between the Protestants and 'Defenders' in consequence of an earlier eruption in the County of Armagh, near Loughgall and which was the origin of the first Orange Lodge.
In the middle of September, the 'Defenders' collected in the neighbourhood of the Valley of the Diamond for the avowed purpose of wrecking vengeance on the Protestants who met to oppose them, defeating them in many small skirmishes.
On Monday 21 september 1795 it was finally agreed, after the intervention of a proinent gentleman and the local Parish priest, that each would go their way peacefully.
However a group of the 'Defenders' came to the Valley of the Diamond and vented their hatred on the house of one, Dan Winter.
word of the outrage was immediately dispatched to the departing Loyalists who were on their way home, and they instantly returned to the scene of the action and routed the assailants.
Several accounts have been given of the actual battle itself, but the best and most authentic account, is that given by Lt Colonel william Blacker on his examination before the select committee on Orange Lodges, dated 4 August 1835, affording as it does an insight and true history of the origin and principles of the Orange institution.
This is his evidence to the Public Hearing...
Are you a member of the Orange Society
I am
How long have you been
It wants about six weeks of 40 year.
you of course then are able to give the committee some account of its origin?
I think I am
Can you do so from hearsay or from personal knowledge?
Both!
From whom have you chiefly acquired your information?
My principal information was derived from a very respectable gentleman in the County Armagh, Captain Atkinson of Crow Hill, who took a principal part in the transaction that lwed to the origin of the Orangemen and also several others of a lower rank in society, who were also involved in these transactions.
do you consider the information you have received from these persons to be authentic?
Perfectly so!
Will you state the amount of it?
The amount of the information, which I received at different times, was that a large body of persons called the Defenders had an eruption into the district of County armagh, near Loughall and the Protestants of that district did assemble to oppose their progress. i believe that their original intention was to disarm the district. The Protestants did oppose them and other Protestants from within the district came to their assitance, particularly from the district where I myself live.
What neighbourhood is that?
The neighbourhood of Portadown.
Is this information derived from others?
Yes it is derived from the authentic sources above mentioned.
Can you state the date of it?
Monday was the twenty-first, the great day and I think it began on the Wednesday before, in September 1795. The parties skirmished, if I can use that expression, for a day or so before without much harm being done. Mr Atkinson and a priest of the Parish did their best to reconcile matters and thought that they had succeeded as the Defenders had engaged on their part to go away and the Protestants, to return home.
At that time, as I understand, a large body of 'Defenders' not belonging to the County of Armagh, but assembled from Monaghan, Louth and I believe Cavan and Tyrone came down and were disappointed at finding a truce of this kind made, were detrmined not to go home without something to repay them for the trouble of their march.
Therefore in consequence they made an attack on the home of a man named Winters at a place called the Diamond. It is a meeting of the crossroads where there are only 3 or 4 houses. Word was brought to the Protestants who were on their return home of what had taken place. They returned and attacked the Defenders and killed a number of them.
Were you yourself mixed up at all with the transgressions at the Diamond?
i was.
To what extent?
I was a very young lad at the time. It so happened that my father was making alterations to his home, which occasioned a quantity of lead to be removed from the roof. A carpenter's apprentice and myself took possession of a considerable amount of lead, ran it into bullets, and had it conveyed to the persons of the neighbourhood who were going to the Battle of the Diamond.
Were you on the spot when the battle was fought?
I was not in time to be under fire but immediately as it was terminating.
Can you speak from your knowledge as to the state of the Protestants prior to the battle?
I have always understood they were in the most persecuted state and that they were worried and beaten coming from the fair and market on various occasions.
What did you see at the Diamond
When I got up I saw the Defenders running off in one direction and the firing had nearly ceased. I may say, had ceased, except a dropping shot or two and I saw a number of dead bodies.
Can you state the numbers?
No! They were conveying them away in different directions so I could not make an exact calculation.
Were there 30?
No! If there were 30 killed, that was the outside.
Were there any Protestants killed?
None that I could hear of.
How did that happen?
The Protestants were in a very commanding state. Winter's house and the Diamond generally is at the foot of a very steep hill and the other party were in the hollow and consequently, men firing upon them from above, could do great execution without being liable to be injured themselves.
The Defenders were the assailants, were they?
Yes, they were.
Was the first Orange lodge formed then?
It was.
Where?
I understand it was formed in the house of a man named Sloan in the village of Loughgall.
Have you seen any of the original warrants?
I have, I think I have one with me.
Will you have the goodness to produce it?
The same was handed in and read to the court as follows: No.98 Timakeel, July 7th, 1796 - James Sloan to be renewed in the name of Daniel Bulla, Portadown district.
What was the principal upon which they were formed?
Wholly defensive
Has the associated ever varied from the principal since?
I do not consider it has in the slightest degree.
Then you consider the Orange Society to be strictly defensive, not in the least aggresive?Certainly
Do you conceive that you have had an opportunity of forming a fair estimate of the effects of the system?
I conceive that I have.
Can you take upon yourself to say what effects have been?
I consider in the first places that the establishment of Orange Lodges was the first thing that checked the march of republicanism and rebellion in the North of Ireland when the United Irishmen were on foot. They afforded a rallying point for the loyalty of the country. I consider that they have been of various advantages besides, in a moral and religious point of view.
I am sure that the discipline from those lodges has gone far to prevent many young men from falling into vice of different forms. They had a character IN support and a character TO support. I am sure that it brought many to read God's word and who but for that would have been ignorant and idle.