The authorities had heard that part of the Fenian
plan was to capture the Viceregal Lodge, and to hold the Lord-
Lieutenant's children as hostages, which explains the arrival at
the Lodge of Chief Inspector Dunn, the frantic haste, and the
escort of Hussars with drawn swords.
That night an engagement, or it might more justly be termed a
skirmish, did take place between the Fenians and the troops at
Tallagh, some twenty miles from Dublin. My brothers and most of my
father's staff had been present, which explained the mysterious
noises during the night. As a result of this fight, some three
hundred prisoners were taken, and Lord Strathnairn, then
Commander-in-Chief in Ireland, was very hard put to it to find
sufficient men (who, of course, would have to be detached from his
force) to escort the prisoners into Dublin. Lord Strathnairn
suddenly got an inspiration. He had every single button, brace
buttons and all, cut off the prisoners' trousers. Then the men had
perforce, for decency's sake, to hold their trousers together with
their hands, and I defy any one similarly situated to run more
than a yard or two.
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