Newport Chartists Vol.5, p.23

Description

23
I then informed him that the Insurgents were about to enter the town and
were very numerous that they were armed with formidable weapons that it was probable
they would commence by destroying property in which event it would be necessary
that we should march out to afford protection and that it was desirable that we should
consider before hand how in that event his men could act with most effect and least
danger.

I now learnt that the Insurgents had actually entered the town and were within
a short distance of the Westgate whereupon I proceeded into the passage of the house &
ordered the Special Constables who were around the door to withdraw into the house and
the front door of the house to be closed which was done - I then proceeded into a room on
the first floor of the house which gave me a view of the road from the Church by which the
Insurgents were entering and saw a Column of men the head of which had already passed the
window wheel round to the front of the house - They were marching abreast in regular order
armed with muskets pikes spears and other weapons- I remained at the window till two
or three hundred had passed I then ran down the stairs into the passage & on proceeding to
the centre of the passage which is immediately opposite the front door , I saw that the front door was opened and that the ~
Insurgents were at that moment entering the passage - I hurried forward to the
Room in which the Soldiers were stationed and said Lieutenant Gray load instantly
and whilst the men were loading, I heard several shots fired into the passages and
the windows of the Room in which the Soldiers were placed were broken - At that
moment the Shutters were still closed , and prevented the Soldiers who were in the
Room from seeing the Insurgents in front of the House and I called out those - -
Shutters must be opened- The Soldiers who were near the widows had
their Muskets ready, and could not conveniently open the Shutters whereupon
Lieutenant Gray advanced to the front window and opened that Shutter
and I followed to the side window which looks towards the centre of the
House, and opened that Shutter, in doing which I received a wound
in the arm and another in the hip- The Soldiers had not yet fired but
they now opened a fire through the windows upon the Insurgents in
front of the House and through the door upon those who had entered
the passages- I remained in the room until I found that the wound in
my arm was bleeding so fast as to induce me to think there was danger from
the hemorrhage and seeing a Special Constable at the door of a small pantry
near the Entrance to the house, I crossed to him and asked him to bind up
my arm- Whilst he was endeavouring to do this one of the Insurgents ~

6