On the 14th of March, the head-quarters, with four companies,--and on the 16th, four more companies, marched per route to Clare Castle, where they arrived to preserve order during the Clare election on the 17th and 19th, detaching one company to Kilrush, one to Corrofin, and subalterns' parties to Kildysart, Quinn, Kilkeshan, and Six Mile Bridge. The head-quarters marched to Ennis on the 30th of March; and the detachments at Quinn, Kilkeshan, and Six Mile Bridge, to the same place on the 6th of April. On the 5th of May the head-quarters returned to Buttevant, leaving eight companies detached in various directions (some being afterwards encamped) in the county of Clare, which was then, and had for some months been, in a very disturbed state--in fact, bordering on open rebellion. A small party of fifteen, half military (of the FIFTH) and half police, who were almost unarmed, having only a pistol and five rounds of ammunition each (being employed on a particular service), were attacked on the morning of the 8th of May, by some hundreds of the turbulent peasantry of the parish of Clondegad, in the county of Clare, and, in the course of a running fight, which was bravely sustained by these few men for several miles, Colour-Serjeant James Robinson of the grenadier company, was basely and barbarously murdered. His remains were buried at Ennis, and a handsome tomb with an appropriate inscription, placed over them by the regiment. While the counties of Clare and Galway were in this disturbed state many of the magistrates declined to act. Under these circumstances, Lieutenant-Colonel Tovey and Captains McDonald and Spence, of the FIFTH regiment, were selected as gentlemen in whose firmness, prudence, and discretion, the Government could confide, and they received Commissions of the Peace for the above counties. The judicious conduct of those gentlemen as magistrates reflected credit on the regiment; their exertions were followed by happy results;--the two counties became tranquil, and the inhabitants returned to their peaceful and industrious habits[44]. On the 20th of September these companies were all concentrated at Buttevant; and a letter conveying the high sense entertained by Major-General Sir Thomas Arbuthnot of the good conduct of the regiment, of which the following is a copy, was received with the notification of their march from Clare:-- "_Ennis, September 6th, 1831._ "Sir, "In transmitting you the annexed notification of the arrival at Buttevant of several of your detachments from Clare, I am directed by Major-General Sir Thomas Arbuthnot to express to you the very great pleasure he feels in having to assure you, that both the officers and men of the FIFTH REGIMENT performed their duty, under most trying circumstances, during the disturbances in this county, to his perfect satisfaction in every respect. "I have, &c. (Signed) "W. VINCENT, Lt.-Col., A.Q.M.G.