In giving to his countrymen this authentic written record of the engagements in which he took part, Dan Breen has rendered a service to Ireland second only to the services rendered to her in the engagements he describes. Let us hope that some competent Celtic scholar will translate the story into the language of Ireland’s ancient champions whom she had gathered to her bosom centuries before this gallant son of Tipperary was ready to render to his beloved country the splendid services he has so willingly given. JOSEPH MCGARRITY. PHILADELPHIA. CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE Introduction vii. I.—A Volunteer’s Training 1 II.—Preparing for the Fray 11 III.—Our First Munition Factory 17 IV.—Our Factory Blown Up 23 V.—The Political Landslide 29 VI.—Soloheadbeg 34 VII.—Our Escape 41 VIII.—Helped by the British 50 IX.—Our Return to Soloheadbeg 64 X.—Sean Hogan Captured 72 XI.—The Rescue at Knocklong 83 XII.—Our Escape from Knocklong 93 XIII.—Many Close Shaves 106 XIV.—On the Trail of Lord French 115 XV.—The Battle of Ashtown 126 XVI.—Our Escape from Ashtown 138 XVII.—From Tara to Tipperary 150 XVIII.—The Barrack Attacks 162 XIX.—Capture and Escape of General Lucas 173 XX.—Adventures with the Murder Gang 181 XXI.—The Drumcondra Fight 197 XXII.—Missed by Inches 209 XXIII.—Executions and Reprisals 219 XXIV.—My Return to Tipperary 228 XXV.—Married in the Battle Line 234 XXVI.—The Truce 239 XXVII.—Efforts to Avert Civil War 249 XXVIII.—How I was Captured 255 MY FIGHT FOR IRISH FREEDOM CHAPTER I. A VOLUNTEER’S TRAINING “A soldier’s life is the life for me, A soldier’s death, so Ireland’s free.” —_Davis._