Lalor falls
It seems Lalor was out and about before the soldiers came over the wall, and that he wisely advised his forces to hold their fire until it would have a major impact. After all, not only did they have a shortage of guns, but there was also a major shortage of ammunition. The soldiers, on the other hand, are reported to have each been carrying supplies to shoot up to sixty musket balls.
It very much seems, however, that no-one much was listening, and stories afterwards said they weren't sure who was actually in military command, with Lalor, Vere, Carboni, and others shouting orders at them.
Lalor was not there long, anyway, as he was quite quickly felled by a ball in the shoulder, possibly from the last firing before the soldiers' charge.
The most convincing and detailed account of Lalor's shooting, written by the Ferguson, the American, in 1887, said a musketball shattered the bone in his left arm, close to the shoulder. Lalor seems to have been carrying a revolver in that hand. Naturally, when the ball hit, he dropped the gun, then bent over to pick it up in his right hand. He is said to have then fainted from blood loss, although it may have been shock or pain. His arm was wrapped to try and stem the bleeding. Defeat must have been getting close by now, as several men carried him to a dip in the ground, covering him with nearby planks and pieces of wood.
After the shock wore off he would have been in considerable pain. If he were conscious, he would have heard what was happening to some of his men as the victorious troopers and troops murdered his wounded men. Not to mention the shouting of the incredibly brave women who rushed in from the tent town to throw themselves over more fortunate wounded to save their lives.
But Lalor knew he had to stay where he was. And he had to stay quiet, however much pain he was in.
It very much seems, however, that no-one much was listening, and stories afterwards said they weren't sure who was actually in military command, with Lalor, Vere, Carboni, and others shouting orders at them.
Lalor was not there long, anyway, as he was quite quickly felled by a ball in the shoulder, possibly from the last firing before the soldiers' charge.
The most convincing and detailed account of Lalor's shooting, written by the Ferguson, the American, in 1887, said a musketball shattered the bone in his left arm, close to the shoulder. Lalor seems to have been carrying a revolver in that hand. Naturally, when the ball hit, he dropped the gun, then bent over to pick it up in his right hand. He is said to have then fainted from blood loss, although it may have been shock or pain. His arm was wrapped to try and stem the bleeding. Defeat must have been getting close by now, as several men carried him to a dip in the ground, covering him with nearby planks and pieces of wood.
After the shock wore off he would have been in considerable pain. If he were conscious, he would have heard what was happening to some of his men as the victorious troopers and troops murdered his wounded men. Not to mention the shouting of the incredibly brave women who rushed in from the tent town to throw themselves over more fortunate wounded to save their lives.
But Lalor knew he had to stay where he was. And he had to stay quiet, however much pain he was in.