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But seeming to relish this new course of life more than the former, he proceeded in his robberies, till from an infancy in the art, he became one of the most notorious and expert of that profession that had ever been bred in the kingdom of Ireland. He had made himself acquainted with all the bye passages in the country, and knew every lurking place in the mountains of Newry and Slygunnin, so that whoever pretended to pursue him made but fruitless attempts, and commonly returned with loss and shame, like dogs that lost their ears, both before and after the rewards were offered by the government for apprehending him.
He was strong and active, and as occasion required, could perform his feats either on foot, or on horseback: and though he was so notorious a plunderer, yet he was naturally of a very generous disposition, frequently giving share of what he got from the rich to relieve the poor in their necessities. His remarkable actions and surprising attempts, spread his character through all the country; and being joined by a great number of his former acquaintances; (adventurous lads, who became his associates spontaneously,) till his company was augmented to the number of fifty active men, mostly his own relations; he then began to take upon him a captain’s command, and appointed a brigade to act in every province, who were always to return (barring accidents) four times a year to the general place of rendezvous, and give an account of their success. And as soon as the booty was regularly divided, each brigade was ordered to exchange posts, and to march out on duty again. This was their constant practice for some years, by which policy they kept themselves concealed much longer than otherwise they would have done. However, there was no robbery committed any where at all in the kingdom but was attributed to captain O’Hanlon,
