They rode together to Hobart one day, the first time they had been alone together since his arrest. Calling with `a very special friend,` Thomas Meagher (of the Sword), they laughed at �how absurd to find us together in this obscure world, and how helpless we are, who once caused the thunder to clap.�

Meanwhile, the Irish Directorate in New York was considering how to secure the escape of the Newry lawyer, who could �give heart to the cause of Irish liberty. Armed with his pen, and having the reputation of a patriot, he would be a powerful propaganda weapon, inspiring all to be ready for the day to strike with full force for freedom.�

Official were bribed, and a network of people recruited to shelter, feed, provide disguise, fake documents, and transport to a ship. Avoiding capture, John Mitchel arrived in California to a rousing reception, being conveyed to New York. His newspaper, `the Citizen,` was published, intending to �correct the American tendency to accept `The Times` version of Irish and English events.�

However, the onset of the U.S. Civil War, in which Mitchel favoured the Confederate side, diminished support for him and his newspaper, as most Irish-Americans backed the North. And there was personal tragedy with the killing of two sons, and another wounded in the conflict.

`The Jail Journal` related how �the Morse code death message reached Richmond telegraph office. John Mitchel was handed a copy, � he only needed to learn was it James of Johnnie. Walking for hours, he bore the burden of the blame-worthy parent.

If he had not challenged the might of the English government, Johnnie would have been alive and safe at Trinity College, and a career unfolding in Ireland.

�Jenny felt she had been chosen by fate for intolerable and frequent blows. She had already received as many as any small woman should have been asked to bear. Recalling the Newry days, when Johnnie was at school, she thought of how painful were his legs and back, and how she had sat with him; how he had cried when he left the room. If only she had been with him when the shell landed. When Johnnie died, he had called out: �I willingly give my life for South Carolina. Oh, that I could have died for Ireland!�

The youngest son, Willie (aged 19), was killed at the bloody battle of Gettysburg, in which there had been huge casualties. Unveiling a monument on the site, President Abraham Lincoln coined the famous phrase: �Government of the people, by the people and for the people.�

John Mitchel was imprisoned by General Grant at Fort Monroe, but later released by the Federal Government. Surviving son, James, who was wounded, later embarked on a lithographic business. His son, John, became Mayor of New York.

Then two of their daughters, Henrietta and Minnie, announced that they wished to become Catholics. They had become friends with two Catholic sisters, attending services with them. `Henty� was impressed by the `body and blood` aspect of Communion, while Minnie enjoyed the liturgical music.

John Mitchel, following his father�s belief that everyone was entitled to their own belief, did not object. But he and Jenny asked them to wait two years, before making a Confession. Jenny had gone to functions at Georgetown College, and made friends who were priests. As her biography stated: �She must have known about Catholics, during her childhood in Newry. The nurses and servants, and maybe even her mother, Mary Ward, would probably have been Catholics.�

John Martin had been pardoned, set free, and headed for Paris in 1854. When his pardon was made unconditional, Martin came home and visited his family, after a gap of eight years. Though he had intended to reside in Paris, his brother, Robert and sister-in-law died within a short period. Feeling responsible for his orphan nephews and nieces, he came to live at Kilbroney, near Rostrevor, with John Mitchel�s sister, Henrietta, whom he had married.

Meanwhile, the Home Rule movement had enlisted the support of parties with various ideals, including the Fenians, in order to contest Westminster elections as one group. It was proposed that John Mitchel, who had spent some years in Paris, should be involved at a prominent level.

So the Newry patriot came back to his �dear land, - a joy to his family after an absence of 26 years.� It would test the response of the English government to the return of `an unpardoned convict.` Crown law officers concluded that a prosecution would have to come from Tasmania; and since John Mitchel was a US citizen, it could "make for a hornet�s nest."

A tremendous reception greeted the hero on arrival. And an undertaking was given that he would contest a vacancy for Tipperary, before he returned to New York. Then came the positive news; and a report stated: �John Mitchel (60) turned away from his pretty Jenny for the last time. He went up the gang-plank with his daughter, Henrietta to the liner `Republic,` - a man on foot to his own funeral.�

By the time that the candidate had come back to Ireland, the seat was `in the bag.` His instruction was given: �Tell Jenny, - she will be so proud.� John Mitchel then headed for the frontier town, and was put to bed in the old room at Dromalane, where the romance with Jenny had begun. He died a short time later.

`The Nation` newspaper reported: �John Mitchel loved Ireland so well. Great God! Was ever a land and its people so deeply loved and gallantly served by a nature so gifted, so heroic and so defamed. All that earth holds dear, he was prepared to cast away, - peace for turmoil; happiness for woe, freedom for chains and fatherland for a foreign dungeon.�

Concern had been expressed when John Martin insisted on walking in the funeral cortege, despite a severe asthma attack. Collapsing at the graveside, he was brought back to Dromalane by carriage and put to bed, dying five days later.

Rejecting the proposal for a major funeral in Dublin, with burial at Glasnevin Cemetery, the patriot insisted on being interred beside his father in Donaghmore Grave-yard. And, for the past century, along with John Mitchel�s vault at Old Meeting House Green in Newry, they have been places of pilgrimage.

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