As the 1798 Rebellion in Ireland began to peter out and the insurgent cause was clearly lost, Michael Dwyer and a band of loyal followers took to the Wicklow Mountains from where they continued to conduct a campaign of resistance and defiance against British authority. John T. Campion's novel, based on historical and eyewitness accounts, tells the story of Dwyer's daring exploits in the face of great personal danger, and of his ingenuity in evading capture. It also contains a reminiscence of Dwyer's niece, Anne Devlin, who was housekeeper to Robert Emmet and who, in face of death, refused to betray him following his abortive attempt at a rising in 1803.

The book was first published in New York, circa 1856. This new edition, with reset text, includes a foreword and additional footnotes by the editor.