(7): To stop the carnage

Gudyarra (war) and the Bicentennial of Martial Law 2024 (7): To stop the carnage.

October.  The Wiradjuri continue to fight to halt further expansion of the invading squatters and their overseers, convict workers and stock. 

14 October.  Assistant Surveyor Henry Dangar and the surveying party are attacked by ‘a large body’ (possibly 150) of ‘Bathurst natives’ at Mount Macarthur north of Mudgee.  A three-hour battle ensues during which one of Dangar’s party is speared in the head, a horse is killed and the warriors escape with a packhorse and provisions. 

The Gazette publishes an editorial on the different situation at Wellington when compared to Bathurst – ‘while Bathurst, with its surrounding vicinity, is engaged in an exterminating war, peace reigns around the smiling and ever verdant valley of Wellington’.   Quoting a reliable ‘authority’ the writer continues that at Bathurst ‘those men who went out on horseback to hunt them down, indiscriminately firing at all they could overtake, had no parent, friend, or brother's death to revenge’, and that wounded Wiradjuri ‘often visit Wellington Valley with gun shot wounds, in order to obtain relief by getting them dressed’. ‘Just Heaven ! (says the writer) it is horrible to think, that, at a moment when all the civilized world is united for the abolition of the (abominable) slave trade, that even one man could be found cruel enough to think it necessary to exterminate the whole race of these poor misrepresented people.’

21 October. The Gazette notes that five Wiradjuri warriors have ‘come in to Bathurst’ and there is hope that Martial Law will be abolished.

26 October. Lieutenant Governor Colonel William Stewart sails for Australia and upon arrival ‘assumed command of the military’.[1]

28 October. The Gazette notes that ‘two tribes comprising about 60 have come into Bathurst in peace’ although nothing is heard of ’Saturday’/Windradyne.

3 November.  Governor Brisbane informs the Earl of Bathurst of the Proclamation writing, ‘in consequence of the aggressions committed by the Native Blacks upon the habitations, Persons and property of the European Settlers in the neighbourhood of Bathurst’, blaming it on the Wiradjuri people’s ‘ill-judged’ refusal to stop defending their Country.  And that he had heard from private sources ‘only seven Europeans have lost their lives in the conflict’ and only double that number of Natives.[2]  So all is well as the Wiradjuri are ‘coming in to tender their submission and sue for peace and protection’

4 November. Gazette.   The 21^st clause of the Act (The New South Wales Act) naming the Directors of the Australian Agricultural Company, which takes one million acres of land,  is quoted. 

An extract from ‘a gentleman’s’ letter is quoted in the Gazette describing the events of the 14^th October. 

Pruden’s writes that now ‘it appears that the Blacks are now become peaceable’ it is time to secure ‘the great number of fire-arms, which are in the possession of our government servants.’ [3]

20 November.  Commandant Morisset visits Headquarters.[4]

11 December.  Governor Brisbane repeals Martial Law.

On 13 December 1824 Governor Brisbane writes a letter to Major J. T. Morisset, Commandant at Bathurst, thanking him for effecting 'the purpose of the proclamation’ and ‘by the judicious measures taken by you and the other magistrates at Bathurst, the aboriginal natives have learned to respect our power.' He goes on to say that 'it is impossible perhaps at all times to prevent the infliction of injury upon them by individuals and...if justice cannot always be done, it deserves consideration upon such occasion whether the wrong may not be repaired by compensation.  For this service and for rewards to the natives who assisted in the police, I have directed £50 subject to detailed accounts of its expenditure to be at your disposal.'[5]

16 December.  Cessation of Martial Law is announced in the Gazette.

“…And whereas the judicious and humane Measure, pursued by the Magistrates assembled at Bathurst aforesaid, have restored Tranquillity without Bloodshed. [6]

:- NOW THEREFORE, by Virtue of the Authority aforesaid. I do direct, that MARTIAL LAW shall cease to be any longer in Force in the aforesaid Districts…In witness whereof, I, the Governor aforesaid, have hereunto set my Hand, and caused the Seal of my Office, as Governor of the Colony of New South Wales and its Dependencies, to be affixed, this Eleventh Day of December, in the Year

of Our Lord One thousand eight hundred and twenty-four,

THOMAS BRISBANE. (L. S).

By His Excellency's Command,

F. Goulburn, Colonial Secretary.” 

Windradyne/’Saturday’ and the other warriors[7] prepare to march to Parramatta to attend the Annual Assemblage of Natives on 28 December.  He has a hat, with a sign ‘PEACE’ and an ‘olive branch’, in the hope that the carnage will cease.

Dyarubbin (Hawkesbury-Nepean River) – facing the last leg of the journey.(Image: A. Maie)

28 December.  The Annual Assembly of Natives.  By the time Governor Brisbane arrives at noon there are already ‘260 men and women in a circle, exclusive of numbers of fine children’.  When the ‘Bathurst tribe’ arrives the numbers increase ‘to near upon 400’.  The whole group includes ‘7 or 8 different tribes that flocked in from various quarters of the Colony; .viz. Jarvis's-bay, Five Islands, Broken-bay,   Shoal-haven, Lower Branch, Bathurst, &c. &c’.  A description of Windradyne follows including, ‘Saturday wore a straw hat, on which was affixed a label, with the word "PEACE" inserted, besides a little branch representing the olive’.  It is obvious he is the centre of attention and interest in spite of his unease.  The chiefs are given chairs and the feast begins.  Afterwards the Governor speaks with each of the chiefs and departs. The author concludes: ‘Gratifying as the spectacle was, we presume to look forward to a brighter prospect; viz. when 400 aboriginal Australians become congregated as converts to the Christian Religion!’[8]

No Treaty or written agreement is made.  Sir Thomas Brisbane later describes ‘Saturday’s’ march to Sydney as ‘to receive his pardon’.  In the eyes of the Governor it is Windradyne and the warriors who have committed the crime by defending their Country.

31 December.  Governor Brisbane updates the Earl of Bathurst – ‘during the four Months that Martial Law prevailed, not one outrage was committed under it, neither was a life sacrificed or even Blood spilt.  This happy termination in the state of warfare may be mainly ascribed to the judgement, prudence and moderation of Major Morisset, Commandant of Bathurst, together with the other magistrates of the district’[9]

© A. Maie, 2024

Further Reading

NOTE. This timeline is primarily based on the research and writing of Stephen Gapps in Gudyarra – recommended reading for a more detailed account of events and people involved.

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[1] HRA, Series 1 Volume 12, vii

[2] Misrepresenting the reality to Britain.  (Brisbane to Bathurst HRA II, 409)

[3] Making it clear that those on the stockruns and outstations have been well-armed.

[4] Reported in the Gazette, Thursday 25 November 1824, p.2 – ‘Major Morisset Commandant of Bathurst paid a visit to Headquarters on Saturday last’.  There is no record of what is discussed although, as Martial Law is repealed three weeks later, it is likely that the events around the Proclamation are on the agenda. 

[5]  According to Military History News 28 ‘this letter implies tacit acknowledgement that the punishment of the local Wiradjuri was excessive and unlawful. It also indicates that there was use of Aboriginal police aides in the tracking of the Wiradjuri people.’

[6] The code of silence about the wars, massacres and numbers of Wiradjuri killed, which hangs over all official records and statements during this period, remains.  No-one officially owns up to the truth, especially not to Britain.

[7] It is possible that those warriors from around Mudgee region, like ‘Sunday’ who affirmed that he owned all the land about Mudgee and others who had been fighting and/or had joined the resistance armies, and had survived are part of this group but as noone apart from Windradyne/’Saturday’ is named it is impossible to confirm.

[8] published in the Gazette, Thursday 30 December with the observation that 'indeed, he seemed far from being altogether calm on Tuesday'.  According to Military History News 28, Windradyne ‘knew the soldiers could not arrest him because of the possibility of a riot with so many Aborigines there.’

[9] The fiction of ‘peaceful settlement’ is maintained.  (Brisbane to Bathurst HRA II 430-432)