“EUREKA - THE ATTACK ON THE STOCKADE AND THE EVENTS LEADING TO IT" by Peter Butters Part 5(a):The Wounding of the Drummer Boy Rumours regarding Ballarat were rampant in Melbourne, including one that Commissioner Rede and Inspector Evans had been secured by a large body of discontented diggers, and were to be held in their custody as hostages for the men then undergoing imprisonment in Melbourne ( Westerby, Fletcher and McIntyre). The 'Argus' reported on 28 November, 'The Government despatched yesterday, in addition to seventy rank and file of the 12th Regiment, under the command of Captain Atkinson, a company of the 40th Regiment, fifty strong, commanded by Captain Wise, and who were conveyed by steamer to Geelong, en route to Ballarat. We hear also that the mounted police troopers are under orders to proceed to the scene of action, and that they leave today, taking with them two pieces of artillery. It is reported that large drafts from the City and District Police will be made for the same service, their places being supplied by special constables, who are to be sworn in forthwith.' On Tuesday 28 November military reinforcements arrived from Melbourne. A contingent of two officers and eight men of the 12th Regiment of Foot, accompanied by supply wagons carrying ammunition among the baggage were attacked as they were entering Ballarat at dusk. A skirmish occurred, shots were fired and the waggons overturned. The Regiment's drummer boy was wounded in the groin and an American driver was seriously wounded. The 'Argus' editorial commented 'Public feeling has been all but universally with the diggers. Their wrongs have been acknowledged ; their resentment sympathised in ; and their resolution to obtain redress approved. The intelligence, the patriotism, the warmer sympathies of the whole people were arrayed on the side of the diggers. While the burning of the Eureka Hotel was condemned as a rash and inconsiderate action, the hope was entertained that the occurrence might give additional earnestness to the enquiry which has been instituted, and lead to real and permanent good.' It continued later 'And, appealing in plain, intelligent language, to plain intelligent men, we would ask whether they think that public opinion will go with them into such deeds as those narrated in another column? A waggon upset in the dark night, the soldiery, who have never yet struck a blow or fired a shot against the diggers, beaten with their own arms, a driver brutally maltreated and a poor drummer shot through the thigh - are these deeds which will enlist the sympathies of an intelligent people? Is the maiming of a drummer-boy a worthy triumph for a large mass of a British population, who wish to occupy a creditable position in the eyes of the world?' With an eye to the future the editorial commented 'Now it must be evident to intelligent men that there is a point at which Government must take a stand.' At the time of this fracas Rede was attending a function for the American Consul James Tarleton at the Victoria Hotel. Tarleton used the occasion to avow loyalty to the Government and to remind the American diggers of the need to obey the law and to abstain from interference in the present agitation. Rede was called away from the meeting. There were now 435 officers and men under command at the Government Camp. Wednesday 29 November saw a poster printed by Henry Seekamp at the Ballarat Times office appearing around the diggings and the township, to inform of another Monster Meeting at Bakery Hill at 2pm. It advised diggers to 'bring your licences, they may be wanted'. At Bakery Hill, flying for the first time, atop an eighty foot pole was the flag of the Southern Cross. A rough platform had been set up and Timothy Hayes, the Chairman was joined on the platform by the Reform League Committee, Fathers Smyth and Downing, the delegates Humffray, Kennedy and Black, and some reporters. Primarily, the purpose of the meeting was to hear the response of Hotham to the League's petition 'demanding' the release of McIntyre, Fletcher and Westerby, the diggers gaoled over the Burning of Bentley's hotel. The first speaker was George Black who informed those there assembled that the Governor was in favour of the people but being 'surrounded by injudicious advisers he was entirely impotent in state matters'. Black informed the diggers that as the Governor rejected their use of the word 'demand' it was proposed to return with a petition which was more moderately phrased. The decision of the Committee in this matter was not acceptable to the diggers and the militancy of the crowd made Humffray uneasy and he called for constitutional action and disagreed with the call to burn the licences. Raffaello Carboni, amongst others, mounted the platform to address the crowd and Carboni told them how he had fled from 'the hated Austrian rule' and called upon all 'irrespective of nationality, religion, or colour to salute the Southern Cross as the refuge of all the oppressed from all countries of the earth.' Several resolutions were passed including one by Peter Lalor, addressing the diggers for the first time. One of the resolutions was 'That this meeting being convinced that the obnoxious license fee is an imposition and an unjustifiable tax on free labour, pledges itself to take immediate steps to abolish the same, by at once burning all their licenses. That in the event of any party being arrested for having no licenses, that the united people will, under all circumstances, defend and protect them. At one period during the meeting 'some thousands of guns and revolvers were fired off' and two bonfires of licenses were made. Before the meeting concluded the diggers, estimated at a crowd of twelve thousand, were asked if they were willing to stand ready, to act and even to die, should they be called upon to liberate any man taken to the lockup for not being in possession of a licence. They roared their assent. Timothy Hayes concluded with - 'On to the field, our doom is sealed, To Conquer or be slaves, The sun shall see our country free, Or set upon our graves'. Hotham and Rede were now communicating in cipher and Hotham was concerned that the diggers had a strategic advantage among the holes and shafts, and that it was a singularly unsuitable terrain for offensive action on the part of the military. Decisive action was therefore required. Part 5(b):The last Licence Hunt 30 November 1854 - Commissioner Rede was determined to enforce law and order at any cost, and he believed that most of the diggers still supported the Government. He therefore used another licence hunt to test the feelings of the people. Assistant Commissioner Johnston, who led the hunt on the Gravel Pits diggings, was accompanied by a troop of mounted and foot police, with drawn swords and fixed bayonets. 'When they had neared the Eagle Saloon, on the New Road, the people began to 'Joe' them'. They were met by a hostile reception and diggers refused to show their licences and continued their dissent by throwing stones. Rede was called for. He informed the diggers that the law had to be enforced but reminded them that the deputation to the Governor was assured that the licence fee would be abolished if that was advised by the newly appointed Royal Commission. The swelling crowd answered with a riot, Rede attempted to read the Riot Act whilst on horseback and sent for military reinforcements who advanced across the flat in skirmishing order with cavalry at the centre and on both flanks. The diggers put up little resistance whilst a few shots were fired on both sides, and eight prisoners were taken. The result of the hunt was not what the authorities had hoped for and only further alienated the diggers. Many diggers rushed to Bakery Hill. It was here, before those assembled, that Lalor mounted the stump and called for 'Liberty'. He then organised the diggers into companies whilst Alfred Black, George's brother, recorded the names of each division and its captain. Lalor asked Carboni to tell those without firearms to make pikes. They then proceeded to the Eureka diggings and at a meeting of the captains Lalor was elected the leader to organise the diggers for defence. For protection , the Camp was barricaded with sandbags and trusses of hay and parties of soldiers and police were posted behind those defences.