alternatehistory.com
March 1804 - Rebellion
4 March 1804, Government House, Bridge Street, Sydney
Captain Philip Gidley King was furious. Why did they keep foisting these Irish bastards on him here? This was the inevitable result of such actions. The 1798 rebellions in Ireland had produced many men and a few women who had been subsequently transported as exiles- most without any trial to the Colony of New South Wales from late 1799 to 1802. Had he not performed virtual miracles? Confirmed as Governor of not only New South Wales and New Zealand, he had added Britania, now named New Caledonia to his list of Governorships, where some 'blackbirding' had taken place to fill the need for manual labourers in Sydney, although had been solved to some degree by the arrival of the pestiferous Irish. Norfolk Island had been settled.
He had dispatched Bowen to Risdon Cove and the troublesome William Patterson to Port Dalrymple, creating new settlements in both locations. Patterson was man who did not look upon with favour any accommodations with the natives, yet King himself had been able to negotiate a tentative agreement based on a holding line at Prospect. It must be admitted that things to the West in the Blue Mountains were more problematic, with native depredations more common but none the less he had founded the settlement of Bathurst, the town now featuring two commodious inns and many favourable and grants had been made that had served to shore up his own position and popularity.
The colony was doing well and had expanded to a population of more than 5,000, with another 1,500 scattered in other settlements. More people were arriving from London every month or two, not all of them now convicts. Flinders circumnavigation confirmed what many had expected, that this land was truely vast. He had started construction of Fort Philip, laid out streets, had even assisted in the publication of a newspaper. Now his reward was this, an Irish convict uprising.
On the evening of 4th March 1804, Phillip Cunningham, a veteran of the 1798 Irish rebellion, activated the plan to gather weapons, ammunition, food and recruits from local supporters and the government farm at Castle Hill. Things had developed rapidly and King was forced to rely on an officer he had little time for, Major George Johnston, who had replaced Patterson as commander of the New South Wales Corps. Johnson had already been sent home to London once for paying his men in rum in direct contravention of orders, only to return like a bad penny with assistance from patrons.
With Cunningham leading, about 200 to 300 rebels broke into the Government Farm's buildings, taking firearms, ammunition, and other weapons. The constables and overseers were overpowered and the rebels then went from farm to farm on their way to Constitution Hill at Parramatta, seizing more weapons and supplies including rum and spirits, and recruiting others to join their cause. King had to give Johnson his due, he had reacted quickly and called out the guard as well as enacting Marshal Law. Neither had Cunningham been idle. His followers had elected him "King of the Australian Empire" and decided to march on Government House. It was a grave mistake as this was where Johnson';s forces were strongest. Some 70 armed civilians and fully 45 Redcoats rapidly showed the untrained and ill equipped rebels what trained soldiers were capable of, routing the rebels, killing 25 and capturing some 21 more. Some men slipped back to their assignments, or at least tried to, others simply dispersed and awaited capture.
Cunningham, however, was made of sterner stuff. Some 13 days later, using the new road built in 1802 to link the two settlements, he appeared in Bathurst with all that remained of his force, some 59 men. However, this was enough to take the small town of Bathurst. He was able to hold the town from the 17th March until the 1st April, when Johnson arrived with some 72 Redcoats and reinforced by 29 armed settlers took back the town in the "Battle of Bennett's Barn" that saw some 13 more rebels killed, including Cunningham. With their "King" dead the rebels soon lost heart, seven slipping away to become bushrangers, the remainder surrendering themselves to their fate. With two Redcoats killed, it was to a brutal one. Two were subject to gibbeting. Ten more received either 200 or 500 lashes. The remainder were retained in irons until they could be "disposed of", eventually being sent to Norfolk Island into the harshest conditions imaginable.
Yet nothing could disguise the fact that it had been a significant scare to the Colonial Government and a challenge to their authority, as witnessed by some escaping into rowboats that first night and pleading to be let abroad ships at anchor. King himself had been shaken.
Captain Philip Gidley King was furious. Why did they keep foisting these Irish bastards on him here? This was the inevitable result of such actions. The 1798 rebellions in Ireland had produced many men and a few women who had been subsequently transported as exiles- most without any trial to the Colony of New South Wales from late 1799 to 1802. Had he not performed virtual miracles? Confirmed as Governor of not only New South Wales and New Zealand, he had added Britania, now named New Caledonia to his list of Governorships, where some 'blackbirding' had taken place to fill the need for manual labourers in Sydney, although had been solved to some degree by the arrival of the pestiferous Irish. Norfolk Island had been settled.
He had dispatched Bowen to Risdon Cove and the troublesome William Patterson to Port Dalrymple, creating new settlements in both locations. Patterson was man who did not look upon with favour any accommodations with the natives, yet King himself had been able to negotiate a tentative agreement based on a holding line at Prospect. It must be admitted that things to the West in the Blue Mountains were more problematic, with native depredations more common but none the less he had founded the settlement of Bathurst, the town now featuring two commodious inns and many favourable and grants had been made that had served to shore up his own position and popularity.
The colony was doing well and had expanded to a population of more than 5,000, with another 1,500 scattered in other settlements. More people were arriving from London every month or two, not all of them now convicts. Flinders circumnavigation confirmed what many had expected, that this land was truely vast. He had started construction of Fort Philip, laid out streets, had even assisted in the publication of a newspaper. Now his reward was this, an Irish convict uprising.
On the evening of 4th March 1804, Phillip Cunningham, a veteran of the 1798 Irish rebellion, activated the plan to gather weapons, ammunition, food and recruits from local supporters and the government farm at Castle Hill. Things had developed rapidly and King was forced to rely on an officer he had little time for, Major George Johnston, who had replaced Patterson as commander of the New South Wales Corps. Johnson had already been sent home to London once for paying his men in rum in direct contravention of orders, only to return like a bad penny with assistance from patrons.
With Cunningham leading, about 200 to 300 rebels broke into the Government Farm's buildings, taking firearms, ammunition, and other weapons. The constables and overseers were overpowered and the rebels then went from farm to farm on their way to Constitution Hill at Parramatta, seizing more weapons and supplies including rum and spirits, and recruiting others to join their cause. King had to give Johnson his due, he had reacted quickly and called out the guard as well as enacting Marshal Law. Neither had Cunningham been idle. His followers had elected him "King of the Australian Empire" and decided to march on Government House. It was a grave mistake as this was where Johnson';s forces were strongest. Some 70 armed civilians and fully 45 Redcoats rapidly showed the untrained and ill equipped rebels what trained soldiers were capable of, routing the rebels, killing 25 and capturing some 21 more. Some men slipped back to their assignments, or at least tried to, others simply dispersed and awaited capture.
Cunningham, however, was made of sterner stuff. Some 13 days later, using the new road built in 1802 to link the two settlements, he appeared in Bathurst with all that remained of his force, some 59 men. However, this was enough to take the small town of Bathurst. He was able to hold the town from the 17th March until the 1st April, when Johnson arrived with some 72 Redcoats and reinforced by 29 armed settlers took back the town in the "Battle of Bennett's Barn" that saw some 13 more rebels killed, including Cunningham. With their "King" dead the rebels soon lost heart, seven slipping away to become bushrangers, the remainder surrendering themselves to their fate. With two Redcoats killed, it was to a brutal one. Two were subject to gibbeting. Ten more received either 200 or 500 lashes. The remainder were retained in irons until they could be "disposed of", eventually being sent to Norfolk Island into the harshest conditions imaginable.
Yet nothing could disguise the fact that it had been a significant scare to the Colonial Government and a challenge to their authority, as witnessed by some escaping into rowboats that first night and pleading to be let abroad ships at anchor. King himself had been shaken.
- johnboy
- Word Count: 810