The attacking forces
The attacking force apparently comprised some 127 professional British foot soldiers, around 55 mounted soldiers, and perhaps 94 mounted and foot police, making a force of about 276 (or was that 296, or more, or less?) troops overall. About double the number of the stockade's defenders. This left some 200 soldiers to defend the government camp in case anything went wrong, or reinforcements were called for.
Seventeen of the soldiers were officers who, as usual, were unarmed except for a sword. And there were also a few hangers-on, such as a police clerk and the like, who were along for the fun. Oh, and a magistrate who was meant to read the Riot Act, apparently, which he failed to do, leading to the miners' later accusation that Rede never intended to give the Eureka defenders any opportunities to surrender, and that he wanted to end the affair as violently as possible.
Seventeen of the soldiers were officers who, as usual, were unarmed except for a sword. And there were also a few hangers-on, such as a police clerk and the like, who were along for the fun. Oh, and a magistrate who was meant to read the Riot Act, apparently, which he failed to do, leading to the miners' later accusation that Rede never intended to give the Eureka defenders any opportunities to surrender, and that he wanted to end the affair as violently as possible.