The "Battle"
So, at around 3am, most sources say, although at least one makes it at 4am, the soldiers and police were in place before the stockade, as yet unspotted, hearts racing, perhaps imagining the brush of the angel of death as it hovered over their heads. At least, unspotted by the stockade - although, as it happens, apparently on the ground the slope would have slightly hidden the troops. Thomas probably quietly directed his officers to lead their men to their points of attack. At some stage, as we've already discussed, the potshotting from the sides appears to have forced the advance to stop, realign, move back, then move forwards again. The mounted troopers and soldiers rode off, and some of the foot soldiers marched off, to cover the other three sides, as the foot soldiers attacked what was, in fact, the back wall.
Most of the sources say the horsemen took no real part in the attack, perhaps the outwardly leaning walls succeeded in preventing them hurdling the walls. If so, it was the only thing that went right for the miners. However, on the other hand, others say the horses leapt the fence, and even that horsemen were the first to enter the stockade. We're inclined not to believe the latter, but who are we to say?
When the rebels finally broke and ran for the nearby bush, after a time varying, according to various sources between 5 and 20 minutes, the troopers and soldiers were able to gleefully hunt many of them down and joyfully slash their lives out. Nonetheless, some fortunately managed to escape. It was later claimed that many seriously wounded miners made it to the forest and bled their lives out. While this may be so, no remains were ever found to give this tale any veracity. Or, at least, there weren't any reports of either remains or wounded rebels being found, except for Lalor, as we shall see.
Most of the sources say the horsemen took no real part in the attack, perhaps the outwardly leaning walls succeeded in preventing them hurdling the walls. If so, it was the only thing that went right for the miners. However, on the other hand, others say the horses leapt the fence, and even that horsemen were the first to enter the stockade. We're inclined not to believe the latter, but who are we to say?
When the rebels finally broke and ran for the nearby bush, after a time varying, according to various sources between 5 and 20 minutes, the troopers and soldiers were able to gleefully hunt many of them down and joyfully slash their lives out. Nonetheless, some fortunately managed to escape. It was later claimed that many seriously wounded miners made it to the forest and bled their lives out. While this may be so, no remains were ever found to give this tale any veracity. Or, at least, there weren't any reports of either remains or wounded rebels being found, except for Lalor, as we shall see.