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Punitive Military Expedition against the Natives
[Governor Macquarie Despatch to Earl Bathurst - Dated 8/6/1816]
In my despatch of (18/3/1816) I had the honour to inform
your Lordship that, in consequence of the hostile and sanguinary dispositions
manifested for a considerable time past by the Aborigines of this Country, I had
determined to send out some military detachments into the interior, either to
apprehend or destroy them.
Pursuant to this determination and in consequence of
various subsequent acts of atrocity being committed by the natives in the remote
parts of the settlements, I found it necessary on 10 April 1816 to order three
detachments of the 46th Regiment under the several commands of Captains Schaw
and Wallis, and Lieutenant Dawe of that Corps, to proceed to those districts
most infested and annoyed by them on the banks and in the neighbourhood of the
rivers, Nepean, Hawkesbury and Grose, giving them instructions to make as many
prisoners as possible; this service occupied a period of 23 days, during which
time the military parties very rarely met with any of the hostile tribes; the
occurrence of most importance which took place was under Captain Wallis’s
direction, who, having surprised one of the native encampments and meeting with
some resistance, killed fourteen of them and made five prisoners.
Among the killed there is every reason to believe that
two of the most ferocious and sanguinary of the natives were included, some few
other prisoners were taken in the course of this route and have been lodged in
Gaol. This necessary but painful duty was conducted by the Officers in command
of the Detachments perfectly in conformity to the instructions I had furnished
them.
Previous to the return of the military party, I issued a Proclamation dated 4 May 1817, stating in the first instance the causes which had led to the necessity of resorting to military force, and holding out to the natives various encouragements with a view to invite and induce them to relinquish their wandering predatory habits and to avail themselves to the indulgences offered to them as settlers in degrees suitable to their circumstances and situations. It is scarcely possible to calculate with any degree of precision on the result that this Proclamation may eventually have on so rude and unenlightened a race; but it has already produced the good effect of bringing in some of the most troublesome of the natives, who have promised to cease from their hostility and to avail themselves of the protection of this government by becoming settlers, or engaging themselves as servants, as circumstances may suit; and upon the whole there is reason to hope that the examples, which have been made on the one hand, and the encouragements held out on the other, will preserve the Colony from further recurrence of such cruelties. Under all these considerations I trust Your Lordship will approve of the Measures I have taken.
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