September 12.
Treaty by Glenn Loughrey
“...15 or 16 fell”
Military forces used against Tasmania’s Indigenous people.
While [Governor] Arthur remained officially unaware of the executions [of two Indigenous men], the colony rejoiced in the encounter. The Launceston Advertiser printed the story on 7 September [1829] the same day that [John] Batman wrote to Anstey believing that '15 or 16 fell' and that 'this will cool their ardour for marauding'. [1] The Hobart Town Courier printed the story on 12 September, the day after the Colonial Secretary had read Batman's letter, but this too came from a report in the interior dated 7 September. [2]
Although not entirely identical to the letter sent to Anstey, the overall structure of this report and much identical phrasing and language strongly indicates that it came from Batman himself. Despite describing the capture of the two men, the report was silent on their demise.* This all suggests that Batman was actively promoting his success, beyond merely informing the government, although he was a bit selective about who got to know what. Only a week later did the rival Hobart-based Colonial Times carry Batman's story, by which time the Aboriginal people had become the aggressors, making 'the first attack with their spears', morphing the story such that Batman's party 'were obliged in their own defence to fire and rush forward'. [3]
...Following [Governor Arthur's] ostensibly general reminder to the police magistrates about the good care of natives, Arthur also repeated the same injunctions to the military forces in his capacity as Colonel Commanding. But this was not the main sentiment of the Garrison Order of 15 September. Instead the bulk of this document formally alerted the military authorities of 'more energetic steps' being implemented under Anstey's direction, which were for 'pursuing the native Tribes and of driving them, from the settled Districts,** if it be not possible to surround and capture them'. [4] But while the timing and the comment about captives reveals a connection with Batman's mission and report, so too does it hint that Arthur was adapting some of Jorgenson's advice about coordinating forces, insisting that the interior military forces offer 'prompt assistance to the Civil Power' with 'the most zealous cooperation'. It was reminder of the essential thrust of Arthur's long-term objective that the military was to help effect 'the removal of the Aborigines from the Settled Districts'.
As the fighting near Great Swan Port intensified, and the winter turned to spring, the campaigning continued. The military received their orders. Anstey and Jorgenson directed their field police units. Robertson captured more spears, and Batman crossed the hills from the midlands to the east coast, closing in on more Aboriginal people.
Launceston Advertiser, 7 September 1829, p. 2. The word marauding conjures up a similar sounding word, namely murdering. That activity perpetrated by John Batman unsurprisingly is not acknowledged in this report. See footnote 3 below.
Hobart Town Courier, 12 September 1829, p. 2.
Colonial Times, 18 September 1829, p. 3.
CSO41/1/1, pp. 316-320.
Acknowledgment: Nick Brodie, The Vandemonian War, pp. 101-103, 391 n.33, n.34, n.35, n.36.
* John Batman shot dead both men. See entry for 7 September.
** The 'Settled Districts' referred to regions settled by whites. Aboriginal 'settlement' of these districts was not acknowledged or recognised by white settlers or authorities.