Said pikemen division was among
the first that took up arms on Thursday, November 30th, immediately after
the licence-hunt. It was formed on Bakery-hill, and received Lalor
on the stump with acclamation. It increased hourly and permanently;
was the strongest division in the Eureka stockade; in comparison to others,
it stood the most true to the 'Southern Cross,' and consequently suffered
the greatest loss on the morning of the massacre. Now, to explain how both
its gallant leaders escaped unhurt, safe as the Bank, so that a few weeks
afterwards, both were working happy and jolly in broad day-light
on Gravel-pits, within a rifle shot from the Camp, that would be a job
of a quite different kind just at present: sufficient the trouble to mention;
that when I came out of gaol, I met them both in a remunerative hole
in Gravel-pits, as aforesaid.
11. 12. There were two other individuals of the John-bull caste,
perhaps cross-breed, who had taken up arms in the cause of the diggers,
because their sly-trade was flagging; but, as a rotten case abides no handling,
I will let them pass.
Manning, handed over to Lalor the motion drawn up in my tent. Here it is:-
Proposed by John Manning,
Seconded by Carboni Raffaello,
I. That Peter Lalor has acted worthy of the miners of Ballaarat,
in organizing the armed men on Bakeryhill, against the wanton aggression
from the Camp this morning.
II. That he be desired to call in all captains of division now present
on the spot, as well as other persons of importance, well-known good-wishers
to the cause of the diggers.
III. That said parties constitute the council-of-war for the defence.
IV. Lalor to be the president pro. tem.
V. That he proceed at once to the election of the Commander-in-Chief,
by the majority of votes.
Lalor tore up immediately the slip of paper containing the above motion,
because he did not think it prudent to leave written things about in a
public store. I transcribe it from the scrap left among the papers in my tent.
Chapter XXXVI.
Quousque Tandem Abutere, Toorak, Patientia Nostra?
Lalor rose, and said:
"Gentlemen, I find myself in the responsible position I now occupy,
for this reason. The diggers, outraged at the unaccountable conduct
of the Camp officials in such a wicked licence-hunt at the point
of the bayonet, as the one of this morning, took it as an insult
to their manhood, and a challenge to the determination come to at
the monster meeting of yesterday. The diggers rushed to their tents for arms,
and crowded on Bakery-hill. They wanted a leader. No one came forward,
and confusion was the consequence. I mounted the stump, where you saw me,
and called on the people to 'fall in' into divisions, according to
the fire-arms they had got, and to chose their own captains out of the best men
they had among themselves. My call was answered with unanimous acclamation,
and complied to with willing obedience. The result, is, that I have been
able to bring about that order, without which it would be folly to face
the pending struggle like men. I make no pretensions to military knowledge.
I have not the presumption to assume the chief command, no more than any other
man who means well in the cause of the diggers. I shall be glad to see
the best among us take the lead. In fact, gentlemen, I expected some one
who is really well known (J. B. Humffray?) to come forward and direct
our movement! However, if you appoint me your commander-in-chief, I shall not
shrink; I mean to do my duty as a man. I tell you, gentlemen, if once I pledge
my hand to the diggers, I will neither defile it with treachery, nor render it
contemptible by cowardice."
Brave Peter, you gave us your hand on the Eureka, and left there your arm:
an incontestable evidence of Lalor's Pledge.
Manning then proposed Raffaello, and pointed at his scars as an evidence
of his tiger-pluck against the hated Austrian rule, which was now attempted,
in defiance of God and man, to be transplanted into this colony.
I declined, because, during the past winter, I had over-tasked my physical
strength, and did not possess that vigour essential to such an emergency.
Confidence is the bond necessary between the soldier and his officer.
It was my decided opinion, however much a foreigner may be respected
on the gold-fields, that the right man should be taken from among Britons.
Vern here began a portentous lecture on military science, military discipline,
military tactics, and other sorts of militaryism, but his English was
so wretched, his ideas so sky-blathering, his martial ardour so knocking down,
that no one could make anything out of his blabberdom.
Of this I have perfect recollection. He was boasting eternally of his German
rifle-brigade! 500 strong. That he had this brigade he urgently asserted;
but where it was, that's the rub!
No possible inquiry from Lalor could get at the bottom of Vern's prodigal
brigade. Is, then, the grand secret buried within Vern's splendid chest?
No; I mean to reveal it at four o'clock, Saturday, December 2nd.
Carboni Raffaello, who had heard heaps of cant in old Europe, did count
for nothing the oceanic military knowledge of Vern, in spite of his big
trail-sword, that made more jingling than enough.
I commended, in high terms, the conduct of Lalor during the morning,
and it was my impression that he possessed the confidence of the diggers
and should be their Commander-in-chief.
