Massacre at Leichhardt River

Date: 1 Dec 1861
Place: Leichhardt River
Event type: massacre
Direct violence: Yes
Encounter by Frederick Walker's expedition in search of Ludwig Leichhardt and Burke and Wills with Aboriginal people at Leichhardt River. 'My men shot two ducks in the river; and a couple of blacks were watching them a little down the river. After dinner, or a make-shift for one, my men went over towards the river, in hopes of getting some ducks; but as they were crossing the plain they saw two mobs of blacks approaching. As their appearance looked hostile, they returned to camp. I directed Mr Macalister, Mr Haughton, Patrick, Jungle, Rodney and Coreen Jemmy, to get some horses saddled. In the meanwhile Jemmy Cangara mounted a tree, to observe the movement of the blacks. He reported that they were stretching out in a half moon, in three parties. This move, which my men term stockyarding, is, I believe, peculiar to blacks throwing spears with a woomera, the object being to concentrate the shower of spears. It was one long familiar to me, and I directed Mr Macalister to charge their left wing. The result was that the circular line doubled up, the blacks turned and fled. Their right wing which was, I think, the strongest mob, got over the river, and were off, but their centre and left wing suffered heavy loss' (The Argus, 16 April, 1862, p 7).
Notes:
CorroborationRating: *
LanguageGroup: Ngawun
Victims: Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander People
VictimsDead: 6

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Sources

Event mentions

  • Massacre at Leichhardt River
    1 Dec 1861 — Leichhardt River — massacre
    Encounter by Frederick Walker's expedition in search of Ludwig Leichhardt and Burke and Wills with Aboriginal people at Leichhardt River. 'My men shot two ducks in the river; and a couple of blacks were watching them a little down the river. After dinner, or a make-shift for one, my men went over towards the river, in hopes of getting some ducks; but as they were crossing the plain they saw two mobs of blacks approaching. As their appearance looked hostile, they returned to camp. I directed Mr Macalister, Mr Haughton, Patrick, Jungle, Rodney and Coreen Jemmy, to get some horses saddled. In the meanwhile Jemmy Cangara mounted a tree, to observe the movement of the blacks. He reported that they were stretching out in a half moon, in three parties. This move, which my men term stockyarding, is, I believe, peculiar to blacks throwing spears with a woomera, the object being to concentrate the shower of spears. It was one long familiar to me, and I directed Mr Macalister to charge their left wing. The result was that the circular line doubled up, the blacks turned and fled. Their right wing which was, I think, the strongest mob, got over the river, and were off, but their centre and left wing suffered heavy loss' (The Argus, 16 April, 1862, p 7).
    Source: The Argus, April 16, 1862, p 7 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article5713401; Walker, 1863.