Below “A view of Eureka Stockade” by B Ireland, c.1890. Courtesy State Library of Victoria.
protectors of the goldfields around Ballarat. Then, in the last days of October the attitude had changed among the disgruntled miners as resentment against harsh mining taxes mounted. Tempers flared. Shots were fired and the miners dug in behind their fortified stockade. It was clear a fight was to follow. Before dawn and fortified with a tot of rum, Neal and the others marched stealthily to positions near the stockade. Plans for capturing the stockade were discussed by the officers and orders issued. Neal fell in behind Captain Henry Wise who was to lead the storming party. Ordered to advance, the redcoats moved quietly forward. Then a shot rang out from the miners’ camp. The captain paused then bellowed, “We are seen. Forward and steady men. Let the insurgents fire first.” Within seconds the first ragged volley of musket shots rang out from the stockade’s defenders. The soldiers faltered. Neal saw Captain Wise fall with blood spreading over his right thigh. Wise regained his feet and limped forward joking, “My dancing will now be spoiled.” Sergeant Daniel Hegarty tried to support Wise, who was again shot and fell to the ground. He was to die some days later. Other redcoats were hit by the miners’ musket fire. Bernard O’Donnell pitched forward in a crumpled heap with blood enveloping his neck. Neal knelt and fired his musket. Many soldiers
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