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The Castle Hill Rebellion of 4 March , 1804 , also called the '''Irish Rebellion''' and the '''Battle of Vinegar Hill''', was a large scale rebellion by Irish Convict s against British colonial authority in Australia . Martial Law was declared in the Colony of New South Wales for over a week, during which time many dozens, possibly 120 people, were killed in Paddock s 40 km (25 mi) west of Sydney, in the area later known as Rouse Hill and Kellyville .


THE RISING

Many convicts in the Castle Hill area had been involved in the Irish Rebellion Of 1798 and subsequently transported to the Colony of New South Wales from late 1799. Phillip Cunningham, a veteran of the 1798 rebellion, and William Johnston another Irish convict at Castle Hill planned the uprising in which 500 convicts at Castle Hill planned to meet with nearly 1,000 convicts from the Hawkesbury River area, rally at Constitution Hill and march on Parramatta and then Sydney (Port Jackson) itself.

On the evening of March 4th, 1804, a hut at Castle Hill was set alight as the signal for the rebellion to begin. With Cunningham leading, 200 rebels broke into the Government Farm's buildings, taking firearms, ammunition and other weapons. The constables were overpowered and the rebels then went from farm to farm on their way to Constitution Hill at Parramatta seizing more weapons and supplies.

When news of the uprising spread there was some panic with particularily hated officials such as Samuel Marsden fleeing the area by boat. In Sydney Major George Johnston rounded up a New South Wales Corps contingent of twenty-nine soldiers and forced marched them through the night to Parramatta and the Governor declared martial law. Fifty militia were also raised under the auspices of Posse Comitatus and the combined force set out on a night march to attack the rebels.

Meanwhile the rebels at Constitution Hill were having difficulties co-ordinating their force as many men were still missing and the anticipated reinforcements from the other convict farms had not shown up. When news reached Cunningham of the Major Johnston's movements, he decided to withdraw to the Hawkesbury Road to meet up with rebels there.


THE SECOND BATTLE OF VINEGAR HILL


Johnston's forces pursued the rebels until the soldiers were only a few miles away from the rebels. Johnston then sent an Irish Catholic priest known to the convicts, Father Dixon, to the rebels in an effort to have him convince the rebels to surrender but also to slow down the rebels and close the gap between his forces and the rebels.

When Father Dixon failed to persuade the rebels (now numbering approximately 230) to surrender, Major Johnston and a trooper also rode ahead to parley with the rebels. Cunningham and Johnston came forward to meet them but during the parley the footsoldiers caught up and the two rebel leaders were quickly taken prisoner, Cunningham being struck by the sword of the Quartermaster . Major Johnston then ordered his men to open fire on the rebels and an unequal musketry duel began in which the military proved far superior to the untrained rebels. After fifteen minutes the rebels began to break and flee. During the short battle fifteen rebels had fallen but after the battle several prisoners were murdered by the soldiers and militia, Major Johnston preventing more murders by threatening his troops with his pistol.


AFTERMATH

Following the end of the rebellion:
  • Nine rebels were executed, including their leaders, Phillip Cunningham and William Johnston.

  • Two were "reprieved, detained at the governor's pleasure."

  • Four received "500 lashes and exile to the Coal River chain gang." (Coal River was the original name for Newcastle .)

  • Three received "200 lashes and exile to the Coal River chain gang."

  • Twenty-three other rebels were also exiled to the Coal River.

  • Thirty-four prisoners were placed in irons until they could be 'disposed' of. It is not known whether some, or all of them, were sent to the Coal River.

  • The remaining rebels, as well as other suspects, were allowed to return to their places of employment.1 Derived from the book ''The Battle of Vinegar Hill'' by Lynette Ramsey Silver, published by Watermark Press, updated and expanded 2002.


The battle site is believed to be near the present-day Castle Hill Settlement Site and was added in March 1986 to the Australian Registry of the National Estate (Place ID: 2964). Residential development has significantly diminished the area of the battle. Less that 0.2 km&2 (22 hectares) has remained undeveloped and conserved, as Castle Hill Heritage Park (2004). There is a sculpture at Castlebrook Cemetery commemorating the battle. However, there is some debate as to where the battle actually occurred.2

The Bicentenary of the rebellion was commemorated in 2004, with a variety of events.3


SEE ALSO

  • The first Battle Of Vinegar Hill in Ireland; this rebellion is sometimes referred to as the second Battle of Vinegar Hill



ON SCREEN

A Australian 1978 TV series, '' Against The Wind '', included a dramatisation over two episodes of the build-up to and ultimate defeat of the rebellion.


REFERENCES


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