Governor Phillip is convinced the attack on…
January 1791 CE
There had been similar attacks against unarmed men in the past, in which some settlers had been killed or seriously wounded, and he believes that the natives have to be punished to deter them from any future attacks.
The governor gives orders to capture six Aborigines that are living near the Botany Bay heads, stating that if it is not possible to take them alive, then they ire to be killed.
At the same time, he declares it unlawful for soldiers or settlers to injure or fire on a native except in self-defense, or to take any of their possessions.
A military party is formed, consisting of two captains, two subalterns, and forty privates.
With three days' provisions they are ordered to march to Botany Bay to take the six natives as prisoners, and destroy all weapons of war, but are given strict instructions not to destroy anything else and were not to harm any women and children.
Governor Phillip reasons that seventeen convicts had been either killed or wounded since 1788 and he firmly believes the tribe living on the north arm of Botany Bay, the Bidjigal tribe, to be the principal aggressors.
The goal of the military expedition, according to the governor, is "to convince them of...[British]...superiority and to infuse an universal terror, which might operate to prevent farther mischief".