Battle Mountain

In 1883, the Cloncurry native police, led by Marcus Beresford, were ambushed while tracking Kalkadoon warriors in the McKinley ranges. Beresford and three of his troopers were killed. The following year, the Kalkadoon controlled the area, and white people avoided venturing far from Cloncurry. In 1884, Frederick Charles Urquhart was appointed as the new sub inspector of the Native Police in Cloncurry and restocked horses and native troopers, moving their camp further out of town to maintain discipline. That year, James Powell was killed while mustering cattle. Alexander Kennedy, Powell's business partner, gathered a group of men to join forces with Urquhart's Native Police, forming the first paramilitary force in Australia. The Kalkadoon were tracked to Battle Mountain, where over 900 lay in wait. The Kalkadoon had chosen this place for the battle to take place, and had stockpiled weapons. Urquhart ordered a cavalry charge up the mountain, but the Kalkadoon had the tactical advantage and inflicted heavy casualties. Urquhart was injured in the battle, but regained consciousness and ordered his men to flank the mountain. The Kalkadoon warriors charged down the mountain, but were ultimately defeated by rifle fire.