Sir,
Moreton Bay 8th November 1830
I have the honor to communicate to you the painful and distressing intelligence of the death of Captain Logan, who was surprised and killed by the blacks while on a journey of discovery, about three weeks since.1 As the only remaining 57th officer now at Moreton Bay, I thought it my duty to communicate to you at length the following melancholy particulars of the last days of a much lamented friend and officer of the regiment.
Captain Logan’s object on the late journey was, to lay down correctly on his chart the windings of the river between the Pine Ridge, Lockyer’s Creek, and the Brisbane Mountain, and to ascertain more correctly the course and termination of a creek striking out of the main river at the foot of the Brisbane Mountain, in a North-Easterly direction, and afterwards, (if he met with no obstacles,) to proceed to the Pumice Stone River, and the Glass-houses, and from thence back to the settlement. On Saturday 9th of October, he left this place, and reached the Lime Stone Station the same night, distant overland twenty-five miles. The next day (Sunday the 10th) they all set out upon their journey. The party consisted of Captain Logan, Private Collison 57th Regiment, his servant, five prisoners, (all good bushmen) with two pack-bullocks. They travelled fourteen miles this day, in a North Westerly direction, and encamped on the Lime Stone side of the river. Two or three blacks were seen near the camp place at night. On Monday the 11th, at seven in the morning, the party left their encampment, which was near the River, but they had to proceed four miles further up before they could ford it. On approaching the river bank at the fording place, the blacks assembled in great numbers, upwards of 200, and covered the hill close to where they had to pass, which was on the Lime Stone side of the river, and at this place they began to show a hostile feeling, by throwing and rolling down large stones on the party on passing, but no spears were thrown. At this time Captain Logan was in advance, and finding he could not proceed, on account of the natives, he was obliged to fall back, and wait the coming up of the party. Collison, his servant, seeing what was going forward, fired a shot over their heads to frighten them: this for a time had the effect, and they kept more aloof, but while the party were in the act of fording the river, the blacks closed on them again; he fired another shot while in the river, which again had the effect of keeping them off. The natives appeared to know Captain Edwards, like Logan, belonged to the 57th Regiment, which was at that time being withdrawn from Brisbane in preparation for service in India. The new commandant, who was to assume control of the settlement as soon as Logan left, was Captain J.O. Clunie, of the 17th Regiment.
Logan, for as soon as he had crossed, they repeatedly called out “Commidy Water”, intimating thereby, it is supposed, he should go back over the water. They followed at a distance all this day, hiding themselves occasionally behind trees, and in the long grass. The party then proceeded on to the place where his own horse was lost, on the former journey, and encamped about ten miles to the Northward of Lockyer’s Creek, about halfway between that and Mount Irwin; here the tent was pitched for three days and two nights. On the Tuesday and Wednesday, the 12th and 13th, no blacks seen, and nothing of any consequence occurred during this time; the men were distributed in twos in search of the lost horse, and Captain Logan was alone exploring in a North Easterly direction from the Brisbane Mountain. On the Morning of Thursday the 14th the tent was struck, and all went on towards the junction, and encamped about half a mile from it. No blacks seen, and nothing particular occurred this day. The next day (Friday) was employed in traversing a newly-discovered creek. On Saturday the 16th, Captain Logan left the party early in the morning on horseback, to explore the new creek; he was alone on this duty all the day, and in traversing the first, he discovered a second creek; this perplexed and retarded him for a time, and it was late when he returned from the examination of both.
On Sunday the 17th, Captain Logan said he had accomplished all that he could accomplish at this time, and by his directions, about seven o’clock this morning, they all commenced their return-journey back to the Lime Stone station. At eight he left the party, and went away alone, after having previously told Collison to make the nearest way for the junction of the river, and that he should find the party somewhere about that spot – He fell in with them betwixt twelve and one o’clock, much sooner than was expected, and remained with them about two hours, travelling in company. No blacks had then been seen; and on crossing the river a track was perceived, which resembled that of a bullock or horse; he then told Collison to go on and pitch the tent on the side of a creek, at a spot where they had encamped twelve months before. Captain Logan then, for the last time, parted with them to trace the horse or bullock track, which led him away in the direction of Mount Irwin; at which place he had been desirous of getting some basaltic formations. Collison and the party reached the tent-spot, and encamped about four o’clock this afternoon (Sunday) on the ground previously pointed out by Captain Logan; soon afterwards, the men thought they heard him “cooey”; they answered him, and then waited about half-an-hour when they thought they heard him “cooey” again: he was again answered, and four or five shots were fired at intervals during the evening, and the men fancied they heard him “cooey” in reply two or three times between the shots, but he did not return. The next morning early, (Monday the 18th) two men were sent down the creek to search, because it was known he must cross the creek on returning home; the men saw the track of his horse in the direction of the Lime-Stone. It was then taken for granted he had gone a-head, towards the above place, after missing the party. The tent was then struck, and all pursued their journey back. On this day, Monday, about twelve o’clock, fifty or sixty Blacks made their appearance with spears, shields, and waddies. They hovered about the party shouting, getting behind trees, and endeavouring to close upon the party undiscovered. No shots were fired: they continued their course, and, in an hour or two after the Blacks went off towards Mount Irwin, which was the direction Captain Logan had taken the preceding evening. Nothing more occurred this day; and the party reached safely the same fording-place they had crossed on the Monday before. The encampment this night was chosen on the Pine-ridge side of the river, thinking some signs of Captain Logan’s track might be found on that side; but nothing was seen. The men then marked the trees, and made marks in the sand at the crossing place, to attract his notice (if he had not already passed,) that he might find and know the party had gone a-head. The men walked one by one after the bullocks, to make their track more distinct; this encampment was left on Tuesday Morning, and nothing occurred between this place and the Lime- stone Station, which the party reached on Wednesday afternoon.
Not finding Captain Logan at the above station as was expected, Collison, four prisoners, and private Hardacre, 57th Regiment, started the next morning on a second journey to search for him. The party had light baggage, and travelled between thirty and forty miles this day (Thursday 21st), and about five o’clock in the evening, they arrived at the camp, where Captain Logan’s horse was lost on the former journey. The first thing seen on reaching the ground, was the saddle laying beside a tree, with the stirrup-leathers cut asunder, evidently by a stone tomahawk, and the stirrup-irons gone. The saddle was about thirty yards from the remains of a fire; and it appeared to have been taken there by the Blacks, for the purpose of cutting it on a fallen tree. A space had been eaten round where the horse had been tethered – and there were marks where Captain Logan had taken the horse to water. It also appeared that he had roasted some chesnuts at this fire: the remains of the roasted chesnuts lay about the stump of a tree that had been burning; and it was at this place the Blacks must have surprised him, for his foot marks were very distinct, with long strides, where he had rushed from the fire to his horse. A further search was then made, to see if any signs of struggling or violence could be found; but nothing of the sort appearing, it was then evident he must have jumped on his horse bare-backed, and made his escape: the party then returned to the Lime-stone Station, without having seen a Black on the whole journey. Being disappointed a second time in not finding him there, another party went out, consisting of five soldiers of the 57th and twelve prisoners, to traverse the country all about the junction. The second day, (Tuesday,) after leaving the Limestone Station, they fell in with another traversing party under the direction of Doctor Cooper. Both parties united and travelled together. On Wednesday they reached the place where the saddle was found: Collison, two prisoners, and one soldier, then separated from the rest, and on searching about this part they found a place where the Blacks had resorted to, but there had been no camp: it was on this plain that the back part of Capt Logan’s waistcoat was found covered with blood: part of his compass was also found, as well as some leaves of his note- book. Nothing else being discovered at this spot, they returned back to the remainder of the party. On the following Morning, (Thursday,) Doctor Cooper, Collison, and five or six men, left the camp on another search, and after travelling about a mile, the Doctor smelled something very unpleasant; he made towards it, and on approaching a small creek with shallow water, he discovered the horse dead in the bottom, covered over with boughs; it appeared a leap had been attempted over the creek, and from the way the horse lay he could not have reached the other side. The Blacks must have pursued him to this place, and the marks were those of a horse in full gallop. One broken spear only was found in the opposite bank, and at this spot the Blacks must have certainly closed upon him. The party then went over the creek, and about seven or ten yards from the opposite bank, the body of poor Captain Logan was found. The back of his head appeared to have been much beaten about by waddies. The Blacks made him a grave about two feet deep, and buried him with his face downward. The body had been carefully covered over by them, but the native dogs had scratched away the earth from his feet, which were found quite exposed. No clothes, or any of his covering, was found except his shoes, which were left near him. The grave appeared to have been made with some care, and long sticks were laid on each side of it. The body was then taken up, put into blankets, and by stages brought to the Lime-Stone Station, and afterwards by water to the settlement. His afflicted family return to Sydney by the “Governor Phillip”.
I have the honor to be & (Signed) George Edwards Lieut. 57th Regiment