Henry Davey and his band of bushrangers have taken over old man Crackett's hut in Reilby forest near Liffey, the police at Launceston have been notified and several constables under Inspector Smith were despatched with local man John Blake as guide.
Meeting up at a nearby hut, the police reckoned this would just be a case of surrounding the hut and they would all come quietly, the bushrangers had other plans.
In an extended line the constables and Mr Blake moved off through the scrub, the Davey gang, although having a couple of men on the lookout, were none the wiser.
The blaise attitude of the constables soon alerted the bushranger on lookout, he fired of a "coowee" and the rest of the gang were warned. When the constables showed themselves in the open and almost at point blank range, a volley exploded into them felling two instantly.
As the forces of law and order retreated another constable was shot, Mr Blake made it to safety and reported in a very loud voice what had happened to Inspector Smith at the other hut.
At this moment Mr Greene turned up with his militia, who are just local farmers that had suffered attacks from the Davey gang and wanted revenge. They were soon briefed by the Inspector and moved forward to join Mr Blake in the scrub, unfortunately George Grebell showed too much of himself and got shot, so he left.
Creeping forward inch by inch the posse crept closer to the bushrangers, musketry whistled all around, Mr Blake managed to get a lucky shot in and a bushranger went down, taking advantage the right flank ran in, Crackett's hut was almost within reach.
With both the bushrangers outside the hut now out of action, the rest of the gang were sitting ducks, but they still wouldn't surrender. Gaining access to the rear of the hut one of the farmers fired into the gloom through a window, the shot killed Henry Davey instantly.
The last remaining bushranger standing then surrendered, with his wounded comrade they were led away, the rope at Launceston will be busy soon.
