The force with which Paget started upon this enterprise was not a very formidable one.

He had for mounted troops some Queensland, South Australian, New Zealand, and Tasmanian Bushmen, together with the York, Montgomery, and Warwick Yeomanry.

His infantry were the 1st West Riding regiment and four companies of the Munsters.

His guns were the 7th and 38th batteries, with two naval quick-firing twelve-pounders and some smaller pieces.

The total could not have exceeded some two thousand men.