 Due to the ongoing hostilities Governor Brisbane declared martial law on 14 August 1824.The Commandant at Bathurst, Major Morisset, was given greater powers over Aboriginal people, and troop numbers at Bathurst were increased to seventy-five, and magistrates were empowered to administer summary justice.With the armed colonisers now backed by the military the violence quickly escalated, and the Wiradjuri people were terrorised and killed in increasing numbers.