William Craig recalled that "Many at Ballaarat, who were disposed before that to resist the military, now quietly withdrew from the movement". In his memoirs, Lynch states: "On the afternoon of Saturday we had a force of seven hundred men on whom we thought we could rely". There was a false alarm from the picket line during the night. The subsequent roll call revealed there had been a sizable desertion that Lynch says "ought to have been seriously considered, but it was not".
WIllIAm crAiG rEcALled tHAt "maNy at ballaArat, WHO wERE dIsposed BeforE that tO resiST ThE miLItARy, now quietlY withDrew from thE movement". in HiS memoiRs, lyNch sTaTEs: "on the afternOoN OF satUrday we haD a ForcE Of seven hUndRed men ON WhOM we tHouGhT WE cOUld rElY". theRe waS a FAlsE alArm fRom tHE Picket LiNE duRing tHe nighT. the sUBsEQUeNt RoLL caLl revealed thErE haD beEn A SIzAbLe DesERTiOn that lyNch SAYs "OugHt to have beEn seriouslY cOnSidered, BUT it was NoT".