Attack on A Maori Pah.Frontispiece.
Bush Fighting.
Illustrated By
Remarkable Action and Incidents
of
The Maori War in New Zealand.
By
Major-General
Sir James Edw. Alexander
K.C.L.S., F.R.S.E.;
Author of "A Campaign in Caffreland," "Explorations in
Africa and America," etc.
Africa and America," etc.
With A Map, Plans, and Woodcuts
London:
Sampson Low, Marston, Low and Searle.
Crown Buildings, 188 Fleet Street
All Rights reserved.]
London:
Printed By William Clowes And Sons,
Stamford Street And Charing Cross.
Reprint Published by
Capper Press
Christchurch, New Zealand
1973
Printed offset by
By Permission,
Most Respectfully Inscribed
To
Field-Marshal
His Royal Highness The Duke of Cambridge,
K.G., G.C.B., K.P., G.C.M.G.,
Commanding in Chief,
By the Author.
"The British Army, under whatever system, must always be the army of Marlborough and Wellington. It will ever, when the occasion requires and permits, inscribe new glories on the tablets of history and maintain its imperishable renown."—The Right Hon. Edward Cardwell, M.P., Secretary of State for War.
Introduction.
The incidents of the Maori War of 1860–61 were published by me some years ago. The events which occurred then, chiefly in the Taranaki, were very interesting, subsequent "actions and incidents" were sanguinary and exciting, and afford useful instruction in Bush Fighting. As no other military or naval man (though many were very well qualified to do so) had given a detailed account of the last operations in New Zealand, I undertook the task, for I thought that in justice to the forces engaged, Regulars and Colonials, soldiers and sailors, their gallant deeds, their labours and sufferings, should be recorded. Thus I have introduced the name of every officer, non-commissioned officer, or private sentinel, soldier, or seaman I
Westerton, Bridge of Allan, N.B.,
March1, 1873.
Contents.
List of Illustrations.
London: Sampson, Law, Marston, Low & Searle.
Bush Fighting.
ChapterI.
Bush fighting, where practised—Qualifications for it—Equipment of a Bush fighter—Head-dress, and how one should be shod—Service in Africa, and in the American forest—Mounted Riflemen—Americans appreciate them—Hants Mounted Rifles—First experience in Bush fighting in the Andamans—Mounted Rifles at the Cape—The Bush in New Brunswick—A sketch of the Islands of New Zealand and the Maoris.
Bush fighting is a comprehensive term for warfare conducted in forests, in broken ground, and on the hill-side. Wherever cover can be got, in attack and defence, under the canopy of heaven, there bush fighting can be practised, and it is highly useful to practise it as a part of the army manœres.
Of course, active and wiry men, of sound constitutions, are best adapted for bush fighters.
The equipment of a bush fighter is of great importance, loose, warm, serviceable clothing, nothing tight, or that would constrain action; head-dress light, and, if possible, sun and sabre-proof, and well ventilated. Before 1866 the German soldiers had a heavy helmet; they threw it away, and adopted a light and pleasant skull-cap as a helmet, and they retain it. For infantry, or mounted riflemen, the helmet (much more soldierlike than the shako) should be under a pound weight, with a light chain and ornaments, no spike, but a small, neat, "pine apple" or "acorn" knob at top.
The body to be clothed in a crimson Norfolk jacket, with inside pockets, and dark loose This sort of short boot was found the best for shooting in the Irish bogs, and was well tested.after several months' wear.
The above arrangements for the feet enable a soldier to "shoe" himself, at a moment's notice, and in the dark; a back loop helps this, and no ties or buttons to trouble him.
Red is our national colour, carries with it a great prestige, and should, I think, be adopted by our soldiers, of all kinds, as often as possible. I had the honour at one time of holding a commission in the 16th (or "the Red") Lancers;
I was obliged to equip my men for the bush, in New Zealand, in blue "jumpers" (leaving the red tunics in store), because I could not get crimson flannel shirts. At 1000 yards, all colours are alike, as I proved; red, grey, green, blue, black, all look hazy, except any man wearing a white cross belt, he becomes the target.
At the Cape of Good Hope we had leather trousers or "crackers" for the thorny bushes; but these are not adapted for moist climates; they do well in dry South Africa; also the veldt schoon, or field shoe of untanned hide, which the natives wear, and shift daily, have broad straight soles, and give no corns; rather a comfort.
In Africa we had brown belts, no pipeclay, and long pouches to divide the weight of the ammunition round the waist, the pouch or pouches supported, if too heavy, with shoulder straps. The rifle was cased against damp. For months we slept on the ground, on skins, without a tent, but in rainy countries a pair of blankets
For messes of half a dozen, a small iron pot and kettle, half a dozen tin plates, "tots," and pewter spoons (all having their own knives), might serve for the cooking apparatus.
Mounted riflemen are of great value in bush fighting, those who have seen them on service appreciate them highly. The mounted riflemen of our American cousins following some British infantry, and coming up with them in a wood (in the War of 1812), fatigued after a long march, attacked them at great advantage to the fresh rifles. This was a lesson not to be forgotten.
I could find no good manual on bush fighting; but this we know, that the people who have had most experience in it are the Americans. Some of their late operations in the bush were on a very large scale, and splendidly carried out; both sides being most expert in the use of the axe, and in bush work, entrenchment, and abattis, on the greatest scale; these were made in a surprisingly short space of time, and both held and attacked with the greatest tenacity.
Some of the accounts of them published at the time of their sanguinary distressing civil war, were most interesting.
I consider Colonel Bower's Corps of Hants Mounted Riflemen quite a pattern one. I saw a number of them at the Autumn Manoeuvres of 1872, in low-crowned hats and feathers, grey loose coats, loose cords, Napoleon boots, rifles and swords; they seemed able to go at any place or ditch. Dismounted, and one holding three horses, to skirmish with great effect on foot.
What was objected to by some old officers
Lieut.-Colonel Evelyn Wood, V.C., 90th Light Infantry, who raised a cavalry corps in India, has experience and good ideas of what mounted riflemen should be; that is, mounted infantry carried to a particular point, and executing certain duties without delay.
Mounted men might be of three classes: dragoons, broad-backed and stalwart, to charge with an overpowering crash, or complete a victory on a beaten foe; light cavalry, to reconnoitre and feel for the enemy, as the russian Hulans did in the late war; and In the bush fighter's kit, besides his Bible, I would particularly recommend that he place a very useful and portable volume by a very distinguished officer—'The Soldier's Pocket-book for Field Service,' by
My first experience of bush fighting was under very peculiar circumstances, and in a strange locality, since rendered notorious by the cruel assassination of the deeply regretted Governor-General of India, Lord Mayo, in the
I was a cornet of Dragoons (the 13th L.D.), and proceeding from Madras as a volunteer to the first Burman war. The transport in which I sailed, with a wing of the 45th Regiment, ran short of water, and I landed with the chief mate, a Malay coxswain, and six Lascars, to search for water on the Little Andaman Island. The boat, with a boat-keeper, was anchored off the shore, and we proceeded
Presently black heads appeared in the bush; we made signs of drinking, and approached the wild-looking natives, a negro race supposed to be from an Arab slave ship wrecked here long ago. They immediately drew their arrows to their ears, and defied us to approach. I offered them handkerchiefs, the red cap of the coxswain, all in vain, no signs of peace. The mate stood by me and the brave Malay coxswain; the Lascars had all fled, and waded into the sea to get to the boat. We had no arms except a sword I carried, so it was resolved to return to the ship and get an armed party. This was done; Major Hilton gave some of his fine old corps, the Sherwood Foresters. We landed again; but a hut of the natives having been discovered by the soldiers inside the bush, and some of the fishing gear in it being pulled about, must have irritated the natives, for we had not proceeded far along the beach, till a rattling shower of arrows came among us, as the nearer we got to it the safer we were, the bugle sounded the advance, and we charged into the bush. The natives immediately fled—little active fellows they were; we then found the water, sat down to a meal, and the natives stole on us and shot a man in the loins, and he died. We kept the assailants off with men in the trees, and, filling our casks, rowed off to the vessel. I have much reason to be thankful to Divine Providence for not having "a brief career" on this occasion.
After this we saw some powder burnt in Burma, on the Irrawaddy; where else I smelt the villanous saltpetre "in the open," I need not here more particularly recapitulate. We wanted "bush" in the Crimea for firewood, but it was very hard to be got. At the Cape of Good Hope there was plenty of bush fighting in the first Caffre war; there I saw mounted riflemen working on foot like a pack of hounds;
With Lieutenant Simmons, R.E. (now Lieut.- General Sir J. Lintorn A. Simmons, K.C.B., Governor of the Royal Military Academy), and Lieutenant Woods, 81st (now Major Woods), we attacked the bush of New Brunswick and Canada East with axes, and, with our three parties of lumbermen or woodsmen, hewed our way through it for 300 miles, to explore and survey a track for the military road, Quebec to Halifax.
As if I was never to have done with the bush, I was directed to go to New Zealand to assist in the Maori war, in 1860. Thus, in various
New Zealand, where occurred the bush fighting it is intended to describe in this work, though one of the last of the colonies of the British Empire to be settled, may rise to be one of the first in importance hereafter. It has various and many advantages; the two large islands, the North and the South Island, and the smaller
This favoured region of volcanic origin has a very diversified surface, ridges of lofty mountains and isolated peaks, many of them thousands of feet in height—the grand Mount Cook of the Southern Alps is 13,200 feet high. Amongst these grand ranges are valleys filled with everlasting glaciers, cascades, and on the sea border deep fiords.
Magnificent forests of valuable timber clothe
The native inhabitants of New Zealand, the warlike Maoris, are a very fine race of men, of Malay origin, and who are supposed to have found their way to New Zealand in large canoes, and escaping from oppression and trouble in their own land 500 years ago.
The powerful, well-built brown men have well-developed heads, covered with thick wavy black hair, and the faces of the older Maoris are tattooed in cirćles; many of the younger ones, and the half-breeds, omit this ornamentation.
Te Tarata Hot Springs. To face page 14
The older Maori women have the lower lip tattooed blue, and a little tattooing on the chin. Many of the younger ones omit this; have fine eyes, and a fascinating expression. I hope they will not adopt the fashion, dangerous for the hair lasting long, of drawing it back and depriving the features of their natural frame, the hair. Many of the people still wear flax mats, with tasteful borders of various patterns; others use blankets, shirts, and trousers, and stuff gowns. They look best in their native attire. I tried to introduce for the men the kilt and knickerbockers, instead of trousers, where I was stationed. Of course I did not venture to suggest changes in the ladies' costume.
The language of the Maoris is forcible and expressive, and not difficult to be acquired. They are fond of oratory, and introduce songs in their harangues; as to music, they are much impressed and touched with it. I am not aware that they have yet had the advantage of hearing the martial strains of the great Highland bagpipe, than which nothing is more exhilarating
Thirty or forty years ago the rough whalers and traders, who came from the North to the coasts of New Zealand, did not improve the manners and customs of the Maoris; firearms were introduced, native wars went on, and land was acquired from the natives by sometimes questionable means, leading afterwards to disputes and great trouble. Then the missionaries appeared on this field, and were of great service in the cause of civilization and religion; they did their best, and certainly put an end to cannibalism, which now it is a disgrace even to hint at. No doubt it originated in a craving for animal food where there were no wild animals to satisfy a raging hunger.
Missionary influence might always be well exercised in promoting the construction of better ventilated houses than the lowly and confined huts or wharrés of the natives, suggesting sanitary arrangements generally, and how to preserve health by self-control in various ways.
Merchants of high character and settlers, who would disdain to occupy native land improperly, have materially helped, and will assist in the work of native progress.
The Maoris are great agriculturists, and since the destruction of the gigantic race of birds, the Moas, 12 and 14 feet in height, and the want of objects of the chase, the Maoris were obliged to look to their mother earth for support. Potatoes, originally left by the great navigator Cook, form their staple food, and pigs, also Cook's gift. There are now wild cattle in the woods; pheasants introduced of late years are rapidly spreading in the islands; and game will probably be plentiful.
A beautiful and interesting publication by
The New Zealand quadrupeds consisted long ago of a rat. In the lakes and rivers there are only eels and a species of white-bait, but round the coasts abundance of the finny tribes. Salmon are attempted to be introduced. They require a cold sea to resort to, and this can be got off the
The Maoris have shown themselves not only to be brave soldiers, but good whale fishers, bold and active in boats. In the days of Cook it is supposed they numbered 200,000 souls, and now 40,000; the Europeans 200,000. As at Natal, where some tribes under British protection do not diminish but increase, so might the Maoris under good management and a wise system.
New Zealand has been under British governors since 1840. It was necessary to assume possession of it to check the lawless proceedings of the rough white men of various nations, and l. in town, and 5l. in the country, or owning property of the value of 50l.
New Zealand is divided into nine provinces, for the purpose of local district government, viz., Auckland, Waikato, New Plymouth (or Taranaki), Nelson, Otago, Canterbury, Hawkes Bay, Southland, and Marlborough. I had the honour of commanding in the first of these—Auckland—for some time.
ChapterII.
The Tataraimaka block of land in Taranaki—Abandoned, and to be reoccupied—Appropriation of the Waitara block the cause of the previous war—Is now given up, yet the natives assume the offensive by a deed of blood—A party of officers and soldiers surprised by an ambuscade and slain—Preparations for attacking the hostile natives—Their positions in strong ground—General Cameron forms a corps of cavalry—Lieut. Wallis's adventure—The troops march out of New Plymouth to engage the enemy at Katikara—The transport service—Dispositions for the attack of the enemy's position—The details of the fight—Loss of the enemy, and their gallantry—Their defeat—The troops thanked—The General returns to Auckland to engage in another campaign in Waikato.
The Tataraimaka block of land, twelve miles south of New Plymouth, Taranaki, from which the European settlers had been driven during the previous contest with the Maoris, had been retained by the natives as they said "by right of conquest," and it was now determined to reoccupy it.
The cause of the war of 1860-61 was the D.J. Gamble. Edwa Weller, Litho. Red Lion Square.
Published by Sampson. Low,. Marston Low. &-Sazrle; Crown Buildings. 139 Strt. London.
Unfortunately before the proclamation was issued, the Tataraimaka block was occupied by the troops at St. George's Redoubt, the natives making no opposition. General Cameron had long before strongly advised that whilst negotiations were in progress for peace, the Tataraimaka block should be reoccupied as one of the preliminary conditions of peace; but this wise counsel was not followed.
In a letter to the War Office, of March 1862, General Cameron says, "Before leaving the Waitara, and while the bulk of the force
On the 4th of May, 1863, the natives assumed the offensive, marking their hostility by a very dark deed of blood; formerly they used to give warning of hostile intentions, but on this occasion they did not do so. Two officers, Lieutenant Tragett and Assistant-Surgeon Hope, were coming in from Tataraimaka to New Plymouth, and having reached a point on the sea beach (four and a half miles from Tataraimaka) where the Wairu Turbulent water.
Two bullock drays on their way to Tataraimaka, with stores from Poutoko A boundary stake; that is, a staff driven into the ground to mark a boundary.
A party of thirty men, under Captain Shortt, 57th Regiment, immediately proceeded from Poutoko to Wairu, and found the bodies of the officers and men. One body was not discovered until the 30th of May.
In consequence of this atrocity the Oakura (St. Andrew's) Redoubt was thrown up on high ground commanding the beach, at a point two miles south of Poutoko, and garrisoned by 150 men of the 57th Regiment.
The day before the massacre of the party just described, a report was brought into New Plymouth that an ambuscade was about to be laid; the report was not believed, but Captain Greaves, Deputy Assistant Quartermaster-General, was directed to go towards Tataraimaka to make observations. He did so, and as he approached the place where the party was afterwards destroyed, a Maori woman came out of the bush, and throwing her arms round the neck of Captain Greaves' horse, and pointing to the bush below, said, "No go!—bad man—no go!" This was at noon, when Maoris usually eat. A settler came
His Excellency the Governor Sir George Grey, K.C.B., and General Cameron, C.B., Commanding the Forces, were at this time at New Plymouth, the military head-quarters not being yet removed from Auckland. It had been intended that the 65th Regiment should have embarked for England, and be relieved by the 2nd battalion of the 18th Royal Irish; but all moves were now suspended, and the Head-quarter Staff, 150 men of the 70th Regiment, and 100 of the 40th Regiment, with a quantity of entrenching tools, camp equipage, &c. were placed on board H.M.S. "Eclipse," for New Plymouth, where they were disembarked on the 10th of May.
The Maoris now were full of fight, and took up a strong position on the spurs of the Kaitaki
Though the ground was in many places open to the eye towards the Maori position, yet it was intersected by deep gullies, covered with bush and clothed with high fern, and in several places with thick undergrowth.
The redoubts at Oakura and Poutoko were square, 50 yards by 40, and flanked at opposite angles by square projections or bastions.
To supply the want of cavalry, General Cameron had decided on the employment of a mounted force at Taranaki, and made arrangements for 100 men, under the command of a zealous and intelligent officer, Captain Mercer, R. A., being at once converted into a troop of cavalry, as a temporary measure in this emergency. Sabres, carbines, and revolvers were issued to them.
OakuraTo face page 26.
In the first Caffre war (1835), at which I assisted, Sir Benjamin d'Urban mounted a very useful body of men in a similar manner from the 75th Regiment.
On the 29th of May, Lieutenant Wallis, 57th Regiment, when passing between Oakura and Poutoko redoubts, was fired on by a party of natives in ambush, half a mile out of Poutoko. His horse was shot through the head—one of the natives rushed to tomahawk Lieutenant Wallis; he fired his revolver, and the native fell, and the others made off. The wounded man was afterwards captured by a party under Colonel Warre, C.B., 57th Regiment.
It was on the left bank of the Katikara river that the natives had collected about 600 fighting men in a strong pah, and General Cameron determined on attacking their position and striking a decisive blow.
He accordingly marched out of New Plymouth on the night of the 3rd of June, with nearly the whole of the regular troops forming the garrison of the town, and proceeded towards
The column having been joined on the line of march by detachments of the 57th Regiment from the outposts, arrived at St. George's Redoubt a little before 4 o'clock on the morning of the 4th of June. The strength and composition of the force was as follows:—
General Staff, 5; Field officers, 5; Serjeant, 1.
Medical Staff, 2.
Commissariat Staff, 1.
Royal Artillery—Captain, 1; Subalterns, 3; Non-commissioned officers and men, 125.
Royal Engineers—Subalterns, 2; men, 13.
40th Regiment—1 man.
57th Regiment—Field officers, 2; Captains, 3; Subalterns, 8; Staff, 3; Non-commissioned officers and men, 380.
65th Eegiment—Captain, 1; Subalterns, 2; Non-commissioned officers and men, 82.
70th Regiment—Field officer, 1; Captains, 3; Subalterns, 6; Staff, 1; Non-commissioned officers and men, 224.
Transport Corps—Captain, 1; Non-commissioned officers and men, 6.
Total, officers and men, 873.
Before leaving New Plymouth the General had arranged with Captain Mayne, R.N., that H.M.S. "Eclipse" should be at the mouth of the Katikara river before daybreak, ready to cooperate in the attack.
Colonel G. D. Gamble, the Deputy Quartermaster-General, to whose share fell all the arrangements for moving and camping the troops, remarked, as to transport, that the bullock-carts in the province of Taranaki could not be surpassed in suitability to the nature of the country. A light handy dray, capable of conveying half a ton, was drawn by four or even two bullocks; these carts kept up tolerably well with the ordinary pace of a column, and were, in fact, the only kind of transport which could be relied on for communication in New Zealand during the winter months, when deep ravines
The Katikara river, which was the southern boundary of the Tataraimaka block, and divided European from native land, takes its rise in one of the ranges of Mount Egmont, that noble feature in the New Zealand landscape, its snowcapped peak 8270 feet high. The Katikara flows between steep banks of from 50 to 60 feet high, in a N.W. direction to the sea. The stream is rather rapid, average breadth 25 feet, except at its mouth, where it spreads out, and is only a foot and a half deep.
Besides this ford Mr. Bayley, a Tataraimaka settler, gave information of another 600 yards up the river, and giving easy access to the left bank.
About 600 yards from the upper ford, and S.E. of it, the Maoris had thrown up a palisaded earthwork or pah; this marked the right of his position, whilst his left rested on the flax bushes and the road near the beach.
To attack this position the general ordered the following disposition of the force to be made. The demi-battery, Royal Artillery, under Captain Mercer (three Armstrong guns) moved along the right (or north bank) of the Katikara river about 500 yards, and unlimbered close to its edge; the 57th Regiment, under Colonel Warre, took up a position in support of the guns and to their left. The guns were to shell the gullies, rifle-pits, and surface of the ground on the opposite bank and plateau, so as to drive the enemy from his cover, and were also to play on the enemy's redoubt above alluded to, and which appeared to be his strongest point.
Under this fire, combined with that of H.M.S. "Eclipse," on board of which was his Excellency the Governor (well acquainted with Maori warfare in 1846), the 57th Regiment was to cross the stream at the upper ford, there two and a half feet deep, and on descending the bank throw out skirmishers to the front; one division to wheel to the right, sweep the plateau towards the sea, clearing the enemy's rifle-pits at the
All these arrangements were carried out in a way that left nothing to be desired.
At a preconcerted signal the heavy guns of H.M.S. "Eclipse" threw their shells (100-pounder Armstrong and 8-inch) with good effect into the enemy's position. The 57th advanced under Colonel Warre, C.B., in admirable style, under the accurate fire of Mercer's Armstrongs, their right being covered by skirmishers of the 70th Regiment along the right bank of the river; the 57th ascended the plateau, when they came on a sharp musketry fire from the thick fern and from the rifle-pits of the enemy, whom however they soon drove in confusion before them.
The leading division, conducted by Colonel Warre, C.B., consisted of volunteers under Lieutenants Brutton, Waller, and Ensign Duncan; Brevet Lieut.-Colonel Logan commanded the supports.
While these movements were in progress, the 70th and detachment of the 65th Regiments were in reserve in rear of the St. George's Redoubt (which was near the beach, and 280 yards north of the mouth of the river), and were ready to move to any point at which they might be required.
As soon as the General perceived that the 57th Regiment were carrying everything before them towards the road and the sea, he led the reserve rapidly across the river's mouth, and ascended to the table-land without opposition; the enemy, having thrown up a mound, with a light palisading, had already fled with precipitation from that point. On reaching the high ground, the musketry and cheering announced that the 57th were assaulting the pah.
Lieutenants Brutton and Waller had wheeled
Meanwhile Ensign Duncan had wheeled his party to the left, and, supported by the main body under Colonel Logan, pushed on towards the pah, strongly entrenched. The 57th were received by a heavy fire from the rifle-pits round the pah, but nothing daunted by the serious opposition and heavy fire of the enemy, Ensign Duncan pushed steadily forward, closely followed by the divisions under Captains Shortt and Rupell, under the immediate command of Colonel Logan, and supported by Captain Woodall and Lieutenant Thompson with the two remaining divisions.
In a few minutes the fire was returned, but finding it of no avail against an almost invisible foe concealed in rifle-pits, the whole rushed forward with the bayonet, and vied with each other in entering the position. Jumping over
Twenty-one Maoris were taken out of the rifle-pits killed, and seven were burnt in the wharres, and many wounded were seen to escape into the bush, after fighting with great bravery.
The loss to the troops in this very dashing and well-arranged conflict, was three men killed and eight wounded.
The General was an eye-witness to the rapid and regular manner in which each party performed the duties allotted to it. Of the personal
Colonel Warre thanked Lieutenant and Adjutant Clarke for his zeal and energy, Ensign Mace of the Taranaki Militia, Mr. R. Parris, assistant native secretary, Quartermaster Martindale, Sergeant Cleary, and nine volunteers of the 70th Regiment.
The wounded were taken on board the "Eclipse" for New Plymouth, to which the Lieutenant-General and staff, with 150 of the troops, returned by the same opportunity, and disembarked at 1 o'clock p.m. The remainder of the troops marched back from Tataraimaka to p.m., having within the twenty previous hours marched thirty miles, taken part in an action with the enemy, and twice forded four rivers by the way.
The whole force was in high spirits, marched splendidly to a man, and behaved throughout with the characteristic bearing of the British army.
Since the action at the Katikara, the southern natives, Taranakis and Ngateruanuis, were much disheartened with their defeat. Two principal chiefs fell that day, and the son of one of them afterwards tried to rally his father's followers round him.
They began to strengthen a position on the Kaitaki ranges, two miles from the sea, and midway between New Plymouth and Tataraimaka, with long rows of palisading, and flanked at intervals, besides a square pah or redoubt which commanded the approach.
The inhabitants of Taranaki province in the vicinity of New Plymouth were now obliged to
Colonel Gamble, accompanied by Captain Mercer, R.A., and directed by the Lieutenant-General, made a reconnaissance on the north bank of the Oakura river to select the most favourable position for shelling the enemy on the Kaitaki ranges. The natives yelled at the party from the south side of the Oakura river.
It was now found that the enterprising enemy, finding that their rifle-pits had been jumped over, covered them with a line of palisading, a space being left between the bottom of the palisades and the ground (except at intervals) to admit of the men firing on the ground level, after the usual way of defending pahs.
The weather being now very bad in the New Zealand winter, the shelling was deferred, and the General proceeded to Auckland to confer with his Excellency the Governor.
A letter came into New Plymouth from Absalom.
By direction of the Lieutenant-General, Colonel Gamble now embarked in the "Eclipse" with 300 men, detachments of the 40th, 65th, and 70th Regiments, and proceeded to Auckland; the head-quarters of the 18th Royal Irish now arrived—a very timely aid at this particular crisis, when trouble was expected in the Waikato. Colonel Warre remained at Taranaki as colonel on the staff, with 1500 men of the 65th and 70th Regiments and the militia.
The Waikato country—the expected scene of active operations—would combine the advantages of river communication with the benefit of a good road, at which the writer had lively recollections of labour for months when in command of the troops of the outposts of the Waikato.
Military telegraphs had also been judiciously established from Auckland in the direction of the Waikato.
ChapterIII.
Apprehensions of an attack on Auckland—Preparations for carrying the war into the enemy's country—Disaffected natives near the settlements—Murder of settlers—Boats built for the Waikato—Colonel Wyatt's march to Tuakau Conversation with a Maori chief—The natives entrench themselves in defiance of the troops—Lieut.-Colonel Austen (14th Regt.) turns out his command and engages the enemy on the heights of Koheroa—General Cameron gallantly leads on to the rifle-pits—Difficult ground—The enemy defeated Their loss—Their arms—Captain Ring's convoy attacked in the bush near Drury—Eepulsed—Captain Ring attacks the enemy at Kiri-kiri—Reinforced by Colonel Wyatt—Account of him—Valuable services of the Navy—The "Avon" steamer on the "Waikato.
In the end of- June his Excellency the G-overnor and the Minister for Native Affairs having reason to believe that there was considerable apprehension for the safety of Auckland from the Waikatos (the most powerful and warlike tribe in New Zealand), the Lieutenant-General had collected as large a force as possible for its D.J. Gamble.
Edw d Weller, Eitho. Red Lion Square.Published by Sampran Low Marston, Low & Searle, Crown Buildings 188 Fleet Str London
Reinforcements were expected from Australia in July.
Whilst preparations were being made for the expedition up the Waikato, information that the natives were about to rise and murder the out-settlers reached
With this view, on the 9th of July, General
They murdered and plundered several harmless settlers living near the bush. Among those who suffered for remaining on their farms was Mr. Meredith and his son, who, while working in the field, were tomahawked within a mile of Drury; near the same place Fahey, an old soldier of the 58th Regiment, and his wife, were murdered in the same manner. He was a true specimen of the military settler, and had made his homestead a perfect little Paradise, and,
The General established strong posts along the line of communication, and on the 12th of July he crossed, without opposition, the Mangatawhiri, and occupied the high ground beyond it with 400 men, an important position on the Koheroa range, to command the navigation of the Waikato river. The General also, with the assistance of Captain Sullivan commanding H.M.S. "Harrier," had boats built for the transport of provisions and stores up the Waikato, and it was also intended to bring a small steamer up the river to facilitate the operations in a district where they could look for no native supplies.
On the 12th of July 300 men of the 65th Regiment, under the command of Colonel Wyatt, C.B., marched from Drury, conducted by Captain Greaves, Deputy Assistant Quartermaster- General by a bush track towards Tuakau, a native village on the right bank of the Waikato, eight miles below the Bluff
When the 2nd battalion of the 14th Regiment had the honour of being at the advanced outposts of the Waikato, near the Mangatawhiri river, with other troops under my command in 1862, a chief with whom I had friendly intercourse had told me "there is a Totara tree at the Mangatawhiri, which, if you cut it down, and make it a bridge and cross Hoeahs (soldiers) on it to Maori land there will be war; if it is not cut down there will be peace." I said there was no intention of cutting it down, and I hoped that peace would continue.
The Waikatos having been active in hostility in the Taranaki, and also dangerous neighbours to the settlers near their own country, it had been resolved, as I stated, to move into the Waikato country. This intention seemed to be well known to the Maoris, for on the 12th of July a large number of natives were observed
Lieut.-Colonel Austen, 14th Regiment, an active and zealous officer, and much esteemed, He succeeded me in command of the regiment.
Lieut.-Colonel Gamble, Deputy Quartermaster- General, who happened to be present superintending the encampment of the 12th and 70th Regiments, sent immediately a report of
When the troops came within musket shot of the enemy, he opened a sharp fire, to which the 14th skirmishers replied with such effect that the Maoris were soon compelled to retire, which they did slowly and without precipitation.
The advance was along a narrow track, which followed the curvature of open, tortuous fern ridges, the sides of which, in many places precipitous, fell into swamp. The tops of the ridges occasionally expanded into small tablelands of 100 and 200 yards in width, and again contracted into narrow necks and spurs, the whole forming a semicircle in front of the encampment.
The ground over which the enemy retired was thus most favourable for defence, as the only road by which the troops could advance against him led for about five miles over these very narrow fern ridges, the sides of which were too precipitous to admit of turning the
The strength of the enemy was estimated at about 400.
The rifle - pits were defended with great obstinacy, and as there was no artillery in the field, the enemy could only be dislodged with the bayonet, which was done with great gallantry by the young soldiers of the 14th Regiment, led by their commanding officer Colonel Austen, who received a severe wound in the arm during the action.
On coming within range, Captain Strange, 14th Regiment, with his company ran rapidly forward and occupied a ridge on the right of the enemy's retreat, the latter halting immediately under cover of the crest, and opening a sharp fire across the intervening gully on the skirmishers, who rapidly replied.
The main body followed the line of the
As the troops advanced the Maoris, running in dismay to the nearest cover, sprang into a ravine to their right. At this juncture the troops, having formed round the semicircle of high ground which embraced the ravine, poured in a murderous converging fire on the enemy, as he fled through the bottom of it.
Many of them here fell, others again keeping on the high ground retreated to a further ridge, where they again opened fire on the advancing force. The troops again drove them from their vantage-ground, and at length, broken and disheartened, they fled to the Mara-marua, a tributary
The engagement at Koheroa commenced at 11, and ended at 1 o'clock. The enemy, in point of ground and knowledge of it, had every advantage, of which he availed himself with remarkable intelligence and dexterity; and it was a matter of congratulation that, for the first time in the annals of New Zealand warfare, he was defeated in fair combat on open ground without artillery, to the presence of which alone in former wars he attributed the British superiority.
It seems singular that the Maoris, with all their native pluck and activity, had not provided themselves with bayonets or substitutes for them for close combat. It is true they had the flat mere of stone or whale blade-bone and tomahawks, but no swords or bayonets for a charge, or to give confidence after a discharge of fire-arms.
The enemy's loss, always difficult to ascertain with certainty, could not have been less than
Immediately after the action twenty bodies were counted, more were found next day, and there were marks of others having been meanwhile removed. The casualties of the troops were two men killed, one officer (Lieut.-Colonel Austen) and ten men wounded. The enemy threw away their arms, ammunition, food, and clothing to facilitate their escape: this is not unusual in defeats generally. In each of their haversacks or bags was found a three days' supply of damper (flour cakes), and one of the gospels or a Church of England prayer-book in the Maori language, showing that they had once been under the influence of Bishop Selwyn. The slain Maoris were all very fine-looking men, whom one could not help regretting. They seemed Waikato rangatera, or gentlemen.
General Cameron spoke highly of the conduct of the officers and men engaged at Koheroa, and of the able manner in which the troops were
It was suggested about this time that a European regiment, or a regiment of Sikhs, should be sent from India to reinforce the troops in New Zealand, but this was not carried into effect.
A convoy and escort returning from the
The enemy, three times the strength of the escort, as was afterwards ascertained, had taken post in the dense bush, which came up close to both sides of the road, and after the head of the convoy had passed, fired a volley into the centre of it from their concealment.
The horses of one of the carts fell, and the cart to which they were harnessed thus blocking up the road-way, divided the party. The Maoris rushed on the road, and attempted to overcome each party in detail. Captain Ring having withdrawn his men a short distance, charged the enemy with the bayonet, and drove him into the bush.
Finally, the enemy attempted to surround Captain Ring's party, of one subaltern, two sergeants, and forty-seven rank and file, and
The conduct of Ensign Bricknell and that of the men was admirable, under most trying circumstances.
Again on the 22nd July, Captain Ring, at his camp near Kiri-kiri, hearing that two settlers had been fired on by a party of natives, and that one of the settlers was killed, and hearing firing at about two miles from his camp, proceeded there with about 100 men of his detachment and fell in with natives, who were engaged with sixteen volunteers. Fire was opened, and the natives retreated for a time, but rallying, were surrounding the detachment, which lost a man, the natives securing his rifle and bayonet. Captain Ring, knowing that the 65th were not far off, sent an artillery officer, Veterinary Surgeon Anderson, who gallantly vounteered his services, to render assistance, by bringing up a party by a track in the enemy's
The Maories thus being taken by surprise from this timely succour to the 18th, after a smart action of ten minutes, fled toward the dense bush, and darkness now set in, but not before several natives had been seen to fall. The casualties among the troops amounted to one man of the 18th killed and four wounded, one 65th killed.
The officers and men under the trying circumstances to which they were exposed behaved
The officers named as having distinguished themselves at this skirmish at Kiri-kiri, were Lieutenant Wrey and Ensigns Jackson and Butts, 18th Royal Irish, Lieutenant Rait, R.A., Captain Gresson, Lieutenant and Adjutant Lewis, and Lieutenant Pennefather of the 65th, and Ensign J. B. Hayes, Auckland Militia.
Colonel Wyatt, now deceased, was a rough and ready soldier, and had been in the Royal Navy, and was always "full of fight," and enjoyed the excitement of it—just the man for a bush campaign—and liked also to sing a song, and join in a glass of grog, "merry in camp" after a day's work,—
The Royal Navy now came into play with excellent effect, as they had done, as I related in the campaign of 1860-61, always ready to drag guns into position, to fire them, and engage at close quarters with pistol and cutlass. In the old Burman war of 1825-26, none so active, as we recollect, over the stockades as the bluejackets, and here too at the Maori pahs.
The success of the troops in 1863 in New Zealand was owing in a great measure to the valuable assistance rendered by Captain Sullivan, senior naval officer, and the officers and men under his command. A large party of seamen and marines of H.M.S. "Harrier" encamped on the bank of the Mangatawhiri river since the 11th of July, and their services were of the greatest advantage to the land force, all the boats employed in conveying troops and supplies across to the Koheroa having been entirely manned by them.
At the request of General Cameron Captain Sullivan superintended the construction of six large flat-bottomed boats, especially adapted for
Without the aid of such boats operations up the Waikato could not have been carried on, as there was no road on either bank of the river.
The small colonial steamer "Avon" was brought into the Waikato from the Manukau harbour, West Coast, by Commander Mayne, H.M.S. "Eclipse," and was anchored off the Bluff Stockade at Havelock.
Captain Mayne derived great assistance from Captain Greaves, 70th Regiment, D. A. Quartermaster - General, a very zealous and intelligent officer, who had surveyed the lower part of the Waikato the previous summer, and now sounded ahead of the "Avon" and showed the channel.
The "Avon" could carry 200 men—her bulwarks were made bullet-proof and she was armed with a 12-pounder Armstrong gun.
ChapterIV.
March on Paparoa and Paparata—The New Zealand Bush—Cleared along the Great South Road—A party of woodcutters surprised, and lose their rifles—Ensign Dawson's skirmish—The enemy takes up a strong position and fortifies it at Meri-meri—The chief Wuremu Tamehana—The enemy's position reconnoitred—The Maoris attack and plunder the Cameron post—Captain Swift's party—Engages the enemy—Captain Swift killed and Lieut. Butler wounded—Gallant and skilful conduct of Colour-Serjeant McKenna—Non-commissioned officers and soldiers who distinguished themselves—Forest Rangers engaged—Major Lyons and Captain Inman's parties engage natives plundering the settlers.
Broad plains. Rata, covered ground.General Cameron having been informed that a body of the enemy had collected at the villages of PaparoaG.R. Greaves. Edw
d Weller, Litho. Red Lion Square. Published by Sampran Low Marston, Low & Searle, Crown Buildings 188 Fleet Street London
The bush of New Zealand is wonderfully dense and entangled. A European going into it about twenty yards, and turning round three times, is quite at a loss to find his way out again, unless he is somewhat of an Indian pathfinder, and can judge of the points of the compass by the bark of the trees, the sun, &c. Trying to run through the bush, one is tripped up by the supplejack and other creepers. "Why don't they follow the enemy through the bush?" cries some one from an easy-chair at home. Well, the troops always did their best, at much damage sometimes to their shirts, trousers, and skins. It was not
The Hunua forest, between Drury and the Waikato, is a particularly dense "bush;" and after what had happened to Captain Ring's party, on the representation of General Cameron, the Colonial Government had taken steps for clearing the thick bush skirting the road between Drury and the Queen's Redoubt, and the work was commenced by contract. The principle followed at first was, by way of experiment, to clear the undergrowth of thick stuff and saplings, with a view of burning them after a few weeks, in piles, round the large forest trees, which were left standing to be killed by the effect of the fire.
It was believed that, while the labour of clearing would thus be materially lessened, the enemy would be deprived of thick cover, while, should he attempt to avail himself of that
On service, we all know that when a judicious order is given it should be most carefully obeyed. Thus General Cameron had directed that all working parties should have a covering party for protection near them; but on August the 25th this precaution was not taken by a party of one sergeant and twenty-five men of the 40th Regiment, who were employed as bush cutters on the Great South Road, and were at work about half a mile from a similar party of the 65th Regiment.
The men had piled their arms at the edge of the bush near the road under the charge of a single sentry; the enemy came stealthily through the bush and partial clearing overgrown with fern, at the opposite side of the road, drove in three or four civilian bushmen,
While the men were running to fall in, two were shot dead, and the remainder, seeing the arms lost, and that the enemy were getting round them, fell back into the bush.
Fortunately at this moment the advance guard of the regular convoy coming from Drury appeared in sight, and they, with the escort under Captain Cook, 40th Regiment, engaged the enemy, who, it proved, from the extent of the fire, systematically occupied the line of road in force. A sharp skirmish ensued, which lasted more than an hour, the troops being chiefly in skirmishing order along the road, and under the cover afforded by a cutting. The enemy numbered about 160 or 200; one of them was killed, and his body found; five or six others were seen to fall, but were removed. A man of the 18th Regiment was wounded.
The officers, who did good service on this
The enemy had evidently laid his plans for some time, and came solely with a view of securing the arms. Colonel Gamble visited the scene of attack the next day, and arranged with the contractors that the whole of the axe-men, soldiers and civilians, should work together, and be protected by a covering party of forty men, to be furnished from the two nearest military posts.
General Cameron's head-quarters being at the Queen's Redoubt, the head-quarters of the 14th Regiment, under Colonel Austen (who had recovered from his wound), with 100 men of the 12th Regiment, were pushed forward to Whangamarino, Placid river.
Single natives used to pay the troops daily visits at Whangamarino in the most daring manner—to have a shot at the sentries. One night the camp was alarmed By a sentry of the 12th Regiment, who had been attacked by a Maori on his post, and who attempted to seize the sentry's rifle with one hand and to tomahawk him with the other; he cut off the sentry's thumb, but did not get his rifle, and escaped uninjured into the forest.
About this time an Englishman made his escape from the Maoris by swimming the Waikato river. He had been in the Bengal Artillery; he was up the country when the war broke out, and was detained by the natives
One day several large canoes were seen coming down the river from Meri-meri with a white flag flying. On being detained at Colonel Austen's post, they were found to contain a large quantity of potatoes and several milch goats, as a present for General Cameron and his soldiers, as the chiefs at Meri-meri had heard that the General and his troops were short of provisions, and in obedience to the Scriptural injunction, "If thine enemy hunger, give him meat; if he thirst, give him drink." So the chiefs had sent their presents.
On the 25th of September, Ensign Dawson, 18th, was subaltern in charge of the Pokino Bad night.a.m., and when within half a mile of the Pokino village, he was attacked in the rear by a body of Maoris. Ensign Dawson gave the word to face about and charge the enemy, and they were driven down a gully towards a swamp on the right of Pokino, and were then followed for half a mile along a track towards Paparoa. Hearing yells in the direction of Pokino, the party returned along the track to the open ground near the village, and on arriving there they were received with a volley from the enemy, who were extended across the whole of the clearing, and were in the bush on the right. The men were perfectly steady (before an enemy which appeared in great force), remaining in skirmishing order, and keeping up a steady fire, taking advantage of any cover the ground afforded. From the commotion occasionally perceived among the Maoris, the fire of the troops seemed effectual, and the Maoris were removing their wounded.
Captain the Hon. F. L. P. Trench, 40th Regiment, being ordered to move the inlying
Besides Ensign Dawson, who had behaved in a most spirited manner before very superior numbers of the enemy, the names of Ensign Spiller, 65th, Ensign Gomez, 40 th, and Lieutenant Croft, 18th, were brought to the notice of the General for zealous services.
A greater clearing than was at first intended was made along the Great South Road; all trees exceeding two and a half feet in diameter were cut down, and, with the assistance of 100 Nova Scotians, and some German colonists, a breadth was cleared of 220 yards on each side of this important road, so that a passage could
There had been repeated reports of the intention of the enemy to return to the fightingground at Koheroa, but instead of that they took up a strong position higher up the Waikato, at Meri-meri native settlement. From the numbers observed to be engaged in the works there, and their industry in executing them, a determined resistance was evidently intended.
The general position of the enemy was on a high commanding slope on the right bank, looking directly over a reach of the Waikato. On this slope they had made a continuous double line of rifle-pits, running immediately across the track leading from the north to Meri-meri. This track has the great swamp of the Whangamarino, or Mara-marua river, on its left going south; after the swamp the track passes through a thick bush of Ti-tree, &c.
Low down, and near the water level, and in front of their main line of rifle-pits, they had
The intelligent chief, He was called the king-maker, for, to unite the tribes against the Pakeha (or white men) he had instituted a Maori king.
The difficulty of carrying the position by assault could only be lessened by a covering artillery fire; and so four cargo-boats were purchased at Auckland, fitted for the reception of Armstrong guns with their carriages, so as to form floating batteries, and at the same time to transport the guns in a state ready for landing at any point.
The General and Colonel Gamble, to reconnoitre the enemy's position, proceeded in the steamer "Avon" on the 12th of August. Shells and rockets were thrown into the enemy's works, inflicting some loss. The enemy appeared in
The 14th Regiment's head-quarters had been advanced to the mouth of the Whangamarino, and occupied a new stockade there.
On the Waikato were two friendly chiefs, Kukutai and Te Wheoro, and provisions were brought up the Waikato in canoes manned by friendly natives. At a post called "Cameron" commissariat supplies had been stored under the protection of Kukutai's people—en route to the Mangatawhiri for the Queen's Redoubt. The hostile natives, with a force of 200 men, attacked Cameron on the 7th of September, took the place from Kukutai's people, and destroyed the commissariat supplies, consisting principally of bran, oats, and maize, and set fire to the pah.
Mr. Armytage, a district magistrate employed under the Native department of the Government, resided at Cameron in charge of the arrangements for canoe transport, had just reached the place before the attack, and was killed by the enemy.
The attack having been observed from the post at Tuakau, about seven miles higher up the Waikato, Captain Swift, 65th Regiment, commanding there, immediately started with one officer and fifty men in support of the friendly pah.
The route lay over a very difficult and circuitous bush track of about eight miles inland from the river. On coming near the place Maoris were heard through the thick bush speaking, and were at first believed to be approaching the party, who prepared to receive them. The enemy, however, not having come towards them, Colour-Sergeant McKenna volunteered to act as scout, and went forward alone to gain intelligence, and heard the Maoris conversing, and believed from their tone and manner thatthey were partly intoxicated.
Captain Swift then directed the men to fix bayonets and charge into an open space, where the enemy were really on the qui vive, and awaiting them. As our men, led by their officers, came to the clearing, they received a close volley in front, and on the left flank; Captain Swift fell mortally wounded, but directed Lieutenant Butler, the only other officer, to charge the enemy. As this officer was leading the men on, he, too, received a severe wound across the abdomen, after which he shot two Maories with his revolver. Colour-Sergeant McKenna then assumed the command of the party, which he handled, as Lieutenant Butler stated, with admirable coolness and skill.
It should be stated that while Captain Swift was moving to the post, his advance guard of twelve men missed the track, and in consequence of the density of the bush got separated from the main body, which they were never again able to rejoin, although they too were, during a part of the time, engaged with the enemy. Thus the party who met the first and most fatal
Captain Swift, before he left his post, had judiciously sent a report to head-quarters at the Queen's Redoubt, that he was about to start for the relief of Cameron, when the General at once decided on despatching from the Queen's Redoubt 150 men of the 65th, under Colonel Murray, in support.
When Captain Swift fell mortally wounded, after speaking a few words to Sergeant McKenna, he handed him his revolver, and told him to lead on the men after the fall of Lieutenant Butler. The sergeant and his men now charged the enemy furiously to revenge the fall of their officers. Men in charge of Captain Swift and Lieutenant Butler were sent to the rear, and the body of a slain soldier was covered and
About 6 o'clock the enemy had worked round to the rear of the party, and thus cut off their retreat by the way they came. The sergeant immediately ordered a charge, and was met by a volley, which killed one and wounded three men. He now determined to retreat down the hill, which was covered with fern, and, sending on the wounded, he threw out a line of skirmishers, with the order, "Fire, and retire."
In this way they retreated down the hill in a steady, orderly manner, the natives coming out of the bush and firing at the party, but without effect on the men in motion. At this time it was near dark, and scrambling through the bush they lost the track, when the sergeant, calling his men about him, told them he should stay
It was now found that four of the men were missing, but it was hoped they would turn up from the bush before morning. About five next morning the sergeant tried to regain the track out of the bush, and succeeded, and at 8 o'clock they were met half-way from Tuakau by Colonel Murray and his party, and regained the camp at 11 a.m. completely exhausted.
Acts of daring and gallantry like the above are sure to be appreciated, and deserve especial record; and Colonel Wyatt, C.B., recommended to General Cameron Colour-Sergeant McKenna for some special mark of approval on the part of Her Majesty, who, after both his officers had been shot, charged through an enemy heavily outnumbering him, and drew off his party through a broken and rugged country with small loss.* He was most deservedly rewarded with a commission and the Victoria Cross.
The casualties in this affair were one officer (Captain Swift) and three men killed, Lieutenant Butler and four men wounded. Captain Swift was one of the best officers in the 65th; and Lieutenant Butler, in the previous Maori war, had always proved himself to be a valuable officer.
Lance-Corporal Ryan and privates Bulford and Talbot removed their dying captain from the field of action, and remained with the body all night in a bush surrounded by the enemy. Privates Thomas and Cole remained all night in the fern with Lieutenant Butler, and carried him in their arms in the morning towards the camp of the 65th, until assisted by Colonel Murray's party.
Drummer Welsh deserves especial notice, who, when private Grace was killed, picked up his rifle, and emptied his pouch of ammunition and copper caps, under a galling fire, and thus prevented the enemy obtaining that trophy.
Sergeants Bracegurdle and Meara did good service during this desperate affair. As to the enemy's loss, Colour-Sergeant McKenna stated
After I had the honour of being directed by H.R.H. the Duke of Cambridge to raise the 2nd Battalion, 14th Regiment, in a private conversation with that noble officer—the late FieldMarshal Lord Seaton, in Dublin—he said, "We cannot too highly esteem that valuable body of men—the non-commissioned officers of the British army." And thus, as an old soldier, I take pleasure in recording their gallant conduct at all times, as well as that of the brave private sentinel.
On the same day with the above (7th September), a skirmish took place between a party of natives and thirty men of the Forest Rangers (a body of settlers) under Lieutenant Jackson, near Pukekohe, five miles from Drury, and two miles west of the Great South Road; the natives were repulsed with loss, and a Ranger was wounded. The natives also fired on the 65th's post at Razorback Hill.
On the 9th September, Captain Greaves guided a party of the 40th Regiment, under Major Blyth, from the Queen's Redoubt, through the bush to Tuakau; and another party of the 65th, under Lieutenant Warren, to search for missing soldiers of the 65th, of Captain Swift's party; and near Cameron they found the body of private Grace, covered with fern, with a gunshot wound in the face, and a cut from a tomahawk in the chin. The pah was deserted and the huts gutted, and the stores and forage scattered about. One of the missing soldiers paddled himself up to Tuakau in a canoe.
A party of the 18th Royal Irish, under command of Major Lyon, late 92nd Highlanders, also Militia Volunteers, Auckland and Waeroa Rifles, were actively engaged against parties of Maoris attacking and plundering settlers' houses.
Major Lyon was ably supported by Lieutenant Rupell, 18th, Lieutenant Jones, Militia Volunteers, Ensign Tole, A.R.V., and Mr. McDonald, native interpreter, Lieutenant State and Ensign Johnson, Waeroa Rifles, and
Lieutenant-Colonel Chapman, 18th Royal Irish, commanding at Drury, received a report from a Militia officer, Captain Moir, that his drays conveying stores had broken down at a bad part of the road not far from Pukekohe, and that firing was heard towards the stockade there. Captain Inman in command of a party immediately hastened towards the stockade, and found the enemy surrounding and firing into it; a sharp skirmish of an hour ensued, when the enemy withdrew, firing and shouting, leaving twelve men killed. The loss of the troops was three men killed, and Captain Saltmarshe, 70th, and six men, wounded.
ChapterV.
The scene changes to Taranaki—Ambuscades planted by the troops—Skirmishes with the enemy—General Galloway—The Maoris advance to attack Poutoko—Major Butler and Captain Shortt engage the enemy—The wounded nobly assisted—Activity of the officers of the Rangers—A repulse in the province of Auckland of Lieut. Lusk's party—Expedition to the Thames, and its object—General Cameron reconnoitres the enemy's position at Meri-meri—The works there are abandoned and occupied by the troops.
The scene now changes for a time to Taranaki. Captain Russell, 57th, was in command of the party at Poutoko, and on advising with Mr. Carrington, of the Native department, it was determined to plant an ambuscade and surprise the natives near the post. Accordingly officers and men, to the number of ninety, went out on the 15th of September, and were placed under cover on both sides of the Wairao road. After waiting two hours, eight men of the enemy
Colonel Warre, commanding the troops in the Taranaki district, reported on the 26th of September that the military and civil forces under his command inflicted a severe loss on the enemy.
On the 24th of September it was reported that Mr. Clare, a settler at a.m. on the 25th, with a party of 180 officers and men, on the road toward Mataitawa. Major Butler placed two-thirds of his men in ambush and held the others in support in the rear. A party of natives came along the road, and fire was opened upon them, and they were followed by skirmishers as far as the Waiongona river; the chief Enoka, Wuremu Kingi's brother, fell on this occasion, and three or four other natives. Captain Shortt, commanding a portion of the troops was favourably noticed; he had some
Colonel Galloway of the 70th, a very zealous and excellent old officer, being now promoted to Major-General, was applied for by General Cameron to be detained in the colony in command of 3000 men, militia and volunteers, in the province of Auckland. He had had the honour of drilling the Duke of Cambridge when he was a young officer.
On the 20th of October a force under the direction of Colonel Warre, C.B., engaged a large body of natives, who had assembled near Poutoko Redoubt, with the intention of attacking it, and after more than an hour and a half's sharp fighting compelled them to retreat with considerable loss. The action was characterised by the gallantry invariably displayed by the troops, and which resulted in liberating the neighbourhood of New Plymouth from the main body of the enemy, who retreated to their pahs, about fifteen miles further south.
The Maoris, six or eight hundred strong, had advanced to attack Poutoko where Captain Wright, 70th Regiment, commanded, and large fires in various directions were evidently intended to divert attention from the real point of attack.
Major Butler, 57th, was ordered out to Poutoko with eighteen officers and 300 men to reinforce it. He found the Maoris advancing on it from the right and rear of the redoubt, and as the ground was tolerably open he advanced to meet them with about 100 men of the 57th and 70th Regiments.
Colonel Warre coming up, directed Captain Shortt to proceed towards Allan's Hill, and Captains Atkinson and Webster, of the Taranaki Rifles (most useful officers of Bushrangers), to continue the march towards Waireka gully.
Major Butler became engaged with a very superior number of the enemy, who had possession of the bush flanking the fields over which he had advanced. Ensign Powys, who commanded the advance guard, and four men,
Captain Shortt now coming up, and attacking on the enemy's right flank, enabled Major Butler to recover his ground, and obliged the enemy to take refuge in the densely-wooded gullies, and from the high trees on the opposite banks they kept up an incessant fire.
Captain Shortt found himself opposed by a very large number of Maoris, who for a time disputed his passage across a narrow neck of land between two gullies, but with determined gallantry his party forced their way across the broken, half-cleared ground, and the arrival of the Volunteer Rifles, under Captains Atkinson and Webster, enabled the troops to become the assailants, and the Maoris were driven into the bush-covered gullies.
During the action, which lasted upwards of an hour, word was brought to Colonel Warre that two or three hundred Maoris had crossed
The Maoris, finding they could make no impression, gave vent to their rage by repeated volleys and frightful yells, after which they retired. The troops bivouacked on the ground in the afternoon, and then returned to New Plymouth, leaving a reinforcement of fifty men in the redoubt.
Besides Major Butler, who perseveringly strove to keep back the enemy, Lieutenant C.M. Clarke, Deputy Assistant Quartermaster- General, and Lieutenant Brutton, Garrison Adjutant, ably assisted Colonel Warre, as did also Acting Adjutant Thompson, 57th Regiment, Surgeon McKinnon, Captains Shortt, 57th, and Wright, 70th, Captains Atkinson and Webster, and Ensign Douglass. Especial notice of the General was requested to be directed to
The casualties in the action at Poutoko were one man killed and an officer (Ensign Powys) and seven men severely wounded.
In all weather and at all hours Captain Atkinson (the senior officer in command of the volunteers organised to patrol the Taranaki settlement) sought the enemy with his companies, and assisted by Captain Webster and the officers and men under their command, by constantly patrolling New Plymouth and the outskirts of
On the 23rd of October an unfortunate occurrence took place not far from Drury. Lieutenant Lusk, in command of the Mauku stockade, hearing that a party of the enemy were shooting cattle at Wheeler's farm at Ti-ti, started from his post with three officers and sixty men, Waikato militia, and Mauku volunteers. The advance party, under Lieutenant Percival, got close up to the enemy under cover of the bush; when discovered, they were hotly pressed by the enemy, and retired skirmishing in good order on the main body without loss. Lieutenant Lusk then advanced with Lieutenant Norman and eight men, and drove the enemy through a strip of fallen timber on to open ground beyond; the enemy then wheeled round on the left flank of Lieutenant Lusk into the standing forest, and being strongly reinforced there, Lieutenant Lusk retired his men. While recrossing the fallen
The casualties were Lieutenants Percival and Norman, and five men killed, one man severely wounded, and one man missing. The officers fell fighting in front of their men. Sergeant Hill and Private Wheeler particularly distinguished themselves by their gallantry. The Maoris' loss was supposed to be sixteen killed, and a great number wounded.
Upon hearing the above, General Cameron immediately ordered Colonel Chapman, commanding at Drury, to despatch reinforcements under Lieutenant-Colonel Nixon, commanding Colonial Defence Force, and Major Ryan, 70th, to intercept and attack the enemy, but he had decamped from the neighbourhood. Colonel
From this it will be noted that "sharp practice" was going on in the district of the Great South Road, and that all required to have "their loins girt and shoes on their feet," besides arms in their hands.
The 43rd Light Infantry, and 50th Regiment, and 68th Light Infantry were now ordered to New Zealand from the East, as it was evident reinforcements were urgently necessary.
In November a force of 800 men, regulars and militia, and fifty colonial cavalry, embarked at Auckland under the command of Colonel Carey, 18th Royal Irish, on board H.M.SS. "Miranda" and "Esk," and the colonial steamer "Korio," with instructions to land at Hauraki, on the coast of the Firth of the Thames, and to march from thence to Pukorokororo, a native settlement on the same coast. General Cameron had received information that many of the
It was also intended to establish a line of posts between the Thames and the Waikato to shut out the natives, if possible, from the Auckland district, and reduce the number of posts there, and free the troops in them for operations in advance.
The disembarkation of the troops and horses was very efficiently effected by the Royal Navy under Captains Jenkins and Hamilton without loss or accident. Blue and red jackets worked most zealously together. The natives cleared out, leaving the fires burning in the wharres, with all the furniture, cooking utensils, &c. The Thames has since become famous as a rich gold region.
The steamer "Pioneer" having arrived at
The Greneral proceeded up the Waikato in the "Pioneer," under command of Commodore Sir William Wiseman, to reconnoitre the enemy's works; they occupied them strongly, and fired several shots at the "Pioneer" from the ship's guns they had in position: one shot, shaped like a weight, went through the side of the vessel and lodged in a beef barrel. The ground there being very strong, a further reconnaissance was made up the river, with a view of selecting some point at which a force could be landed to turn the enemy's position, while his attention was occupied in front by the steamer and gun-boats.
The enemy being reported to be escaping in canoes up the Whangamarino and its branch the Mara-marua, it was evident they were
The defensive works were directed by Colonel Mould, C.B., R.E., an officer well skilled in Maori warfare.
ChapterVI.
The Waikato river—Rangariri—"Angry Heavens"—Maori entrenchment there—General Cameron reconnoitres the enemy's position, and directs troops to land in rear of it—Arrangements for the attack on the works—Description of them—Difficulty in landing part of the force—The assault ordered—The enemy's lines carried—The 40th Regiment drive the Maoris out of their rifle-pits—Determined resistance of the Maoris in their strong redoubt—Heavy losses sustained there by the troops—Assaults by the infantry, artillery, and the seamen—Operations suspended during the night—The Maoris hoist the white flag and surrender next morning—Account of some of the officers killed and wounded—The war continued.
The Waikato, flowing out of the sacred Taupo lake, in the region of the active volcano, Tongariro, and the snow-clad Ruapehu, is a noble river, a fine full stream, on which I had formerly much enjoyment in paddling in canoes when in command of the outposts of the Waikato. It had bush on the right hand two miles beyond Meri-meri, after this it was mostly open country D.J. Gamble, reduced by J.E.A.
Edw d Wellor, Litho. Red Lion Square.Published by Sampson Low, Marston, Low & Scarle Crown Buildings, 188 Fleet street London.
Rangariri ("angry heavens") was the scene of a very severe action in this war, where many brave men fell, both British and Maoris; the struggle was a hard one—the victory dearly bought. The Maori settlement lay low on the river bank, twelve miles above Meri-meri, and a strong line of entrenchment had been constructed there across the narrow isthmus which divides the Waikato river from the Lake Waikare, thus completely blocking up the road up the right bank of the river.
General Cameron reconnoitred the enemy's position on the 18th of November, in the steamer "Pioneer," and determined on landing a force in rear of the line of entrenchment, for the purpose of cutting off the retreat of the
With this view the head-quarters of the 40th Regiment, 300 strong, under Colonel Leslie, C.B., were embarked on the 20th of November, on board the "Pioneer" and "Avon" steamers, which with four gun-boats proceeded up the Waikato under the command of Commodore Sir William Wiseman, Bart., whilst with a force of 860 officers and men, General Cameron marched from Meri-meri towards Rangariri by the right bank of the river. Both arrived at Rangariri at the same time, 3 p.m.
The troops were halted under the brow of a hill, 600 yards from the enemy's position, and they formed for attack in the following order:—200 men of the 65th Regiment, under Colonel Wyatt, C.B., on the right, one half in extended order and the rest in support; between these, a detachment of seventy-two men of the 65th Regiment, under Lieut. Toker, with scaling ladders
The detachment of the 12th Regiment under Captain Cole, and the 14th Regiment under Lieut.-Colonel Austen, prolonged the line of skirmishers and supports to the left of the 65th Regiment; Captain Mercer's two Armstrong guns and the naval 6-pounder Armstrong under Lieutenant Alexander, of H.M.S. "Curaçoa," in the centre of the line of skirmishers. The detachment of the 40th Regiment under Captain Cooke and the remainder of the 65th Regiment in reserve.
The enemy's works consisted of a line of high parapet and double ditch, extending, as was before stated, between the Waikato and the Lake Waikare; the centre of this line being strengthened by a square redoubt of very formidable construction, its ditch being 12 feet wide, and the height from the bottom of the ditch to the top of the parapet 18 feet. The strength of this work was not known before the
Behind the left centre of this main line, and at right angles to it, there was a strong interior line of rifle-pits facing the river, and obstructing the advance of the troops from that direction; about 500 yards behind the front position was a high ridge, the summit of which was fortified by rifle-pits. As the left of the line of the entrenchments could be enfiladed and taken in reverse by the fire from the steamers and gunboats, General Cameron very judiciously selected that part of the enemy's works for the attack.
The skirmishers of the 65th Regiment were to cover the advance of the ladder party, and, when the latter had succeeded in escalading the entrenchments, were to follow with the support; the whole then bringing the right shoulder forward were to attack the line of rifle-pits facing the river, and having driven the enemy out of it, were to storm the centre redoubt.
The 12th Regiment were to join in the attack on the centre redoubt, and the 14th Regiment
The troops were hardly in position when the enemy opened a heavy fire of musketry from every part of his line, but without effect, the troops being under cover of the brow of the hill.
It had been arranged with Commodore Sir William Wiseman, Bart., that the guns attached to the force with General Cameron and those of the gunboats should, on a preconcerted signal, open fire at the same moment, when the "Pioneer" and "Avon" should also land the 40th Regiment. But the strength of the wind and current rendered the steamers and gunboats almost unmanageable, and at half-past three o'clock, when the signal was given by the General, only one of the gunboats was ready to open fire, and the steamers were still far from the landing-place.
After shelling the enemy's works for an hour and a half, the day being well advanced, and perfervidum ingenium Scotorum and of the old 42nd, in which we had both held commissions.
The whole line of skirmishers and supports rushed eagerly down the slope of the hill, and advanced towards the entrenchment at as rapid a pace as the rugged and uneven nature of the intervening ground would admit, exposed the whole time to a destructive fire from the enemy. Lieut.-Colonel Austen and Captain Phelps, 14th Regiment, and many others were wounded, and fell almost directly on becoming exposed: the enemy's fire was sharp, quick, and heavy, but nothing could check the impetuosity of the assault.
The skirmishers of the 65th Regiment having reached within fifty yards of the entrenchments, and the scaling-ladders having been quickly planted under cover of the fire, the skirmishers and ladder party, followed by the support,
The remainder of the troops on the left, finding it impossible to penetrate the enemy's position on that side, joined the attack on the right, and with the 65th Regiment occupied positions round the centre redoubt, almost completely enveloping the enemy.
Soon after the 65th had passed the main line of entrenchment, the General had the satisfaction of seeing the 40th Regiment landing from the "Pioneer" and "Avon," not far from the spot which had been selected. Colonel Leslie, with Irish spirit—without waiting for the companies to form—directed Captain Clarke to take the first fifty men that were landed and attack the ridge in the rear of the enemy's position, whilst
Leaving a detachment to occupy the ridge, Colonel Leslie, with the remainder of his regiment, joined the force engaged at the centre redoubt.
The main line, and some of the inner works, having been taken as described, the troops closed on the enemy towards the centre redoubt, where he now fought with desperation; and the ladders being rather short, he held his ground against every attempt to dislodge him.
The enemy continuing to defend with great tenacity and resolution, General Cameron ordered two successive assaults to be made on the redoubt, the first by the Royal Artillery, armed with swords and revolvers, led by that
Captain Mercer received a severe wound through the jaw and tongue, the shot having been fired through a narrow opening of the enemy's work facing to the rear, which he was crossing in search of a point favourable for making an entry. Every man who attempted to pass that opening afterwards was wounded, except Lieutenant Pickard, R.A.: he received a Victoria Cross afterwards for nobly exposing himself to assist his fallen commanding officer. Captain Mercer, and the other wounded men who fell after passing the opening, could not be moved out till it was masked with earth and planking.
A second assault was made by ninety seamen of the Royal Navy with cutlasses and revolvers, under direction of Commodore Sir William Wiseman and Commander Mayne, of H.M.S. "Eclipse." They went against the front of the
It was now dark, and the General resolved to postpone further operations until daylight, ordering the troops to remain during the night in the several positions they had gained.
At daybreak, Colonel Mould, C.B., of the Royal Engineers, suggested that a breach should be made in the redoubt by labour with the pick and shovel, and the operation was in progress when, at six o'clock, the enemy hoisted a white flag, and 183 men surrendered unconditionally, and laid down their arms, though they had a plentiful supply of ammunition. It was understood that the works had been manned at the commencement of the action with 700 men. The surrender of arms is always a trying matter for fighting-men. There was hesitation when the Maoris at Rangiriri were told to give
The Maoris at once cordially fraternised with our men (I had seen the same occur at Te Arei pah, in the Taranaki), and were particularly good-humoured under their reverse.
Their immediate leader was Te Piori, a remarkably fine-looking Waikato chief, and among the prisoners were several chiefs of note. They were sent to Auckland, and as a temporary arrangement placed on board H.M.S. "Curaçoa."
The list of British casualties amounted to 4 officers killed, 11 wounded; 37 men killed, 80 wounded. Total, 132 killed and wounded.
The loss of the enemy must have been very heavy; 41 bodies were found in and about
The British loss was severe, but not greater than was to be expected in attacking so formidable a position. General Cameron deeply deplored, in common with all under his command, the loss the service had sustained in the death of Captain Mercer, Commanding Royal Artillery in the Colony, who died from the effects of the wound he received while gallantly leading his men to the assault on the redoubt. It was a serious misfortune that the force was deprived of the services of so able and energetic an officer.
Captain Mercer's death was particularly affecting. His wife was sent for to see him in his last moments at the Queen's Redoubt; and as he was unable to speak, from the nature of the wound in his mouth, he wrote with a pencil, "Do not grieve for me. I die contented, and
Colonel Austen's wound was not at first supposed to be mortal, but he succumbed to it. He was an excellent officer, and well liked in the regiment. As an old soldier, I here take the opportunity of giving a warning against the too free use of tobacco. Poor Colonel Austen was a "slave of the pipe," and his system was full of nicotine—hence the wound was difficult to be got over. Mild tobacco, and very little of it (or none at all), is best. The well-known and highly esteemed Bishop Selwyn, of New Zealand, and now Bishop of Lichfield, when visiting one of our camps on the Waikato, said, when I asked his Lordship if I could offer him a cigar, "The Almighty has given me a certain degree of intelligence, and I don't want to obscure it with tobacco." Narcotics are found all over the world for moderate use, not to be abused—tobacco is certainly abused.
Captain Phelps, 14th, was a fine young man; had been educated for a surgeon, and his wound being in the groin, he knew well what would be the fatal result, and, like Captain Mercer, he calmly resigned himself to his fate. When the doctor, Assistant-Surgeon Temple,
The General had every reason to be satisfied with the conduct of the whole of the troops engaged at Rangiriri. The 65th Regiment, under Colonel Wyatt, C.B., and the detachment of the Royal Engineers, under Captain Brooke, particularly distinguished themselves by the impetuosity of their attack on the left of the enemy's position, and were most gallantly led by their officers, among whom Captain Gresson and Lieutenant Talbot (both severely wounded), with the skirmishers, and Lieutenant Toker, with the ladder party, were most conspicuous. Lieutenant and Adjutant Lewis, of the 65th, collecting a handful of men, gallantly led them against the redoubt, and was severely wounded in the attempt. The rapid and spirited manner in which the 40th Regiment, under Colonel
The Royal Artillery displayed great daring and intrepidity in the assault on the central redoubt, Sergeant-Major Hamilton, and other non-commissioned officers, standing on the top of the parapet and discharging their revolvers into the work.
Captain Brooke, R.E., was most active throughout the engagement; and after the assault by the Royal Artillery on the redoubt, this officer, with the assistance of Lieutenant Pickard, R. A., succeeded in masking, with planks and earth, the narrow opening in the parapet of the redoubt, through which the enemy had kept up a deadly fire, and prevented the wounded from being removed, among them Captain Mercer. Assistant-Surgeon Temple, R.A., here performed an act of courage and devotion to his duty worthy of record, by passing this opening for the purpose of attending to the wounded, although the extreme He well earned the Victoria Cross.
The advice of Colonel Mould, C.B., R.E., and his assistance, were of great value on this occasion; and the officers of the general staff did excellent service in carrying out the instructions of General Cameron; as did Lieut.- Colonel Carey, C.B., Deputy Adjutant-General; Lieut.-Colonel Gamble, Deputy Quartermaster- General; Lieut.-Colonel Sir Henry Havelock, Bart., Deputy Assistant-Quartermaster-General; Major MacNeil, and Lieutenant St. Hill, Aide-de-Camps.
Deputy Inspector-General Mouatt, C.B., P.M.O., caused the, wounded to be promptly attended to and carefully carried on board the steamers. The Royal Navy, under Commodore Sir William Wiseman, gave cordial and most able support. Prominent in the assault with their men on the lines and on the redoubt were
Captain Lacy, commanding H.M.S. "Himalaya," had marched with the General, and was present during the engagement.
The Maoris had never received such a blow as at Rangariri; the capture of prisoners and arms they had not been accustomed to (they had always been well prepared for retreat in case of repulse), and what had now occurred they must have regarded as a heavy misfortune. It was hoped at the time it would have had the effect of re-establishing peace on a permanent basis, but this did not occur.
Tents and stores were landed on the 21st of November, the troops encamped in the position, and the construction of a redoubt was commenced.
ChapterVII.
Ngaruawahia, the residence of the Maori King, occupied by the troops—Ascent of the Rivers Waikato and Waipa—Taupiri—The Queen's flag hoisted—Its effect—The granddaughter of a Chief left as a hostage—Difficulties of the Commissariat—Soldiers should be willing road-makers—Colonel Warre arranges to surprise a pah in Taranaki—The party unsuccessful—"We cannot always command success"—Thanks to the Forces—
Ngaruawahia, at the junction of the Waipa river with the Waikato, was the residence of the Maori king, and it was desirable that the Queen's flag should fly there as soon as possible.
The lower Waikato was now open after the decisive action of Rangiriri—that is, as far as Taupiri, or fourteen miles above Rangiriri, where (at Taupiri) the river runs through a
On the 2nd of December General Cameron moved from Rangiriri, up the right bank of the Waikato, with 850 men, and arrived on the 7th of December at Rahuipokeko, six miles.
On the 8th and 9th the force was conveyed up the river in the "Pioneer," and landed at Ngaruawahia, a distance of about ten miles. No opposition was offered to the advance between Rangiriri and Ngaruawahia, though the latter place was found to be very strongly entrenched.
In ascending the Waikato from Rahuipokeko, the country on either side is flat for a mile and a half; a gorge is then entered, formed by wooded hills, increasing in height till Taupiri Taupiripiri, to clasp round the waist.
Opposite Taupiri was the Reverend Mr. Ashwell's mission station, and at the base of Mount
The General, after reconnoitring Ngaruawahia in the "Pioneer," and seeing the place was abandoned by the enemy, ordered up a force of 500 men, with camp equipage, from Rahuipokeko. This force, with the headquarters of the General, disembarked at Ngaruawahia. The British flag was hoisted on the King's flag-staff, and an encampment, with a double line of tents, was formed on a line corresponding with the Delta, between the Waikato and Waipa.
The moral, political, and strategical importance
The King's flagstaff, 80 feet high (regularly fitted with cross-trees, &c.), was regarded by the natives as a great type of the "King" movement. From information received it appeared that before the place was evacuated, the Ngatemaniapoto tribe wished to cut this flagstaff down, but the Waikatos resisted. Some shots were fired in demonstration of anger, but the flagstaff was saved by the Waikatos, who said they meant to leave it to the General in evidence of their desire for peace!
The progress up the river was necessarily slow, owing to the difficulty of supplying even a small body of troops at a considerable distance from Auckland. There are many shoals in the Waikato, in the New Zealand summer month December, between Rangiriri and Rahuipokeko; the supplies were conveyed in flat-bottomed row
It was understood that the natives had assembled in great force in the front, and had constructed very strong earthworks on all the tracks leading into the interior. In consequence of this, General Cameron proceeded to bring up reinforcements, and collected supplies in order to resume active operations in the field as soon as possible.
On the 28th December the forces moved up the Waipa to Whata Whata, and on January the 1st, 1864, the head-quarters camp was established at Tuhi Karamea, on the Waipa.
The Waipa is eighty yards wide at Ngaruawahia, and towards Whata Whata it narrows to between sixty and seventy, is very winding, and with sluggish stream flows generally between high banks.
The 43rd Light Infantry and the 50th
General Cameron now thought it desirable to open a communication between Tuhi Karamea and Raglan, a small European settlement on the west coast, having a good harbour, not more than twenty miles distant from the Waipa river, and to which there was only a bush track. He therefore directed the 50th Regiment (the fighting "half hundred") and a detachment of 300 Waikia Militia, the whole under Colonel Waddy (an old Crimean friend), to embark at the Manukau for Raglan, where the greater part had already arrived; more troops were to be employed in improving the track, rendering it practicable for infantry and pack horses, so that in case of need reinforcements might reach head-quarters in a few hours, for until this road was made, this line could only be used occasionally for supplies.
Soldiers should be ready at all times to assist with pick and shovel in road making, under the attentive superintendence of their officers. The
Colonel Warre in the Taranaki had formed a well concerted plan to surprise the enemy's position on the Kaitake ranges near New Plymouth. Lieutenant Clarke, 57th Regiment, Deputy Assistant Quartermaster-General, had volunteered his services to ascertain the line of communication by which the natives had been in the habit of making inroads upon the settlement from the position at Kaitake. Lieutenant Clarke had gone through the bush with one soldier and two natives till he got close to Kaitake, saw it, and returned undiscovered, to report. This led Colonel Warre to attempt a surprise; accordingly he despatched a party of three officers and seventy-two men selected from
It was intended that Captain Shortt's party, guided by Lieutenant Clarke, should arrive at the back of Kaitake at ten o'clock a.m., while Colonel Warre made a demonstration in front to draw the enemy into their rifle-pits from the pah, and leave the ground open for Captain Shortt's party to take possession of the wharres. The parties arrived simultaneously at the time and places appointed; by some mistake Captain Shortt got entangled in the bush, and thought that the enemy had discovered him. The troops in front waiting for Captain Shortt's attack till two p.m., consequently were not allowed to attack, though the regulars and militia volunteers were quite ready to attempt it. A few rounds from the howitzer were fired at the pah. Mr. Parry and some of the mounted men rode within fifty yards of the pah, and were received with a few straggling shots, after which the troops returned to New Plymouth.
As the Duke of Wellington remarked, "If we fail in only one-third of our enterprises we should not complain, but make up our mind to this, as a general rule."
The thanks of the Legislative Council and House of Representatives were conveyed to General Cameron, the Imperial and Colonial forces, for the discipline and valour they had displayed in the late operations in which they had been engaged. General Cameron was also rewarded by the Queen with the Knight Commandership of the Bath, and some of the officers were deservedly promoted.
Captain Greaves, 70th Regiment, Deputy Assistant Quartermaster-General, a very active and intelligent officer, accompanied, from Auckland, on the 16th of November, the Thames Expedition, which was under the command of Colonel Carey of the 18th Royal Irish. The strength of the force was 1000 officers and men and 60 horses. The landing took place without opposition at Hauaratea, on the west coast of the Frith of the Thames. Captain
After due consideration, three posts were established in commanding positions, to connect the Thames with the Waikato, one was called the "Miranda" redoubt, after H.M.S. of that name, the intermediate was the "Esk" redoubt, and the third the "Surrey" redoubt, after the 70th Regiment; from the position on the Paparata hill (where a strong pah was found deserted and immediately burnt) a commanding view was obtained of the country as far as the Waikare lake, including the Queen's redoubt and the adjacent posts on the west, and a portion of the Thames Frith on the east, and thus signals by telegraph could be established across the country.
A friendly chief, Wiremu Nero (
On the 24th of January, 1864,
The steamer, "Avon," came up the river, and
In this manner, in India, his friend Lord Clyde always acted, and most wisely.
In warfare we should not put out the foot without being well able to withdraw it again without "sticking in the mud," or, as our American friends have it, "First be sure you're right, then go a-head."
It was easy for some, at a safe distance, to express impatience at the operations being retarded; the great difficulties of the country were not understood, and sufficient credit was not often given to those who did their best to overcome them.
The head-quarter camp was at Te Rore on the 4th of February. The enemy had not ventured to oppose the advance of the troops, although the line of march was crossed at several points by formidable positions, particularly at the Manguetama creek, which was passed within a mile of the enemy's strongest entrenchment at Pikoinko. For want of sufficient land transport,
The troops could only move in single file along the tracks, on account of the high fern on each side; and bridges had to be constructed across all the creeks, the banks of which were so high and precipitous that roads had to be cut down them to enable the guns and transport carts to pass. Owing to these impediments the troops were a long time on the line of march, although the distance passed over each day was but short.
A depot was formed at Te Rore, preparatory to an advance on Rangiawhia, the principal native settlement in this part of the country. To Rangiawhia, from Ngaruawahia, there were three roads or tracks passable for infantry and artillery. Formidable earthworks had been constructed on two of these, but by the third—the line of the Waipa—it was determined to advance, so as to turn the positions and cut off the enemy's supplies.
The General now hearing that the natives of Turanga, on the east coast, were joining the
The 50th Regiment having been embarked at the Manukau for Raglan, the communication between the Raglan force and the General's field force on the Waipa was established by a difficult path across a high-wooded dividing range, with a mile and a half of bush. At 17 miles from Raglan, 300 Waikato militia garrisoned a redoubt in charge of stores.
In order to relieve the pressure on the supplies of the Waikato, the 70th Regiment was ordered to move from Ngaruawahia to the dividing ridge, and 100 men of the 40th Regiment from Whata Whata to be fed from the
The 68th Light Infantry arrived in the colony from Rangoon.
The 50th and 70th Regiments having crossed the dividing range between Raglan and the Waipa, they joined the head-quarters, and put up their blankets as tentes d'abris, after the manner formerly noticed; the fern of New Zealand (as I experienced for months under canvas) making a most comfortable bed, particularly if enclosed in some sacking.
Note.—It may be interesting to those fond of Natural History to notice that the common birds in the Waikato district are these: the river shag, the grey duck, the wood pigeon of New Zealand, the parson bird of New Zealand, the bell bird, the kaka parrot, the green parrakeet, the native robin, and the grey warbler.The lizards are the
Naultinus clegans, a beautiful peagreen reptile with golden yellow markings, theN. punctatus, a tree lizard with a marbled brown skin, and the common ground lizard; though all these are quite harmless, yet the Maoris seemed to dread them. There are no snakes in New Zealand.
ChapterVIII.
Movement on Rangiawhia—A bathing party attacked by the Maoris—A sharp skirmish ensues—Officers engaged—Captain Heaphy earns the Victoria Cross—March to turn the flank of the enemy—Maori sentries—Desperate resistance of the natives—Colonel Nixon killed—The action at Eangiawhia—The Maori position—Brilliant dash of the 50th Eegiment—Defeat of the Maoris—The troops are thanked—Devoted services of the Bishop of New Zealand—The military telegraph—The important results of the late movements.
The movement on Rangiawhia, which it was intended to make with the view of turning the line of the entrenched positions constructed with great labour by the Maoris, was unavoidably delayed by an accident which happened to the "Avon," the only means of transport between Ngaruawahia and the camp at Te Rore; and it was doubtful, at one time, if the force would not be obliged to fall back for supplies till the damaged "Avon" was repaired. The labour and trouble attending the getting up supplies G. R. Greaves. Edw
d Weller. Litho Red Lion SquarePublished by Sampson low. Marston, Low. & Scarle Crown Buildings, 188 Fleet Street London
In the meantime, in order to occupy the attention of the natives, and induce them to believe it was intended to attack them at Paterangi, on the ridge about three miles S.E. of Te Rore, a force of 660 men was posted, under Colonel Waddy, C.B., within 1500 yards of the entrenchment. Whilst in this position, several skirmishes took place between Colonel Waddy's force and the garrison of Paterangi, one of which will be hereafter noticed as it reflected great credit on the troops.
In February, the life of a young officer was needlessly sacrificed. Lieutenant Mitchell, R.N., in going down the Waikato in a steamer, observed some Maoris looking at it from a bank in the woods; they were fired at, the fire was returned, and Lieutenant Mitchell, on the bridge of the vessel, fell mortally wounded.
On the 11th of February, about 3 p.m., a party of about fifty men of Colonel Waddy's force, it being hot weather, were proceeding to bathe in the Mangapiho river (a branch of the Waipa), covered by a party of twenty men of the 40th Regiment, when they were fired upon by a number of the enemy, who lay concealed in the fern on the opposite side of the river. The covering party returned the fire, upon hearing which Colonel Waddy immediately sent off fifty men to reinforce the party; a very sharp fire was kept up for some time, the enemy falling back. Seeing that a considerable number of the enemy, from their pah at Paterangi, were scattered about the flat, near the river, further reinforcements of soldiers were sent out, till 200 men were engaged.
Lieut. -
A series of hand-to-hand encounters now took place between the soldiers and the Maoris crouching in the thick bush. The soldiers displayed, if anything, too fierce an eagerness to dash at and deal with the lurking enemy wherever visible. This forwardness cost some valuable lives.
Captain Heaphy, of the Auckland Volunteers, took charge of a party and ably directed it, and
Captain Heaphy, in gallantly assisting a soldier of the 40th, who had fallen wounded into a hollow, became a target for a volley from the Maoris, at short range. His clothes were riddled with balls, and he was wounded in three places. He was recommended for the Victoria Cross, having continued to aid the wounded till the end of the day.
Assistant-Surgeon Stiles was highly commended for attending to the wounded under sharp fire, and seeing them removed early and carefully to camp.
The British casualties were six men killed, an officer (Captain Heaphy) and seven men wounded. The Maoris left twenty-eight dead in the bush, and two wounded prisoners. It was a severe lesson for them.
The continuance of the supplies tip the Waipa was now secured by the arrival of the new
A large convoy of provisions, with two six-pounder Armstrong guns, Royal Artillery, and one naval six-pounder, were to move next day at daybreak, and escorted by the 50th Regiment, under the command of Brevet-Colonel Weare. Tents were struck after dark, and at 11 p.m. the troops paraded, without sound of bugle, and moved silently in the following order:—
Captain Von Tempski, Forest Rangers, advance guard,
Detachment Royal Engineers, 65th Regiment, 70th Regiment,
Detachment of Seamen and Marines,
Royal Artillery Mounted Corps,
Colonial Defence Corps,
Captain Jackson's Company of Forest Rangers as rear guard.
The success of the movement to outflank and take the enemy in rear, depended on the secrecy with which it was conducted. The column had to pass within 1500 yards of the enemy's works, and this was done with a noiselessness and care which reflected the greatest credit on the discipline of the troops. The enemy's sentries were heard at midnight calling out, as usual, in evidence of their alertness, as "I see you, ye dogs! come on and fight; come on!" meanwhile the column was quietly fording the Mangapiho and turning his left.
After the passage of the Waipa, the route lay by an unfrequented track, for four miles, over a fern ridge, and then came out on a native dray road, leading from the Punia to
The buildings were uninjured. The force pushed on at once to Rangiawhia, four miles distant, and the main source of the enemy's supplies.
On approaching this settlement, the cavalry were rapidly thrown forward, and surprised the inhabitants, who were few in number, the greater part of the male population being probably at Paterangi.
The native huts, with walls of raupo or reeds, and thatched with toé-toé grass, were generally scattered over a considerable area, but at one point, where six or seven stood together, a party of armed natives offered a desperate resistance, defending themselves in one of the huts to the last extremity. Here two of the Colonial Defence Force were killed in attempting to effect an entrance, and on the Forest Rangers and the 65th Regiment coming up in support, one of the latter fell mortally wounded. The Maoris pushed their guns through the walls and fired. The door was attempted to be forced open. They pulled a
The Colonial Defence Force, General Cameron said, under the command of Colonel Nixon, attained a high state of discipline and efficiency, and they displayed the greatest spirit and gallantry on this occasion.
In this conflict twelve of the enemy were killed and twelve taken prisoners.
Not having a sufficient force both for the occupation of Rangiawhia and the protection of
At six o'clock in the morning of the 22nd February, a report was received from the officer in command of the advanced picquet, that he had observed a large body of the enemy, about two miles in his front, moving from the direction of Paterangi towards Rangiawhia.
At noon, however, of the same day, another report came that the enemy had commenced to entrench himself at Haeirini, on the road between the camp and Rangiawhia, and
The following force was immediately ordered under arms, and marched towards the enemy's position:
Whilst this force was advancing, General Cameron received a despatch from Colonel Waddy, that he believed the entrenchments at Paterangi and Pehopiho were evacuated, Captain Saltmarche, 70th Regiment, commanding at the Waiari redoubt, informed Colonel Waddy of this; and Sir H. Havelock, Deputy Assistant-Quartermaster-General, was sent, with 100 men, to ascertain if this was the case. Colonel Waddy also advanced to Paterangi with 120 men, and it was found empty; not a Maori in this strong position, which was immediately occupied with 200 men of the 40th Regiment,
On reaching the advanced picquets of General Cameron's force, the enemy's skirmishers, (thrown forward a mile from Haeirini,) opened fire at 300 yards, behind a hedge, perpendicular to the direction of the Rangiawhia road, which led over undulating ground up to the left centre of the enemy's position. The Greneral then directed Lieutenant-Colonel Mulock, commanding 70th Regiment, to throw out two companies in skirmishing order and to clear the hedge, which they did in the most spirited manner, driving the enemy's skirmishers before them into the main road, along which they were pursued by the cavalry.
The main body of the force then moved along the Rangiawhia road, while the two 6-pounder Armstrong guns, under the command of Brevet Lieut.-Colonel Barstow, came into action on a
The native position extended for about 400 yards along the crest of a ridge commanding the road; it was apparently the site of an old pah, the parapet of which afforded him advantageous cover, which he had commenced to improve.
While the two guns and skirmishers were engaged with the enemy, the 50th Regiment, under Colonel Weare, forming the head of the column, were lying down in the road waiting for the order to assault, in which they were to be supported by the 65th and 70th Regiments. The word being given, the 50th, ably led by Colonel Weare, dashed under a heavy fire at the enemy's position, in a manner worthy of the reputation of that distinguished corps.
The enemy's works could only be approached by a narrow road hemmed in on either side by high fern, through which it was impossible for the men to advance in line or in skirmishing
Colonel Weare ordered a small storming party of twenty men, under Lieutenant White, 50th regiment, to break cover in the first instance, to endeavour to draw out the first fire of the enemy. This party was almost simultaneously followed by the stormers, consisting of Nos. 1 and 10 companies 50th Regiment, under command of Captain Johnston and Captain Thompson respectively, and these officers entered the enemy's work at the head of their men, at the same time closely followed by the remainder of the regiment.
Colonel Weare stated that the nature of the ground and formation left little for the commanding officer to do but to place the men in the first instance, and leave the officers commanding companies to fight their men; and he
Drs. Davis and Dempster accompanied the regiment into action, and attended to the wounded as they fell. Ensign Doveton, 50th Regiment, fell dangerously wounded with a shot through his chest by the side of Captain Thompson, whilst gallantly doing his duty. Lieutenant Pagan, 65th, was severely wounded through the right leg.
The enemy, seeing the irresistible nature of the assault, broke and fled before the 50th as they entered the position. After reforming the 50th Regiment, Sir Duncan Cameron advanced, expecting that the Maoris would make another stand on the church hill of Rangiawhia, which they might have defended with considerable advantage; but they made no attempt to do so,
The loss of the enemy was forty killed and four of their wounded taken prisoners.
The British casualties were two officers severely wounded, and two men killed and eighteen wounded, in this action at Rangiawhia.
The General especially thanked Colonel Weare and the 50th Regiment for the brilliant manner in which they had assaulted the enemy's position; Brevet Lieut-Colonel Barstow for the precision of the fire of the Armstrong guns, superintended by Lieut.-Colonel Williams, commanding Royal Artillery in New Zealand; and expressed his satisfaction with the conduct of Brevet Lieut.-Colonel Young, 65th, and Lieut.-Colonel Mulock, 70th, Lieutenant Rait, R.A., and Captain Walmesley of the Royal Artillery Mounted Corps and Colonial Defence
Lieut.-Colonel Gamble, Deputy Quartermaster-General, and Lieutenant-Colonel Sir H. Have-lock, 18th, and Captain Greaves, 70th, Deputy Assistant-Quartermaster-General.
With regard to Colonel Gamble,
Captain Baker, 18th, Acting Assistant Military Secretary and Aides-de-camp Major McNeil and Lieutenant St. Hill, 65th, were zealous and active as usual. Deputy Inspector-General Mouatt, C.B., and his assistants on the field, attended promptly to the wounded.
Colonel Waddy in his command had shown, as
Very important services were rendered by Deputy Commissary-General Jones, C.B., and his officers, and they had great difficulties to contend against to keep up the supplies for the troops in a country destitute of resources, and at so great a distance from the base of operations. Assistant Commissaries-General Rolleston and Bailey were especially noticed; Deputy Assistant-Commissary-General Marshall, for activity and energy; and the transport duties were ably conducted by Lieutenant Travers, 70th Regiment.
The Royal Navy gave continued and valuable co-operation, under Commodore Sir William Wiseman, Bart., and Commander Phillimore, H.M.S. "Curacoa;" Lieutenant Easther, H.M.S. "Harrier," in charge of the "Avon;" and
It was well understood also that his Lordship was always most anxiously looking out for an opportunity to aid in making peace; but that result was not yet to occur, without more exciting" actions and incidents."
Formerly when Bishop Selwyn visited our camps, he carried on his saddle his own low tent and poles, and declined the accommodation of a bell tent which I offered him, and he performed his ablutions independently at the nearest brook.
The military telegraph erected by the Quarter-master-General's department was the first in the
On the 27th February the General moved a force under Colonel Waddy, consisting of the 40th and 70th Regiments, and occupied Kihikihi, a fertile settlement, three miles south-east of
The immediate result of the late movements
H. J. Warre, reduced by J.E.A. Edwd weller, Litho. Red lion Square.Published by Sampson Low, Marston, Low, & Scarle, Crown Buildings, 188 Fleet Street London
ChapterIX.
A settler, Mr. Paterson, murdered in the Taranaki—Major Butler sent to reconnoitre the strong position at Kaitake—And skirmishes with the enemy—Artillery despatched to the Taranaki—Outposts destroyed—Considerations on the destruction of crops—Attack on Ahu Ahu—Colonel Warre's preparations to assault Kaitake—The place is carried—Services of the officers and men acknowledged by Colonel Warre.
In the Taranaki, a settler, named Paterson, had been murdered, and Colonel Warre, commanding, having received a report from Captain Stapp, Adjutant Taranaki Militia, that the hostile natives had been seen near the spot where Paterson was killed, sent parties by different routes with the intention of cutting off their retreat, and also of destroying the native position of Kaitake, if found feebly defended.
Major Butler, 57th, was sent with a 24-pounder howitzer and some rockets under
Kaitake had given much trouble, but it fell at last. Colonel Warre skilfully conducted four days' operations against this strong position, which resulted in its fall, and with trifling loss to the troops engaged, the Maoris abandoning the Patua ranges.
General Cameron had sent, to aid Colonel Warre's operations, three Armstrong guns and thirty non-commissioned officers and men, under the command of Captain Martin, R.A.
The guns were despatched to Oakura (St. Andrew's redoubt), seven miles south of New Plymouth, and placed in position to try their effect, and shew the natives that they were able to reach their apparently impregnable position of Kaitake on the heights above. The practice was excellent, and it was evident that the fire of the natives could be kept down by the artillery when the troops rushed at the rifle-pits.
Colonel Warre, considering it right to destroy all the out-posts before attacking the main position, left two of the guns at Oakura to keep up an occasional fire at Kaitake, and marched, at 3 a.m. on the 22nd of March, to attack first the Tutu pah. The pah was found to be occupied by only a few women and children, who fled into the bush on the appearance of the troops.
The stockade was pulled down and burnt, less inclined for peace, than fields laid waste; but it is the custom of war to do so—"fire and sword" the word.
The chapel at the Tataraimaka block had been pulled down; its planking was accordingly carted off to the Oakura redoubt.
On the 24th of March, another force was organised to attack the enemy's position at Ahu Ahu, which crowned the top of a spur of the ranges, and was higher than Kaitake. The 57th, divided into two parties under Captains Russell and Schomberg, was supported by Captains Carthew and Mackellar, of the Taranaki Militia. The two parties meeting at the
Next day, the 25th of Mareh, it was determined to assault Kaitake. It was arranged that Captain Atkinson, with 150 men of the Taranaki Rifle Volunteers, should gain the enemy's rear by a bush path; that Captain Corbett, with sixty men of the Taranaki Militia, should advance on the left; Captain Schomberg, 57th, and Captain Page, Taranaki Militia, should threaten on the right with 100 men; whilst Captain Russell, 57th, Captains Wright, 70th, and Mackellar, Taranaki Militia, with twenty-five men each, in support of Captain
In front of the pahs was a long stockade with rifle-pits behind it, across the upper valley, and the 24-pounder howitzer and a rocket-tube were placed, at 800 yards, in front of this, to endeavour to knock down the stockade. The three Armstrong guns were placed in position on the right bank of the Oakura river, and succeeded in setting fire to a wharre in one of the pahs, and at 10 a.m. the parties simultaneously advanced on the pahs and the long stockade in front of them. Under cover of the smoke of the wharre, Captain Corbett's party immediately rushed at the pah, climbed over the stockade, got into the pah by a zigzag entrance between the two lines of palisading, followed very closely by the assaulting parties under Captain Lloyd, who climbed the spur and rushed at the rifle-pits, from which a heavy fire had been kept up on the centre and right
The party under Captain Schomberg, led by Major Butler, 57th, mounted the high ground on the right, and taking the rifle-pits on that side in reverse, whilst Captain Russell's party, directed by Colonel Warre, forced their way through the formidable double line of palisading which extended across the valley. The Maoris escaped from their rifle-pits as speedily as possible.
Between the high ground on the right and left, the enemy's line of works extended about half a mile. The Maoris, concealing themselves in the fern, for some time kept up an ineffectual fire, until driven away by rockets and shells from the Cohorn mortars.
The troops deserved great credit for undergoing so much fatigue as they did, and for their gallantry during the four days' operations, ending in the assault and capture of Kaitake pah.
Major Butler, 57th, was especially noticed for
Two taihas, or chiefs' carved spears, were captured at Ahu Ahu, and two Maori flags at Kaitake.
We here give two anecdotes illustrative of Maori character.
During the skirmishing in front of the Paterangi pah, the son of the principal chief fell into the hands of the British; he was badly wounded in the leg. Every effort was made to save the limb, but in vain. Amputation became necessary, after which the patient rapidly recovered. When able to move, the chief was informed that he might send for his son: he did so, and next day a cart-load of potatoes arrived in camp as a present for the General, and a message of thanks for the kind treatment his son had experienced; the chief also declaring that in
After the action of Koheroa, a flag of truce was sent to head-quarters by the Maoris, their object being to obtain information regarding one of their principal chiefs who had fallen, but whose body they had been unable to discover. Major McNeil, A.D.C., with an interpreter, volunteered to meet the Maoris who had been employed all the morning in carrying away their killed and wounded from the scene of action. On reaching the ground, the Major was at once informed that they had found the object of their search. As he wished to ascertain their feelings after their defeat, he asked two or three of the chiefs to share the modest luncheon he had brought with him; and while smoking their pipes, sitting on the hill-side, he conversed with them through the interpreter.
Though depressed from their recent defeat, they seemed confident of being able to prevent the invading force from penetrating into their
On reaching a creek, several canoes were seen, and the crimson stains on their sides shewed plainly how they had been employed in the morning.
The potatoes were produced, a small but very neatly-made canoe was dragged from beneath some overhanging branches, and Major McNeil and his interpreter, having shaken hands with the hospitable enemy, paddled down the river towards the Queen's redoubt.
G.R. Greaves Edw
d Waller, Litho. Red Lion Square.Published by Sampson Low Marston Low& Scarle, Crown Buildings, 188 Fleet Strt London.
ChapterX.
Orakau—Remarkable in the history of the Maori war—Brigadier-General Carey joins the troops on the Waikato—Major McNeil, A.D.C., gains the Victoria Cross—The Maoris strongly entrench themselves at Orakau—Plan for attacking the pah—The enemy opens fire—Death of Captain Ring—Gallantry of Captain Baker, Deputy Assistant-Adjutant-General—A sap determined on—A breach attempted—A native reinforcement is shelled—Desperate resistance of the Maori garrison—Summoned to surrender—Refuses to do so or to send out the women—Sudden abandonment of the pah—The column of Maoris pursued and scattered—Casualties—Remarks by
Orakau. This word will recall to the recollection of troops engaged in New Zealand warfare a very remarkable or even painful "action and incident" of the war, 1864, showing the native character in a new and unexpected light, and exciting a great desire in the heart of every true aboriginal protectionist that manly races should be preserved, improved, and settled on peace in God's wide earth.
About this time the native orderly, carrying the mail from head-quarters to Pukerimu, was intercepted by a party of the enemy, and neither the native nor the mail was heard of again.
Major McNeil, A.D.C., when returning from
On the 30th of March it was reported to the Brigadier by Lieut.-
The Brigadier immediately rode over from
Captain Baker, 18th Regiment, Deputy Assistant -Adjutant-General (a very valuable officer, who had done good service in the Crimea and in India), fortunately found two men in camp, Mr. Gage and Mr. W. Asle, who, from their local knowledge, were at once engaged as guides to enable the Brigadier to determine on a combined attack.
The plan of attack was to advance with the main body along the dray road to Orakau; to detach a force of 250 men under Major Blythe, 40th Regimet, who would take a circuitous route through a somewhat difficult country, crossing and recrossing the Puniu river, and, marching on the right flank of the main body, to take the enemy's position in reverse; and
The troops marched as directed; the road from Rangiawhia, by which Captain Blewett had to advance, was found to be difficult, being intersected with deep swamps and thick bush. The Brigadier with the main body, in passing Kihikihi, where Colonel Haultain commanded, took him on with 150 men, and arrived at Orakau as the day dawned.
The enemy, evidently taken by surprise, opened fire on the advance guard, composed of 120 men of the Royal Irish and 20 Forest Rangers, gallantly led by Captain Ring, 18th, and supported by 100 of the 40th Regiment, who immediately rushed forward to attack in skirmishing order.
The position was found to be very strong, on
On Captain Ring's falling, Captain Baker, 18th Royal Irish, Deputy Assistant-Adjutant-General, most gallantly galloped up, dismounted, and calling for volunteers again endeavoured to enter the place by assault, and they also failed.
Brigadier Carey finding that there was no chance of taking the pah in this manner, from its great strength, and other men having fallen, he determined to desist from this mode of attack. Having ascertained that both Major Blythe and
At this time Lieutenant Carré, R.A., endeavoured to effect a breach on the enemy's work, but could make no impression on it. A further supply of entrenching tools and some gabions (which had been previously prepared for service on the Horateu or Upper Waikato river) were immediately ordered up with the men's blankets, additional food, &c., and every possible precaution taken, by the proper distributing of the force, to prevent the escape of the enemy.
During the afternoon a reinforcement of some 150 or 200 of the enemy from the direction of Maungatautari appeared in sight, evidently determined on relieving the place. They advanced to a grove situated about 900 yards in rear of the outposts, but seeing that it was
Captain Betty, R.A., threw some well-directed shells at the enemy in the bush, which evidently disconcerted them considerably.
The wounded were sent into
A reinforcement of 200 men, 18th and 70th Regiments, under the command of Captain Inman, joined in the afternoon from head-quarters; and on the proceedings at Orakau being reported to
Captain Betty, R.A., being now in command of the Royal Artillery, enabled Lieutenant Carré to render some assistance to Lieutenant Hurst in carrying on the sap, he having been at it without intermission. During the night a few of the enemy were perceived trying to effect an escape from the pah, but being immediately fired upon, they returned to their earthwork.
At an early hour in the morning of the 2nd April Lieut.-
About noon the Brigadier ordered Captain Betty, R.A., to have a 6-pounder Armstrong gun carried into the sap; an entrance having been made, it opened fire on the enemy's works, destroying the palisading, making a considerable breach, and silencing, in a great measure, the fire of the enemy on the men engaged at the head of the sap.
The Commander of the forces, with his staff, &c., arrived on the ground at this time, but allowed the Brigadier to continue his operations without interference with his arrangements.
Colonel Mould, C.B.R.E., coming up with General Cameron, gave his able assistance towards the completion of the sap.
General Cameron being aware that there were many women and children inside the pah, told Mr. Mainwaring the interpreter to call out to the defenders of the pah, "Hear the word of the
The Honourable Mr. Fox, late Native Minister of the colony, in alluding to this, remarked, "Does ancient or modern history, or our own 'rough island story,' record anything more heroic?"
The troops were now getting desperate, a hand to hand encounter was imminent, and a private throwing his cap into the ditch jumped after it. About twenty men, led by Captain Harford of the Colonial Defence Force, followed; the Maoris delivered a withering volley and ran to the inner works. Captain Harford fell shot through one eye, and ten men out of the twenty were down.
Some of the 65th and militia tried the ditch
Suddenly on the south side of the work, invested by a double line of the 40th Regiment, the Maori garrison came out of their entrenchment on to the open, and in a silent and compact body moved on without precipitation. There was something mysterious in their appearance as they advanced towards the cordon of troops without fear, without firing a shot, or a single cry being heard even from the women and children, who with their principal chiefs were in their midst.
As Colonel Gamble observed, "An overwhelming force surrounded them, and all hope of relief had failed, but still, with extraordinary devotion to their cause, calmly in the face of death they abandoned their position without yielding."
The first line of the 40th was disposed under a slight bank, which partly concealed the men from the pah. The Maoris made for this, and it is said jumped over the heads of some of the soldiers, and passing on, walked through the second line.
The cry was now raised, "The Maoris are out of the pah!" the troops quickly rose and started in pursuit of the dark column. The retreating Maoris now quickened their pace, and broke away for a neighbouring swamp and scrub. Here they might have escaped in a body, but were headed by Lieutenant Rait, R.A., and his artillery troopers, and Captain Pye, of the Colonial Defence Corps, and suffered a serious loss in a pursuit of six miles.
It was deeply to be regretted that in the pah and in the pursuit some three or four women were killed, unavoidably, owing to the similarity of dress of both men and women and their hair being cut equally short, rendering it impossible to distinguish one from the other.
The troops were recalled at sundown, and bivouacked around the enemy's late position.
Diligent search was made at an early hour on the 3rd of April for the killed and wounded of the enemy. Their loss was considerable, amounting to 101 killed, besides eighteen or twenty reported by the prisoners as buried in the pah, twenty-six wounded and taken prisoners, and seven taken prisoners.
Besides Captain Ring, 18th, there were sixteen non-commissioned officers and privates killed of the force; and Captain Fisher, 40th, Ensign Chayter, 65th, Captain Harford, Militia, and fifty-two wounded.
General Cameron duly acknowledged the services of Brigadier-General Carey and his officers, among whom were particularly distinguished Captain Baker, 18th, Deputy Assistant- Adjutant-General, Captain Greaves, Deputy Assistant - Quartermaster - General, Lieutenant Hurst, 12th Regiment, A.R.E., Captain The Hon. F. de P. Trench, 40th, A.D.C.
Brigadier-General Carey recommended for
A remarkable instance of Maori determination and endurance may be here recorded. Captain Greaves, armed with a rifle, had gone to the head of the sap, and was watching for an opportunity to enter the pah. He stood behind the first gabion. Presently the shaggy head of a very fierce-looking Maori appeared above the parapet; he was making ready to fire, but Captain Greaves was too quick for him, and fired first, and the head disappeared. When the pah was entered, after the retreat of the column, Captain Greaves saw a Maori come
Some may remark, on reading this account of the capture of Orakau, "It would have been generous to have held one's hand, and not pursue and fire at the retiring column of Maoris." Certainly it would; but it is to be considered that the soldiers had suffered, too, from the determined resistance of the enemy, and their blood was up. In a case like this, one does not pause to reflect, and the dark warriors had arms in their hands; they might have turned suddenly and fired into the troops. It is said that they wounded two or three of the 40th in passing, probably with their
A native girl, a great beauty, was found in the pah, severely wounded in the arm, and a corporal proposed to marry her. She was taken every care of, and sent to the Rev. Mr. Ashwell's family, and named Marianne.
G. R. Greaves. Edw
d Weller Litho Red Lion Square.Published by Sampson Low, Marston Low & Scarle, Crown Buildings 188 Fleet Strt London.
ChapterXI
The Maoris retreat to Mangatautari—Their works there are abandoned—Surrender of a party of natives—Captain Lloyd's party surprised and scattered—Precautions in bush fighting The Gate pah—Preparations for attacking it—Composition of the force—Colonel Greer's night march—68th Regiment posted to intercept the enemy—Feigned attack—Disposal of the troops round the pah—The assaulting column is repulsed—Heavy losses—Particulars of naval officers and men—Maori letters and messages.
Red mountain.General Cameron having arranged with his Excellency the Governor, Sir George Grey, that his operations should be directed against Mangatautari, on the Upper Waikato, to which place the Waikatos had retired under the astute leader
Being too strong to be taken by a coup de main, the General intended to try the effect of vertical fire on the works, and to endeavour to breach them with howitzers, and caused a 10-inch, and two 8-inch mortars, and two 32-and two 24-pounder howitzers to be brought up the river.
A reconnaissance of these pahs at Pukekura being made by a force up the right bank of the Waikato, both pahs were found to be abandoned. The 50th Regiment was immediately ordered to take possession, and encamped on the ground. The enemy had probably heard of the preparations in progress for besieging the place, found their position untenable, and were in addition, perhaps, pressed for supplies.
Negociations were now going on with the l., besides being put on the roads to work.
His Excellency the Governor arrived at the front on the 16th of April, and next day General Cameron and staff proceeded with the Governor to Auckland, en route to Taranaki. The seamen and marines went down the Waikato to join their ships, as it was not likely they would be required in the Waikato country at this time.
The 70th Regiment was ordered to march down the left bank of the Waikato to Ngaruawahia, whence it was to move on to Auckland for embarkation to Taranaki. This reinforcement became necessary in that province, from the following circumstance.
A party of about 100 officers and men of the 57th Regiment and militia went out from New Plymouth on the 6th of April, under Captain Lloyd, 57th, to reconnoitre in the vicinity of Ahu Ahu, near Kaitake. They did not find any trace of natives having been there since the place had been taken; on their way they heard a native shout, but the Maori guide who accompanied the party said he thought it was only a look-out, and that many natives were not in the neighbourhood.
On returning towards their quarters, Captain Lloyd sent Lieutenant Cox, 57th, with a few men to destroy a patch of Indian corn in a gully, leaving the rear guard halted just above on the spur, and halting the remainder of the detachment at the bottom of the spur.
Sufficient precaution was not taken against surprise; and the Maoris, who were on the watch, seeing that the men were scattered after their march, without any guard being posted (and the officers being incautiously separated from their men), suddenly fired a volley from an ambush in the fern, at a distance of sixty or seventy yards, and then rushed at the party with their guns and tomahawks.
Captain Lloyd was wounded, and called to the men to run for the rifle-pits, which were close by. Captain Lloyd shot three natives with his revolver after he fell with a broken thigh, but he was killed with six others, and twelve were wounded. The survivors of the party brought away the wounded, but were not able to save the remains of the slain.
Colonel Warre, on hearing this distressing intelligence, immediately proceeded with a party of regulars and militia, with a howitzer, to discover the Maoris concealed in the bush; and pushing forward, found the mutilated remains of Captain Lloyd and five other men, all of whose
Most old soldiers know that when a reconnoitring party is halted it should be in an open space, or in a defensible position, and sentries should be thrown well out and all round to avoid surprises: if this is done, a vigilant enemy may not attempt a surprise. A fearful catastrophe happened to an army corps at Beaumont, no proper look-out being kept there, during the late Franco-Prussian war.
On one occasion in Caffreland, during the first war there, General Sir Benjamin D'Urban
The Gate pah or Pukehinahina—this calls up the memory of a very remarkable and unexpected event in the history of the Maori war.
After the retreat of the Maoris from Mangatautari, on the Upper Waikato, they dispersed in every direction; and, as it was not considered advisable to follow them any farther into the interior of the country,
On the 17th of April, however, information having been received from Colonel Greer, 68th Regiment, commanding at Tauranga, Landing-place.
On the 27th the General moved the 68th Regiment, under Colonel Greer, and a mixed
The 68th Regiment and Major Ryan's detachment were encamped about 1200 yards from the enemy's position on the 27th, and on that and the following days the guns and mortars intended to breach the position were brought up to the camp, which was formed by a large force of seamen and marines, landed at the General's request from the ships of the squadron by Commodore Sir William Wiseman,
The composition and strength of the force assembled in front of the enemy's position on the morning of the 28th of April was as follows:—
The detail of artillery was as follows:—One 110-pounder Armstrong, two 40-pounder ditto, two 6-pounder ditto, two 24-pounder howitzers, two 8-inch mortars, and six Cohorn mortars.
General Cameron having received information that by moving along the beach of one of the branches of the Tauranga harbour at low water, it was possible for a body of troops to pass outside the swamp on the enemy's right, and gain the rear of his position, Colonel Greer was ordered to make the attempt, with the 68th Regiment; after dark on the evening of the
Colonel Greer well executed, with the 68th Light Infantry, the duty assigned to him. At a quarter to 7 p.m. he marched out of camp, each man carrying one day's cooked rations and a great coat. His object was to get in rear of the enemy's position by means of a flank march round his right. To accomplish this it was necessary to cross part of a mud flat at the head of the bay, about three-quarters of a mile long, only passable at low water, and then nearly knee deep, and within musketry range of the shore in possession of the enemy—rough high ground, covered with titri and fern.
At the point at which the 68th got off the mud flat there was a swamp about 100 yards broad, covered with titri about five feet high, on the opposite side of which the end of a spur (which ran down from the high ground in rear of the pah) rose abruptly: this also was covered with titri and fern.
The regiment was all across, and lying down in line along the crest of the ridge, with pickets posted round them at 10 o'clock, which was two hours before the moon rose. Colonel Greer acknowledged it was owing to the well-timed feigned attack made by General Cameron in front of the enemy's pah, as was arranged, that the 68th were enabled to accomplish the most difficult part of the march without being attacked at great disadvantage and exposing the movement to the enemy; for when the 68th reached the top of the ridge, the remains of the enemy's picket fires were discovered, the pickets having no doubt returned to assist in the defence of the pah. The feigned attack was made in front by opening a smart fire from the two 6-pounders, assisted by a line of skirmishers. a.m. Colonel Greer advanced his regiment, and at 3 o'clock had reached a position about 1000 yards directly in rear of the pah. He was guided in selecting this position by hearing the Maoris talking in their pah, and by the sentries challenging in the head-quarter camp. It was quite dark and raining at the time.
Colonel Greer now sent Major Shuttleworth forward with three companies to take up a position on the left rear of the pah, and pickets were placed round the remainder of the rear about 700 yards from it. At daybreak Colonel Greer detached three companies to the right, under command of Major Kirby, and posted a chain of sentries, so that no one could come out of the pah without being seen.
Up to this time the enemy did not appear to be aware that they were surrounded, as they could be heard singing and making speeches in the pah. Later in the morning Lieut.- Colonel Gamble, Deputy Quartermaster-General, visited Colonel Greer's post, having an escort
These positions were not altered during the subsequent bombardment, except temporarily, when the Maoris shewed a disposition to come out at one or other flank, or when it was necessary to move a little from a position getting more than its share of shell from the splinters which kept falling about during the bombardment.
Colonel Gamble returned in safety alone across the flat to head-quarters.
The guns and mortars being placed in position in front of the pah, opened fire soon after daybreak on the morning of the 29th of April. General Cameron gave orders that the fire should be directed principally against the left angle of the centre work, which from the nature
About twelve o'clock, the swamp on the enemy's left having been reported by Captain Greaves, Deputy Assistant-Quartermaster-General, practicable for the passage of a gun, a six-pounder Armstrong was taken across to the high ground on the opposite side, from which its fire completely enfiladed the left of the enemy's position, which he was thus compelled to abandon.
The fire of the guns, howitzers and mortars was continued with short intermissions for eight hours. The enemy had cleverly planted their flag-staff outside in rear of their oblong work, and the gunners directing their fire at this for a time threw away a good deal of ammunition; but at 4 P.M., when a large portion of the fence and palisading had been destroyed, and a practicable breach being made in the parapet, the assault was ordered.
150 seamen and marines, under Commander Hay, of H.M.S. "Harrier," and an equal number of the 43rd Regiment, under Lieut.-Colonel Booth, formed the assaulting column.
Major Ryan's detachment was extended as close to the works as possible, to keep down the fire from the rifle-pits, with orders to follow the assaulting column into the work. The remainder of the seamen and marines, and men of the 43rd, amounting altogether to 300, followed as a reserve.
When the bombardment ceased, and the signal of a rocket made Colonel Greer aware that the assault was about to take place, he moved up close round the rear of the pah, in such a position that the Maoris could not come out without being met by a strong force. They then made a determined rush for the right rear of the pah, but were met by the three companies of the 68th, and after a skirmish the main body was driven back into the pah; about twenty got past on the right of the 68th, but they received a flank fire from Lieutenant Cox's
The assaulting column, four abreast, two soldiers and two sailors, with officers on the flanks, protected by the nature of the ground, gained the breach with little loss, and effected an entrance into the body of the work, excavated and broken up, and with underground defences—most confusing to the assailants, and most advantageous for the garrison. A fierce conflict ensued, in which the natives fought with the greatest desperation with guns and tomahawks.
Lieut.-Colonel Booth and Commander Hay, who led into the work, fell mortally wounded; Captain Hamilton, of the "Esk," was shotdead on the top of the parapet while in the act
The Maoris, taking advantage of the wet and dark night which followed, stole out in small parties from the pah and escaped; several of the posts outside observed them, and fired a volley at them, but could not stop them. The Maoris, careful to expose themselves as little as possible, did not return a shot, except some shots that were fired from the pah to deceive the parties in the rear as to the garrison having left the pah.
On taking possession of the work in the morning, Lieut.-Colonel Booth and some men were found still living, and, to the credit of the natives, had not been maltreated, nor had any of the bodies of the killed been mutilated.
Colonel Booth telling a Maori he wanted water, the young man took a calabash and went outside the pah to the swamp, at great risk to himself, and fetched the water to the sorely wounded Colonel. He had a presentiment he
It was deeply to be deplored, the loss of so many brave and valuable officers, who fell in the noble discharge of their duty on this occasion. The 43rd Regiment, and the service, sustained a serious loss in the death of Colonel Booth, which took place on the night after the attack. He had set a brilliant example in the assault; and when he was carried out of the work in the morning, and being met by
The heroism and devotion of Captain Hamilton and Commander Hay reflected the highest honour on the Naval Service. Of the 43rd Eegiment there were killed, besides Colonel Booth, Captains Glover, Muir, Hamilton, and Utterton, Lieutenants Glover and Langland; of the 43rd, wounded, Ensigns Clarke and M'Coll. Of the Royal Navy, besides Captain
Great regret was felt for the brothers Glover. One could have escaped, but remained to assist his brother; he, too, fell. The younger, still alive in the morning, and suffering, said, "The only satisfaction is Bobby was shot dead."
The losses of the enemy must also have been heavy, although not more than twenty bodies and six wounded were found in or about their position. It was admitted by the prisoners that they carried off a large number of killed and wounded during the night, and they also suffered in attempting to make their escape from the force in rear, which Colonel Greer had conducted on its night march, and had occupied the ground with so much skill. The officers and men of the 68th were accorded the greatest credit for the cheerfulness and zeal with which they performed very harassing duties.
Major Eyan, of the 70th, after covering the advance of the assaulting column with his detachment, followed into the work, and, with Captain Jenkins, of H.M.S. "Miranda," was one of the last to leave it. Lieutenant and Adjutant Garland, 43rd Regiment, was particularly reported to the General for his conspicuous conduct in the assault.
The commanding officers and heads of departments discharged their duties with zeal and activity; and the services of Deputy Inspector General Mouatt, C.B., Surgeon McKinnon, 57th Regiment, and Assistant-Surgeon Manley, R.A., who exposed themselves under fire, attending to the wounded, were duly acknowledged.
Commodore Sir William Wiseman, and his seamen and marines, co-operated heartily with the land forces during the operations at the Gate pah.
The enemy having escaped, as described, during the night, at 5 a.m. on the 30th,
It was with deep sorrow Commodore Sir William Wiseman referred to the casualties among his people, which had been very great, especially among the officers (as at Rangiriri). Captain Hamilton, of the "Esk," was shot through the head while standing on a traverse inside the work, waving his sword and cheering on his men. He was so well known at the Admiralty, and through the service at large, that it was unnecessary to enlarge upon the loss the country sustained in his fall.
Commodore Edward Hay had seen much service in India while serving under the late heroic Sir William Peel, and was badly wounded there. The way in which he led the storming-party into the enemy's work at the Gate pah was the admiration of all; he was mortally wounded by a Maori in a pit below him while cheering his men on, and he died the following day.
Lieutenant Charles Hill, of the "Curaçoa,"
Mr. Watt, gunner of the "Miranda," was killed and frightfully tomahawked about the head. Previous to his death he killed with his sword the Maori who shot Captain Hamilton.
The seamen and marines killed were all leading men of the different ships. They, as well as the remainder of the Naval Brigade, behaved with great gallantry. Captain Jenkins, R.N., led the supports up to the work, but they were driven back by the retreating stormers. He succeeded in getting into the pah himself, and was one of the last to leave it.
Lieutenant Duff, of the "Esk," and Sub-Lieutenant Parker, of the "Falcon," were wounded, the former severely, while cheering the men on in the work. Acting Lieutenant Musgrave, of the "Esk," was struck down in the ditch of the work, and for a short time was stunoed by a severe blow on the head. He behaved extremely well.
Lieutenant Klintberg, of the Swedish Navy, who had been with the "Curacoa's" men since they first landed, behaved with much gallantry. Lieutenant Gardiner, of the Royal Marine Artillery, led his men gallantly; Lieutenant Hammick, of the "Miranda," was wounded severely, close to
Among the seamen recommended to the especial notice of the Lords of the
Richard Smith, boatswain's mate of the "Harrier," highly spoken of by Lieutenant
William Fox, ordinary seaman of the "Curçaoa," who distinguished himself at Rangiriri, was severely wounded in the assault; and gunner William Baker, of the Royal Marine Artillery, carried a wounded seaman out of the pah under heavy fire.
The wounded of the ships were most carefully attended to by
It is a great pleasure to one who has been much associated with the Royal Navy, and made many voyages in ships of war, to offer these records of the sister service which he was allowed to examine at the Admiralty. By an old New Zealand warrior, Admiral Beauchamp Seymour, C.B., and by Sir Alexander Milne, G.C.B., Lords Commissioners.
As illustrative of native character, we may mention, that before the force of General Cameron arrived at Tauranga, a native assessor, Patene, wrote to Colonel Greer from Te Papa, the mission station, showing the feeling of animosity in the district that had got head; and on the 28th of March the Colonel got a letter from
"
To the Colonel.—Salutations to you. The end of that. Friend, do you give heed to our laws for regulating the fight. 1. If wounded or captured whole, and the hutt of the musket or hilt of the sword he turned to me, he will he saved. 2. If any Pakeha, being a soldier, shall be travelling unarmed, and meet me, he will be captured, and handed over to the directors of the land. 3. The soldier who flees, being carried away by his fears, and goes to the house of his priest with his gun (even though carrying arms), will be saved; I will not go there. 4. The unarmed Pakehas, women and children, will be spared. The end. These are binding laws for Tauranga."(Signed by five Catholic chiefs.)
In the Gate pah the principal fighting-chief was Rawiri; and when the troops arrived in front of the position, he walked vehemently up and down the parapet, and was heard to say:
The manner in which the Maoris defended their position proved them to he an enemy to be respected, both for intelligence and courage. On the first day ground was taken up in front of them, they hoisted the red flag (on which was a cross, crescent, and star), and showed themselves in numbers. Next day no flag appeared, and no men were for a considerable time visible. It was only on observing attentively with glasses that one or two heads were seen to move in the ditch.
During the fire of the guns it was the same, and it was even thought that the pah was either deserted or had but few men in it. The readiness with which they stood to their posts and met the assault, as well as their endurance during the bombardment, would reflect credit on disciplined troops.
When the guns opened on them, a voice in the pah (probably Rawiri) was heard from the
When the assailants retreated from the work, a Maori stood on the parapet and cried, "Pakeha, e ka kapi ahu para pare i o tupapaku" ("Oh, Pakeha, my trenches are blocked with your dead"). It is doubtful, from the distance from which it was heard, whether this was said in triumph or whether it was not said to intimate that the bodies might be removed.
A strong redoubt was afterwards constructed on the site of the Grate pah.
Reduced by G.R.Greaves.
Edwd Weller, Litho, Red Lion SquarePublished by Sampson Low, Marston Low & Searle, Crown Building.188 Fleet Strt London.
ChapterXII.
Proceedings on the West Coast—Major Butler's flying column—Deserted pahs burnt—Feuds between tribes on the East Coast—The post at Maketu—Narrow escape of Major Colville—The enemy invests the redoubt—Are fired on in their retreat by ships of war—An Amazon—The troops are hutted for the winter—The Pai mariri superstition—The priest
In April on the West Coast the troops were not idle, and on the 18th a flying column of 545 officers and men, under Major Butler, 57th, proceeded at midnight from the Oakura redoubt, southwards, carrying with them four days' provisions; 100 men were left at St. George's redoubt, Tataraimaka, and Major Butler crossed the Katikara river (where the
On the East Coast there were two tribes, the Arawas and the Ngatiporus, who regarded each other with deadly hatred. The first of these
The hostilities between the Ngatiporus and the Arawas became serious, and Major Colville, 43rd Light Infantry, was established at the Maketu pah, south of the Te Papa, and near the coast, to assist the Arawas. The Ngatiporus, about 1000 or 1200 strong, began to construct an entrenched line of rifle-pits, 500 yards long, within 1400 yards of Major Colville's position, Maketu, which was naturally a very strong one, the garrison of which consisted of 160 rank and file, of which 118 belonged to the 43rd Regiment, the remainder to the Waikato Militia.
An engagement took place with the Ngatiporus, two miles from the fort at Maketu, in which about 110 men of Major Colville's force were engaged. An ambuscade had been laid near the ford at Waihi, and when Major Colville was crossing in a canoe with Ensign Way, fifty Maoris opened fire on them, and their escape was wonderful and providential.
Jumping out of the canoe into the water, and making for the bush, the enemy pursued them across the ford, yelling and firing. On arriving at the fort, Major Colville immediately ordered out fifty men of the 43 rd and Waikato Regiment, under Captain Smith, 43rd, to drive the enemy across the ford. The Maoris recrossed the river, and established themselves 400 yards from it, and kept up a constant fire from the sand-hills and bushes, which was returned with interest. The enemy mustering strong, thirty more men were ordered out under Captain Harris, 43rd Regiment, and Ensign Way of the Waikato Regiment. Major Drummond Hay and Captain Macdonald also arrived, with
Major Hay was requested to cross the river with his Rangers and all the native allies. This he did, but few of the natives would follow him: after being engaged for some time, he was reluctantly compelled to retire.
Major Colville's orders being stringent not to go far from the Maketu post, he lined the banks of the river, and fired for some time at the enemy at 400 yards. Captain Macdonald, a Royal Engineer, and three of the 43rd were wounded.
On the 26th of April, the enemy advanced his rifle-pits within 800 yards of the post, and continued working at them in spite of the fire of the Armstrong gun; he also sent a message that he intended to attack the post.
The "Falcon" and "Sandfly" men-of-war now appeared, with their black smoke banners, and as there was no shelter from the shells, the Maoris evacuated their trenches, and in a dark column hastened along the beach; hemmed in
Major Hay and his Arawas followed the Ngatiporus as far as Te awa o te a tua, eighteen miles south, and had an engagement there, killing between fifty and sixty, with the loss of one man killed and six wounded (all natives).
This occurred on the 29th, and Major Hay and the Arawas then returned to Maketu.
The leader of the Arawas named Tohi was killed. He had a fine wife, who was much attached to her husband; she got wild after the engagement, and seizing a musket, shot one of the Ngatiporu prisoners, and thus took revenge or "utu" for the loss of her husband.
It was now the New Zealand winter, and the troops stationed at various posts had commenced to hut themselves in all cases where material was at hand for the construction of temporary shelter. Our Sebastopol underground huts,
The health of the troops continued generally good, although there was some fever and dysentery, resulting from the fatigue and exposure of camp life to which the troops had been subjected, many of them for the third season. There was no chance of prize money, as in the East, and they were truly earning "the cheap defence of nations," a military medal.
The "Pai mariri" Good-will. The rain.
Mr. White, a resident magistrate at Wanganui, said "Pai mariri" began after Kaitake pah was taken by the troops under Colonel Warre, on the 24th of March, 1864, when Captain Lloyd's detachment was surprised, and he and six more men were killed and decapitated, and some of their blood drank, and a head was preserved, as was previously stated.
It was then alleged that the Angel Gabriel, whom the Maoris greatly esteem, appeared to those who had partaken of the blood, and directed the head to be carried through the land, as a trophy and charm against the British bullets.
A fanatical cry.
The prophet Matene, in charge of the head, first started for the settlement of Wanganui, The wide river. Well described by the Agent-General in London for New Zealand, Dr. Featherstone.
It was arranged between his Excellency the Governor and
At New Plymouth many of the Maoris, deluded by the assertion of the false prophets of the Pai mariri faith, that they could be rendered invulnerable, advanced on the 30th of April to attack the small garrison at Sentry Hill, commanded by Captain Shortt, 57th. This was
Captain Shortt had observed for two nights a single native coming, by moonlight, apparently to reconnoitre; and then hearing the Maoris in the adjacent bush, he, without the slightest noise or giving evidence of his watchfulness, fell in the men of his detachment at their appointed posts, and made them sit down on the banquette (or step to fire from), with strict orders not to show themselves or to fire until they received the order to do so. The Maoris (reported by the prisoners as over 300 in number) advanced in column to within 300 yards of the redoubt, barking like dogs, and uttering fierce yells, and led by Hapaniah, singing and throwing his arms about wildly. They halted, evidently startled by the unexpected silence in the work, then approached to 150 yards, and some rushed forward.
Captain Shortt called to his men (seventy-five in number) to stand to their arms, and a
Major Butler came up with a reinforcement, and pursued the enemy through the bush.
The conduct of Captain Shortt aud his Lieutenant, Waller, 57th, was highly to be commended on this occasion, also the strict attention to orders and the steadiness of the men in the redoubt.
The recollection of the unfortunate disaster at Ahu Ahu to Captain Lloyd's party was thus effaced, and confidence was restored. It was ascertained that besides the 300 men who advanced to the attack, 300 more were in support in an adjoining bush, and 200 in reserve at the Mahutahi pah, all ready for an attack on the open ground.
Of the chiefs who fell, Parengi Kingi was the
General Cameron having received intelligence from Tauranga that the Maoris were again assembling in force in that neighbourhood, with the avowed intention of attacking the British position, the embarkation of troops at Tauranga was accordingly immediately suspended, and in the absence of General Cameron at the Waikato frontier, Colonel Greer, left in command at Tauranga, on applying to his Excellency the Governor for a reinforcement, he sent him 280 Waikato Militia; Colonel Greer had then 1500 men.
The district occupied by the troops at Taurang was a peninsula about three and a half miles long, connected with the main land by a very narrow neck, on which was situated the Gate pah, abandoned, as was described, by the natives on the 30th of April, and converted by General Cameron's order into a strong redoubt. This work, and another small redoubt commanding the only ford by which the Maoris
In patrolling the country beyond the Gate pah on the 21st of June, at 8 a.m., Colonel Greer came suddenly upon a large body of natives, who had just begun to entrench themselves about four miles beyond the Gate pah. He at once attacked them, and a smart action ensued.
At the commencement of the attack, Colonel Greer had with him about 600 men, and the Maoris mustered about the same number.
They had made a single line of rifle-pits at Te Rangi, on a neck of land and across the road, and in a position exactly similar to that at Pukehinahina (the Gate pah). The ravines at the two flanks were very precipitous.
Having driven in some skirmishers the Maoris had thrown out, Colonel Greer extended the 43rd and a portion of the 68th in their front and on their flanks, as far as practicable, and kept up a sharp fire for about two hours, while he sent back for reinforcements—a gun and 220 men. As soon as they were sufficiently near to support, he sounded the advance, when the 43rd, 68th, and 1st Waikato Militia charged and carried the rifle-pits in the most dashing manner, under heavy fire, but which was for the most part too high. For some time the Maoris fought desperately.
Major Synge commanded the 43rd, and had his horse shot in two places, close to the riflepits. Major Colville, 43rd, gallantly led the left of the line of skirmishers into the rifle-pits,
Captain Smith, 43rd, was the first into the right of the line of rifle-pits; his gallant conduct was conspicuous, so much so that he was recommended for the Victoria Cross: he was wounded severely in two places. Captain Casement, 68th, was severely wounded in two places, in front of his company, while leading into the rifle-pits. Captain Berners, 43rd, was also severely wounded in front of the rifle-pits. Captain Seymour, 68th, took Captain Trent's place when he fell, and led his men into the left of the rifle-pits. Lieutenant Stuart, 68th, was one of the first into the left line of rifle-pits, and had a personal conflict with a Maori armed with an Enfield
Captain the Honourable A. Harris, 43rd, was detached to the right in command of two companies, 43rd, to enfilade the enemy's position, and afterwards brought the companies at the critical moment to assist in the assault. Lieutenant and Acting Adjutant Hammick, 43rd, did his duty with great coolness and courage. Lieutenant Grubb, R.A., made excellent practice with the six-pounder at the entrenchment and on the retreating enemy.
Surgeon - Major Best, 68th, P.M.O., and his Assistants, Henry, 43rd; Applin, 68th; and O'Connel, Staff, were most attentive to the wounded. Lieutenant and Adjutant Covey, 68th, and Field-Adjutant and Ensign Palmer, rendered valuable assistance. Lieutenant Covey, when conveying a message to Major Shuttle-worth (from Colonel Greer), went with the supports, and was dragged into a rifle-pit by a Maori, who thrust a spear through his clothes. Ensign Palmer was struck in the neck by a
Sergeant-Major Tudor, 68th, went in front and distinguished himself in several personal conflicts with the enemy in the rifle-pits; Sergeant-Major Daniels, 43rd, and Acting Sergeant-Major Lilley (70th Regiment) of the 1st Waikato Militia, also distinguished themselves by their coolness and courage; Sergeant Murray, 68th, whose gallantry and courage were so distinguished, was recommended (with evidence) for the Victoria Cross, and for this reason,—Corporal J. Bryne, V.C., 68th, when the order to charge was given, was the first man of his company into the rifle-pits; a Maori, whom he transfixed with his bayonet, seized his rifle with one hand, and holding it firm, with the bayonet through him, endeavoured to cut down the Corporal with his tomahawk: his life was saved by Sergeant Murray.
The natives had an intention of attacking Te Papa, but the action at Te Rangi disconcerted them. For an hour previous to the attack, a Maori reinforcement was observed coming towards the rifle-pits, yelling, and firing their guns; and they were only 500 yards from the pits when the advance was sounded.
Besides the six officers wounded, as detailed, there were ten men killed and thirty-three non-commissioned officers and privates wounded. The enemy's loss amounted to 108 bodies buried on the 22nd of June in the rifle-pits dug on the 21st; fifteen wounded, afterwards died; eleven unwounded and twelve wounded prisoners remained in hospital: total, 151 Maoris accounted for.
Both the Light Regiments did credit to their old good name; and it was a matter of special satisfaction that the 43rd had an opportunity, at Te Rangi, of recovering from any depression
Colonel Greer paid a tribute to the Maoris, and remarked on their gallant stand at the rifle-pits; they stood the charge without flinching, and did not retire until forced out at the point of the bayonet.
In concluding his report to
Waitara. To face page 225.
ChapterXIII.
Some native warriors surrender—The forests about Auckland cleared of the enemy—Discussions about the disposal of the land—The Governor addresses the Maoris at Tauranga—An unexpected event occurs—The prisoners sent from the hulk in Auckland harbour to Kawau island—They break their parole and escape—They take post on a mountain—Unsettled state of the south-west coast—Commissariat arrangements—Successful operations in Taranaki—Te Arei pah—Mr. Parris—Great meeting of chiefs—A road to be opened along the south-west coast.
On the 25th of July, 1864, 133 native warriors, among whom were some chiefs of rank, came into Colonel Greer's camp at Tauranga, and laid down their arms. Arrangements were being made for settling native boundaries by the Governor, and for confiscating some of the lands of those who had been most active in the war.
The effect of the late operations in the
Considerable discussions continued to take place among the authorities in New Zealand, civil and military, about fixing boundaries, and the disposal of the native lands. A meeting took place at Tauranga between his Excellency the Governor and the natives there, and it passed off most satisfactorily. The natives submitted unconditionally to the Queen's authority, and placed all their lands at the Governor's disposal. Hostilities were at an end in that part of the Colony, and there was reason to hope
The watches and money taken at the Gate pah were all given back by the Maoris.
The aspect of affairs in New Zealand at this time appeared to be promising, when an unexpected event occurred, which was likely to disarrange all the plans for the settlement of native affairs in the Colony.
General Cameron had handed over to the Colonial Government about 200 prisoners, who, from time to time, were taken in action against the Queen's troops; these men were to be finally disposed of at the conclusion of hostilities. There being no suitable prison on land for the safe custody of "the wily foe," they were placed in a hulk in Auckland harbour. They were very well treated there, and the Rev. Mr. Baker, of the
A very decided improvement in their appearance was manifested, and expressions of surprise were frequently heard among them of the kind treatment they received at the hands of the Government; the officers in charge were unremitting in their attention to the prisoners,
Ti Ori Ori, the principal chief among them, wrote to his sister, ashore, "Sister! our place is very good, and also the treatment we receive from our masters."
There was a difference of opinion between
The persons immediately connected with the charge of the prisoners, were a warden, an interpreter, a medical officer, and the chaplain.
On the night of the 10th of September, silently the Maoris rose, got possession of the boats, and on Sunday morning, the 11th of September, when the bell was ringing for Divine service, and no natives appeared, it was for the first time discovered that they had effected their escape during the previous night, and in doing so must have made several trips with the boats.
It was soon ascertained that after reaching the main land opposite Kawau, they proceeded to the top of a lofty mountain, eighteen miles distant, called Omaha. Mr. White, the interpreter, who had been with them throughout their imprisonment, and exercised considerable influence over them, followed them to their retreat, was received very kindly, and was assured by some that they were sorry for what they had done, and that they determined to return; they wished, however, they stated, to return with all the rest, who they hoped would accompany them.
A few days more, however, shewed that they
The escape of these men, at the particular time at which it took place, was very unfortunate, for there was no knowing to what extent it might encourage the Waikatos, and the other tribes to which they belonged, to continue in arms, in addition to the still greater danger of the whole of the northern natives, hitherto loyal to the British authority, being drawn into the strife. But, happily, no serious disaster resulted from the escape of the prisoners.
The country between New Plymouth (Taranaki) and Wanganui was the contemplated scene of the next operations. The natives in that quarter, who had occasioned the war of 1863 to commence by the cruel massacre of a party of officers and soldiers, as was described, had, however, never been met and punished. But a political difficulty now arose, which occasioned military operations to be deferred. The
The General held a considerable body of troops in hand near Auckland, at Otahuhu, in case of any trouble or rising in the north from the presence of the escaped prisoners. All was quiet in the Waikato country.
An admirable report was prepared in October 1864, by Deputy Assistant-Commissary-General Robertson, of the complete and excellent arrangements made by his department for the supply of the troops in a country where all provisions had to be brought from long distances by land and water carriage. This report
At the Taranaki a very important object was attained—the possession of the native positions of Mataitawa and Te Arei, the latter immediately overlooking the Waitara, and against which operations were directed by the sap in the last war.
Had these places been strongly garrisoned, their capture could not have been effected without serious loss. But the large body of the natives there had abandoned them; and Colonel Warre having received information that the positions were occupied by a few men, he accordingly, on the 8th of September, moved out a force of 500 men, composed of regulars and militia, and advanced towards Mataitawa, accompanied by a number of friendly natives.
The direct approach to Mataitawa was blocked by the entrenchment of Manutahi. The Forest Rangers, under Major Atkinson, advanced in skirmishing order to this work, and were received by a fire from the stockade. Major
Manutahi was found to be a strong work, with parapets eight and ten feet thick in rear of the palisading, and casemated covered - ways. The troops pushed on without opposition, and secured Mataitawa, and cut down the flag-staff as a trophy, and destroyed palisading and wharrés.
On the 11th of September, Colonel Warre, with a force of three companies, 70th, under Major Rutherford, and 150 men under Major Saltmarshe, and with an advance guard of fifty friendly natives, marched towards Te Arie pah on its commanding site, overlooking the Waitara, and 300 feet above it; they were assisted by the long sap of last war, which had caused the surrender of the place to the troops under
Te Arie Pah.
The works were found to be very formidable, ditches fifteen feet deep, and this novelty in Maori fortification—there was a strong parapet built of earth mixed with fern, similar to the system of the Engineers in New Zealand, but
Lieutenant Ferguson, R.E., had the construction of a redoubt on this very beautiful and commanding position, looking over the wooded banks of the winding River Waitara, towards the waters of the Southern Ocean.
In these last operations, and at all times, great assistance was given by Mr. Parris, assistant native secretary to Colonel Warre. His knowledge of native character, his practical experience in all matters connected with native customs, and the great respect with which he
In the beginning of 1865, the natives were in a very unsettled state all over New Zealand: great portions of their lands were proposed to be confiscated (leaving them sufficient, of course, for their support by industry). The disquietude was increased by the fanatical belief lately introduced, and spread far and wide, that they were about to be aided by a special Divine interposition in driving all the Europeans out of the island.
A large and important meeting of natives, hostile and friendly, and which was attended by the king-maker
As matters were so unsettled, General Cameron could not advise or recommend the withdrawal of troops from the Colony, and leaving large districts undefended.
The Weld Ministry of
It was there that the dreadful Pai Mariri superstition originated. The natives challenged the troops to fight if road-making went on, and were bold and defiant.
Maori Outworks.
G.R. Greaves.
Edwd Weller, Litho Red Lion Square.Published by Sampson Low, Marston Low & Scarle, Crown Buildings 188 Fleet Str t. London.
ChapterXIV.
Movement to Wanganui—Advance of the troops to the west—Nukumaru—Pickets attacked—Death of Lieutenant Johnston—Bold attack of the enemy—Charged by cavalry—Officers conspicuous in the action—General Cameron requires reinforcements—Home authorities wish to reduce the force—Supplies abundant—Advance on the Patea river—A smart action with the enemy—His flank turned—Manutahi—Extensive Maori cultivations utilised by the troops.
General Cameron, in compliance with instructions received from his Excellency the Governor, moved the 50th Regiment and nearly the whole of the 18th to Wanganui, and intended also to move his head-quarters there. Colonel Waddy, C.B., 50th Regiment, was appointed Brigadier - General. He encamped at Alexander's farm, and on the 24th of January, 1865, at half-past nine a.m., he marched according to
The advance of the troops west was necessarily very slow, owing to the steep ascent of the road from the beach to the sand-hills of the Okehu river, and the passage across these hills of the carts containing baggage and stores. The force, consisting of Royal Artillery, Royal Engineers, 18th Regiment, 50th Regiment, and Military Train (Cavalry), amounted to 963 officers and men. They reached the kainga or village of Nukumaru about half-past four p.m. the same day, where camp was formed close to the Paetaia lake, and about half a mile from the village.
Immediately after the camp had been formed, pickets were ordered out, and as a picket of the 18th approached a bush close to the village which it was necessary to occupy, it was fired upon by a party of Maoris, who quickly retired and took up a strong position at the edge of the bush farther away from the village.
The men of the picket got under cover behind a railed fence with a small ditch.
Firing was kept up by both sides till dusk, after which it gradually slackened, and ceased altogether about midnight. The Brigadier had to notice, with deep regret, the loss to the service of Lieutenant Johnston, 40th Regiment, Deputy Assistant-Adjutant-General, a most zealous and excellent officer, who proceeded with the picket to see it posted as the Brigadier had directed. He was mortally wounded soon after the firing began, and died next day at noon. Seeing the Maoris were in a strong position, and believing they occupied it in considerable numbers, which might soon be increased from the pah at Wereroa, about three miles off, the Brigadier sent out a reinforcement of 100 men to the front. The Maoris retired during the night, and next morning they were not to be seen or heard in the bush.
General Cameron and Staff joined on the 24th of January. On the 25th, at two p.m., the outlying pickets were suddenly attacked by the Maoris in large numbers, who managed to approach, under cover of the high fern and flax plants,
Immediately after the firing commenced, all the troops in camp got under arms, and a reinforcement of 100 men was sent to each picket. The attack on the left was soon checked, but on the right the Maoris, setting fire to the flax, under cover of the smoke advanced with great determination, and pushed on through the village of Nukumaru, and got within 150 yards of General Cameron's tent.
The Royal Artillery and Cavalry were rapidly moved to the right, and the guns, six-pounder Armstrongs, were fired into the bush, and drove the enemy out of it. The Cavalry also charged vigorously and effectively over difficult ground.
Nothing like this fight had ever before occurred in New Zealand. Here for the first time a force of 600 natives had appeared in the field, and in broad daylight measured their strength against the Pakehas. Their plan of
The result of the fight was to raise the Maoris in the estimation of the troops, and to prove how readily they learn the European art of war.
They were particularly struck with a charge of cavalry; and since then large bodies of men were seen mounted, and cavalry videttes were observed.
Two wounded Maoris were brought into camp; one of them a near relative of the chief, Rewi. The prisoners said that 600 Maoris had come on to the attack of the position. Twenty-two bodies were found and buried, and many more fell and were removed, supposed seventy, on the 25th of January,—on the 24th the loss was not ascertained.
The British casualties were heavy,
Of the officers engaged in these actions, Colonel Weare, 50th Regiment, ably directed a portion of his regiment in the repulse and pursuit of the enemy, as did Brevet-Major Locke, 50th, in command of the first reinforcement. Captain Witchell, Military Train, commanded the cavalry, led his men most gallantly, and kept them well in hand. Major Rocke, 18th Regiment, reinforced the right picket on the 24th, and remained out all night, and was engaged on the 25th of January. Captains Shaw and Dawson, 18th Regiment, did good service with the pickets. Brevet - Major Greaves, 70th Regiment, Deputy Assistant - Quartermaster- General, gave the direction to the cavalry on their advance to the charge, and afterwards was
Brigadier-General Waddy acknowledged the advantage he derived from the presence of
Colonel Mould, C.B., Commanding Royal Engineers, was present. Lieutenant-Colonel Williams, R.A., directed the movements of the Armstrong guns. Of the Staff, Colonel Carey, C.B., Deputy Adjutant-General; Lieut.-Colonel Gamble, C.B., Deputy Quartermaster - General; Major Pitt, Assistant Military Secretary; and the Aides-de-Camp—Lieut.-Colonel McNeil and Lieut. St. Hill; were present and ably assisted.
Since the action of Nukumaru on the 25th of January, the Maoris remained quiet in their pah of Wereroa, which stood on very high ground on the left bank of the Waetotara river,
Greneral Cameron, considering that two-thirds of his troops were employed in the protection of the different settlements or the occupation of the land taken from the hostile natives, and the natives in his front evidently mustering in force to oppose the advance of the troops, was of opinion that to carry out the views of the Governor and the Colonial Government, a reinforcement of 2000 men would be necessary.
On the night of the 4th of February, Brigadier-General Waddy was directed to march, with a force of 1104 officers and men, from
The head-quarters and 350 men of the 2nd Battalion, 14th Regiment, stationed at Wellington, arrived at Wanganui, and 250 men of the 70th Regiment from Taranaki, to strengthen the force in the south-west.
In February 1865 the home authorities were desirous to reduce the force in New Zealand by five battalions, supposing that the Maoris had been subdued to that extent that such a force could now be spared; yet, from the determined attitude assumed by the Ngatiruanuis in the south-west, they did not seem to consider that they had had enough of fighting, or would yield to the Pakehas.
To save a heavy loss of life by attacking the formidable position of the Wereroa pah, General Cameron resolved to move to the
Accordingly, Brigadier - General Waddy marched with his force, on the night of the 15th of February, to the Patea river; and Colonel Weare, with his detachments, moved from Nukumaru, and took up Brigadier-General Waddy's camp on the Waetotara.
The commissariat supplies were now
H.R.H. the Field-Marshal Commanding-in-Chief, when applied to by the local Government to sanction enlisting from Her Majesty's regiments in New Zealand 1500 men as a colonial defence force, did not approve of that measure, as opposed to Imperial interests.
On the 9th of March, with a view to carry out the instructions of his Excellency the Governor, Sir Duncan Cameron ordered Colonel Weare to march with the division under his command from the Waetotara to the Patea river, leaving a detachment of 200 men under Major Rocke, 18th Regiment, to occupy a post on the left bank of the Waetotara, for the purpose of securing a passage across that river,
On the morning of the 13th, Colonel Weare was ordered, in the absence of Brigadier-General Waddy, who was incapacitated for duty by a severe fall from his horse, to move, with 1273 officers and men, up the right bank of the Patea towards the village of Kakaramea. The General was present with the troops.
After marching some two and a half miles, the right flank of the line of march became commanded by a range of hills covered with thick fern, affording a very strong position, and on which the advance guard skirmishers discovered the enemy skilfully posted.
The advance guard, under Major Butler, 57th, was then ordered to change direction to the right, and additional companies of that regiment were thrown into skirmishing order to prolong a line to the left, so as to turn the enemy's right, and keep him from escaping to the village of Manutahi, in the direction of the ultimate advance.
The whole line then advanced on the Maori position, supported by the 68th Regiment, with the 50th Regiment in reserve. The enemy clung tenaciously to his strong position, and many casualties must have occurred had he not seen that he was being outflanked, and his retreat about to be cut off by the cavalry. He then gave way, and was followed up over most difficult ground, consisting of a series of hills, with deep swamps running along their base, until the village of Kakaramea was reached.
It being impossible for the artillery and cavalry to follow the enemy over this ground, they were ordered to resume the original direction of march, supported by the 50th Regiment, and threaten the village of Kakaramea on the left, while the remainder of the troops pushed on across the swamps to take it in front. The enemy, seeing this disposition, did not
The British loss was small in this fight at Patea—one man was killed and three men severely wounded—which was attributed to the arrangements made for turning the right flank of the enemy before advancing upon him. In this, the General being present, Colonel Weare derived the benefit of his advice and experience.
The name of Sergeant O'Connor, 57th Regiment, was brought prominently to the notice of the General for dash and soldierlike bearing.
Major Greaves, 70th Regiment, Deputy Assistant - Quartermaster - General, was conspicuous, as on all other occasions, for his energy and daring; also Captain Leach, 50th Regiment, Deputy Assistant-Adjutant-General, had thanks especially accorded to him. Staff
On the morning of the 14th of March, on the return of the transport which had been sent back to the Patea river the previous evening for provisions, the field force again advanced, at ten a.m., over an open country covered with fern, but without roads, and much intersected with ravines, to the village of Manutahi, which is situated at the edge of a dense bush, and through a portion of which the troops had to pass before reaching the village. Such was the labour of making cuttings and passing the transport over the ravines, that, although the distance was only six miles, the rear guard with the last carts did not reach camp till eleven o'clock at night.
Manutahi was a large and important settlement of the Maoris, judging by the amount of crops growing, which was far in excess of those
The Wanganui campaign was necessarily attended with much labour and fatigue, and now at the beginning of the New Zealand winter it was time to establish posts and secure what had been gained by the steady advance to the west coast.
The heroic Wolfe, the evening before his final battle on the plains of Abraham, Quebec, is said to have sung his favourite soldier's song, "How stands the glass around?" It concludes thus—
"'Tis but in vain (I mean not to upbraid you, boys), 'Tis but in vain For soldiers to complain: Should next campaign Send us to Him who made us, boys, We're free from pain; But should we remain, A bottle and kind landlady cures all again."
ChapterXV.
General Sir Duncan Cameron, from the camp at Waetotara, wrote to the Military Secretary in England, General Forster, K.H., that he wished to be relieved of the command of the troops in New Zealand. He made this application with extreme reluctance, but his health was impaired by the arduous and harassing duties which had devolved upon him since the commencement
Commanding the troops in Scotland in 1861 (an object of great ambition to many Scotch officers), he had been taken from this position to proceed to New Zealand. Continuing to be highly in favour with the authorities, he was appointed, when he returned to England, to Military Commissions, and then became Governor of the Royal Military College, being esteemed one of the best read and most accomplished officers in the British army.
The troops under
General Cameron, having only a moveable force of 800 men, could not establish more military posts than he did; and posts were of course necessary for securing what had been acquired by conquest in Waikato, Tauranga, and Wanganui. The Colonial Secretary declined to send any reinforcements to New Zealand, since it was desired to recall five regiments, and reduce the force as soon as
The labours of the Commissariat were at this time very great, to supply the troops with fresh meat and bread; but their exertions under Deputy Commissary-General Strickland were unremitting to provide what was required, under great difficulties of transport, &c. Mr. Strickland found the pack-saddle of the Otago diggers the best—high above the withers of the horse, while the sides of it rested firmly on the horse. Compressed forage was supplied at first in too large packets, each of 132 lbs.; and it was recommended that they should not exceed 120 lbs., and be long and flat, so as to be carried on pack-horses.
Another surf-boat was upset at the mouth of the Waingoro river, and more men were drowned.
A party of natives had visited the house of Mr. Hewett, on the frontier of the Wanganui settlement, and murdered him. He was an old resident, and much respected in the
The friendly chief, Rio, was also murdered.
Military posts were established at Te Namu, fifty miles south of New Plymouth, at Pukearhoe, the White Cliffs, thirty-five miles north of it, and garrisoned by troops of the Taranaki command.
At Tauranga, on the 28th of May, 1865,
The translation of the convention signed by
"We consent that the laws of the Queen be laws for the (Maori) King, to be a protection for us all for ever and ever. This is the sign of making peace, my coming here, to the presence of my fighting friend (Hoa-riri) General Carey."
A number of the natives in the Taranaki
There was a misfortune in Taranaki. Some commissariat bullocks had gone astray, and Colonel Colville allowed four mounted men to go a short way into the bush to look for them; but seeing some horses and cows in the distance they gave chase, and were joined by a sergeant and five privates, 43rd Light Infantry, unarmed and without orders, for the purpose of wild pig hunting. When leading away a calf, they were surprised and attacked by a dozen mounted Maoris. All wonderfully escaped except two, a private of the 43rd and one of the mounted company; the rest returned singly and in pairs to camp. The body of the mounted man was found, but not the 43rd soldier.
It was now determined by the Colonial Government to form a military settlement of 120 officers and soldiers north of the Waitara river, Taranaki, and also a settlement of friendly natives there, with block houses for defence.
The Maoris in the Taranaki, having made
The force consisted of 213 officers and men, 43rd and 70th Regiments, and a gun detachment of Royal Artillery, with a 6-pounder Armstrong gun. After passing Warea, at Kapoiaiai, the force was divided, and Brevet- Major Russell, 57th, took charge of one-half: this column turned inland, and Colonel Colville continued along the coast for some distance. Thus there was a combined movement to surprise the enemy in the bush. The gun was left at Warea. Great difficulties were experienced in making way through the bush, for the want of a good guide, by Colonel Colville's party. Major Russell first encountered the enemy about six miles from the beach.
He posted pickets on four conical hills, sent
Lieutenant Tylden, 70th, was severely wounded in two places, in the hand and cheek, leading on his company.
Soon after, Captain Cay rejoined Major Russell, bringing with him two men and a woman prisoners. The Maoris rallied, and opened a heavy fire on the party, the natives firing with great precision and steadiness, and causing casualties among the troops; the Maoris also suffering. The natives continued to follow the party, which made several stands to keep them in check. Lieutenant Bully, 70th, commanding the rear guard, was mortally wounded through the stomach.
Colonel Colville, hearing the heavy firing from Major Russell's party, came up with it
On the 3rd of August, Colonel Colville returned to the bush to complete the destruction of the village of Okea, which Captain Cay had been unable to accomplish the previous day, owing to the small number of his men and the determined resistance of the enemy.
The casualties were one officer, Lieutenant Bully, 70th, killed; and one officer, Lieutenant Tylden, 70th, severely wounded; four privates killed, and five severely wounded. It was believed twenty or thirty of the enemy were killed and wounded. It was a sharp bush fight.
Major Russell and Captain Cay were highly commended by Colonel Colville for this affair near Warea. Captains the
Major-General Trevor Chute, on the departure of
Instructions were issued for the departure of the 65th Regiment, who certainly had become acclimatised in New Zealand, and had done excellent service there in the seventeen years of colonial experience. The 70th Regiment proceeded from the Taranaki to Napier, to aid in the defence of the province of Hawkes Bay against the Hauhau fanatics; and 500 of the colonial forces were withdrawn from Wanganui and landed at Opotiki, about seventy miles south-east of Tauranga, with a view to punish the murderers of the Rev. Mr. Volkner and Mr. Falloon. This was a dreadful affair, which will be shortly related.
Mr. Volkner was a Prussian Protestant missionary, and a member of the English. Church in New Zealand for some years. He was a man of peculiarly mild and gentle disposition, at the same time zealous in his holy calling. His station was at Opotiki, on the
Mr. Volkner returned to Opotiki on the 1st of March; accompanying him was another missionary, the Rev. Mr. Grace. They came in a
Mr. Grace I had known under peculiar circumstances. One day in 1862, in cruising about alone on the fern ridges of the Waikato (I was on good terms with the natives about there, having opened a trade with them with our people, and had no occasion to fear them), I saw a white man and a young woman walking along a bush track, with a few Maoris carrying packs. This was Mr. Grace and his good-looking daughter, retreating from his station at the Taupo lake. I took them to our camp and entertained them, and they proceeded on their way to Auckland.
As soon as the "Eclipse" anchored at Opotiki, the Hauhaus boarded her, and made prisoners of the two missionaries, confining them on shore. Mr. Grace said they spent a dreadful night of suspense, and next day, in the afternoon, twenty armed men came and took out Mr. Volkner. They said he was to die. They then performed some wild ceremonies at a flag-staff, and taking
My poor friend, Mr. Grace, thought every day would be his last, till the 16th of March, when, H.M.S. "Eclipse" coming to Opotiki, Captain Levy, at the risk of his life, took off Mr. Grace in his boat to the man-of-war, and he most thankfully escaped.
Not content with the murder of Mr. Volkner, in July, when Mr. Fulloon, a half-caste interpreter, arrived at Wakatane in a schooner owned by natives, but with an English crew, the Hauhaus boarded her, murdered Mr. Fulloon in his berth, and the crew, and burnt the vessel.
Strange, they spared Mr. White, a trader, and a half-caste boy.
When a party of the 14th Regiment were at Parakino, a redoubt on the Wanganui river, in the end of 1865, a large wharré was built there to serve to dance in or for a theatre, and the friendly Maoris there occasionally lent the soldiers clothing to perform their parts. On one occasion the Maoris gave a haka, or war dance, as an interlude, one of their chiefs, Reneti, leading. As they grew excited in their performance, so did a number of the Maoris among the audience, and, jumping on the stage, they joined the rest in their tremendous stamping and contortions. The soldiers gave them immense applause, which was much relished by the Maoris.
The natives were on the most friendly terms with the soldiers, often gave them, without asking for payment, potatoes, fruit, and vegetables, and got in return an occasional glass of rum, or an invitation to eat "a bit of dinner" in a tent.
There were athletic games held, and swimming races; in a short race the Maoris beat the soldiers, and a Maori saved the life of a drowning soldier.
On the south-west coast, Brigadier-General Waddy had sent
His Excellency Sir George Grey had set his heart on the capture of the strong Wereroa pah, situated on high and commanding ground, up the Waetotara river. It was a sort of Bhurtpore to the Maoris, and supposed to be impregnable, and defiant for the Pakeha.
The Wanganuis, flushed with their success against the Hauhaus, were anxious to assist in taking Wereroa.
The Wereroa pah stood about 300 feet above the wooded banks of the Waetotara. There were woods, and broken country, and occasional swamps all round, quite a picture of New Zealand scenery.
The front of the pah, on its high plateau,
The front of the pah stood at the head of a gentle slope, which fell gradually away from the pah, for a distance of more than 1000 yards, when the ground began again gradually to rise. The front face of the pah was very strongly fortified with palisading and rifle-pits. In that excellent work by
Brigadier-General Waddy had arranged to establish a post of 400 men of the regular troops about 900 yards from the fortress, to afford Her Majesty's Colonial forces and the native allies that moral support they were certain to derive from the presence of British troops in front of the place. He also ordered a detachment of artillery to co-operate in front, to breach and shell the works, if necessary.
The Colonial troops were 25 Wanganui Cavalry, 139 Forest Rangers, 109 Native Contingent, 200 efficient friendly natives, and several old warriors—total 473.
A post at Pipiriki, commanded by Captain Brassey, was placed in a very critical position—threatened with attack by a large body of natives; but until Wereroa fell, it was impossible to detach a party to assist Captain
Lieut.-Colonel Trevor, with 100 men of the 14th Regiment, arrived early on the morning of the 20th, and pitched his tents in front of the pah, about 1300 yards from it, and between the camps of the native allies and the Forest Rangers; Captain Noblett, 18th Royal Irish, with 100 men, also arrived on the ground to co-operate, and pitched his tents in rear of the 14th.
At half-past twelve, the Colonial and native forces, under Major Rooke's command, paraded out of sight of the pah, and moved off north to the Karaka heights, by a path concealed from
The Forest Rangers were under the command of Captain George, the Native Contingent under Captain MacDonell, the friendly natives under their several chiefs; and the whole, under Major Rooke, reached the Karaka heights by ravines and broken and wooded ground, by half-past six o'clock p.m., after dark.
From the time the Colonial forces left (with the exception of a few friendly natives) the regular troops, 200 in number, under the command of Lieut.-Colonel Trevor, were the only force in front of the pah.
Of course there was great risk in dividing the force, but appearances were well kept up, and the natives in the pah were deceived, all the tents being left pitched in view of the pah. Captain Brassey's critical position at Pipiriki required the risk to be run. But if the enemy had suspected that only 200 men were in their front, as at Nukumaru, they might have sallied out in great numbers, and tried the mettle of the 14th and 18th in a bloody conflict.
In the course of the night Major Rooke asked the Chief Haimona to send spies to a kainga or village near; they reported that there was no one there: but not satisfied with that, the Major detached a party under Captain McDonell at
At daybreak on the morning of the 21st, rifleshots from the Karaka heights into Wereroa pah wakened its defenders; they were taken by surprise, and evidently fell into confusion, not expecting an attack from the north side.
The native chiefs left in camp with Colonel Trevor became naturally anxious at their critical position; to reassure them he sent for fifty more men of the 14th to Nukumaru, and for fifty more, 18th, to Waetotara. The 200 regulars expected from Wanganui had not arrived, but the operations went on, Major Rooke to harass the enemy in the pah by day and laying ambuscades at night—Colonel Trevor to make a sham attack on the pah in front, to enable Major Rooke to take the Parima village on his side, and the friendly natives occupying the ground on the west side of the Waetotara river.
At sunset the pickets falling in and marching to the front, led the enemy to suppose the troops were forming for a night attack; the garrison was seen to be in confusion, and running about for shelter from the rifle-shots from the heights.
Major Rocke, 18th, arriving in command of a party from the Waetotara, reported to Colonel Trevor he had seen, with a telescope, natives descending the cliffs and precipitous banks with packs, and escaping by the only outlet from the pah. At ten o'clock, 21st, Major Rooke ascertained from a native scout that the pah was evacuated, and he had the satisfaction of writing
Great credit was due to all engaged in the capture of the Wereroa pah.
His Excellency Sir George Grey, K.C.B., I first knew at the
ChapterXVI.
Skirmishing in Taranaki—Captain Close is killed—Dangerous adventure of three officers of the 14th Regiment—Colonel Colville's ambuscade—He is wounded—Reception of the Native Contingent at Wanganui—General Chute prepares to conduct a campaign against the Hauhaus—The force organised—Okotuku taken—Difficulties of the assault on Putahi pah—Smart action at Otapawa—Colonel Hassard killed—Successes against the Hauhaus—Preparations for a bush march round Mount Egmont to New Plymouth—Difficulties of the undertaking—Labour and privations encountered—Horseflesh used—The force received with distinction—End of the service of the regular troops—Proclamation of peace.
Subsequent to the fall of the Wereroa pah, some skirmishes took place in Taranaki. A party under Captain Close, 43rd Regiment, of one subaltern, Ensign O'Brien, two sergeants, one bugler, and fifty-one rank and file, went from the camp at Werea to patrol the country on the 28th July. They were guided by Jim, a Maori, and came upon a large number of the enemy on a hill,
On the 24th of August three officers of the 14th Regiment, stationed at the Wereroa pah, went down the gully on the left of the pah for the purpose of tracking some footsteps, which had been seen early in the day, of natives who
The officers retreated towards the pah, but were all wounded: they were Captain Bryce, Lieutenant and Adjutant Butler, and Ensign Symonds; also two soldiers, Carey and Green, who went to their assistance.
Ensign Symonds threw himself into the river to swim across, and was followed by two natives; he managed to hide himself in the bush till assistance was sent him. Lieutenant Butler owed his life, as he said, to Captain Bryce, who by his coolness, and armed with a fowling piece, was able to keep at bay the natives, who were gaining fast on them. Though of course it was tedious to be shut up in a pah, yet this affair
During the Maori war a sergeant of the 14th Regiment had a disagreeable night adventure. He was on outpost duty; and on coming back from patrol he found that his blanket had disappeared. As the night was not warm, he went in search of a covering, and seeing some men in blankets lying on the ground, he laid down beside them, and gradually drew off a couple of their blankets to make himself comfortable. After dosing for some time, and the moon breaking through the clouds, he found he was lying among some dead Maoris, and of course he suddenly left his silent bedfellows.
In the Taranaki, on the 22nd of October, a party of the 43rd left the Werea camp at a quarter past two a.m., under the command of Lieut.-Colonel Colville, to lay an ambush for the hostile natives at a place called Ngakumikumi, about three miles from camp. The force was concealed in an old pah. Captain Mace left Werea at seven a.m. with his mounted men,
On the 25th of November, 1865, the Native Contingent who had gone to the east coast for active service, and to avenge the murder of Mr. Volkner and others of our countrymen there, returned to Wanganui, and were received with every honour. They had previously fought well in defence of that settlement.
Major-General Chute, in compliance with the desire of the Governor, now being prepared to make a campaign against the hostile natives, the Hauhaus (the inveterate enemies of the Pakehas, who refused offers of peace), between Wanganui and New Plymouth, organised the following force, and marched out of Wanganui for Waetotara on the 30th of December.
The Native Contingent joined with women among them, who carry packs, cook, and fight on occasion, and utterly despise those of their people who are backward in action; but ladies generally do this everywhere.
The transport consisted of forty-five drays, two horses to each.
On the 2nd of January, 1866, his Honour Dr. Featherston, the Superintendent of Wellington, joined the camp at Waetotara, along with some native chiefs, and continued during the campaign with the troops, and was of the greatest service to the cause in which they were engaged.
As a commencement, a party of the contingent went out and captured thirty-two horses, and brought them into camp.
On the 3rd of January, Lieut.-Colonel Trevor joined the force, with 132 officers and men of the 14th Regiment, also detachments of the 18th Regiment joined under Major Rocke, and of the 50th under Captain Johnstone. The Native Contingent, under Major McDonell, next attacked the Hauhaus in the village of Ohine Motu, and drove them out of it, and pursued them for three miles beyond.
The march of General Chute's force was then directed on Okotuku, some natives from which had wavlaid and murdered some white men. It haka or war-dance by moonlight.
The next enterprise was the attack on a very strong pah—Putahi, on a plateau, supported by precipitous spurs, and cleft by deep forest gullies. The approach to it was favourable for ambuscades to receive an attacking force.
At three a.m. on the 7th, the General proceeded with about 700 officers and men of all arms from their camp, which was 1500 yards from
The last ascent to the pah was almost perpendicular, but the forest screen, and aided by the branches of the trees, made climbing possible. The plateau of the pah gained, Major Mac Donell was sent round to the rear of the pah, and Major von Tempski opened fire in front at 300 yards; the Hauhau flag was then hoisted, and a war-dance performed by the garrison, 200 strong, to get up their courage.
Young Mr. Campbell, of the Rangers, exposing himself, fell wounded, and the firing between the Rangers and the pah continued for an hour. General Chute now drew up his
Before the pah was burnt, several books and papers which had belonged to Mr. Hewitt (who was murdered on his farm) were found; also the harness of the horses of the carrier Arbon, who was waylaid and murdered on his way to Wanganui; and a paper in Maori arranging a plan for attacking Wanganui at an early day. A valuable whaleboat was also found concealed on the banks of the Wheneakura Red soil.
After a day's rest, the march was continued, the mouth of the Wheneakura was forded at low water, and at the camp of Kakaramea the force was augmented by two six-pounder Armstrong guns, and two sergeants and 15 gunners of the Royal Artillery.
On the 11th of January, Lieut.-Colonel Hassard, 57th Regiment, joined with 120 men of his regiment; next day the march was to Ketemarae, a very strong pah. The camp was formed a mile from it, where Colonel Butler joined it.
At the large village of Taiporohenui stood a King's parliament house, 100 feet by 40, for runangas or conferences; this was burnt, and the cooked dinners of the Hauhaus were found there, consisting of beef, boiled potatoes, and native cabbage, &c., in abundance; also a butcher's shop, with scales and weights—an advance in civilisation. There were also herds of tame cattle in good condition, horses, pigs, and cultivated fields.
The stronghold of Otapawa was now reconnoitred. Like Putahi, it was considered impregnable and inaccessible to Europeans. It was considered the most important position in the Ngatiruanui country, and had never fallen to an enemy. At two a.m., 18th of January, the following force marched to attack it:—
Royal Artillery, with three guns, under Lieutenant Carre.
Her Majesty's 14th Regiment, 200 men, under Lieut. Colonel Trevor.
Her Majesty's 57th Regiment, 180 men, under Lieut. Colonel Butler.
Forest Rangers, 36 men, under Major Von Tempski.
Native Contingent, 200 men, under Ensign MacDonell.
It was ascertained that artillery could play on the pah from a neighbouring height, and this was put in execution with effect. The Native Contingent were ordered to the rear of the pah, while the General attacked in front. The 57th led, followed by the Rangers and the 14th. Three shots from the Armstrongs had called forth no reply from the Hauhaus, an unusual thing, and the pah seemed abandoned. It was not so. Colonel Butler, within 200 yards of the pah, saw the rifle-pits in rear of the
The Hauhaus lost fifty men killed. The loss of the force was Colonel Hassard and nine men killed, and Lieutenant Swanson, 14th, and fourteen men wounded, including Major MacDonell, the brave commander of the Native Contingent.
Ketemarai was next to be attacked, but it fell without resistance, as did several other pahs and hamlets, which were burnt in sight of the snowy
Mount Egmont.
General Chute's "ready" mode of attacking pahs was this. There was usually an open plateau in front of the pahs; he brought up his men there to the edge of the bush, and when his line and supports and natives in reserve were all ready, he made his bugler sound a single
All the principal villages and positions of the Hauhaus up to and within reach of the headquarters camp at Ketemarai having been destroyed and the enemy scattered with heavy loss, General Chute proposed, in accordance with
General Chute could get no reliable information regarding the track, so he embarked on the undertaking with considerable anxiety, and undertook it to fulfil the Governor's desire to a.m. with 424 men of all ranks, 14th, 18th, 57th Regiments and Royal Artillery, also fifty-four Forest Rangers, and sixty-eight Native Contingent with their veteran chief—Hori Kingi. The
The men carried a waterproof sheet, a blanket, and a great coat each, and two days' supply of biscuits. Mr. Strickland took five days' supply of food, except for the Native Contingent, who insisted on getting all their rations in advance, the result of which will afterwards appear.
Clearing their way with axes, tomahawks, bill-hooks, and spades, and encountering a few Hauhaus and making prisoner a girl of twelve years old, going with a small party to get arms for a pah—nine and a half miles were accomplished the first day. The second day the bush
Deputy Assistant-Commissary-General Price now volunteered to start for the Taranaki for supplies, and was accompanied by Captain Leach and Ensign McDonell and ten of the ablest men of the Native Contingent. The rain came down in torrents, and Mr. Price became so
On the 21st of January, after working hard at clearing the track and road-making all day, officers and men employed under soaking rain and exhausted at night, a horse was killed and distributed as rations. The heart was reserved for the General. As I found in Africa with the zebras and quaggas, soup was the best way to deal with horse-flesh; but the men tried steaks and chops, roast and boiled also.
"I'm not going to eat any of that horse!" said one man.—"By dad, ye'll be glad to get it, my boy, before the morning," said another; and so it was, the objector to horse-flesh rose in the night and took a ration of it gladly.
The Contingent, raging with hunger, from imprudently not husbanding their supplies, bolted ahead to search for food. On the 22nd
Here General Chute and his force were received with every honour and distinction; also when he returned to Wellington, Sir George Grey entertained him at a public dinner, at which 200 persons were present. From Her Majesty he received the Knight Commander's Star of the Bath, and Colonel Colville the C.B., and Major Pitt.
Of His Honour Dr. Featherston, Superintendent of Wellington, Sir Trevor Chute said in a report to It may be called the Mount Egmont campaign.—J. E. A.
The claim for a high distinction for this valuable public servant will no doubt be duly recognised and acknowledged.
The fighting of the regular troops was now at an end, and the red-coats were gradually embarked to leave the colony for Australia, for India, or for England. Some bloody conflicts took place between the Colonial forces and the Hauhaus, as at Pukemaire pah, where Captain Westrupp, Lieutenant Biggs, and Ensign Ross
In one of these encounters one of my late regiment, the 14th, Captain Buck, was killed, and Major Von Tempski, while storming a pah at Ngatuotimanu (Parrot's beak pah), was shot. Thus perished an active officer, a very intelligent man and very deeply regretted.
It would enlarge this work too much if I attempted to narrate the exploits of Her Majesty's Colonial forces subsequent to 1866, which were so highly creditable to them, and resulted in peace: so I must now close this history of the War in New Zealand from 1863 to 1866.
A Proclamation of Peace was issued by His Excellency Sir George Grey, and countersigned by his minister, The Honourable Frederick A. Weld, announcing to the natives of New Zealand that the war which commenced at Oakura was at an end; that the Governor had taken up arms to protect the European settlements from
His Excellency declared that none would now be prosecuted for past offences, except the murderers of certain settlers, &c., who were enumerated (Mr. Volkner, Mr. Falloon, &c.); that certain native lands, which had been taken in Waikato, Taranaki, and Ngatiruanui, would be restored, and boundaries settled by commissioners; and that His Excellency would consult with the great chiefs how the Maori people could be represented in the General Assembly and help to make the laws which they had to obey.
All this was liberal, just, and fair.
Having served much in British Colonies, I know and appreciate their great value and
Loyalty to our gracious Sovereign will, I trust, be ever preserved among them, and which, as an old soldier, I imagine would be cemented by seeing the British uniform wherever the British flag was displayed.
New Zealand Statistics.
The noble colony of New Zealand was suffering in 1872-73, not from want of food or fuel, but from a want of labour to develop its great resources; its fertile soil requires hands to cultivate it, its flocks and herds require shepherds and herdsmen, its minerals require men to dig for them.
The New Zealand colonists are offering passages that will cost a good labourer no more on an average than his contribution of £5: whilst emigrant agents in England are trying to entice our workmen to Brazil, to the Argentine Republic, and even to Paraguay, a finer field for our people is offered, and better prospects of success are to be had, in the Britain of the south, New Zealand.
When the colony was in a disturbed state an extensive system of emigration could not be expected to be carried out towards it; but peace has reigned now for a considerable time, and no apprehension is to be entertained of interruption to the labours of the agriculturist or
The Maoris, our late enemies, are making money, either cultivating their own lands or letting farms to white settlers at fair rents, or engaging themselves for the charge of flocks and herds.
Times seem to be entirely changed with them since the period when the writer was in New Zealand, and on one occasion, in the absence of Sir Gore Browne, was acting as Governor of the Colony. Then the anxiety of the Maoris to fight was great; so much so that a Maori came into Auckland with a bag of 300 gold pieces, collected among his people, and offered them to a trader for 600 boxes of copper caps—10s. a box; usual value 1s. 6d. Fortunately the bargain was not allowed to be concluded, and the Maori carried back his sovereigns. The money would now be laid out in a very different manner.
The European population may now amount to a quarter of a million; Maoris, say 40,000: 7,000 emigrants landed in 1872. Government land is sold by auction, at prices varying from 5s. to 40s. an acre. In the province of Auckland alone there are seventeen millions of acres; eleven millions of these still belong to the natives, and three millions to Government. "As beef and mutton can walk into market, they are more popular with the farmer than the more expensive transport of wheat." Agricultural wages are 5s. a day, or 15s. a week, with shelter and rations.
The bulk of the wool comes from the south island, where there are no Maoris, but a few employed as shepherds and cattle tenders.
The gold of New Zealand has been a great attraction
Coal is also abundant about the Waikato, &c, and was of great service during the war for the steamers.
From returns kindly furnished me by Falconer Lark-worthy, Esq., managing director in London of the Bank of New Zealand, I find that, in the European population, the average for twelve years was one birth to every twenty-four and a half, and one death to every seventy-nine persons.
The first telegraph was established under the direction of Colonel Gamble, C.B., Deputy Quartermaster-General, in 1863, and was exceedingly well worked by Lieut. Burton, Deputy Assistant Quartermaster-General, and his assistants, Corporal Brodie, R.E., and 2nd Corporal
Criminal Statistics.—The convictions in 1871 were 11,806, but many of the convictions were for drunkenness (4,751), and not for serious offences.
Meteorology.—At Wellington, the capital,
Numerical Returnshowing the Officers, Non-commissioned Officers, and Men of the various Corps serving in
New Zealandkilled, wounded, and died of wounds in engagements with, or ambuscade of, the insurgent Maoris, from 1st January, 1863, to 15th February, 1866.
Returnof
Maoriskilled, wounded, and prisoners, in 1863-4-5.
From the above it appears that in the operations between the 4th of June, 1863, and 4th of August, 1865, the Maoris lost in killed at least 1,000 men, and in prisoners 300. How many were wounded is not known, but the number must have been at least five times greater than the killed. On the British side the proportion was much larger. Here we have at once over 6,000, and so a statement that there were never more than 2,000 men against the British is quite incorrect.
The killed and wounded in the Waitara campaign, or in General Chute's operations, are not given, but the numbers must have been large. There were also fights with the friendly natives, in which the insurgents had losses. 10,000 men for the Maoris is perhaps nearer the truth than 2,000 warriors.
Note.—It must be remembered that the troops had on nearly all occasions to attack the Maoris in selected positions strongly intrenched, the flanksalwayssecure, and thus having to move on a very narrow front, no advantage could be made of superior numbers. The British states show the whole force; but when we deduct escorts, guards, sick, wounded, &c. &c., it is well known that two-thirds of the total strength is the most that can be calculated on for fighting.
Criticisms on the Services of the Military in New Zealand.
It is very unfortunate that an author and traveller of the distinguished ability of
Among other things connected with the war, he says there were 15,000 troops (that is, about 1864), and never more than 2,000 Maoris in arms against us, and that this was the proportion in all the engagements—fifteen to two—"and yet they were not subdued." Again, 10,000 are stated to be the number of the troops. These loose statements must have emanated from, or originated with, some one jealous of and disparaging the military, who were engaged in fighting the battles of the colonists, and looking for neither plunder, prize-money, nor grants of land—only endeavouring to obey orders, and to do their duty to the best of their ability, whilst "enduring hardness."
Some individuals seemed to take a pleasure, and to lose no opportunity in crying down the services of the regular troops, although the colony owed so much to them, and it was certainly from untrustworthy sources Mr. Trollope derived his information.
It is utterly impossible for any person to say how many Maoris were engaged against the troops at any given time, as the number was constantly varying. At one time, it is believed, the whole native population were ready to take part against the British, and it was for that reason that so large a reinforcement was applied for from England; and there is little doubt the natives would have risen throughout the north island had they not been deterred by the example made of the Waikatos.
As to the force under
With regard to the comparative strength of the Maoris and the troops, when it is considered that the Maoris
Where the iron heel of war treads it is truly said, "Le pays était avant sa venue comme le jardin d'Héden; et après qu'il sera parti il sera comme un désert désolé;" so we now trust that the fertile soil of New Zealand will smile with abundant harvests under both British and native cultivators, "the cattle on a thousand hills" be seen, and the glorious evergreen forests of the beautiful kauri pine, the noble rata, rimu and totara trees shading the palm-like tree fern, and nikau will contain no lurking foe—commerce flourishing, peace and plenty prevailing.
For the enterprising Pathfinder we would recommend an exploration and survey of sixty square miles, between Poverty Bay and the Bay of Plenty; for in preparing the map for this work from a large one of New Zealand, we found a perfect blank in that region; and here may be observed scenes of great interest, good pasture land, hot springs, and if not the living moa, the bones of that gigantic bird, the great Dinornis elephantopus.
Account of the Escape of Fifty Prisoners in Wellington Harbour, New Zealand.
The escape of fifty Maori prisoners, on the 20th January, 1866, confined in a vessel in Wellington Harbour, may be here related as a very peculiar "incident" of the Maori war, and as it showed great daring and astuteness.
They had been taken at the time the Wereroa pah fell, and were placed on board a timber ship called the Manukau. The vessel had large bow ports, as is usual with timber ships, by which to pass in their freight. The ports had not been used for some time, and were supposed to be securely fastened.
By order of the Governor, the escort (50th Regiment) placed the prisoners on board the Manukau, and remained to guard them; but the vessel did not seem to be in a very fit state for the reception of the prisoners; the deck was lumbered with miscellaneous articles, as pieces of iron, marling-spikes, &c., some of which were thrown into the hold where the prisoners were located, immediately over a quantity of stone ballast, &c. The prisoners were always kept below at night, a sentry being on deck over the hatch.
There was a report some months before the escape that the prisoners meditated an attempt by the bow ports, but the mate of the ship, who lived on board, and the officer in command at the time, did not think that they could possibly effect it.
On the 20th of January, when it was blowing a gale of wind, a heavy sea running, and the night pitch dark, the
The darkness of the night, and the noise of the wind and sea, prevented the sentry on deck observing or hearing anything; and so cunningly did they effect their object that while the whole arrangement was going on below a single Maori occasionally came up during the night (as they were permitted to do, "to go to the head") to divert the sentry's attention.
Three or four were drowned in trying to swim ashore, about three-fourths of a mile; two or three, when pressed by hunger, came back; one or two were shot by parties sent out in pursuit; but the great majority were not again seen.
A court of inquiry assembled to investigate the case, and the Major-General (Chute) was satisfied that no blame rested on the detachment, as the escape was made under circumstances beyond their control.
The officer was unfortunately on shore at the time, and proved that he tried to get off, but no boatman would take him. He was censured, however, for not going off earlier, when indications of boisterous weather first appeared.
The escape of the Maori leader,
The"
Duval-MacNaughton Rifle;"
a new Weapon.
In Abyssinia, when the gate of the fortress of Magdala was attacked by the British troops, the garrison did not consider it fair fighting, for the rifles were fired through the loopholes at the defenders of the gate, and repeatedly fired without being withdrawn to load—they were breechloaders.
A superior breechloader in modern warfare is of the highest importance for arming troops; and, since the introduction of the Snider rifle, a number of rival arms have been offered for the acceptance of the military authorities. We have seen the chassepot used on the Continent: the fault of it seemed its length of range, for young troops armed with it are tempted, unless under very strict discipline, to open fire at 1500 yards or more; whereas the needle-gun, with shorter range, induces those carrying it to reserve their fire for closer quarters, and with more deadly effect. As an old member of the Montreal Rifle Club, we never thought of firing over the ice of the St. Lawrence with a range of a mile, or when a man appears the size of a black pin, but preferred a much shorter range for our practice.
A very enterprising gentleman of Montreal (a relative),
It was invented by an ingenious French Canadian of the name of
It was then submitted to the Minister of Militia, Canada,
Description of the"
Duval-MacNaughton"
Rifle.
Barrel.—Is made of steel, 450 bore, and rifled with seven segmental grooves having a spiral of one turn in twenty-one inches. The grooves are recommended to be made as shallow as they can be made compatible with distinctness; also that they should not touch on each other at the edges, but that a small strip of the barrel (or land) should be left between the grooves, say 1/32 inch. broad, which acts as an effectual check on any irregularity in rifling.
Breech Shoe.—Is made of a mild steel, and in one piece: it has a gap on the top (as in the "Martini"), in which the breech block works, and also one on the right side through which the parts forming lock and action are inserted; the latter gap is closed by a plate which is securely hold in
Action.—The parts composing the action are cock or tumbler, swivel, piston, sliding tumbler, extractor, breech block, trigger, mainspring, trigger spring, and five nails. Instead of the various parts pivoting on nails as usual, they pivot on solid pillars or pivots.
Stock.—Has a jag for cleaning screwed into butt; otherwise as usual.
Advantages claimed for the "Duval-MacNaughton" Rifle.—In claiming advantages for the "Duval-MacNaughton" Rifle we must necessarily draw a comparison with some other weapon on a similar system, and one the merits of which are widely known. Let us, therefore, take for comparison the "Martini-Henry," it being well known and having been selected from a number of competitors as the future rifle of the British army. The advantages of the "Duval-MacNaughton" over the "Martini-Henry" are considered to be as follows, viz.:
Simplicity and cheapness in Manufacture.—The rifle can be machine-made throughout and thoroughly interchangeable. The parts composing the action are strong, simple, and few.
Facility for cleaning and inspecting from the rear.—This is effected by having the breech block hung on the points of two screws, and a deep groove cut through the hinge or knuckle of block; thus cleaning from the rear, we avoid the risk of allowing the fouling to get down in front of block as in the Martini-Henry, Snider, &c, and about extractors, these being placed in a rifle where dirt can least be tolerated, and where it will most readily interfere with the free working of the action.
Mainspring.—Instead of the spiral spring as used in the
Pull off.—The fickle pull off in the "Martini-Henry" is considered one of its greatest faults, and until now has defied remedy. In the new rifle, again, the old principle of tumbler and scear is adhered to, with the result of a perfectly equal and agreeable pull off.
Extracting power.—Is an accelerating motion, beginning with a strong, slow leverage to start the cartridge case, and finishing with a jerk; the power being so nicely balanced that the operator at pleasure can land the cartridge on the block just clear of the barrel, or pitch it clear over the elbow.
The facility with which this rifle can be taken to pieces and cleaned, or can be opened for cleaning, and at the same time be quite ready for use in case of surprise.—Although we read in the report of the late "Small Arms Committee" that the "Martini-Henry" may be taken to pieces and put together again by any intelligent soldier in a few minutes, we hear that in practice this is very far from being the case, but that considerable difficulty is experienced in putting together the rifle after having taken it separate. The present rifle, on the other hand, may be opened for cleaning and understood by any soldier in one minute, and at the same time (when open) is quite good for firing, which, we believe, is quite a novel feature in rifles.
Piston.—Is of one piece, strong and simply made, and requires no piston spring, the first movement of the cock upward withdrawing it within the block. In the "Martini-Henry" a frequent complaint is made of the piston breaking, or getting staved up in consequence of its having to
Rapidity,—-There being one motion less required in loading and firing the "Duval-MacNaughton" than the "Martini," it is obvious that a greater number of shots may be fired in the same time.
The "Duval-MacNaughton" rifle having a visible cock—which also acts as lever—is considered to be a great advantage, as any one may tell at a glance whether the rifle is at low, half, or full-cock; it also enables the operator to lower the lock from full-cock to half-cock, as in an ordinary rifle lock.
A second pattern of this rifle is made with an additional tumbler, which is actuated by the cock, and makes it possible to fire with the breech open or shut at pleasure.
The best method of manipulating the "Duval-MacNaughton" rifle is to hold it at the position of "ready," place the palm of right hand on the cock, the fingers to the right side underneath the rifle, with thumb to left side; squeeze the hand sharply together; this opens the breech, ejects the spent cartridge case, and leaves the rifle at full-cock ready for loading.
The lever by which the breech is opened being above the small or handle of the stock can easily be grasped by the right hand without relinquishing the hold on the rifle, a feature which adapts it for cavalry, with whom the left hand is fully engaged with the reins.
MacNaughton.
Objections to the "Martini," by an eminent Gunmaker.
1st. Dangerous from being necessarily always at cock when loaded, and giving no indication that it is so. Is raised to cock without thought on part of the user, and yet depends for safety on his unceasing vigilance and care; being a self-cocking gun it does not provide a self-acting safety. It is also dangerous from the uncertainty of the pull, which is sometimes so light that the least pressure on the trigger, or jar of the gun, will send it off.
2nd. Its inferior lock. The lock of an ordinary gun has been so perfected that friction is almost absent. Its elastic mainspring is finely-proportioned to bear the strain equally on all its parts and hung on the plate, so as to be entirely free from it in working, and so connected with the tumbler that its force is greatest when striking the blow, and least when for the purpose of the pull it should be. In the Martini this is all reversed. Its simple spiral spring is coiled round the strikes, causing a grating friction on every coil, and is so connected with tumbler that its least force is exerted when, for the purpose of ignition, it should be greatest, and vice versâ, when for the sake of the pull it should be least.
The spring of an ordinary gun exerts a pressure of 16 lbs. when down, and only 10 lbs. when up, whilst that of the Martini has a pressure of 20 lbs. when down, and 30 lbs. when up. This great weight and friction is unnoticed from the great length of lever used, but the effect on the pull still remains, making it impossible to give the scear a firm hold in bent, and so causing the pull to wear out faster. Again, in an ordinary gun lock raising the cock brings up the spring and tumbler, and allows the
The introduction of a new limb called a tumbler rest (what else is the scear) is an acknowledgment by the makers of the weakness of this part of their gun. But this additional limb is no improvement, as, although it may save the scear from breaking, it further decreases the firmness of the pull, rendering the attainment of the pull still more difficult. For example, say a pull of 6 Ibs. is required, with the ordinary gun you have one bent and one scear to adjust so as to give the requisite weight. But with this new invention you have practically three scears and three bents to adjust, so that they act in unison and have the weight fairly distributed amongst them. To sum up, the power to make the pull of the Martini good is diminished one-third by the absence of the ordinary trigger, and still further by the excessive weight of the spring at cock; and then what chance remains of making it has to be divided by three, and this excessively weak pull is expected to hold its own, not only whilst sustaining the weight of the spring at cock, but whilst that spring is violently forced against it.
3rd. It recoils more than the ordinary gun, and this is due to the form of what is called the shoe, which has been
It is impossible for good shooting to be made with an irregular pull and excessive recoil.
Armourer-Sergeant Smiles, Grenadier Guards, stated to Lieut.-General the
The Canadian Government, having now a well-organised militia system, deem it advisable to manufacture their arms and ammunition in the country, instead of drawing supplies from England, which, in time of necessity, might be dangerous and impracticable; and with this view, not deeming the Martini a superior but an inferior weapon, several influential men in Canada have urged on the Government there the advisibility of making their own Canadian rifle—the Duval—-at Montreal, or elsewhere in the Dominion; and Mr. Prentice came to England and was engaged with the Colonial and War Offices in order to get practical trials made in camp at Aldershot, &c., to justify the Canadian Government in adopting the new arm.