OFFICIAL DESPATCHES

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume III, Issue 139, 11 September 1863, Page 3

OFFICIAL DESPATCHES

Head Quarters, Queen’s Redoubt, 26th August, 1863. Srn, —I have the honor to forward, for your Excellency’s information, the copy of a report which I have received from Captain Cook, 40th regiment, relative to a sudden attack made by a large body of rebel natives upon a party of 25 men of the 40th regiment, employed under Mr. Martyn in felling bush on the Great South Road, near Williamson’s clearing. 1 regret to state that two men were killed, and nearly the whole of the arms belonging to the party taken possession of by the enemy, and, more lives must have been lost but for the timely assistance rendered by the escort under the command of Captain Cook, whoso conduct on the occasion was most praiseworthy. The officers mentioned in captain Cook’s report, who commanded the different posts along the road, deserve great credit for the promptitude with which they hastened in support. Your Excellency will observe that we had only one man hit after the arrival of the escort, although the enemy continued tiring for upwards of an hour. Had the men employed in felling the bush been protected by a covering party, according to my directions, this occurance in all probability would not have taken place. I have, &c., D. A. CAMERON, Lieut.-General. His Excellency Sir George Grey, K.C.8., &c., &c., Queen’s Redoubt, 25th August 1863. Sir, — I have the honor to report for the information of the Lieutenant General Commanding, that when returning from Baird’s farm in command of the escort with the convoy from Drury this day, on arriving at Williamson’s clearing, I heard firing in my front, and on proceeding to the spot, found that my advance guard was engaged in the immediate vicinity of the road with a party of Maoris. The main body of my escort rushed up; -and we quickly drove the enemy into the bush. It appears that a party consisting of 25 men of the 40th Regiment, under a non-com-missioned officer, were employed in felling bush near the road ; they had left their arms piled on

the edge of the road under the charge of a sentry Suddenly a number of Maoris rushed upon the arms and took po.-s !ssion of them, the sentry firing at them. The Maoris had surrounded the men in the bush, and had shot two men dead when my advanced guard came up and engaged them. Reinforcements from Williamson’s clearing, Martyn’s farm, Keer's farm, and Razor Back as well as a party of thirty men of the escort proceeding (o Drury, under Capt. Bishop, Transport Corps, with Assistant Surgeon Carberry. 28, 14th Regiment, joined me shortly after the firing commenced, and we skirmished with the enemy for about an hour and a quarter, driving them into the bush, and following them in for a short way. A party of the 65th Regiment, under Captain Ord, endeavored to get behind the Maories and cut off their retreat, but were unsuccessful. The casualties of the troops under my command consisted of one man, 28. 18th Regiment, wounded. The loss of the Maoris appears to have been one man killed and left on the field, and five men wounded and earned away. Two rifles, a few muskets, some tomahawks, ammunition, Ac., fell into our hands. I beg to bring to the notice of the Lieut.-Gene-ral commanding, the services of Captain Ord, 65th Regiment, Captain Bishop, 28. 18th Regiment, Lieutenant Warren, 65th Regiment, commanding at Kerr’s farm, Lieutenant Thacker, 28. 18th Regiment, commanding at Williamson’s clearing. Lieutenant Clarke, Madras cavalry, attached to Transport Corps, and Lieutenant Pagan, 65th Regiment, and Ensign Haines, 28. 18th Regiment, who were with the escort under my command. The whole of the officers and men behaved extremely well. Judging from the enemy’s fire, I should say there were at least 200 of them. I have, Ac., A. COOK, Captain, 40th Regiment. The Assistant Military Secretary, &c.,, Ac., Ac., Head Quarters.