THE WAR IN WAIKATO.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume III, Issue 151, 4 December 1863, Page 5 (Supplement)

THE WAR IN WAIKATO.

STORMING OF THE MAORI POSITION AT EANGIEIEI. SANGUINARY STRUGGLE AND LOSS OF LIFE. CAPTURE OF 183 MAORI PRISONERS. LIST OF KILLED AND WOUNDED. [A portion of the following appeared in an Extra issued on Saturday last.] [Prom the Correspondent of the Daily Southern Cross']. Rangiriri, Sunday, Nov. 22. I Winx, attempt a brief description of the position occupied by the rebels, in order to convey to your readers some idea of the place where the desperate struggle took place, on Friday last. Rangiriri is situated about 15 miles from Meremere, and the ground upon which the fortifications were made, is, on accountt'of the recent floods, formed into a kind of spit, having the Waikato on one side, and a deep swamp running round from the river, leaving the only approach by land on tlie Meremere side. Advancing from this track the first line of entrenchments become visible, extending from the river on one side to the swamp on the other. On the summit of the high land, and nearest the swamp, are the rifle pits, or more properly speaking a fortification of great strength, planned with an ingenuity which would reflect credit upon a more civilized race. By the arrangement of the trenches, a small party of men could deliver a withering fire upon an attacking force without exposing themselves, and the depth of the ditches, and narrow passages of communition from pit to pit, rendered it impossible, after getting down into them, for the beseigers to pass through except in single file, which of course exposed them to certain death. Passing from these lines we come to the whares built in cuttings in the side of the hill, and completely protected except from shells. The hill then dips a little, and again rises to about the same height, upon which there is another line of entrenchment, but not nearly so strong as the first, and apparently only half finished. On a rise a little to the left are more pits, but in an unfinished state and evidently intended to guard the rear, as from thence the land slopes down to the swamp. This high ground is about haif-a-mile from the river, and between it and the river lies a large level flat, extending from where the line of entrenchment meets the river round to the swamp on the right. It was on this flat that the troops landed from the steamers, and went round to the right to cut off the retreat. There is a good landing-place, which was evidently not intended to be left undefended, as a number of half-finished pits are there bidden from the water side by a row of trees, and which, had they been occupied, would have been very troublesome. About 200 yards from the landing place stands the church, round which a ditch had been commenced, showing what would have been done had time been allowed for them to complete their operations. As it is, it is the strongest position that has ever been taken or seen here vet, and the only wonder is that our losses were not greater than they are.

I have no doubt many will think that our loss was very severe considering the advantage gained. In one sense the loss is great; but those who have seen the place, and witnessed the withering vollies that were poured upon the storming parties, only wonder that the casualties were not greater, and it should be borne in mind that our troops were iu the open, and the enemy ensconced in comparative safety behind its entrenchments. As regards the advantage gained, I think it will be found that great results will ensue from this. I shall bo able to communicate more on this subject before I close this letter. Having written this brief sketch of the place, I will go back and give as near as I can a detail of the whole oilair, as I am afraid that the hurried letter I sent yesterday will convey but a poor notion of what happened. My only excuse is that I had so short a sime to collect information and write in order to catch the steamer. Hie rain falling all the time I was writing ihe letter, and blotting what I wrote, rendered it a difficult matter to get through what I did.

The total force at the General’s command (exclusive of Blue Jackets and Marines, whose numbers, on account of the absence of the Pioneer , I have not yet been able to ascertain, but hope to do so this evening) amounted to 18 officers, and 1148 n.c. officers and men, who started for the scene of action as follows : From Meremere, (he Eoyal Artillery with two guns, Eoyal Engineers, Igth, 14th, and 65th, with 75 men of the 40th Eeginient ; the remainder of the 40)h were conveyed up the river in the gunboats Pioneer and Avon. The force by water being intended to cut off the retreat in rear, a movement which only partially succeeded, from unavoidable causes which will appear as I proceed. As I mentioned in my last, the arrival of both parties was, as regards time, everything that could be desired, and at the time that the guns on shore opened fire, the steamers were just opposite the landing place ; but after the Pioneer had cast off the small gun-boats, which had materially assisted to steer her on the passage up, it became a matter of great difficulty to get her alongside the bank, as on account of her great length the effect of wind and current was so great as to render her almost unmanageable. During all this time the gun-boats and Captain Mercer’s battery were keeping up a heavy fire of shell upon the enemy’s position, to which they replied by firing their pieces, sometimes singly and again in volleys, doing no damage, our men being far out of range. Seeing from the position of the steamer that it did not appear likely that she would soon be able to effect a landing of the troops, and the afternoon being very much advanced, the General ordered an advance. The 65th, being told off for the storming party, advanced in the following order:—Ho. 1 company

under Lieutenant Toker, in the centre. No. 2 on the right under Captain Grcsson ; and No. 10, under Lieutenant Talbot, on the left. No. 9, made up to 100 strong, under Lieutenant Pennofather, for a support about a hundred yards in rear. From the deck of the steamer the advance was plainly visibly, but the nature of the ground prevented the most impregnable part of the position, which was over the brow of the hill, from being seen. On the bugle for the advance sounding, the men rushed forward, led by their officers, covering the distance which lay between them and the object of attack at a rapid pace, considering that a thick ti-treo scrub covered the whole ground, and under a heavy fire from the enemjj gained the first line of pits, over which numbers of them sprang and engaged the enemy. In this advance Captain Gresson received his wound, when the command of the company devolved on Ensign Spiller. The remainder of the land force came up shortly' afterwards, and the enemy were driven from the outer works and took refuge in the heart of the position, which was of such strength that it was found impossible to dislodge them, without an immense sacrifice of life : but I am a little advanced in my tale. On the advance of our men, a number of the enemy retreated from the first line of pits to the rear position, and as the attacking force increased, those who had a way open tor escape made off to the rear towards the swamp. To cut these off, a party of men of the 65th, under Lieut. Penncfather, was detached, and, after skirmishing through the ti-tree after the flying enemy, they poured in a fire amongst the bush just on the edge of the swamp where they were seen to enter in great numbers. The effect was to drive them into the water, into which they plunged, and to the number of more than a hundred commenced swimming and wading to the other side, a distance of a mile. At this time the steamer had succeeded in getting alongside, and the troops were quickly ashore, a party taking the course round the right by 7 the swamp ; these came upon the swimming wretches, and a shower of bullets was kept up, numbers of the rebels being seen to sink, to rise no more alive. Only a few escaped, I, J uUurng siiom-r in the different pal dies of scrub that were scattered about here and there.

T-lie scattered portions of (lie enemy being disposed of, the whole ot the troops were di posed around the entrenchments, which I mentioned in my description of the position us being situated in the first line, and just over the brow of the hill on the swamp side. In this position a number of the enemy were posted, and several attempts were made to take it by storm, but, from its peculiar formation, they failed, every officer who led being either killed or dangerously wounded. . The only means of access was by a narrow opening through which only one could enter at a time, thereby rendering it impossible for those in rear to follow up quickly in support. It was in these attempts that the greater part of our loss was incurred, t apt aiu Mcreer received his wound here. Midshipman 'Watkins, of the Citrmva, (who, I should have mentioned, was with Lieut. Alexander, of the same ship (also wounded, had charge of a six-pounder Armstrong, and marched from Mereuierc with the land force), met his death in leading on his men. Commander Mnvne, in leading on the blue jackets, was also w'onr.ded, and several other officers were wounded in like manner. The Maoris evidently knew the importance of this inlet, mid defended it with great resolution. Ihe hour was now getting late, and the General finding that the attempts'to lake the place by storm were only attended with loss to the troops without any advantage being gained gave orders for the parapets to be undermined and blown up, and the attack to be deferred until daylight in the morning. Accordingly, the whole force was disposed round the position, occupying the tren.eh.es immediately around. The digging was commenced, but from the nature of the soil, a loose sand, it was iound impossible to drive in any distance, as tlie earth fell in beiore making much progress. However, it bad the effect of reducing considerably the parapets on the side operated upon, and would have afforded a belter mode of ingress fur the storming party which was told oil'to attack in the morning. During the whole night our troops lay around, the enemy keeping up a fire and shouting and yelling in a fright fid manner. Dut, notwithstanding all this, they evidently were aware of the (rap into which they had fall’en, and that their success was oidy a temporary one, and that the morning would sec the attack renewed, for soon after daybreak the head chief, bearing a white flag, stood up upon tin: parapet and called for some pakeha who could speak Maori. Mr. Gumiry, Interpreter to the Forces, advanced, but in the meanwhile our men had crept up and the whole of the party were surrounded before they were hardly aware of it, so that whatever terms they might, have been disposed to surrender upon were rendered useless, an unconditional one being their only resource. Their lives w T cro therefore spared upon this condition, and they were complimented by the General upon the brave stand they had made. The party upon being brought out was found to number 185 including one or two women, with 175 stand of arms. A guard was put upon them, and, strange as it appears, but in war it is always so, the men who half-an-hour before were plotting each other’s destruction, were now chatting and laughing together—the Maorics appearing quite happy and contented, ami sensible that their lives were perfectly safe in our hands. Amongst the prisoners are some chiefs of note, the names of wiiom I will endeavour to ascertain, 12 of the party were wounded, but not seriously. Soon after the surrender a party of natives to the number of about SO were seen advancing over the hills from the direction of the King’s place; they carried a white flag, and halted occasionally, as if undecided in their movements. Mr. Tdwards, the interpreter, went out to meet them, and found that it was a parly of -100 men who, w'ith William Thompson at their head, were coming to rescue ; but seeing the white flag and our flag flying on the parapet, concluded that, the garrison had surrendered, and that peace had been made.

The messenger sent by Thompson to meet Mr. Edwards enquired the conditions upon which we

were disposed to accept, and was of course told that of unconditional surrender, and laying down their arms, on which terms T understand Thompson was willing to 'come in himself, hut some among the party would not agree. However, Thompson sent his whalebone men in (o the General, which I believe signifies submission, and then the whole party turned back on the road they came. What will be the result of this remains to be seen.

Before going any further, I will state, as far as I have been able to ascertain, what the public are no doubt very anxious to know, and that is the probable loss that the rebels have suffered in this engagement. The number of bodies found in the trenches after the place was taken, amounting to 24, one of them being that of a white man, who was recognised as a deserter, who had been in the Artillery, the 65th and 12th Regiments. He'had met the fate be so richly deserved ; another is* reported to have been amongst them, but had effected his escape, it is to be hoped that vengeuce may vet overtake him.

While on the subject of escape, I may mention, that notwithstanding that the place was so surrounded, William Thompson, who was in the trendies the whole day, managed, with a small party, to effect his escape during the night, and swam the swamp, his object being evidently to fetch a reinforcement wind), however, arrived too late. To return to the subject of the enemy’s loss. In addition to the 24 bodies in the trenches, others were found in the scrub, and some wounded. Since then parties have been digging in the trenches, and seven more bodies were exhumed to-day, besides these, several bodies have been recovered from the swamp, among them some women, which swell t ! :c actual known amount of casualties to 41. this is far below the actual number ; but when the swamp dries up,or the bodies begin to float, then a much better estimate can be arrived at. Hut the wounded 'are not included, and it is but natural to suppose that all that escaped did not do so scatheless.

It is not for mo to individualize any particular act of bravery that was performed during the day and it is scarcely necessary for mo to say that the dauntless couargo which belongs peculiarly to the British soldier, did not fail him here ; and the officers led their men to the assault as brave men only can. confident in the knowledge that they were backed by men who had made the name of Englishmen famous in every quarter of the globe, lhat the service which has been performed by the whole force will be duly recognised by General Cameron in his dispatches, 1 have 'not the sligntest doubt, and therefore leave this subject as one on which I have no right to touch.

_ During the engagement the Pioneer lay alongside the bank, and the wounded were oonvevcd on board as fast as they could be brought down from the scene of action. There they were attended by the medical officers, and disposed in the cabin below, every attention being paid to their comfort. Ihe numbers being so groat it was found necess ry to convey some one on board the Ib.e Aron, and the cabins of both vessels were tilled. The church was set apart solely for those v. iio had fallen, and on the morning following, the bodies were disposed around, the flooring being covered with ti-tree. I visited the church and viewed the bodies as they lay in their last attitudes of violent death, but (he sight of one’s own countrymen laying cold and siifi', who but a few short hours hutore had been filled with life, is but a sorry sigh'., and I made but a short star. The only consoling thought I had was that all had iallen in that cause which every .Englishman considers his own, iliat of upholding the cause of Ids country, even at the expense of his life. 1 Lave now only half an hour to finish this, as (he General has kindly consented to allow my letter to be sent by the steamer, if ready by lhat lime, and sol shall therefore defer writing further, hut reserve additional particulars until my next.

Die (wo si earners came up (his evening, after taking down the wounded and a portion of the prii-oncrs. I shall have more to write on this subject in my nest.