THE BATTLE OF RANGARIRI.

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

THE BATTLE OF RANGARIRI.

[From the iVtto Zealand Herald's Correspondent}. Nov. 22. I told you in my last letter from “The Queen’s Redoubt, that we were to move the next day ; and I take up my narrative where i left it off on Thursday night. At daybreak on Friday morning we prepared for shifting our quarters, and after hastily breakfasting on any scraps that could bo collected in a hurry, we struck our tents and set off with the few things we required strapped about us, to catch a boat from the Sailors Camp on the edge of the Maungatawhiri Creek, about three miles off, to be embarked there for the Pioneer, that lay at the Bluff. On the Pioneer wo louud ourselves in company with 100 of the 40th regiment, and a naval brigade, and at the head of the latter Captain Mayne, of the Kclipse, with Captain Sullivan, of the Harrier, and Lieut. Downes, of the Miranda, in command of companies from "their ships, and Commodore M iseman in command of the whole. In tow we took four iron plated gunboats. A land force started at the same time, under General Cameron himself, consisting altogether, with the force that joined at Meremcre, ot 1,181 men and officers, n r._; .-i_ , ...... .-‘uou u.nai uiagaue. ollr uesunauoa was Rangariri, and all forces were timed to meet there at 2 o’clock, to make a combined attack upon that’ place. Many were the speculations as to whether the Maorics would stand, or whether they would run on the mere approach of danger, as at Mcremero, and the general feeling was one anticipation of disappointment at the waste of so much force, feo we steamed up the M aikato with more or less success, the steamer evincing a perverse tendency to run ashore, and a decided refusal to go in the right direction, thereby* causing a good deal of vexatious delay, and many evidences of excitement on the part ot naval officers interested, besides sundry expressions of discontent more forcible than elegant on the part of Jack. Gradually and steadily as fate we passed along with our black banner ot smoko floating astern, and the slow clank of the engine beating a march time past Mereinero, and past another native redoubt on a high lull, where a rebel flag hung out, and signals were being made to some other rebel post, of which wo took no notice—past the celebrated Waikato lands and native villages—where doubtless many Maori ey es were watching us—till xo came abreast at Rangariri; hero there was another redoubt visible on a hill of moderate height, and the rebel flag fly ing, while numerous natives could bo seen running up and down and signalling toothers, llere orders were given to the gunboats concerning (heir firing at (he right moment, and we lay watching for the appearance of the troops over the hills, and oil was breathless expectation and excitement, though even yet we fully believed the natives would run on the advance being made. Aiter a little while we could see the line of the soldiers marching along the hills, and the gun-boats took up their position at about 800yds. waiting till they should commence their attack. 'When the troops had arrived within range of the Armstrong gnus they halted, and the guns opened fire upon (ho earthworks, when the gunboats joined in, and we on board the Pioneer could see the shells repeatedly striking and bursting over the Maoris’ redoubt, and trundling up the roadway casting the earth high in the air, and tearing their way with a horridly fatal look. We all cheered and clapped them as we would a grand play, and Jack could be heard expressing his opinion that “that was was into his ivories, by jingo!” or “ Ibat’s a stinker for you, my adjective niters? ” Presently we saw the skirmishers thrown out for the assault, the natives all the while keeping up a hot lire, and the guns thundering away fliot and shell over the heads of the troops. The storming party consisted of 300 of the 65th, about 160 14th and 100 12th. Captain Gresson and Lt. Talbot led the skirmishers, under the guidance of Captain Brooke, of the Engineers, who, with LieutenTokcr, of the 65th led the ladder party, consisting of 48 men of theGsth and 10 engineers, 24- men following under Lieut. Chevalier, carrying planks advancing to within 300 yards of the first work 5 consisting of a ditch 13 feet wide and 18 feet deep’ from the top of the parapet, and rifle pits connected by covered w ays in the rear of that, the whole II Hod by Maories firing rapidly and steadily. They rushed at the place, the planks and ladders being so skilfully placed that the troops crossed without any difficulty, charged in, turned to the left, cleared the rifle pits, and pushed on for the centre of the works, where they came to a redoubt; Contain Gresson and Lieutenant Talbot bravely leading on the men here severely wounded, and the command for a time devolved on Ensign Spiller; Lieut loker, with his party, following the Maories into the inner defence, and so planting his men that they could not escape. Colonel Wyatt and Lieutenant Pennefather. with the last portion of the storming party forming support, swept round in rear of the troops engaged, and moved on to some earth works on a hill m rear of the action going on. In the meantime the 40th landed from the steamer, under Colonel Leslie, and advanced same time as 65th on other side of the hill, when a strong force of natives in the rear line of rifle pits, finding themselves outflanked, prepared to run, and took a sw amp adjoining Lake Rangariri, where they were caught on all sides by the 40th and 65th, the guns at the same time opening on them, and it is sup-

posed that here from 60 or 70 wore killed in the water, one shell alone striking a canoe and smashing it with ten occupants. The 40th and 50th now moved back and joined main attack. Now, when we in the boats thought that the work was done, and the place taken, our troubles were at their beginning for in this inner defence, consisting apparently of a nest work of rifle-pits, connected by covered ways and crowned by a small redoubt, the whole being circled by a ditch, and a large number of Maories had taken refuge, and were kept employed by Lieut. Toker as as 1 have related. Presently, to our great surprise, we saw that there was a check in front, the Maories keeping up as hot a fire as ever, and down came an orderly in fiery haste, with word that the General wanted the Blue Jackets up at the front, and every man was mustered that could be spared, and they went up -with their revolvers and cutlasses, to carry the place at a rush, Capt. Mayne leading, Lieut. Downes, of the Miranda , Lieut. Hothatn, of the Curaqoa, all our best naval officers being with them ; and this time we thought surely nothing can stand up against the charge, but again we saw a recoil, and still the Maori fire continued as hot and steady as ever ; and presently wounded men, pale and bleeding, lying fainting on stretchers, or staggering blindly in the arms of their comrades, begin to drop in frightfully fast. Capt. Mayne, Lieut. Downes, Capt. Mercer, apparently dying, Col. Austin—all the best and bravest of our officers wounded, and Lieut. Murphy, of the 12th, and Mr. Watkins, of the Cnraqoa, killed on the ground—and the Maories holding their ground as firmly and coolly as the finest troops in the world. Still it went on till the ship was full of wounded men, and turned into a complete hospital fore and aft, and some poor fellows lying calm and still on the deck, and still this one corner remained untaken. It was now dark, and nothing more could bedone to-night and word came General was sapping up to the place in order to blow . a breach in the works before storming it again. Lieut. Toker having gallantly planked up the fatal passage to the rifle-pits, where all the slaughter had taken place so enabling the wounded men to be brought away tue place before having been so comnletelv swent by the guns of the Maories that that was impossible. Midstrain, cold, and misery the night pass sleeplessly away—all night the natives howling ceaselessly, and at daybreak everyone was watching for the last desperate assault that was to take the place at no matter what loss, when a white flag was seen, and immediately after the troops rushing about and cheering tremendously, told us that ths Maories had given in, and that the place was ours. P.S.—Post going directly ; more to-morrow. Total killed, 33 ; wounded, 82.