THE BATTLE AT PUEBLA.

New Zealander, Volume XVIII, Issue 1719, 30 August 1862, Page 3

THE BATTLE AT PUEBLA.

The following is the official report of General Zaragoza, addressed to the Mexican Minister of War^respecting the above engagement: — Army of the East, Head-Quarters, Puebla, May 9th. “ After having commenced my retrograde movement, starting from the Cumbres de Acultzingo, I arrived in this city on the 3rd inst., as I have already had the honour to inform your Excellency. The enemy followed me at a small day’s distance, and having left the rear guard of the 2nd Cavalry Brigade, consisting of about 300 men, to obstruct his advance as far as possible, I proceeded, as already stated, to Puebla. I imme- , diately issued orders to place the heights of Guadeloupe and Loreto in a regular state of defence, and I hastily completed the fortifications of the place, which had hitherto been neglected. « On the morning of the 4th I ordered General Miguel Negrete, a most distinguished officer, to take the head of the Second Division under his orders, 1,200 strong, to be prepared to fight directly he should give the signal, and to occupy the heights, already mentioned, of Loreto and Guadeloupe, which were provided with two batteries of field artillery and mountain guns. On the same day I formed out of the brigades Berriozabel, Diaz, and Lamadrid, three attacking columns, consisting, the first of 1,082 men, the second of 1,000 men, and the third of 1,020 men, all infantry, with the exception of 550 home, under General Antonio Alvarez, to whom I intrusted a field battery. These troops remained assembled on the Place San Jose till noon; they then returned to their quarters. The enemy passed the night at Azamoc. > m . “At 5 o’clock on the morning of the sth of May, our troops advanced in the order of battle I had assigned to them, and which your Excellency will find in the accompanying sketch. I ordered the Commander-General of the Artillery, Colonel Zeferino Eodriguez, to distribute the rest of his guns on the ramparts of the town, placing them under the orders of General Santiago Tapia, Military Commandant of the State. “At 10 a.tn. the enemy was discerned, not taking the necessary time to encamp and advancing his attacking columns-w-one toward! thf ke'gtift of about iOOO itronj, wlft

: have justice on our side, residing as we are on these I lands: this justice as regards occupation is from ancient times, even unto the arrival of you Europeans. Friends, Europeans and Natives, do you hearken all of you; the name of the original tribe was Ngaiwi, and ; was called also the Waiohua. These are our ancestors from whom we sprang and to whom belonged our lands, even Tatnaki. These are the names; —Te Kotnku, To Puatahi, Makawa, Totarapapa, Tongamakaea, Huapuri'ri, Ruarangi, Oho, Whauwhau, Mahitokotoko, Mahiroa, Mahionui, Mahikoreroroa, Hua, Wawara, Ta Ikamaupoho, Kiwi, Huatau, Te Atairehia. These are their descendants:— Hakopa To Paerimu, To Tihi Te Pepcno, Awarua, Apihai Te Kawau. ' r These are also our ancestors;—Rata, Te Ao Tawhirangi, Rupe Katau, Toukararai, Tuperiri, These are their descendants:—Awarua, Apihai Te Kayau, Ihikicra Tarahawaiki, To Warcna Hengia, Uruarao. These are their children: —Erucna, Paora Tuhaere, Te Roweti Tamahiki Taramena, Te Waka Tnaea, Arama Karaka. These are the Native teachers at our place; —Wiremu Ilopihona, Te Hapirnana, Maka, Te Wiremu Reweti Te Whenua; the clergyman is Pirimona; the appointed Native Assessor is Te Keene Tangaroa. All the above statements are based on truth; truth is the root, and justice the branches; and therefore it is not right that any man should spring to his feet from amongst the tribes, and heedlessly attempt to take our lands, for these lands arc onr own. O, New Zealander, you are like the bursting forth of the sun upon the whole world, you cannot be injured by the sayings of Hetaraka, of Patara Pouroto, or any other person; for yon arc like unto the morning star at early dawn. This is another word: Patara says in his letter, that ho will bring Hetaraka to our lands at Okahu. Now hearken. Let him not heedlessly bring Hetaraka on to the lands of other people, but let him be taken to Rangitoto, to Takapuna (Flagstaff Hill), or to Whangaparaoa; if these places won’t suit him, let him be taken to Aotca (Great Barrier) the land of his ancestor, Taihua. Let this letter be printed so that all the tribes may know our words. Sufficient. These arc the tribes: Ngaoiio-te-parakuka, Te Taotj-te-ao-tawiiiranoi, Te Waiohua-tb-uri-nooto.