OFFICIAL DESPATCHES.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume II, Issue 71, 14 February 1846, Page 3

OFFICIAL DESPATCHES.

Colonial Secretary's Office, Auckland, January 17, 1846. The Lieutenant Governor feels great satisfaction in directing the publication of the following despatches from Colonel Despard, containing the details of the operations against the rebel chiefs Kawiti and Heke, from the 29th December last, to the 11th instant, inclusive, — operations which were conducted in a manner most highly honourable to her Majesty's Naval and Military forces, and which resulted in a series of successes which must produce the most beneficial consequences for this part of her Majesty's dominions. By his Excellency's command-, • Andrew Sinclair, Colonial Secretary.

Camp before the Ruapekapeka, Kawiti's pah, Jan. 5, 1846* Sir, — In my letter dated .the 28th ultimo, addressed to your Excellency, I had the honour of detailing the proceedings of the foice under my command up to that period, and I now proceed with the detail of what has taken place since* - Before daylight on the morning of the 29th, a party of our Native allies penetrated the wood immediately in our front, in a most praiseworthy manner, and took possession of an open piece of ground on the opposite side, sending me immediate intelligence of what they had done. I directly moved forward with 200 men to their support, and secured the position. The 30th and 31st were principally occupied in bringing up the guns and ammunition through the woods ; a work of great labour and time, as it required between 50 and 60 men to each gun to get them through, on account of the heavy trees it was necessary to cut down, in making the road, and the steepness of the hills they had to pass over. I Several rockets and shells have been thrown into the pah on the 31st, and each day since, with the utmost accuracy, doing great credit to I the officers of her Majesty's navy who directed them,— namely, Lieutenant Egerton, North Star in charge of the rockets, and Lieutenant Bland, of the Racehorse, and Lieutenant Leeds, of H.E.I.C.S. Elphinstone, who directed the shells. On the morning of the first instant, I pushed forward a. strong party into the only wood that now divided us from the enemy, and taking up a position in the centre of it on an open piece of ground, about 400 yards from the pah, a strong stockade was immediately commenced for the purpose of covering a battery, and the work wassufficiently advanced before night to render any attempt of the enemy to drive us away, useless - This work was carried on under cover of a very thick part of the wood, which completely concealed it from the enemy. On the afternoon of the following day, the enemy made a strong sally from the pah, with a view it is supposed, of turning the flank of this advanced party of ours in the stockade, which was not yet finished ; but they were most gallantly opposed by aur Native allies, under the direction of Chiefs Tomaiti Waka Nene, Noble or Nopera, Mohi Tawhia, and others, who instantly dashed out, and attacked then*, driving them back with some loss* supposed to amount to eight or ten killed, and between fifteen and twenty wounded ; on our side five were wounded on this occasion and one of our most active chiefs, Reppa r was severely wounded the previous day r in a skirmish with a small party of the enemy, who it appeared had come out of the pah for the purpose of picking off any stragglers from our camp, and who had succeeded in killing one of the Volunteer Pioneers, who had goner to' an> u-nnecestary distance fos water- and

-wti shot in tli« ««t of taking it. Up to this date, ao casualty, with 'the above, exception, has ta*en plate; in the European part of the forceIt may he proper for me' to ohserve, that in the action of the afternoon of the 2nd, the European troops acted only as a reserve, at the particular desire of the native chiefs, who were fearful that their own people might be mistaken for the enemy, and fired upon. 1 have, &c, (Signed) H.Despard, 2V.cting'Colonel on the atatf, Commanding the- troops in New Zealand. *-To hit Excellency, Governor Grey, &c, &c.

Camp before the Ruapekapeka, Kawiti's pah, Jan. 9th, 1846. - Sir,— ln continuation of my despatch of the sth imrtant, I have thelionour to acquaint your Excellency, that the stockade and battery mentioned therein as being commenced, withm about 400 Tards of the pah, being nearly com--pleted, I determined on throwing up another,., 'tut much smaller, ori its right -flank, and considerably in advance, so as effectually to put a •top to any attempt on the part of the enemy, •at making a sally, such as took place on the 2d instant; as also entirely to cnt off his communication with the country on the side of our camp. This second work was completed this day, and two guns, (one^S poundee, andone-lZ pound howitzer) placed in battery within it. The larger stockade is also now complete, and ; • contains two 32-pounders and four 5Jf inch morOar present po3ition r i»efore the pah is as follows : — The main camp is dn an open piece of ground, or rather ridge, with deep wooded valleys on either side, and thick woods both in front and rear : the distance from the pah supposed to be about 750 yards. In our front are three guns, (one 32-pounder, -one 12 pound howitzer, and one light 6-pounder), with an apparatus for throwing rockets. From this position several shells have been thrown into the pah, as well as rockets, and-much* execution must have been *lone*-by them, as they were well directed. Within the larger stockade, which at the utraost cannot be more than 400 yards from the pab, there are two 32-pounders, and four small -5 J inch mortars j *nd the wood- in front of these guns has been so completely cut down, that nearly the whole -face of the pah isnow open 1 to their fire. The small advanced stockade contains one 48 •pounder and one 12 pound howitzer, and commands a range not only along the same face, (the western) that is exposed to the fire of our other batteries, but will also range along the southern face, and I expect destroy^ the defences on the south-west angle. Our progress up to thisperiofl may have been considered slow, -but great difficulties< ; have been encountered, as your Excellency, who has been an eye witness to all our movements, will, I am - sure, admit : and the decided advantage, that will arise to the colony at large, if we succeed id carrying this place With little loss, has decided • vnt in proceeding with so much caution. I have, &c, r &c, H. DESrARB^ , Acting Colonel on the. Staff, * Commanding the troops. To his Excellency Governor Grey, &c, &c.

-Extract from Brigade orders. ' Camp before Rwapekapeka, " 11th Jan., t1846. The officer commanding the force, against the rebel chiefs Heke and Xawiti, has the greatest •atisfaction in congratulating the whole of the force at the brilliant success that has attended their operations of the last two days. The •capture of a fortress, of such extraordinary-strength, by assault, and nobly defended by a brave and determined enemy, is of itself sufficient to prove the intrepidity and gallantry displayed by all concerned, whether Seamen, Marines, Troops of the Line, Artillery of H. E. I. C. Service, and the Volunteer Pioneers; and it will be a most pleasing part of his duty to bring such conduct to the notice of his Excellency the Governor of New Zealand, and through him to that of her Majesty, and^his Grace the Commander in Chief. The Colonel cannot conclude this order-with-out expressing his admiration at the brave and intrepid conduct displayed by our native allies on every occasion since these operations commenced, and more particularly during the assault of the pah, on w&ich occasion their bravery was fulfy equal to what-might be expected from the bravest of>her Majesty's troops. The Golonel commanding -feels the greatest regret at the loss of-to many brave men as have ■beenkilled and wounded on this occasion ; but it will be considered as an alleviation by their friends, that they have fallen while nobly performing their duty to their Queen and-country.

■ Camp at the Ruapekapeka, Kawiti's pah, Jan. 11, 1846. Sir, — It is with extreme satisfaction that I "have the honour of acquainting your Excellency, that Kawiti's stronghold, or pah, at the Ruapekapeka, was tlriVday cawied by assault by the ibrce under my command, after a hold and most determined resistance on the partof the enemy, who continued the action long after he had been driven from the fortress ; ibut the ardour and intrepidity displayed by the British force of every description, as well as our native allies, overcame «very obstacle, and after-three hours hard fighting, the enemy was obliged to fly, and dispersed in different directions. The detail of this attack, as well as that of the preceding day's cannonade, shall be laid before your Exeellencywith-the least possible delay. i greatly regret to add, that our loss on this occasion has been heavy, as will be seen by the «nclosed list of killed and wounded; but when the extraordinary strength of the place assaulted i» taken into consideration, I am only surprised it has been so small. I have, &c, R. DESrAKD, , Acting Colonel on the Staff, , Commanding the Troopi. , To his Excellency, Oovemor Grey,

Return of killed and wounded of, the force under the < command of Colonel Despard. 99th , Regiment,' rfcthi? Colonel on the staff, during, the assault on^awiti's pah, onthe 11th Jan., 1846. ' H.M.S. Cottar. Killed— 7 Seamen. . Wounded— lo Seamen, and 2 Mannei. H.M.S. 'North Star. Killed— 1 Marine. Wounded— 2 Seamen, including Mr. Murray, Midshipman. H.M,S. 4/attiope. Killed—l Marine. Wounded — 1 Marine. H.M.S. Hacehopse. Wounded — 1 Seaman. H.E.I.C.S. Elphinitone. Wounded — 1 Seaman: H,M. 58th Regiment. Killed— 2 Privates. Wounded — 10 Privates. H.M. 99th Regiment. Killed— l Private. Wounded — 1 Private. Volunteer Pioneers. Wounded— l Private, also 2 during the previous operations, 4>ne since dead. Officer Wounded. Mr. Murray, midshipman of H.MiS. Narik Star, severely, but not dangerously.

Camp before tbe Ruapekapeka, Jan. 12, 1846. Si*,— ln my letter of yesterday, I had &• satisfaction of acquainting your Excellency of the fall of Kawiti's pah, by assault on that-day, and now I proceed to communicate the detail. ; On the morning of the 10th instant, -our *dj vanced batteries being completed, (one within i 350 yards, and the second about 160 yards off the pah,) a general 'fire was commenced from all toe guns with a view of opening afcreadh in the place, and several rockets were thrown in at the same time, for the purpose of driving the enemy out The fire was kept up with little intermission during the greater part of the day, and towards evening it was evident that the outer works -on those parts against which the fire was directed, were nearly *11 giving way; 4>ut &c numerous stockades inside, crossing tbe I place-in different directions, and composed of much stronger timbers, were scarcely touched. Towards evening, our fire slackened, and was i only continued' occasionally -during the night, to prevent the enemy attempting to repair the breaches that had been made. On the following morning, the 11th instant, no .person being observed moving within the pah, a few of our native allies, under a chief named William Waka, a brother of Tamaiti Waka JJene, went up to the place, for the pur.pose of observing whether or not the enemy had evacuated it. This party entered the breach unopposed %hich being peiceived from the nearest battery, a party of 100 men of the troops, tinder Captain Denny, was pushed up rapidly, and together with the natives, gained the inside of the stockades before they were perceived by the enemy, who at the time were sheltering themselves from the sfire of our guns on a sloping piece of ground in ontuof their outworks. Our parties had scarcely, gainedi the f inside, when they were noticed by the enemy, -and a heavy fire of musketry instantly poured in •upon them. The stockades however, now be-*came-our protection, and strong reinforcements being immediately brought up from the camp, '.possession of the place -was secured in spite <ef all the efforts of the enemy to drive us back, being obliged to retreat and shelter himself in a wood opposite the east face of the j>ah— where the 'trees -being -extremely large and forming complete breastworks, many of them having been cut down previously, and evidently purposely placed in a defensive position, He was enabled to maintain a heavy fire against us for a considerable time, until a- doorway in that face 'having been broken open, the senmen and troops rushed out and dislodged him from his position. He, however, still continued to keep up a fire from the woods, but more with a view to cover his retreat, and enable him to carry away his wounded men, than with any expectation of renewing the contest. The attack com-snenced-about ten o'clock, a.m., and all firing had ceasedabout two, t.u. The extraordinary strength of this place, particularly in its interior defences, far exceeded any idea I .could hum formedofcit. Every hut was a complete fortress in itself being strongly stockaded all round with heavy timbers -sunk - deep in the ground, and placed *close to each other, few of them being less than -one foot in diameter, and many considerably more, besides having a storong embankment thrown up behind them.— Each hut had also a deep excavation close to it, forming a complete bomb proof, and sufficiently large to contain several people, where at night thejwere perfectly sheltered from both shot and ■hell. 3&e enemy's loss has been severe, and several chiefs on their side have fallen; the numbers 1 have not been able to ascertain, as they invariably carry off both .killed and wounded when possible. Several of the former were however, left-behind<; and it has been decidedly •ascertained from a wounded prisoner, that the chief Heki had joined Kawiti in the pah on the afternoon preceding the attack. As your Excellency has bten an eye-witness to our operations, and I may say actually engaged in the assault, it maybe thought unnecessary to draw your attention to those persons who had a greater opportunity of distinguishing themselves; but the satisfaction I feel in recording 4he obligation I am , under to those persons, makes me persevere in doing so. To the officers, seamen, and marines, from Her Majesty s ships, for their extraordinary exertions wmgging the gunt over steep bills, and through difficult and thick woods, as well as for their distinguished hravery in «ction, the service on this occasion is greatly indebted. To Captain Graham, of ELfcCS. &*", /or fail cooperation and the readiness with which he afforded every possible aid and assistance since his inivd. To Captain Sir E. Home, who had previously -been the senior naval officer, and who, not only upon the present occasion, but on all former ones, - ihas used the most strenuous exertion's to for- , ward all the objects of the expedition. To

Commander Hay, cff H.M.&. BacHbortt, who commanded the whole, of the teamen attached to the Force) and who co greatly aided our operation* by hi* personal <Keßti«n» and: example, not only during *he assault; hut ia all the previous difficulties we had to encounter. To Lieut. Otway, of H.M.S. 'Cattor, commanding the small armed seamen. To Lieut; Falcon^ of H.M.S. Wattor-t Lieut. Bland, and Mr. Nopps, Master; of H.M.S. HaceAoraej and Lieutenant Leedi, -H.E.I.C.S. Elptntutone, who all directed the sure «of the guns with such precision and excellence; nnd- to Lieutenant Egerton, of H.M.S. North Star, who directed the rockets, much of our success is to be attributed. To Lieutenant-Colonel Wynyard, commanding the 58th regiment; I feel the greatest obligation* His advice was of the utmost use to me on many occasion*, and' his personal exertions, whenever an opportunity offered, as well as his gallantry during the assault, were most conspicuous. To Captain Reid, commanding the flank companies 99th regt., and Capt. Langford, Royal Marines, (attached), much praise is due. To Captain Marlow, Royal Engineers, for his exertions in; constructing the batteries ; Captain Mataon, 58th regt., who acted as Duputy Assistant Quarter-master General ; and Lieutenant Wilmot, Royal Artillery, who directed the mortar batteiy, great praise is also due. I have also derived great assistance from the services of Lieutenant O'Connell, 51st regt., a. d.c to Lieutenant-General Sir Maurice O'Connell, and Acting Major of Brigade to this Force. And I must not omit to notice, in very strong terms,, the indefatigable exertions of Captain Atkins, and his small .corps of Volunteer Pioneers, whose ■conduct and services during the whole operations have been of the greatest advantage. Every kindness has been shown to the wounded men by Doctors -Kidd and Pine, the Senior Medical Officers, and all the Medical Officers, both Naval and Military.; and I have reason to be satisfied with the exertions of the Commissariat Depaitment, under IXA.&G. Turner. The wounded men are generally doing well, and the only officer amongst them, a young midshipman of H.M.S. North Star, Me Murray, whose ardour carried him too far when the enemy were driven from the woods. I have now only to express the peculiar satisfaction I feel, that your Excellency has had an opportunity of .personally witnessing the toils and difficulties that were encountered, and the cheerfulness with which «very part of the Force exerted itself to overcome them, and I beg to express my own sincere thanksvfor the advice and observations that you -have occasionally been kind enough to favor me with during that period. I should also wish to draw Your Excellency's notice to Mr. Edward Shortland, who was prevailed upon to act as my interpreter, and who has rendered me many important services while acting in that capacity. I have the honor =to be, Your Excellency's most obedient servant, (Signed) 11. Desfard, Acting Colonel on the Staff, Commanding the Troops. His Excellency, Governor Grey.

Camp at, the Huapekapeka, 14th January, 3846. Sir^—l hare #he konor to state, for your Excellency's information, that in my dispatch dated the 12th iiutant, 1 omitted to mention that two guns were taken m the pah, at the ituapekapeka — one, a twelve pound carronade, broken by one of our eighteen pound shot; and ■the other, a four pounder, in serviceable order. The latter has been brought away with the iroqps, and will be he conveyed to Auckland. I have, &c, &c., H. Despard, Acting Colonel on the Staff, Commanding the Troops. T« Bis Excellency, -Governor Grey, &c, &c