OFFICIAL DESPATCHES.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume III, Issue 210, 4 August 1847, Page 2

OFFICIAL DESPATCHES.

To the Editor of the New Zealand Spectator. The following Despatches received from Lieut.-Colonel McCleverty commanding the Troops New Zealand are requested to be published for general information. M. Richmond, Superintendent. Wellington^ 3rd August, 1847. Camp, Wanganui, July 20, 1847. Sir, — I have the honor to report \.o^ your Excellency the proceedings of the Force under my command, in action with the enemy yesterday afternoon, extending from oar position to St. John's Wood. I acquainted your Excellency in letters dated sth, 10th, and 17th inst., despatched by the Racehorse, of the daring manner in which the enemy penetrated into our own earthen outworks, on more than one occasion: I therefore decided on at once checking this custom, should an opportunity offer. Yesterday about 12 o'clock they approached evidently with an intention to draw the troops out of the stockade, and two more daring than the rest, in hopes to cut off a settler and some cattle, were pursued by two parties of the 58th under Lieut. Pedder, and 65th under Ensign Thelwall, and joined by a further reinforcement of the 58th regt., under Ensign Middleton, the whole under my orders ; trjese two men narrowly escaped capture, and fled by the ravine and intrenchments towards Mr. Harrison's, at the back of St. John's Wood, where a body of the rebels lay concealed. This brought on an action with the enemy, and sending back for reinforcements, I indulged a hope that they might be induced to fight upon our ground, in front of, and towards our position. After four hour's fighting, the enemy declined advancing beyond the cover of their own breastworks on the face of the hill, which your Excellency will remember at St. John's Wood, and which have been,multiplied and extended ; a gallant charge was here made with the bayonet 15 yards distant, and the enemy broke and fled, on hearing the cheer by detachments of the 58th and and 65th regts., under the command of Capt. Wolfe of the lattei corps, Lieutenant Balnaevis commanded that of the 58th regt., Lieuts. Page of the 58th, and Barnard of the 65th regt. though previously wounded in the head, and Ensigns Middleton 58th, and Thelwall 65th regts., were present in this charge made at the distance of 15 yards ; the latter officer narrowly escaped being tomahawked by one of the enemy, who was shot by a soldier of the 58th regt., some of the enemy were here bayonetted. We had 400 men engaged, the enemy about the same number, hue owing to the difficult, broken, and swampy nature of the ground, which extends from the right of our position to St. John's Wood, I was of necessity obliged to place junior officers in command of detachments in extension, under the general superintendence of the seniors, and thus protecting our flanks. Captain Henderson, Royal Artillery, with the assistance of Lieut, the Hon. W. Yelverton, pushed forward a brass 3-pounder, and 4 2-5 Field Howitzer, to cannonade the enemy's position, and I cannot help drawing attention to the devoted gallantry of this small body, who from the nature of their service were exposed to the most galling fire, by which they had one man mortally and another severely wounded. In the mean time I had detached Lieut. Hay, 58th regt., in command of a party of the 58th and 65th regts., the latter commanded by Lieut. M'Coy, and some of the armed Police to endeavour to outflank the enemy by the left, by which means the enemy's fire was partially diverted from our advanced body, and they were obliged to detach a body against this party, who had pushed ! across a swamp of some extent, above their knees in water : Lieut. Hay was now supported by Capt. Hardy, 58th regt., who was next in commaud, I had left in charge of the post with discretionary powers. Captain O'Connell 65th regt., a. Peninsular officer, though in the sick report from a severe sprain of the ankle, then volunteered to take command of the Stockade, having Lieut. Trafford 65th regt., to assist him, the party under Lieut. Hay joined Capt. Hardy without loss, and took up a commanding position under cover, and prevented the enemy from shewing themselves on our left flank. At the commencement unseen by the enemy, I had thrown Lieut. Pedder with 20 men into a breastwork on the right, and below the

upper stockade, and Lieut. Holmes, R. N., of H.M.S. Calliope, had with the same alacrity which he has so often evinced, detached some men to assist in dragging the guns, and with the remainder and Mr. Carnegie, Midshipman of H.M.S. Calliope, he manned his gun- boat and pushed others forward to the first creek, 150 yards from the lower stockade, and opened a fire of musketry, and from the 12 pound carronade, which checked a party, who, under Mamuko were advancing by the bank of the river, this completed the chain of posts which protected our right flank and they suffered no loss. The fighting continued with the main body, and I determined if possible to draw the enemy down, and with this view took up a new position with the guns : the enemy with great intrepidity came down to within 15 yards of the advance, when the charge alluded to took place : at this time our principal loss occurred : one man of the 58th regt. (Weller), and another of the 65th regt. (Spratt) were shot dead, in the high fern, the body of the former was not recovered. The Artillery here suffered the loss of the services of two of their men, one mortally (Connolly) and the other slightly wounded, and other gallant men were here wounded of the 58th and 65th regiments. With this advance Lieut. Servantes, 6th Foot, Interpreter to the forces, was present, with our 3 Ngatitoa allies, one of whom was wounded in the leg while gallantly fighting. The enemy now seemed disinclined to advance beyond the point where they were charged ; the fire in their front was heavy from the Artillery and imuketry, and a'so on the right from the musketry of Captain Hardy's party : and as evening was coming on I returned to the camp. Though I have to deplore the loss of three gallant soldiers, and the temporary deprivation of the services of 8 others, the enemy have suffered more severely, we know of three killed and 10 wounded by their own admission, the former are Te Kapua, Paora te Hotite, and Te Tere Tere, the two first chiefs : amongst the wounded are Jaime the native teacher, who pursued Mr. M'Gregor on the Ist July down from Shakespeare's Cliff: Wiremu Wanganui, Wiremu Te Waruite, and a Ngatimaniapoto who was wounded in front of Lieut. Holmes and Lieut. Pedder's parties. I have no doubt that their loss far exceeds that of our present information which is limited to accidental knowledge, but more than three were killed in the charge alone, shot or bayonetted ; the natives having an anxiety to conceal their loss. Their women were heard last night lamenting their loss at Mr. Harrison's. Paora Te Hotite was bayonetted by a soldier of the 58th regt. named Lowry, who carried off his musket. The body of Private Weller of the 58ih regt. was found and carried away by the enemy, who read prayers over, and buried him at Aramoho without degrading mutilation. The police under Mr. Chetham Strode, were with the advance vying with her Majesty's troops. I cannot conclude this despatch without the expression of admiration of the gallantry of the officers and men engaged, the daring of the enemy in advancing to within 15 yards of the troops bears me out in this : and I must beg in addition to the enumeration of the services already detailed, to bring to your Excellency's notice the conduct of my Acting Brigade-Major Master, Ensign 58th regt., and of Lieut. Collinson, Royal Engineers, for the services they rendered me under fire in conveying orders. The duties of the latter officer since the formation of this post have been most arduous, in which he has had the valuable assistance of Lieut. Balneavis 58th regt., from the commencement : and from these two officers great benefits have been obtained to many branches of the service,- both in fortifying this position (one of great difficulty) and in every part of the engineer department. To Captain Henderson commanding Royal Artillery and my second in command in the advance yesterday I beg to offer my thanks for his assistance and advice. To Captain Hardy commanding detachment 58tb Regt. I am equally indebted as my second in command of the force, as also to Captain Wolfe commanding 65th detachment in the absence of Captain O'Connell (who, prevented by an accident from partaking in active operations, took command of the posts and rendered the best assistance) to Lieut. Holmes, R. N., of H.M.S. Calliope, alluded to more than once by Captain Laye, I am under obligations for his unceasing exertions. I can only refer to my preceding details and to your Excellency's knowledge of the ground as to tile support I received both from officers and men of her Majesty's service, and the Armed Police under Deputy Inspector Strode opposed to an enemy unsurpassed as skirmishers; Lieut. Barnard 65th Regt. though wounded in the head, the ball having remained in his cap, j continued with the advance. To Staff Surgeon Courtenay and Assistant Surgeon Phflson, 58th Regt., both of whom

were present in the field, I have to express my thanks for their assiduity and attention to the wounded. Respecting our Native Allies of the Ngatitoa tribe, though hut three in nuraher, under Lieut. Servantes, one of whom was wounded, I would call your Excellency's attention to their gallant conduct, nor can I omit to bring to your notice the devotion to our cause shewn by the Futiki natives, who proved their attachment to the British Government on this occasion. To his Excellency Governor Grey. &c.

LIST OF KILLED AND WOUNDED IN ACTION, ON THE 19TH JULY, 1847. Killed. Private Wm. Weller, No. 5 company, 58'h regt. Joseph Spratt, Grenadiers, 65th .. Wounded. Lieut. Barnard, Grenadier company, 65th regiment, slightly in the head. Gunner WilliamConnolly, Royal Artillery (since dead.) Matthew Broadhurst, do. do. slightly. Sergeant William Gibson, 58th regt., do. Corporal Francis Reily do. do Private Henry Storey do., severely, if not dangerously (wound of shoulder joint.) . . William Dunn, do., severely (injury of fore-arm.) Martin Rogers, do., slightly. Sergeant Thomas Kells, 65th regt., -do. Corporal William Allsop, do., severely (wound of the thigh.) Private James Fegan, do., slightly. Herekiwa Ruawiwi, Ngatitoa ally, do. RECAPITULATION. 1 Officer wounded, 2 men killed, and 11 wounded ; one (Royal Artillery) mortally, since dead. Many settlers were out, and in the front, amongst whom was Mr. M'Gregor, wounded on the Ist of July. I beg to express my thanks to Mr. Deightou, interpreter to the force stationed at Wanganui ; and Mr. Duncan, attached as interpreter to myself. I have the honor to be, Sir, Your most obedient, humble servant, (Signed) W. A. M'Cleverty, Lieut.-Col. commanding Troops, New Zealand. To His Excellency Governor Grey, &c, &c, &c. :

(Copy.) Camp, Wanganui, July 23, 1847. Sir, — I have the honour to inform you, in continuation of my letter of the 20th, that last eveuing I received intelligence that an attack by night was premeditated by the enemy on different parts of the town, as a finale previous to the taua breaking up. Their arrangement was — Mamuko to attack the lower stockade, the Ngatiruaka the upper, and the Ngatimaniapoto that in course of erection on the middle hill : every preparation was made to repel this. At 9 o'clock this morning the enemy were seen in numbers proceeding to St. John's Wood, and the earthern entrenchments on the hill, which they occupied on the 19th, and through which we passed on the reconnoisance of the Ist instant ; on the crest of the range they planted a red ensign ; their numbers were at least 600 men, having apparently collected nearly all their force. I occupied the middle hill with the greater part of the detachment of the 65th, under Captain Wolfe, and a 6-pounder fieldpiece under Lieut. theHou.W.C.Yelverton. A detachment of the 58th regiment under Lieutenant Balneavis, with a 3-pounder gun, were in the breastwork in advance of the upper stockade, in which latter (both under Captain Henderson, R.A.) was a 12-pounder gun, and a strong reserve under Captain Hardy, ready to move out ; a flanking party under Ensign Middleton, 58th regiment, occupied the edge of the swamp, and kept up the communication with the seamen under Lieut. Holmes, and the 58th detachment under Lieut. Hay at the lower stockade, thus securing our position and rendering a forward movement easy at any moment. A few of the enemy shewed themselves on the low hills between our stockade and St. John's Wood, where they were in force, and the guns opened a fire ; the enemy retired, and seemed determined not to risk an attack : contrary to my expectation, they are well supplied with ammunition. The chief of Putiki wished to hold a conversation with the enemy, which they invited, and I granted permission : Mr. Duncan, my interpreter, also at their request, went forward. They stated they would not attack, fearful of our artillery, (from this and other causes I infer that they suffered from the guns on the 1 9th) ; and as we would not attack their entrenchments, they would retire from them. The Pukihika natives intend to 'retire tomorrow, if not the whole of the taua ; if so, the war is ended for this winter, though I shall not relax in vigilance, having no reliance on expressions founded on fears. Mamuko again was not present in the front, but his brother Te Oio stated his determination to Mr. Duncan not to have peace, a proposition which was not made to him, as

I consider it far from a desideratum, nor do I believe it to be your Excellency's wish. I beg in conclusion to bring to your Excellency's notice the professional assistance and kind attention voluntarily rendered by Dr. Wilson, half-pay Royal Navy, and Dr. Rees, both residents at this place. The medical officers of the force and myself have to express our thankful acknowledgments to them. I have, &c, (Signed) W. A. M'Cleverty, Lieut. -Col., commanding Troops, New Zealand. His Excellency Governor Grey, &c, &c, &c. 25th. The small marauding parties of the enemy have ceased since the 19th, and a serious quarrel took place amongst them on the evening of the 23d. Another of the enemy is dead, Ko Hikaanu. (Signed) W. A. M'Cleverty, Lt.-Col.