BATTLE OF KOHIROA.

Southland Times, Volume 2, Issue 79, 7 August 1863, Page 3

BATTLE OF KOHIROA.

(From a correspondent of the ~Sew Zealander.) Pokeno, July 17, 1863. We had a battle to-dav on the Kohiroa land, a gallant affair, which ended in the discomfiture and rout of the Waikato braves. A body of Natives having been ohsorved by Colonel Austin, of the 1-ith Kegiment, in the neighborhood of his en campment this morning, that officer moved out promptly against them, with that portion of the 1-lth Kegiment under his cum gaud. Detatchiuents of tho 12th and 70th Regiments which had moved from the redoubt at nine o'clock, shortly afterwards reached the camp at Kohiroa. The distance jfrom the Mangatawhiri creek to the Queen's Redoubt is about one mile. The new camp of Kohiroa is on the opposite side of the stream, about ha!f-a---mile down. The general accompanied the troops ; and while j;°' n f? down the river in a bout, received notice from Colonel Austin that the Maories were .advancing nearer to tht; camn. He then immediately pushed on for the leading column, leaving orders for the (lecachments of the 70th and 12ih to follow. The vanguard of the enemy was scarcely more than half a mile from the cimp, in a straight line, though about two miles by the track, which runs along a rid^e of hills. The Natives retired about two miles, closely followed by our troops, when they came to a stand at a place where they had formed some rifle pits. The first shots were fired by the Maories at half-past eleven o'clock, and atjiwenty minutes to twelve the 14ih opened lire. The detatchment of the 12th having joined them, they both, at twelve o'clock, charged down one steep hill and up the opposite ascent, on which the enemy were congregated in great force, under a shai]/ and continuous fire On rising the ridge of this hili, the fire was the hottest in this day's engagement ; but the enemy being gallantly charged at the point of the bayonet, took to flight, some across the Wangitmarino, and some to hide in the neighboring swamps. The firing ceased at half-past twelve o'clock. The greatest number of dead was found in one of these swamps, into which the enemy had been driven, fifteen bodies being drawn out after tiic fight was over. Twenty one bodies were found, and many others lie dead that we know not of, as the search was not continued long after the' firing had ceased, when all the troops returned to camp. General Camen>n himself led the charge, about twenly yards in advance. He was closely followed by Major M' Neil, Colonel Gamble, and Aide-de-caii>p St. Hill. The 70th were up in time to drive back a body of the enemy who were turning the flank of the 12th. \t the commencement of the engagement, Captain Sullivan, of H.M.S Harrier, oent two boat loads of soldiers down the Marigatnwhiri and up the Waikato to a small island in that river, in case the enemy should attempt coming down the stream.

No. 9 company of the 14th cftniejin for the ■■'brunt: of the engagement. ; a?ct a|f the casu'alities; i.e , I lcijldd ; ' Opfpiiei ; Austin arid 7 ran k and file , wojajj ded, were of that regiment.'? •■ i *'V- | ; '-. .■•"■.". ..,,.■ , Tlje General came back arid stayed, some time at the upper camp, watching; some Natives who had ventured -back to their old position to look after, the dead> lie then went down to the lower one, when all the men, who had now returned, tjuraed out and geve him one lon* contiguous cheer. He then made 1 them a short speech, saying " Yon see, men, the only way; to do .with these fellows. .is to rush them atonce.' At this speech the, cheering was set going again more loudly than ever. One prisoner was taken, and is now in the QjUeen's Redoubt. About 500 of our men were engaged in this affair; and I should say, from commanding'a view of the battle, that- there were about 400 of tiie eneaiy, though the prisoners say only 240. A. great many spades had bee n taken , which had .been Jeft by the Natives in their haste ; also a quantity of ammunition, some guns, tomahawks, spears, mats, blankets, &c , &c. One private of the 14th, named Clarke whilst bayoneting one Native was shot in the arm by another who was near him. He then turned upon his new assailant and bayoneted him also, takfrom the pocket of one £1 15s iri money, and from the other 3s. On returning to the Queen's Redoubt, I found that news had been sent in that the escort had 'been attacked near Martyn's farm, between this and Drury" A body of troops was immediately despatched to their assistance. Later in the evening they and the convoy returned, reporting that four of our men had been killed and ten wonnded. Tho following are the official reports forwarded to His Excellency by General Cameron, of the battle of Kohiroa and of other encounters between our troops and Natives : — Head Quarters, Queen's Redoubt, July 18th, 18G3. SIR, — I have the honor to inform your Excellency, that at II o'clock, yesteYday morning, Lieut-Colonel Austen, 2nd Batt. 14th Uejiiment, commanding the camp at the Kohiroa, having observed a large body of Natives collecting on the hills jn his front instantly ordered his battalion to get under arms and moved with praiseworthy promptitude against them, followed by detatchments of the 12ih and 70 ih Regiments, which had just arrived at the Camp as° a reinforcement. The whole force amounted to about 500 men. A report of the circumstance reached me as ! was on my way to the Koliiroa, and I hastened to the column, which i overtook on its march. After we had proceeded in skirmishing order about two miles the rebels opened fire upon us, and as we advanced upon them they retired nlong the narrow crest of tha hill towards the Maramarau, making a stand on every favorable position which the ground presented Some of their positions, which had been recently fortified by lines of rifle-pits, and which from the nature of the ground could not be turned, they {defended withge.t; obstinacy, ?and as we had no artillerv in llie field they could only be dislodged from them by successive attacks wish the bayonet, whiclrweie executed by the 2nd Mutt. 14th, with gieat gallantry and success. _ We pursued them from one position to another, a distance of about five miles, until we Jrlrovr them in grent confusion acrn.ss tho mouth of the Marainnnia, some isea;>escaping to tho VVaikato in canoes, and others along its right hank, after swimming across the Mara mania. A con.i?der?ible portion of them, however, before reaching the 'Viaramarau escaped down a guliv to the left, seeking shelter in a swamp, ;md suffered severely from the fire of our men on the heights. As we had no means of crossing the Maramarua, I ordered the men to return te camp. All the troops behaved remarkable well. I am greatly indebted to Lieul.-Colonei Austen, 2nd Battalion 14th Regiment (who was wounded in the arm) ; to Major Ryan, commanding detachment 70th Regiment ; and Brevet Major Miller, commanding detachment of ihe 12th Regiment, for the manner in which they led and directed the movements of the men under their respective commands. Among the officers conspicuous for their forwardness in the attack were Captain Strange, 14th Regiment, who commanded the leading company of the column, Capt. Plielps. who greatly distinguished himself at the head of his company when charging n line of rifle pits, and Lieuts. Glancy and Armstrong, also of the 2nd Batt., 14th Regiment. Colonel Mould, C 13., Royal Engineers, was with the column during the engagement, and ready to give his valuable services if required. I enclose a list of our casualties, which arc small, considering the time it lasted, and tin* nature of the ground, which was exceedingly favorable for defence. The enemy must have had fully three hundred men in the field, almost the whole of them belonging to tribes of the Waikato. There can be no doubt his loss was considerable, upwards of twenty dead having been counted by us on the ground, several of whom were chiefs of consequence, and among others an uncle of the King. I have, &c, \). A. Camkkox, Lieut.-Ueneral. Mis Excellency, Sir George Grey, K.C.U., &c, &c," &c. L'rbis list of casualties contains the names of Lieut. -Colonel Austen and eleven privates. Colonel Austen was severely wounded, and one private has since died. The other cases are three slightly, two severelv, and five dangerously wounded. All the wounds are caused by musket balls, proving that in close encounter with our troops the Maori es are " nowhere."] Camp, Prury. 17th July, 1 8(5.1. Sir, — -I have the honor to report for your information that on my march from the Queen's Redoubt to Drury this day, my escort &c, as per margin * were fired upon bv tho Natives at Stone Depot, near Baird's Farm. The fire was opened on my advanced guard on both flanks, and my right flank and rear was immediately fired upon, the fire took effect on the centre of the convoy, one driver and two horses of his escort fell, which, dividing the convoy, &c, was taken advantage of by the Natives, -who, dashing in force across the road, opened fire on the left flank, thus exposing niy rear guard, consisting of prisoners and escort, to a. severe fire from the bush from eaeli flank and right rear. I immediately mtirod with as many men as I could concentrate, and firing kept the enemy from surrounding 1 my very small party, though in skiimishing order. During the contest the (ire of the enemy was well returned, and I personally saw five or six Natives fall ; thoy cum: out on the opnii, hut a charge quickly drove them into the bush,

■finally their' attempting to surrouiad my party obliged me to' -retire to- Mr Margin's house, which I occiipied unt^l reinforced. I beg to r aiiriex the folio winglist of ;killed and wounded. • „ ■ » lulled, 4— Privates Alexander. Jamieson, Felix M'Grath, "James > ScotV and' 1 JTames Limerick^. . ; } {* Yfounded, 10 — Sergeant La\vson ; Qorporals Glimin and Kee ; Privates! J. Keane, J. Gibbons, 11. Hurst, H. Ryan,- Alexander M'Cagne, J. Connor. Missing — Private^?. Byrnes, 'supposed to have returned to the Queen's Redoubt, this man was a prisoner and unai'ined at the time. I have, &c, James Ring, Captain Royal Irish. * 2 officers,' 2 sergeants, and 47 rank and file. p.S. — I bog to stale that the conduct of my subaltern, Ensign Bieknell, and the men was admirable, and particularly thai; of Ensign Bicknill. j James Rino, | Captain, &c. The Officer Commanding, , Royal Irish. : Camp Drury, 16th July, 1863. Siu, — 1 have the honor to report for the L eut.-General Commanding that, in obedience to his orders, I moved off thi*vmorning at 3 3d a.m., with a force of 290 men in all, and proceeded to KhikiFrjfor the purpose of a-resting as many of the SFatives of that vil 7 . lage as I oould find. The mounted forCiS* having proceeded to the JSPbnt, I telegftaphed to His Excellency the Governor requesting the services of the Volunteer Cavalry under Colonel Nixon, arranging th&t they should meet me at Papakuia at four a.m., which they did. On am vingN at; the place just as day broke, I ascertained truif'-the Natives h id retired up the hill about hnlf'iimile off, wheie th y had a settlement iu the.b'ush. I accordingly divided my force into two bodies, the G sth regiment, under the command uf Captain Greeson, proceeded up the right by a track leading to the summit of the hill, where the Natives were supposed" ■&) be most numerous. At the same time I directed Colonel Nixon, commanding Volunteer Cavalry, to send a part of his force with them, and which he led himself. The second party, under co.nmand of Captain Noblett, 2nd Battalion lSlh regiment, proceeded along the Wairwa road (which leads.. jo the lett from Kirikiri, and crosses the line through the bush) with instructions to tal& up a post to cut off the iet) eat by that road, reserving at the same time the remainder of Colonel Nixon's force at the foot of tte hill to act as circumstances might require. '' So quietly and expeditiously were these movements made, that on Captain Gresson's party reaching the spot to which it w*as directed, it came at once upon the Cr.icf Isaac and his party situated at the edge of the bush all of whotnwere made prisoners before any resistance could be offered, amounting in all to l.'> men, 7 women and 3 children. A number of arms, accoutrements, and ammunition (as per list enclosed) also fell into our possession, the whole of which, together with the prisoners, are at present in the camp at Drury. awaiting instructions from His Excellency the Governor as to their final disposal. The'main body of the Natives were encamped in thu bush, of which I was not made aware in time to push on the 18th far enough; they, however, succeeded iu securing some arms and ammunition, with a rebel n.;g- ■ I have, &c, Ci. !■'. Murray, Colonel Commanding troops, Drury. The A.-.&ist. Milhary Secretary, Lc , <ic, <tc. ' ...