GOVERNMENT GAZETTE.

Auckland Times, Volume 3, Issue 131, 12 July 1845, Page 4

GOVERN MENT GAZ ETTE.

Wb publish the following official account of the iatc battle at the Bay. Private accounts vary very materially ?n almost every particular. We abstain from any publication, for the present, of anything we hear; Time -which determines a?I things —will elicit the truth, and in this case will not be tardy in doing so. Colonial Secrefaiy’s Ofncp, Auckland, 7ffi July, 1845. His Excellency the Governor has been pleased to direct the publication of the following Despatches for general information. By Command, Andrew Sinclair, Cojornai Secretary.

Camp before Heke’s Pah, July 2, 1845, S.R, —lt is with much more regret fhan l cart express, that f have to acquaint your Excellency that an attempt was yesterday made by the Troops, under my command, in the afternoon, to carry flte lorlitied position or pah of Held, without success—and we were repulsed with heavy ioss, 'the particulars shall be forwarded to you with as little delay as possible, 1 enclose herewith a list of killed and wounded. Many of the latter, I am sorry ro say, are severe and dangerous. it is impossible to say too much in praise of the bravery and good conduct i>i bo h Officers and Men. 1 have the honor to be Tours, &c , H. Despard, Colonel Commanding the Troops firs Excellency Governor fc'lTZ Roy, &c., tvc., &c., A nckland.

"Return of killed and wounded of the .Foiee under command of Colonel Des parti, 99ih Regiment, from the 3'Oih June jo Ist July, 18'15. dt-s M^r.aty*6 f lop Ffazaru. Lieutenant Phil (polls killed. 1 Seaman killed. 2 Seamen wounded. 1 Fiivate of the Royal Marines killed. Her Majesty’s 58 h Regiment. Captain Grant killed. 8 : Sergeants and II Rank and File killed. 2 Sergeants and 83 Rank and File yv?*u tided. 2 Privates since dead. Her Majesty’s 98lh Regiment, 3 I’ank anti File Killed, 3 Hank and File wounded. Her Majesty’s 89th Re, iment. 1 Sergeant and 14 R nk and File idled.

Brevet Major Macpherson severely wounded. Lieutenant Beattie do. Lieutenant Johns m slightly wounded. Ensign tj’Keilly severely wounded. 1 Sergeant and 21 Rank and File Wounded. 2 Privates since dead. Volunteers (Pioneers). 4 Rank and File wounded. Mr. Henry Clarke, interpreter to the Force, severely wounded,

Camp before Heke’s Pah, July 2, 1045. Sir, Annexed is a detailed account of the action that took place between the troops under my command, and the Rebels, iii the early part of the forenoon of yesterday —as also of the assault ‘•‘•'c- arid writ lepti'u.e wiiicn too:', place in the afternoon afterwards, Finding the guns which 1 had brought with me from Auckland quite ineffective for breaching, from their very defective carriages, as they frequently upset from their own firing 1 requested Captain Johnson, of H. M. S. Hazard, to send me one of Ids heavy guns, which was •accordingly brought up io the camp, a distance of fifteen miles iand carriage, over most execrable roads, with great labor and difficulty, on the 30th; and during that day, a platform was erected on the side of a hill on the right of our position the top of which hill was occupied by our ally, Waka Mene, and his tiibe, A sergeant’s guard of the 58th Regiment was also there, to protect a sis pounder that had been placed there with a view of raking the enemy’s posi. lion. The Hazard’s gun opened its fire about 10 o’clock, A. at., and while the attention of every one was occupied in observing its effect, a sudden attack was made on the position from a very thick wood close in its rear, and Waka’s people were driver, from it- I was in the battery half way down the hll? when this attack was made, when 1 instantly or dered up a party of the 58th Regiment, under Major Bridge, who gallantly charged up the hill so as to turn the enemy’s left flank, and regained tiie j position with the loss of only one man, j This attack shewed me the necessity of coming to an immediate decision, and j I accordingly determined on attacking j the Pah, by assault, iu the afternoon, as ! soon as the few shot brought up from the j Hazard (26 in number) were expended ; which l expected would so loosen the ; stockades as to enable the men attacking! O I them to cut and puli them down. In pursuance of this resolution, a storming party was ordeied to parade at 3 o’clock, p. in., for this purpose, and l issued instructions for its guidance, as detailed in the accompanying memorandum. The parties for the attack were enabled to advance to within from 60 to 100 yard:

of the point of attack, and there remain unperceived by the enemy, in a ravine under cover. 11 hen the advance was sounded, they rushed forward in the most gallant and daring manner, and every endeavour was made to pull the stockade down. They partially succeeded iu opening the outward one, but the inward one resisted ail their efforts, and being lined with men firing through loop holes on a level with the ground, and from others halfway up, —our men were failing so fast, that notwithstanding the most daring acts of bravery, and the

gjfcnte&i pciseveirtcce, die y were obiigcif io retire. I Isis could not be effected without additional loss in the endeavour d> bring off the wounded men, in which they were generally successful. ! lie retreat was covered by the pasty under Lieutenant Colonel Holme, of the 96th Regiment ; and too much praise cannot be given to that Officei for the coolness and steadiness witii which, he conducted it under a very heavy ffie. I must here remark that the hatchets and axes, as well as the ropes for puffing down the stockade, and the ladders, were all thrown away or left behind by those appointed to curry them; and to this circumstance I attribute the main cause of the failure. i trust that it will not he thought ihat the character of the British has been tariff shed ou this occasion. One third of

ihe men actually engaged fell in the attack, and during the eight days that we have been engaged in carrying on operations against this place, one fourth of the whole strength of British soldiers under my command (originally not exceeding 480) have been either killed or wounded. From Lieutenant Colonel Hulme l have received every assistance during the whole time of these operations, indepen dent of his gallant conduct in covering I ine retreat. Major Macpherson, of the 99th Regiment, who led the principle attack, and was severely wounded, also deserves every praise for the daring manner in which he led his men to the assault —and though slightly struck on the left ! bieast at the commencement, he gal- ■ lantly persevered till struck down by a serious wound. Equal praise is also due to Major Bridge, of the £Bth Regiment, or the coolness and steadiness with which he led bis men io toe auack, and j his perseverance tili called off. Where j every individual has behaved equally well, it seems invidious to particularize names but 1 cannot avoid mentioning tiie unwearied toil, zeal, and energy displayed by Lieutenant Wilraot, of the Royal Artillery, in conducting that department with the most inefficient means. Captain Marlow, Royal Engineers, and his department, gave me every assistance in their power, while labouring under the same inefficiency of means as the Artiiiery, I must not either omit to mention the able assistance and the active zeal that has been displayed by Lieutenant and Adjutant Deering, of the 99th Regiment (acting as Major of Brigade), whether under fire of the enemy or conducting the necessary details. The three Officers with Major Macpherson’s party, were all either killed or wounded —Captain Grant, Lieutenant Beattie, (who volunteered the forlorn hope), and Ensign O'Reilly. The Volunteers from the New Zealand Militia, acting as pioneers under Lieutenant Figs, deserve to be mentionad and that officer himself lias undergone unceasing toil of the most harassing nature with zeal and enemy. Lieutenant Wood, and the Militia Volunteers for the Artillery, deserve to be Included I” this commendation. Captain Johnson, ot li. M. S. Hazard , has given me the most unweaiied assistance, in every possible way, from tiie commencement of our operations, by seeding up supplies of all sorts, even fom his own ship, when our public stores were deficient. The Seamen and Marines of H. M. Navy have always borne the same character for bravery and intrepidity wherever they have been employed —and the few, IS in number, tbat joined this expedition from H. M. S. Hazard, have nobly supported the same character. Lieutenant Phillpotts, Royal Navy, fell when endeavouring to force his way through the stockade. I enclose herewith, a corrected list of killed and wounded. I have the honour to be,

your Excellency’s most obedient, humble Servant, H. Despa an. Lieutenant-Colonel 99th Regiment, and Colonel on the Staff in New Zealand. His Excellency Governor Fitzoy, &c., &c., &c., Auckland. P. S.—The wounded are doing well under the able care, and constant attention bestowed on them by Dr. Pine, ot the 58th, and Lr. Galbraith, of the 99th Regiments. H. D.

Camp, July 5, 1845. The following are the directions, and the distribution of the troops, for the attack on the pah, at 3 o’clock this evening. The principal attack will be made on or near the right angle on the front face (that face being considered the front one that is opposite the camp), and the whole column for this attack will be formed as follows : 2 serjeants and 20 volunteers from the three corps will form the advance, and proceed with the most perfect silence till they reach the stockade.

This party will be followed closely by the assaulting body, under .Major Macpherson, composed of 46 grenadiers from the 58th, and 40 grenadiers from the 99th Regiments, and will be accompanied by a small party of seamen, and by 30 pioneers from the Volunteer Militia. The seamen and as many of the pioneers as there are sufficient tools lor, will be supplied With axes or

hatchets, for the purpose of cutting down the stockade. Those pioneers that cannot be supplied with axes or hatchets, are to carry the ladders, as well as strong ropes, which will be supplied by the Artillery department, for pulling down the stockade. Major Macpherson’s party will be closely followed by Major Biidge, of the 58th Regiment, having under him the remainder of the grenadiers of the 58th, to be rnado up to GO rauk and file from the Battalion of the same Regiment, and 40 rank and file from the Light Company of the 99th Regiment. In ali amounting to 100 rank and file.

A strong supporting party will be formed under Lieutenant-Colonel Hulme, 96th regiment, consisting of the whole of the detachment of the 96th Regiment, completed to 100 rank and file by the Battalion men of the 08th Regiment. The moment an entrance i 3 made into the pah, this party will instantly follow tha fiver:?.Onf? parties. T he lm force will be under the person co mmano. of Colonel Despard, for the purpose of directing assistance wherever necessary, with the exception of 40 rank and file of the 58th Regiment, under command of Captain Thompson, of that corps, who will occupy the hill overlooking the pah and the camp ; it being considered necessary to do so, fiom the attempt made by tho natives in the morning to get possessioa of it. By order, R. R. Beering, Lieutenant 99th Regiment, Acting Brigade-Major