ATTACK ON THE GATE PA AND REPULS OF THE TROOPS. SERIOUS LOSS OF LIFE. (FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.) Tauranga, April 29.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XX, Issue 2116, 2 May 1864, Page 5

ATTACK ON THE GATE PA AND REPULS OF THE TROOPS. SERIOUS LOSS OF LIFE. (FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.) Tauranga, April 29.

I fobvtaiix)*© ft letter, written cm tlic 27th inst., detailing the particulars of tho advance on the Gate pa, by the force under General Camerons command. Presuming thnt that communication reached its destination and has been published, I will not refer to the transactions of that day except so f.ir as will make wlint I am now about to relate intelligible to those who have not read my pro ions letter. The advance was made at nine o'clock on the forenoon of the 27th, fiom Te Papa camp, and a position taken up before the rebel works situate about two nnd a half nnles from the mission house. Only two. guns were put m position, on the right'of our camp, but hea\y ordnnucc and ammunition were brought up to the rear, under cover of the lull on illicit the General bad established himself. The natives showed themselves on the first day. Yesterday, the 28th, was spent by us In preparing for the impending struggle, and the natives seldom showed in the pa. JBy a kind of tacit understanding no demonstation was made on either side; and the rebel flag was not hoisted throughout the day. General Sir Duncan A, Cameron, KCP, examined the enemy's position and defences, and having decided on the plnn of operations withdrew ior a few hours from the field. .At six o'clock last evening a considerable force, consisting of the head-quarter companies of the J3rd I/ie;!»fc Infantry, commanded by Colonel Booth, and a portion of Ike Naval Brigade, left Te Papa for the advanced post. The 68th Light Infantry, commanded by Colonel Greer, and about thirty men of the Is 1 aval .Brigade, under Lieutenant liotham, E M., stnrted from their encampment in front of the enemy, and taking Advantage of the darkness, succeeded in turning the left flank of the rebel position. Mr. Purvis, a settler, acted ns guide to this expedition. The force kept well to our proper jeft, and descended fhe ravine close to the southern branch of Tauranga harbour, and crossed the swamp on the cuemy's right at low water. This was done in about an hour, and without dillicnltv. thanks to the local knowledge of the guide. The men, having crossed the swamp, ascended the spur of table land adjoining and lay in the fern until tho moon rose, when they resumed their march and established themsehes behind a knoll a thousand yards in the rear of the pa. This knoll, it mil be remembered, I stated was being rille-pitted by the enemy on Wednesday last, but since then they had withdrawn from it. The men were kept under cover until eight o'clock this morning after the attack commenced, when they were extended in skirmishing order to prevent any of the natives escaping by the rear, and cut ofl their communication with tho interior. This flank movement, so material to the success of the operations against the pa, was completely successful ; and at an eaily hour to-day the rebels were hemmed in on all sides, so that escape would be a matter of the greatest diliiculty. While the 68th and the naval detachment were taking up the position they afterwards held, Ihe 43rd Light Infantry and the remainder of the JS T aval Brigade held the camp and posts in front of the pa The officers and men of the ships of war in harbour flere kept hard at work getting the heavy guns into position. This was accomplished to-day about two o'clock am. On the left front of our position, m the level opposite the pa, a s>mall breastwork was thrown up and two 8-inch mortars and one 6-poubder Armstrong gun were placed there. The range was rather over 800 yards. On a hill on our proper light two breastworks had been thrown np on Wednesday, and the largo ships' guns w ere placed in the inner or central works. Thj iwnil batteiy consisted of one 110-poundcr Armstrong guv and two 40-pounder Armstrong guns ; and in the advanced battery t\\o2'l-pouuder howitzers, were got; into position. Slight earthworks were subsequently thrown up further <-n our right flank, and nearer the rebel lines, in which two 5-inch moitais and one 6 pounder Arm•trong gun were placed. The ships' guns were worked by seamen, under the command of Captain Hamilton, of the'Eslc;' the guns in the other batteries being in charge of the Royal Artillery, commanded by Colonel Williams. The range of tho heavy ships' guns was 800 yards, and the range of the howitzers about 600 yards ; that of the smaller pieces of ordnance was about one hundred yards less. This was the position of the guns when I arrived at the scene of action to-day, before the dawn. General Sir D. A. Cameron, X C 8., and staff, and Commodore Sir William Wiseman, Bart., remained on the field all night. When the 68th Light Infantry marched, fire was opened from two 6-pounder Armstrongguns, from the battery on the left of our position. A dropping shot was sent into the pa, with the view of diverting the attention of the rebels from the flank movement on their right ; and from what I have already written it will be seen that this diversion had the desired effect. During the night there was an interchange of shots between a few of the enemy who crept down to the swamp for w r aler, and our sentries. There was no casualty on our side. Day, dawned this morning (Friday), and found the troops in position before the pa, It ■was a sickly dawn, unlike the glorious burst of sunlight which ushered iv the day for the past fortnight. The clouds hung heavily on the horizon, and for a length of time obscured the pa. Gradually the mist lifted, and dihclosedthe .jrfpgular paling of , the eastern face and the ' naked flagstaff. There waa no sign qf life withiu or without the pa, Silence reigned around. 6bortly after dawn the General and staff took their stand in the centre battery. Nothing was done at first except to extend the skirmishers on the right towards the swamp and rifle pit, and to" remove the picquets who had occupied llie groundimmediately in front of the pa during the ripht. For about half an houy tlieec wore

monts wore unnoticed by tlie rebels. Sudd enly , however, the natives became nware of the iutcntion of the G-entral? and a well-directed volley from the rifle pita and lower section of the, pa on tlie proper left of tho enemy's works intimated an intention on their part to dispute our further advance on that side. Still, the number of'shots discharged was small, and led to the impression that only a few natives w ere in the place, it being the general opinion before this volley was fired that it was altogether deserted.' The rebel fire was replied to by tho skirmishers, composed 0/ men of the movable column, but it soon ceased. A diversion was attempted by some natives in a single lino of rifle pits on a high point of land nearly opposite our right advance and in lino with the enemy's works, but this fire was lik - w ise silenced by the skirmishers. Tho order was immediately given to open fire from the batteries, and a salvo from tho largo guns and mortars awoke the cchoos, and began an earnest the tragedy of war. Tho shells from the 4o-poundur Armstrongs and 2<l-pounder howitzers burst in on close (0 the outer face oi the main pa. Tho range waa ascertained with precision, and the bombardment commenced. From a quarter to seven o'clock until four in tho afternoon, almost w ithoutcessntion n fire waskept up from the four batteries on the pa, and during that time the rebels did not show themselves in front. The service of tho guns was excellent ; but it could not fail to strike an observer that at the short ranges the howitzers and mortars did greater execution than tho hoavy Armstrongs. The shollsfrom the ' EskV 110-ponnder plunged through the pa, often bursting a thousand or fifteen hundred yards to the rear, to the gioat risk of the column of the 68th now extended in rear of tho works. Often, however, these lui!>c projectile 3 whistled through the air, and bur->t before they travelled tlie slioit distance, to tho pa, and somotllnos it struck the ditch, dashing up a huge column of smoke and dust. Often, however, both the large shell and tho 40- pounders struck the pa face, andricochottingcareered through space with a sound identical to tho snorting of an express engine starting fiom a railway station, Tho piaetioo, however, was beautiful ; and the fault lay with the guns and not with the gunnery. A source of considerable danger during the bombardment was the dropping of tho lend lining of tho Armstrong shells. Tho outerlining peeled off after each cbsclvirgc, and i;o icr.illy fell in close proximity to thobattory whioh was full of ofliceis and men Tho practice of the howitzers was remarkably good, and these guns maintained their deservedly high reputation. They were rather antiquated, it is true, for one of the pieces so well &eived, and so useful iv breaching the pa yesterday, was actually in use at the Northern war, w heu Ileki dfd battle with British troops for the pleasure of cutting down a fiagstafl'. JN T o\v jt is bi'OUQlit into piny ngainsl Hie const tribes of tho Pay of Plenty, who also wish to cut down our flagstaff and erect another in its place. It is only nceessnry to remark that the precision of the cohorn mortars' fire was something to bo proud of, and I believe the natives had grcalpp cause to fear a visit from " Whistling Dick " than from the hundred pound bholls of the Armstrong giui. It would lie impossible to describe this fire. If my rendois havocxer scon experiments in gunnery they c iv fancy the concentiatod tiic of four batteries playing on a com m. on. pnlicnding and post nud rail fence, strengthened by a ditch and alight earthwork, and winch position is not more than thirty yards wide by about one hundred and fifty in depth To this spare the fire of our guns and mortars was confined, and in this space, piotectcd only by then covered rifle-pits and the defenco before nan^l, were p, number of human beings bent on resisting tho Imperial forces to the last. Jt was a grand spectacle: it was likewise ft painful one, and pity was the dominant feeling in the breast of ovory right minded man who witnessed it. Exposed to 'his terrific fire, I did not see how the enemy could Jong hold out; but as minutes lengthened into hours it became apparent that they were either all dc'acl or kept m cover and meant to fight to the last The gunners had a respite of an hour for breakfast, and for that time the din of the cannonade ceased. Ei en then, the ivtives kept under cover, and not a shot was discharged against the troops. No sign of a disposition lo siurender was made however. All wa°latill, and no one could haw guessed at the sequel of the day's fi<;bt from the attitude of the rebels They were patient, but firm aud unyielding. After this a hot fire was again opened, and there soon was a rumour in camp that tho enemy were escaping from the roar aud that the 63th wci-e in pursuit The order to " cease fire " was sounded, and I could ace the gallant 63th advancing in skirmishing order on our extreme right bnt far 111 the rear of the pa. They were evidently in pursuit, tor iv a moment a heavy running fire was opened by them upon the natives on Uk surrounding spurs, retreating upon their Wairoa pa The natives 1 returned tiie fire ; but their numbers were fe.v and the firing .soon ceased. Whence did these natives come from tho pa, or were they suppoita? No one in front could toll; an 1 the General ordered Miior Greaves to ex ani'iie whether the swamp on the right wns pas able. That officer soon returned to say that it oiuld easily be crossed and thevoupon Sir Duncan Cameron despatched a small detachment of the line as a covering part}' for a sixp< under A-mstrong gun w hich was taken across it Subsequently I crossed this swamp to the rifle pit opposite, occupied by the natives in the morning and from which they were driven, and found that a force stationed there could cnfilude the ritle pits and lower pa, — a fact which explains wh. t occurred consequent on the Goneial's> orders JS"o sooner hud the troops taken possps^ion of this line of rifle pits than they opened fire on the enemy in tlie outer ditoh of tlio left defences of the pa Tlie rebels ran as fust as they could, entering by a covered way into the interior of the pa. To my eye, this entrance was not larger than a common field drum. It was formed by simply putting a few rods across the 11 (lo pit, and then covering it with a handful of fern and earth. I could boo no other entrance to the intciior of the pa, and I believe there was none on its northern face. A eiy arose that tlie enemy were escaping on their right, as soon as they bolted from their outer pits; " cease firing " went on the bugle, and a reconnoitring party was thrown out in front. The truth was soon ascertained; and the skirmisheis withdrawn and firing was resumed. It was loiif, apparent that a breach had been made in the enemy's works, the fire having been mainly directed to its north-eastern angle. But the serviceable extent of the breach, and whether it unlocked the intricate galleries of the pa, could not be known. The evening was wearing on. A soaking rain had fallen, almost incessantly, from the early morning, and as the fire did not seem to produce much effect it was at length resolved upon to storm the pa About noon Colonul Gamble, Deputy-Qunrter-M aster-General, returned, having managed to cross the lines of the enemy and join tlie 68th. He had been able to get a good view of the enemy's position in reverse, and was thus able to supply much valuable information. When it was determined to carry the position by assault, the fire was quickened, and the earth almost shook with the concussion and explosion of shells for several minutes. The officeia leading tho covering party received their orders, and two companies of the Flying Column marched outtothe right, under cover of the batteries. They lay concealed in the fern until the storming party mid support, composed of the Naval Ungade and 43rd Light Infantry wero formed into line and advanced from the centre battery. Commander Hay of the ' Hairier ' led the storming party, composed equally of blue jackets and marines and com'paniea of tiio 43rd Light Infantry. When they made theii nppenrvni c ou tho slope tho covering party advanced in front of the pa, within ono hundred yards of its outer face, and opened

fire. The defenders of the pa replied almost instantty, and tho face and flunks of the. posi-' , tion were enveloped in smoke. Tho rebels had leaped from their cover to defend their •porks, and gallantly and well they fought. While tho firo in front was at its height, the stormert in column at the double, and with a cboer Which wfls reechoed by the spectators in tha camp und batteries, dashed through tbe smoke and bullets and carried tho breach. The stormers were in the pa, and now a fierce conflict took place. Nothing could be seen but tho flush of tho pieces and tho smoke ; nothing heard but the cheer of the stormers and the ' counter cheer of the defenders, mingled with tho sharp roll of musketry. [ The General, who was in the advanced trench of his position, ordered up tho supports almost immediately after the storming party rushed the breach; and the second division of blue jackets and the gallant 43rd, led by Captain Hamilton, of the ' Esk, 1 advanced with a ringing cheer to the support of the forlorn hope. They arrived at a critical moment ; tlio storming party exposed to a murderous fire on nil sides, and from hidden assailants beneath, and without an officer left to lead them were wavering ; part were outside the pa. Captain Ha milton sprung upon the parapet, and shouting " follow me, men !" dashed into the fight. That moment was his last. Ho fell dead, pierced through tho brain by a bullet, and many of his officers shared the same fate. One-half of tho reserve stood outside the works. And now 1 could see from the battery where I stood tho cross firo in the pa suddenly slacken. The resistance was apparently weakened, and son only from tho corner at the breach were there any shots sent in return to the continuous fire from tho other sections of the pa winch appeared to bo held by a large body of men. That resistance almost immediately ceased, there was a momentary lull, broken ocly by a dropping shot, which was a kind of relief to the almost agonising feeling of suspense at that moment in my breast. "Tho pa ia taken," said a voice behind mo. " Thank God ; but no — vo aro ropu.ls.ed— soe, our troops are retreating ;" and at Lluit moment a largo body of men poured out of the pa through tho broach, and a destructive fire was opened upon them from tho pa and riflo-pifs. Could it be our troops, or was it tho onomy, cut oft' in tho rear by the QSth, attempting to force their way through our lines, weakened to the utmost to make up tl\c gallant column who had so lately rushed into tho bronoh, full of hope nnd courage P I wlshod so , but it wns not, the case The stormera had been repulsed in front with severe Jo-s ; nnd in the rear, the 08th had also been compelled to retivc Thrice I saw the column of the 68th attempt to char-go- up to tho proper right of the pnomy's position, to lake it m rpverac i and thrice they leeled and fell back. Tins was not produced by any resistance on the part of the natives, but solely from the crossfire of our o\\ n men. The men partially rallied several limes in fi out of the pa, nnd reliii'iiod the enemy's firo ; and they were soon re-formed on the plain and inarched under cover. The General rallied the broken column, and at once took steps to retrieve the unlooked-for disaster. The ground in fiontuas occupied by skirmishers, and a small mortar was advanced within short range of tl\e dituh. Two 32<pounder guns and supplies of ammunition were sent for, as well ns every available mnn in Tauranga. I remained on the field until after.clark, and the filing was kept up without intermission on both sides. The rebels were exultant at their success, and challenged the troops to advance; they also -were heard to boast th it a great number of pji'fohna wero slain. And so truly llioro were. The bodies of many of the lulled and wounded remained in the cneni} 's works ; but many wounded men had beni carried into camp or hud mndc their way thilher on foot, having escaped from the gnte of doith. It must not be inferred that blame attaches to anyone in command The column was led to the breach in gallant style; and the parapet was gained with trifling loss. In the face ol a heavy fire, at close range, they eflected a lodgment in the pa, but did not make their way along the woiks For full half an hour they kept up the contest w ith an almost invisible foe ; and being left aln>o<>t Without an officer to lead them they retired, fighting their way back on the open ground. It seems that the natives had constructed a series of casemates, by excavating the floor of the pa and roofing tho pits with branches of trees and covering them with rnnpo. In these easomates they must have lam during the bombardment, ami their safet}/ 1 , under such a fire for so many hours, suggests a nico question in the science of war, which I will not stop to discuss, It is sufficient to know that probably one thousand men were secreted in tho miserable place I have already described, without any apparent inconvenience to them from the heaviest and most efficient armameul that has been brought to bear upon them by a British Gcnoial; and that tho places which afforded them shelter from the shells afterwards proved a cover from which to inflict hea\y loss upon the troops, and finally repulse them. When it is considered that a defensive work of such a complicated character was constructed by the natives in a fortnight, it must be a matter of surprise to every one. Where all behaved so nobly, it would be invidious to particularise any officer or men. With the gallant dead it is diflerant. Ido not know all who Lave fallen, but when I left the field the following oilicers wero reported to bo killed :— Captain Hamilton, H M.S. ' Esk.' Cnptain Hamilton, 43rd Light Infantry. Captaiii Muir, ditto. Captain Glover, ditto. Commander Hay, who led the storming party, was brought in morlalty wounded. SubLieutenant Parker, of II M.S. 'Falcon,' carried him to tho second parapet, where he was forced to abandon him owing to a wound in his own side, and the rush of the men in retreat. He was subsequently brought into camp. I will supply further pariicuhus in another letter. At picsent I cannot estimato the casualties, but they are heavy. To-morrow the attack will, I think, bo resumed. A " friendly" native told the wife of a settler in Tauranga to-day that eight hundred natives were in the Gate pa, consisting of the Taurnuga people, all who could get across fiom the Thames, the Ngatipowas, drafts from Waikato, Whakatauc the East Cape, and Kapiti, in Cook's Straits. If so, and there is more than a probability of truth in it, the loyalty of the Thames and Bay of Plenty natives is more than doubtful.