THE ENGAGEMENT AT RANGIAWHIA.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XX, Issue 2139, 28 May 1864, Page 5

THE ENGAGEMENT AT RANGIAWHIA.

As the death of Colonel Nixon gives a painful interest to the engagement nt Kangiawhia on the 21st February last, where the gallant officer received the fatal wound, wo rcpublish two extracts from our correspondent's letters, the first by our own correspondent, and the last by our correspondent " Veritas:" — " The General, finding no opposition to his advance, and having peacefully occupied To .Awamulu, at once decided to push on to "Rnngiawhia, distant about three miles. No sooner, therefore, had the Rangers brought up the rear than the order was given for the advance, and the whole force marched tow ards Ijangiawhia. The only European remaining behind was the "Right .Reverend Bishop, who at once affixed a white flag upon a pole, and which was then placed in front of the church and the printing oflico— - but of course had reference to all buildings, it may huve been fortunate that this was done, for scarcely had the troops been absent fifteen minutes when a small body of natives passed within about 500 yards of the church, und after hesitating for a short time resumed their journey. The Maoris could not have boon aware of the presence of such a large force in their vicinity, forjis events afterwards proved the inhabitants of .Rangiawhia were entirely taken by surprise — many not having even turned out of their whares for ablutionary purposes, or to indulge in their jiuitutin.il pipe, when the force deployed on the lull-side m front of that on which the settlement stands. The first intimation received that a few Maoi is were aware of the threatened nruption of our troops, was by a few shots being fired from a small piece of bush leading down to a gully and swamp between the two hilly. The detachment of the i?sth liegiment was then ordered to advance in skirmishing order, followed by the Forest [Rangers; and the 70th to remain on the hill-side as a reserve, and to throw out supports if necessary. The mounted artillery and Defence Corps" passed round to the eastward to avoid crossing the swamp. Sharp skirmishing work ensued for a few minutos betw ecu our troops and the Maoris, who were at last driven out of ihe v. ood, and sought refuge in flight, and by conce'ilment in the whares. The cavalry fortunately came up in good time to inleicept several of the enemy attempting to escape, and at once took them prisoner A total of 33 wore captin ed in this manner, excepting a iew who sun endured to other parties of the attacking foice. In the hot pursuit of Maoris who had been resisting the advance, the troops so closely piessed the wily i'oc that set en or eight weie seen to enter a large whare, and ■which was quickly surrounded. It was in effecting this movement that mo^t of the casualties occurring from rebel fire took place. Most of the Maoiis were armed with double-barrelled guns, and a heavy fire was kept up from every conceivable hole and cranny in the building. Colonel Nixon w:is dangerously wounded b} r a ball fired from this whare, and four of his men killed and -wounded. The gallant Colonel w.is shot through the lungs, and Corporal Alexander was riddled with shot the moment ho rushed in at the door. Private Mcliale also suffered the same fate. Volley after volley w as poured into the whare by the 6olh and Forest .Ranger? round it, but still the rebels continued to discharge their pieces with good effect, — the 03th suffering two casualties, and the Forest Rangers one. Th* 1 whare was now disco\ered to be on fire, but whether ignited intentionally, or by accident from thing one of the rifles close to the dried w eeds of which ie was composed, T cannot state. The whare was about eight yards in length, but not until six yards at least had been burned, and a number of vollej's fired into the place, did the last of the Maoris make a dart, for the purpose of escaping. He had not advanced two paces before he fell on his hands and knees, amidst the burning embers of the portion of the raupo roof already fallen in. From the lulcnse heat of the flame it was impossible to extricate him, and he died and was burned where he fell. This was the last victim. When the fire had burned itself out, the embci-3 of the whare were examined to discover the body of private McTlale, of the Defence Force, who had been shot down when the rush was made at the door, and had fallen inside. The charred remains were found and duly taken care of. The seven bodies of the Maoris were likewise discovered, frightfully scorched and burned, w ith the skin peeling off. The native who had last made the attempt to escape by the door was kneeling about the centre of the site occupied by the building, and appeared to be kissing the ground. His legs were frightfully contorted, and the dark skin of his bod} r had peeled off in small circles; underneath white ilesh appeared. The killed and wounded Europeans and Maoris having been placed on stretchers, the order was given for the troops to retire, and this was done slowly on To Awa mu tu. A number of the rebels who had succeeded in concealing themselves in the bush now came forward again, and fired several harmless shots, when the troops had placed a considerable distance between themselves and Kangiawahia."

" Just at clay dawn the forces entered To Awamutu, muck lo the astonishment of the friendly natives, who had charge of the mission establishment of Bishop Selwyn. The troops proceeded at once towards Hangiawhia, the cavalry now taking (ho lead. The distance was only three miles, and the cavalry putting spurs to their horses dashed gallantly into the village. Shots in all directions soon announced to the infantry the "w ork had commenced. The natives Vt ere taken totally by surprise. These ' soldiers on horseback ' scorned to them dropped from the clouds, or moic piobably, in accordance with native feelings, burst from the bowels of Tartarus. Along the whole extent of the scattered village, you could see parties of Maoris flying before the flashing sabres of the cavaly ; but from many a whare the heavy reports of the Maori double-barrel told that some of these gallant riders would bite the dust before evening. Ten Maoris had taken refuge in a slabbed whare, the floor of which, was excavated below the level of the surrounding ground. From this little stronghold •well-aimed vollej^s soon assembled a hetorogenous crowd of our troops around it. Mr. Manneriug and SubInspector Macdonel oflered the little garrison fair terms ot surrender ; the answer to it was a volley. Then, one of the Defence Corps, who had, for some time past, been rushing aboiifc in an extraordinary state of excitement, rail right into the whare, where death met him instantaneously. A perfect fusillade was now poured into the whare. Colonel Nixon, filing with his revolver from the side of a neighbouring whare, stepped out ratliey incautiously, aru] received a

shot through ttie chosfc. At the fall of this gallant old soldier, some of tho 65th rushed to the fatal door; the foremost, private Askew, received a shot through the head, and dropped in the very doorway. Shortly after this, No. 2 company of Forest Rangers came to tho spot ; this company had, in the meantime, scoured the village towards the east side. Tho Catholic Church was said to be full o? Maoris, and Captain Yon Tempslcy proceeded once towards 16. Some of tho Mounted Artillery attached themselves to his fortunes, and tho support of tho 65th, under Lieutenant Talbofc, moved on v.ifch tho Bangers. They surrounded tho church within rifle range. Jso shot had been fired yet from that building, whence also a white flag waa soon filing ; but occasional rifle bullets from other whares attested tho presence of a determined enemy. Just as Ensign Roberts, of the Rangers, had telegraphed that his skirmishers had cut off the southern flank of the church from the village, and just as the word "Advance " was given, Captain Greaves rode up with orders from the Croneral " not to press the Maoris any further." The support of the Goth obeyed orders at once, and after some deliberation and disputation, Captain Yon Tempslcy had to abandon his chance of a large haul of 5 prisoners. As the firing continued in the centre of the village, the Hangers moved on in that direction. During this transit, five shots were fired on them from a board dwelling-house. To tho astonishment of the "Rangers, an old woman decently dressed, sat coolly on the verandah, and, when approached, still more coolly hid a rifle underneath the floor of the verandah. She made no attempt to run ; some Rangers invited her to walk along with them, and afler a little passive resistance and most demoniac scowls from a most unangclic countenance, she followed the invaders. Two more shots came then whizzing from the same house and another woman was seep running from the back yaid. She was allowrvl to escape, just as her elder sister, viho slunk away from her indifferent captors. The body of the 65th man war, still lying at the door when the Ranger came up to that terrible whavc. A rush was at once determined on, and with some of the Defence Corps with the famous Darkie of Commodore Wiseman, about twenty men rushed up to tho door. Sergeant Cayron. of the Hangers, was the foremost, and after putting his head into the very low floor and peeing 111(0 the dark irnido, ho turned his head back to Captain Yon Tempsky behind him, and said, "There is only a dead Maori inside, sir." At that moment Corporal Alexander, of the Defence Corps, pushed him fside and squatted in the door, tiying to take aim with his i-aibinc: a sudden sliot from tho interior of the wliarc passed through his head, and he sank back a dead man. lie was dragged away at once. Captain Yon Tempsky then fired five shots into tho whare, and dragged away the (55th man's body, which was blocking up the door. At that moment a neighbouring whare was set on lire; thereupon the men retired, not however before Private B.illonden, of JSTo. 2 Company Forest Rangers, a fine, brave young fellow, was shot through the hips, aud dropped most dangerously wounded Tho flames crackled in the neighbouring whares ; at that ominous sound an unarmed Maori came out, wrapped in his blanket, and made .a mute appeal for mercy. All the officers present, and many men, shouted, " Spare him ! spare him ! " but pome excited men from the mixed crowd of soldiers fired so quickly at him thnfc the poor devil foil without a groan. Others ise wai it with the last remaining two dcfeudoi s. To the last, v> hile the roof of their wliare was burnin". they fired shot after shot, and lushing out at last, gun in hand, one after the other, uithin tho spa?c of a few seconds!, they fired their last shot like men, ami fell pierced with balls. Seven charred bodies were found in thatwhare afterwards. Ten mca fell in that spot, whose bravery is so superior to the general run of Maori courage that they deserve a monument, in our hearts at lea^,t, for their desperate resistance to terrific odds. At the conclusion of this harrowing drama the troops were moved back to Te Awamutu, with, thirty prisoners, composed of -romon and wounded men, leaving about twenty dead Maoris on the field."