MAJOR VON TEMPSKY'S GALLANT ENGAGEMENT WITH REBEL MAORIS.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXI, Issue 2463, 12 June 1865, Page 5

MAJOR YON TEMPSKY'S GALLANT ENGAGEMENT WITH REBEL MAORIS.

The following letter, published in the Wellington Spectator, gives another account of this affair : — Patea, May 14, ISGS. j) ear 1 1 — We had a general action between the Forest Rangers and the enemy yesteicUy. We staited ftom ciinp at 1.30 a.m., for the Maoii pa which I spoke of in my labt letter, and, crossing a frightful gully, found our way through some dense scrub to a native village, which we found had just heeu deseited, as the fire 3 were still alight. We tried to get across a deep wooded valley which separated us from the pa wo intended to take, but f.iiled. We wanilered about until daylight looking for a path, and at last found one, and arrived within a hundred yards of the pa at C.30. I asked M.tjor Yon Tempsky to allow me to take a paity of my men and chaige the place, which he told me I might do. I told a sergeant aud some men to follow me, and rail acros>s the dealing which was between us aud the whaips. When I got up I saw the Maoris retreating into the bush : they turned round when they saw me. 1 immediately fired, and killed one. About ten of them fired at me, six of the shot hitting me ; one through the side of my coat, two tlnough a courier bag which I cariied, one through the carbine-sling, another took the top of my right thumb off, and a charge of shot into my stomach ; three of the shot pierced through my skin, aud two throxigh a locket which I had on. Luckily I wore a pilot-cloth coat and waistcoat, or the shot would have done mo considerable damage. I turned round to see why my mm did not return the volley, and found that I had run ahead of them. The remainder of tho party camo up, aud the Maoris gave them a lieavy volley, lulling one man and wounding Ensign Whitfield in two places, one in tho aim, breaking tho bone close to tins shoulder, another in tho right side. Ho died last night. He was a good fellow, much liked. Wo kept up tho fire for three hours; the Maoris behind a, palisading, we in cover lying down not more than fifteen yards oft' Wo saw ten Maoiis shot down and carried off by their friends. We could see reinforcements coming in to the aid of the enemy 'every moment, so wo retreated cariying off our two wounded. After wo had ciossed one gully, we tried to find a shorter and less rough road than tho one we had come, bub failed, (On tiying to gob back to go. the old way, the onemy again opened fire on us fiom some ball-proof whares winch commanded the only Ijrack we could get baok by. We took cover and shot two of them as they were ctossing an opening, and agaiu retreated, cutting our way witli great difficulty through dense scrub aciosi two gullies. We had to cany two men, one wounded, aud the other dead, which made tho task an exceedingly difficult one. Tho Maoris w ( ere (as' far as wo could judge) from 1 100 to 1 150 strong. Our party numbered 56 non-commissioned offiders and men, and alioufc 5 officeis',* Major Yon Tempsky commanding. On airiving at the camp, one man, of the Forest Rangeia was found missing, and a.pal-ty 'has been sent to see if thoy can find him. ' Ihm afraid there is little'chanco of finding him alive; - • Altogether rwft made a pretty, good.tln'ug of it, rather astonishing the Maoris, I fancy, j >i ,M if- ! i ! /Ml !

I hope you will bo able to read this, bufc I cannot write a* well as when I had tho use of my thumb, and I expect my hand *-as not very legible then. With kind love to * * *.— I remain, &c,