TAURANGA.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume III, Issue 173, 6 May 1864, Page 2

TAURANGA.

Attack on the Gate Pah and repulse of the Troops—Serious Loss of Life.

[From the Special Correspondent of the Dai/u Southern Crosi. ] Tauranga, April 29. At six o’clock last evening a considerable force, consisting of tbo head-quarter companies of the 43rd Light Infantry, commanded by Colonel Booth, and a portion of the Naval Brigade, left Te Papa for the advanced post. The 68th Light Infantry, commanded by Colonel Greer, and about thirty men of the Naval Brigade, under Lieutenant Ilofham, R.M., started 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

s ettler, acted as guide to this expedition. The force kept well to our proper U#t, and descended the ravine close to the southern branch of Tauranga harbour, and crossed the enemy’s right at low water. This was done in about an hour, and without difficulty, thanks to the local knowledge of the guide. The men, having crossed the swamp, ascended the spur of the table land adjoining and lay in the fern until the moon rose, when they resumed their march and established themselves behind a Knoll a thousand yards in the rear of the pa. This knoll, it will be remembered, I stated was being rifle-pitted by the enemy on Wednesday last, but since then they had withdrawn from it. Tiie 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 off their communication with the interior. This flank movement, so material to the success of the operations against the pa, was completely successful; and at an early hour to-day the rebels were hemmed in on all sides, so that escape would bo a matter of the greatest difficulty. While the 68th and the naval detachment were taking up the position they afterwards held, the 43rd Light Infantry and the remainder of the Naval Brigade held the camp and posts in front of the pa. The officers and men of the ships of war in harbor were kept hard at work getting the heavy guns into position. This was accomplished to-day about two o’clock a.m. On the left front of our position, in the level opposite the pa, a small breastwork was thrown up and two 8-inch mortars and one 6-pounder Armstrong gun were placed there. The range was rather over 800 yards. On a hill on our proper right two breastworks had been thrown up on Wednesday, and the large ships’ guns were placed in the inner or central works. The naval battery consisted of one 110-pounder Armstrong gun, and two 40pouncler Armstrong guns ; and in the advanced battery two 21-poimcler howitzers were got into position, blight earthworks were subsequently thrown up further on our right flank, and nearer the rebel lines, in which two 5-inch mortars and one 6-pounder Armstrong gun were placed. The ships’ guns were worked by seamen, under the command of Captain Hamilton, of the ‘Esk ;’ the guns in the other batteries being in charge of the Royal Artillery, commanded by Colonel Williams. The range of the heavy ships’ guns was 800 yards, and the range of the howitzers about 600 yards ; that ot the smaller pieces of ordnance was about one hundred wards less.

J his v as the* position of the guns when I arrived at the scene of action fo*dav, before the dawn. General Sir 1). A.’ Cameron, K.C.8., and staffj and Commodore Sir William Wiseman, Bart., remained on the field all night. When the 68th Light Infantry inarched, fire was opened from two G-pounder Armstrong guns, 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. Baring the night there was an interchange of shols between a few of the enemy, nho crept down to the swamp for water, and our sentries. There was no casualty on our side.

Dav dawned this morning (Friday), and found the troops in position before the'pa. ft was a sickly dawn, unlike the glorious burst of sunlight which ushered in the day for the past fortnight. The clouds hung heavily on (he horizon, and°for a length of time obscured the pa. Gradually the mist lifted, and disclosed (ho irregular paling of the eastern face and the naked flagstaff There was no sign of life within or without the pa. Silence reigned around. Shortly 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 piequets who had occupied the ground immediately in front of the pa during the night. For about liaifau hour these movements were unnoticed by the rebels. Suddenly, however, the natives became awaro of the intentions of the General, and a welldirected volley from the rifle pits and lower section of the pa on the proper left of the 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 onlj’ a few natives wore 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 the skirmishers, composed of men of the moveable column, but it soon ceased. A diversion was attempted by some natives in a single line of rifle pits on a high point of land nearly opposite our right advance and in line with the enemy’s works, but this fire was likewise silenced bv the skirmishers.

The order was immediately given to open lire from the batteries, and a salvo from the large guns and mortars awoke the echoes, and began in earnest the tragedy of war. The shells from the 40pounder Armstrongs and 24-pounder howitzers burst in or close to the outer face of the main pa. The range was ascertained with precision, and the bombardment commenced. From a quarter to seven o’clock till four in the afternoon, almost without cessation, a fire was kept up from the four batteries on the pa, and during that time the rebels did not show themselves in front. The service of the 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 the heavy Armstrongs. The shells from the ‘EskV 110-pounder plunged through the pa, often bursting a thousand or fifteen hundred yards to the rear, to the great risk of the column of the fiSth, now extended in rear of the works. Often, however, these hugh projectiles whistled through the air, and burst before they travelled the short distance to the pa, and sometimes it struck the ditch, dashing up a huge column of smoke and dust. Often, however, both the large shell and the 40-pounders struck the pa face, and richochetting careered through space with a sound identical to tho snorting of an express engine starting from a railway station. The practice, 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 lead lining of

the Armstrong shells. The outer lining peeled off after each discharge, and generally fell in close proximity to the battery, which was full of officers and men. The 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 served, and so useful in breaching the pa yesterday, was actually in use at the Northern war, when Ileke did battle with British troops for the pleasure of cutting down a flagstaff. Now it is brought into play against the coast tribes of the Bay of Plenty, who also wish to cut down our flagstaff and erect another in its place. It is only necessary to remark that the precision of the cohorn mortars’ fire was something to be proud of, and I believe the natives had greater cause to fear a visit from “ Whistling Dick” than from the hundred pound shells of the Armstrong gun. It would be impossible-to describe this fire. If my readers have ever seen experiments in gunnery they can fancy the concentrated fire of four batteries playing on a common palisading and post and rail fence, strengthened by a ditch and slight earthwork, and which position is not more than thirty yards wide by about one hundred and fifty ir depth. To this space the fire of our guns and mortars was confined, and in this space, protected only by their covered rifle-pits and the defence before named, were a number of human beings bent on resisting the Imperial forces to the last. It was a grand spectacle ; it was likewise a painful one, and pity was the dominant feeling in the breast of ever}' right minded man who witnessed it. Exposed to this terrific fire, I did not see how the enemy could long hold out; but as minutes lengthened into hours it became apparent that they were either all dead or kept in 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. Even then, the natives kept under cover, and not a shot was discharged against the troops. No sign of a disposition to surrender was made, however. All was still, and no one could have guessed at the sequel of the day’s fight from the attitude of the rebels. They were patient, but firm and unyielding. After this a hot fire was again opened, and there soon was a rumor in camp that the enemy were escaping from the rear and that the 68th were in pursuit. The order to “ cease fire” was sounded, and I could see the gallant 68th advancing in skirmishing order on our extreme right but far in the rear of the pah. They were evidently in pursuit, for in a moment a heavy running fire was opened by them upon the natives on the surrounding spurs, retreating upon their Wairoa pah. The natives returned the fire; hut their numbers were few and the firing soon ceased. Whence did these natives come from the pah, or were they supports. No one in front could tell, and the General ordered Major Greaves to examine whether the swamp on the right was passable. That officer soon returned to say that it could easily be crossed, and thereupon Sir Duncan Cameron despatched a small detachment of the line as a covering patty for a six-pounder Armstrong gun which 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 enfilade the rifle pits and lower pah, a fact which explains what occurred consequent on the General’s orders. No sooner had the troops taken possession of this line of rifle pits than they opened fire on tne enemy in the outer ditch of the left defences of the pah. The rebels ran as fast as they could , entering by a covered way into the interior of the pah. To my eye, this entrance was not larger than a common field drain. It was formed by simply putting a few rods across the rifle pit, and then covering it with a handful of fern and earth. I could see no other entrance to the interior of the pah, and I believe there was none on its northern face. A cry arose that the rebels 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 skirmishers withdrawn and the firing was resumed.

It was long apparent that a breach had been made in the enemy’s works, the fire haring been mainly directed to its north-eastern angle. But the serviceable extent of the breach, and whether it unlocked the intricate galleries of the pah, could not bo 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 pah. About noon Colonel Gamble, Deputy-Quarter-Master-General, returned, having managed to cross the lines of the enemy and Join the 68th, he had been able to get a good view of the enemy’s position in reverse, and was thus'able to supply 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 officers leading the covering party received their orders, and two companies of the Flying Column marched out to the right under cover of the batteries. They lay concealed in the fern until the storming party and support, composed of the naval Brigade and 43rd Ligut Infantry were formed into line and advanced from the centre battery. Commander Kay of the Harrier led the storming party, composed equally of bine Jackets and marines, and companies of the 43rd Light Infantry. When they made their appearance on the slope the covering party advanced in front of the pah, within one hundred yards of its outer face, and opened fire. The defenders of the pah replied almost instantly, and the face and flanks of the position were enveloped in smoke. The rebels had leaped from their cover to defend their works, and gallantly and well they fought. When the fire in front was at its height, the stormers advanced in column at the double, and with a cheer which was reechoed by the spectators in the camp and batteries, dashed through the smoke and bullets and carried tthe breach. The stormers were in the pah, and now a fierce conflict took place. Nothing could be seen but the flash of the pieces and the smoke ; nothing heard but the cheer of the stormers and the counter-cheer of the defenders, mingled with the sharp roll of musketry.

The General, who was in the advanced trench of his position, ordered up the supports immediately after the storming party rushed the breach ; and the second division of bine jackets and the gallant 43rd, led by Capt. Hamilton of the JEsk, advanced with a ringing cheer to the support of the forlorn hope. They arrived at a critical moment; the storming party exposed to a murderous fire on all sides from hidden assailants beneath, and without an officer left to lead them, were wavering ; part were outside the pah. Captain Hamilton sprung upon the parapet, and shouting “ follow me, men!” dashed into the fight. That moment was his last. He fell dead, pierced through the brain by a bullet, and many of his officers shared the same fate. One half of the reserve stood outside the works. And now I could see from the battery where I stood the cross-fire suddenly slacken. The resistance was apparently weakened, and soon only from the corner at the breach were there any shots sent in return to the continuous fire from the other sections of the pah which appeared to be held by a large body of men. That resistance almost immediately ceased, there was a momentary lull, broken only by a dropping shot, which was a kind of relief to the almost agonizing feeling ot suspense at that moment in my breast. “The pa is taken,” said a voice behind me. “ Thank God , —but no—we are repulsed—see, our troops are retreating ;” and at that moment a large bodv of men poured out of the pah through the breach, and a destructive fire was opened upon them from the pah and rifle pits,. Could it be our troops, or was it the enemy, cut off in the rear by the 68th, attempting to force their way through our lines, weakened to the utmost to make up the gallant column who had so lately rushed into the broach full of hope and courage ? I wished so, but it was not the case. The stormers had been repulsed in front with severe loss ; and in the rear the 68th had also been compelled to retire. Thrice I saw the column of the 6sth attempt to charge up to the proper right of the enemy’s position, to take it in reverse; and thrice they reeled, and fell back. This <vas not produced by any resistance ou the part of the natives, but solely from the cross-fire of our own men.

I remained on the field until after dark, and the firing 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 that a great number of pakehas were slain. And so truly there were. The bodies of many of the killed and wounded remained in the enemy’s works: but many wounded men had been carried into camp or had made their way thither on foot, having escaped from the gate of death. It must not bo inferred that blame attaches to any one in command. The column was led to the breach in gftllart style; and the parapet was gained with trilling loss. In the face of a very heavy fire, at close range, they effected a lodgment in the pah, but did not make their way along the works. For full half an hour they kept up the contest with an almost invisible foe ; and being left with scarcely an officer to lead them, they retired, fighting their way back upon the open ground. It seems that the natives had constructed a series of caseinates, by excavating the iloor of the pall and rooting the pits with branches of trees and rooting it with raupo. In these casemates they must have lain during the bombardment, and their safety under such a fire for so many hours, suggests a nice question in the science oi war, which I will not stop to discuss. It is sufficient to know that probably one thousand men were secreted in the miserable place I have already described, without any apparent inconvenience to them from the heaviest and most efficient armament that lias been brought to bear upon them by a British General ; and that the places which afforded them shelter from the shells afterwards proved a cover from which to inllict heavy 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 bo a matter of surprise to every one. KILLED. 43rd Regiment. Captain Robert C. Glover, gunshot wound in the bead; Captain C. R. Muir, tomahawk wound right axilla ; Captain R. E. Hamilton, gunshot wound in the head ; Captain Edwin L T tterton, gunshot wound in the neck ; Lieutenant C. I. Langlands, gunshot wound in the chest; Sergeant Major John Vance, gunshot wound in the chest; Privates, Philip Fitzgerald, gunshot wound in the head ; Charles Lane, gunshot wound in the chest; Holbrash, gunshot wound in the chest; Henry' Goff, gunshot wound in the chest Silvester Hornby, gunshot wound in the left breast; John Bradhurst, gunshot wound in abdomen; Frederick Tavers, tomahawk wounds in head and shoulder. 68th Regiment. Sergeant James Hannen, gunshot wound in chest—accidental. H.M.S. ‘Ccracoa.’ Lieut. Hill; Ordinary seaman James Harris. H.M.S. ‘ Harrier.’ Royal Marine Artillery. —M. Watts. H.M.S. ‘Esk.’ Capt. Hamilton, gunshot wound in the head ; Stoker William Leigh ; Ordinary seaman R. Fuller ; O. M., M. Dalton. H.M.S. ‘ Harrier.’ A. B. G. Young; S. A. Greenhow; Boy, H. Clarke, gunshot wound in the throat. H.M.S. 1 Eclipse.’ Sergeant R.M.A. Harding. WOUNDED—SINGE DEAD. 43rd Regiment. Private R. Phelan, gunshot wound in the head. WOUNDED. Ist. Bat., 12th Regiment. Privates, A. Mitchell, gunshot wound right arm ; P. Managhan, gunshot wound right thigh. 2nd Bat 14th Regiment. Sergeant W. Armstrong, gunshot wound, right thigh ; Privates, W. Power, gunshot wound, both shoulders, severe ; J. Ruth, gunshot wound, left foot, ball extracted ; T. Burdett, gunshot wound, right shoulder. 43rd Regiment. Lieut.-001. H. I. P. Booth, gunshot wound,

spine and right arm, dangerously; Lieut. E. G. E. Glover, gunshot wound in abdomen, not penetrating ; Ensigns, W. Clarke, gunshot wound, right arm, severe ; P. T. Kicholl, gunshot wound, in scalp, slight; Sergeants, E. Young, gunshot wound, in left jaw, severe ; J. Hurley, gunshot wound, right fore arm and shoulder, very severe; T. Collier, gunshot wound left arm, very severe; J. Cain gunshot wound right fore arm, slightly ; Corporal Vl’. Everett, gunshot wound left shoulder slightly ; Privates, J Audley, tomahawk wound, head, dangerously ; W. Bridgoman, gunshot wound both arms, very severe ; Bryant, gunshot wound right shoulder, very severe ; Casey, gunshot wound right temple, dangerous; G. Clarko gunshot wound, left shoulder, severe; J. Clarke, gunshot wound, slightlyß. Conroy, gunshot wound left thigh, slightly ; J. Livcsay, gunshot wound right jaw and chin, slightly'; T. Madden, gunshot wound chest, very severe ; J. Macfarlane, upper lip ; J. Noble, gunshot wound left shoulder ; G. Robins, gunshot wound scalp, right shoulder, very severe ; William Sargent, gunshot wound right thigh very severe ; John Simnionds, gunshot wound led arm, above elbow, severe ; Martin Walsh, gunshot wound right shin, very severe ; James Warburton, gunshot wound right side of face ; Thomas Wright, gunshot wound left leg. (MTU RI'GI.ME.N'T. Private Halliwell, gunshot wound, severe. CSth Regiaiext. Privates, Hugh Toner, gunshot wound ri<dit for earm ; J. Baxter, gunshot wound ; John Motiit, gunshot wound right knee joint, very severe; W. Sloane, shell right foot, severe ; William Watson, shell right hand, slight; Edward O'Neill gunshot wound left thigh, dangerously ; Daniel Sweeney, shell right knee, very severe ; John Logan, gunshot wound right thigh and hand, very severe; P. Macdonald gunshot wound chest and' left arm, dangerously ; V\ . Johnson, gunshot wound mouth and neck, severe; Win. Ashton, gunshot wound right elbow, dangerously; 11. Black, gunshot wound elbow, slight ; J. Platt, gunshot wound left cheek and neck, very severe; J. Byenter,gunshot wound head, slight. H.M.S. 1 CriiACOA.’ O. S. T. Jerram, gunshot wound hip, very severely ; O. S. Win. Fox, gunshot wound left jaw, severe; O. S. J. Watson, gunshot wound left knee, very severe ; L. S. Amos Smith, gunshot wound groin, dangerous ; G. R. M. A. C. Ween, gunshot wound lower jaw, severe. HALS. ‘Mikaxua.’ Lieut. Ilamniick, gunshot wound shoulder, very severe ; Boatswain’s-mato J. Yokes, gunshot wound, left shoulder, very severe; Captain Main-top J. English, gunshot, wound, left thigh, severe ; L. S. G. Charmbold, left leg, very severe ; A. B. M. Bryan, left leg, very severe ; A. B. S. Rnthven, gunshot wound left lung and fracture right arm, very dangerous; A. B. A. M’Allistcr, gunshot wound arm, severe ; P. M. Levi Keane, gunshot wound left thigh, dangerous ; R. M, A. G. Alton, gunshot wound left thigh, severe, ball extracted. H.M.S. ‘ Esk.’ Lieutenant Dnif, gunshot wound back, two places, very severe; A. B. K Martin, gunshot wound right hip and loins, very severe ; A. B. T. Roberts, gunshot wound abdomen, dangerous : A. B. A. Bowden, gunshot wound, right heel, severe ; A. B. J. Lawrence, gunshot scalp wound, severe; A. B. It. Jeliery sprained jcg ; O.S. T. Donelly, sprained leg ; Capt. E. J. Knight, gunshot wound right shoulder, very severe : G.R.M.A. R. Ward, gunshot wound right thigh, very severe : B. W. Tozor, gunshot wound loir, arm, severe ; L.S. W. Allison, chest and thigh, dangerous. H.M.S. ‘ H.AinirEii.’ Commander Hay, gunshot wound abdomen, ball lodged ; A.B. A. Loekie, right elbow, very severe : L.S. J. Pullet, finger, slight; O.S. C. Barret, left thigh, very slight; O.S. W. Burchill, right hip, very severe.