LATER FROM TAURANGA.

New Zealander, Volume XX, Issue 2158, 30 June 1864, Page 7

LATER FROM TAURANGA.

Pull Particulars of the Late Engagement at Te Ranga. FROM OUR OWS CORRESPONDENT. Camp To Par*, June 26. It is under no ordinary feelings of pie sure that I have to report to you the particulars of the engagement which took place at Te Ranga, seven miles distant from Te Papa, and which, I believe, will not only recompense us for our loss at the Gate Pa attack, but prove, bv far, the most brilliant achievement obtained throughout (he whole of the war, which has, unhappily, been raging in this country for the lust four ye irs. Tuesday, the 2lst day of June, was a day which will long be remembered by the brave troops who had the honour of being engaged at Te Ranga. The day was fine and clear—not a cloud was to be seen in the heavens—wh;n, at hall-past eight a.m., the troops left the Durh m Redoubt, for the purpose of recoilnoitering the country at the rear of the Gate Redoubt, rumours having been very prevalent that the enemy were intending to take up position in that neighbourhood. Colonel Greer, who was in possession of information as to the intentions of the enemy, had, for the past week, been continually on the alert. Captain Pyc, V.C.. with his Colonial Defence Corps sen ices, were daily called into requisition; consHqtiently, there was not "a Maori path or hill, for miles distant, but what had been passed over and over again by these men. Our troops, which were commanded by Colonel H. R. Greer, consisted of men of the 68th Light Infantry, under the command of Major Shuttle worth ; men of the Ist Waikato Regiment, in charge of Captain Moore; and Colonial Defence Corps, in charge of Captain Pye, V.C. ; making a total of 450 men, all told. Accompanied by one six-pounder Armstrong, under Lieutenant Grut, R.A., they marched on in the direction of the Gate Redoubt, and were then joined by two companies of the 68th Light Infantry, and a portion of the Ist Waikato Regiment. The whole force then moved in the direction of fires which had been occasionally seen from the Redoubt, and after marching through an open country, about three miles beyond th<' Gate Redoubt, skirmishers from the Colonial Defence Corps were sent out ou each flank in skirmishing order, and when about two miles from the enemy, the troops, on hearing the reports of guns, halted, in order to afford the Colonel and his staff an opportunity of reconnoilering, which was done on the spur of an adjoining hill, which commanded a fine view of the enemy's position—on the ed'eof a deep, precipitous ravine, about a mile in widtn. The enemy was found busily engaged, throwing up rifle pits, and did not appear the least, daunted wh >n our troops were perceived by them. Some were working, whilst others were wasting their powder by firing random shots at us, thinking probably that our gallant Colonel would never attack them until he had got the whole of his force and armament rom the camp, by which means it would afford them plenty of time to complete their defences, which, if they had been allowed to finish them, would hive cost us as dearly to take from them as the Gate l'a did ; but they being thus taken by surprise, and in an open field, our brave fellows had the chance of a little fair play with them, which the Colonel was determined should not slip out of his hands. An Armstrong six-pounder, in charge of Lieutenant Grut, RA., was ordered instantly into position on arising hill at a distance of four hundred yards from the enemy, when after firing a few shots as a way of salute, without any apparent satisfaction, it was moved to a more commanding position on the left. A portion of the 43rd Light Infantry was sent to relieve the position held by the Colonial Defence Corps, one company skirmishing, another in support, and then advanced within three quarters of a mile, when shots were exchanged. About this time the support was ordeied to the right, across a swamp, and turn the enemy's left, distant about three hundred and fifty yards. Fresh company's of the 43rd were sent out to support both companies already skirmishing. Two companies of the 68th Light Infantry were sent to reinforce the skirmishers of the 43rd in front of the position, firing being kept up the whole time by the skirmishers, and also by the Armstrong gun, which made excellent firing. At about eleven o'clock the two companies on the right were again moved across the ravine, and ordered to lie down about sixty yards from the enemy's position until such time as the advance should In- sounded. The enemy, whilst all these movements were going on, did not seem to be much discommoded, as they continu d to work away with a willing and determined mind to defend themselves to the last. The skirmishers' ammunition beginning to run short, a consultation took place between Colonel Greer, Adjutant Corry, Majors Shuttleworth Synge, and Colville, when it son became evident that they had determined upon storming the position. The line of skirmishers had advanced within sixty yards of the enemy when the thrilling word " charge" was sounded, as a death knell to many of our brave and infatuated foes, who were doomed in a few moments to be locked in the arms of death. No sooner had the bugle sounded to charge than a hearty cheer was given, which made the heavens ring ag in and again, and our brave soldiers rushed upon their dusky foes, who fiercely contested their right against our rifle and bayonet. It did not last long; the enemy fought like demons; but owing to the manner in which they were crowded in the pits they were entirely at our mercy, which they never asked for, but fought to the very last. There were great numbers killed by the Colonial Defence Corps, who followed after the enemy as they were retreating through the swamp. It was here that all the principal chiefs met their fate. It is impossible to describe the scene after the firing had ceased in the rifle pits; it was awful to behold about seventy men who were a few minutes before in health and vigour, now lying deal within their own trenches, and which afterwards served them for their graves. All the bodies were laid out in order alongside the trenches, and those who had been killed in the ravine were brought up in the rear of the others. The number of native* killed is 108, but there are supposed to be many more lying in the swamp. Out of the wounded who were brought in fiteeu have died. Amongst the wounded prisoners is Henare Nga Whanga, a chief of considerable note r rom the Rotoiti, and of the Ngatipikiao tribe, and amongst the prisoners is Iraia te Kaparoa, younger brother of Hori Kingi Tupera, the principal chief of the Ngaeterangi (ribe. Amongst the prisoners are two very interesting looking boys about .14 years of age, who when asked the cause of their being found in such a place, smilingly replied that they had come to witness some sport, for they had been labouring under the delusion that it was only child's play to kill a European. The bayonet made sad havoc amongst the enemy, the wounded declaring it to be an awful and dangerous instrument. The gallantry displayed by our troops, on this occasion, is beyond all praise, and where all behaved so nobly in their duty to their Sovereign and country, it would be invidious on my part to speak of individual acts of heroism, but still there is one instance, though well known in the camp, which requires to be made more public, it took place in ihe rifle pits, by Sergeant John Murray, 68th, L.1., a strong, powerful and brave man, who leaped into one of thr pits, and hayoneted nine desperate Maoris, all in a Jew minutes ; but rhis was not all, at. the peril of h's own life, he went and rescued Corporal Burns, of the 68th. who was struggling, with a stron", wpll-bntlt and determined Maori, whom he had bayoneted, but not vitally, and who was trying to wrench Burns' rifle out of his hands, but not being able to get it, he was determined to let Burns feel the benefit of his tomahawk, and was actually in the act of wielding his savage weapon, when Murray rushed forward and struck him down with the batt end of his rifle, scattering the contents of his cranium. From information which has been obtained from the prisoners it is literally a wonder that Major Colville's life was not taken, for the Major was continually on the move, and very promiuent. He became the subject of attraction amongst the enemy, inasmuch as he was well known by most of the rebels whilst he was in command at Maketu ; they also could he distinctly and continually heard saying from the rifle pits, there goes the " Meha," meaning the Major. There were great numbers of the enemy on the other side of the ravine, who were on their way to join in the engagement, but contented themselves with quietly returning to their mountain fastnesses, in preference to being killed, or otherwise taken prisoners. It is impossible to ascertain correctly the runners of the enemy, but I should think that there could not have been less than 500 in the engagement, and had Col. Greer protracted the attack to another day, not only their defences would have been strengthened, but reinforcements would have been afforded them. The troops, at 4 p.m., left the field of battle for the camp in real good spirits after their day's success —leaving the Maori dead on the field—and arrived in camp at 6 p.m., where deafening cheers greeted them from their comrades who had remained behind to protect the camp. Col. Greer arrived in camp about 3 p.m., messages having been sent by Col. Harrington, Ist W. R., who was in command of the camp, to him that it was the intention of" the enemy to make an attack upon Te

Papa, and it was also reported that there were supposed to be a considerable force of the enemy lying iu ambush near to Otuniatai ready to cross the ford below the Venerable Archdeacon Brown's residence. The Xaval Brigade from H.M.S.S. Harrier and Esh, who hud been landed early in the forenoon, at the request of Col. H., in case of need, were dispatched by Col. Greer to this threatened position. Signal fires w >e seen on the surrounding hills late in the afternoon, which no doubt was an intimation to the rebel friends of the great loss which they had sustained, but it is generally believed by those most acquainted with the natives that it was fiilly contemplated by the rebei leaders that there should be a simultaneous attack at Te Papa, so sooo as our troops should move out to attack them ; it w.ip well for them that they did not dare to come, for, it they had, few would have gone back to tell the tale. Colonel Harrington, and Capt. Sergeant, who was in charge of the 43 d Light Infantry, having taken every precaution necessary for the safety of the' Camp, Colond Greer, on arriving in Camp, receive* the congratulations of those of our brave so'diers who remained in garrison, by three genuine hearty cheer's-. In the evening everything in Camp was bustle, and enquiries for missing men—Ambulance carts bein£ drawn up to the Hospital at intervals, containing first our killed and wounded, and then the wounded of the enemy, some of* whom died on the road. We took about 200 stand of arms, including pouches and ammunition, which were brought up in a cart. The guns are of the usual description used by the Maoris, still there were a great number of valuable double-barrelled guns ; there was also a rifle or two of ours, which had been taken at the Gate Pa engagement. On the 22nd, an orlerwas issued in th 3 morning for a party to proceed on to the front, in order to bury the dead. Major Colville, of the 43rd, was in command of the party. The friendly natives, by pet mis sion, were allowed to attend to he last sad offices <.>< their erring and infatuated countrymen ; and those who had relatives among the slain were permitted to wrap them in shawls and blankets. The morning was gloomy, and at 12 a.m. the rain began to pour down in torrents, which continued without intermission the whole day. The bodies were placed in the pits which. they themselves had dug. and Major Colville having informed the Venerable Archdeacon Brown (who was present for the purpose) that all the bodies, numb' ring 107, were all laid in the pits, the Archdeacon —taking up a position in the centre of the pits—commenced to read the Burial Service in a most impressive and solemn manner, and many, very many, were the sighs for the loss of so many Chiefs, whose lives, previous to the Taranaki rebellion, had been untainted with vice or crime. Major Colville sent parties in all directions round the swamp to ascertain whether there were any inoie slain or dying to be found, but the weather being so boisterous rendered the search very unsatisfactory—one body was brought in just as the service was over, and laid amongst the rest. It is impossible to give a satisfactory account as to where these rebels belonged, their countenances having undergone such a wonderful change, and many were so mutilated that their nearest relatives could not recognise them ; in fact, Kawiii, whose body was not injured, was with difficulty found by some of his oldest acquaintances, the change in his features and bodily appearances having undergone such an alteration. It is not owing so much to the great number of Maoris that have been killed that our great advantage is obtained in this victory, but it is in the fact that these Chief J w re the leaders of the Tauranga rebellion, who have been in charge of the different tribes in this district since hostilities commenced. Too much praise cannot be given to our brave troops for the manner in which this engagement was carried out and completed, for such a brilliant display of arms on the part of our men could not be exceeded. The valour, courage, and coolness displayed was highly commendable, and cannot be too greatly estimated, not only by those in chief military commands, but by those who are enjoying the quietude of a place where one is not always under the fear of being called to arms. The Ist Waikato Regiment fought like brave men; although the Colonel intended them to remain as a reserve, and, I believe gave orders to that effect, on they went when they saw the attack being made, and fought like true men. The Colonel, on first seeing the position of the enemy, sent for fresh reinforcements, which were sent, but arrived too late. The following is a correct list of killed, wounded and prisoners of the natives : 108 killed on the field. 15 died since. 18 wounded. 10 prisoners. Total 151 Amongst the wounded are 3 from the East Cape, 7 from the Rotoiti Te Arawa, and 8 from Tauranga. Amongst the prisoners is only one chief of importance, named Iraia Te Kaparoa, brother of Hori Kingi Tupaea. CHIEFS KILLED ■ Rawiri. Te Teira. Tiraoti. Tipene. Henare. Peapane. Tipene. Puhi Rake. Te Ruaharuhi. Ko Poki. Ko Kaka. Taratoa. Hohaia, from Otamarakau. Ruka Tihi. Rota Te Miniti. Te Poihipi, from Opotiki. Hoera, from East Cape. These are all distinguished Chiefs of this district. Colonel Greer personally showed the wounded natives who were in the rifle pits every attention and kindness; and Mrs. Greer very kindly attended to the wounded among3t our own men, liberally supplying their wants. I scarcely know what the movements of the enemy will be after this. Their head chiefs are gone ; still there are many restless ones who were not •in the engagement, that probably may be induced to prosecute the *ar ; but the weather here has been such since the battle that no person stirs out of his tent without compulsion ; still there is a rumour that the natives are gathering somewhere in thcvicinity of the Wairoa. I think if Hakaraia, thni prophet, had been killed, we might have had a probability of quietude, if not peace. I shall be able, I hope, in my next, to say more on this matter. Mr. Commissioner Law, from Taupo, reports a very unsettled state of affairs in that district. King Matntaera is there, beating up for recruits. The friendly natives who some time ago were in danger from the rebels, appear now to feel themselves safe. At Makctu all is quiet. Mr. ITeaphy, the Surveyor-General, arrived in the 8.8. Alexandra, Capt. Williams, on the 24th, with Mr. Macpherson, and a staff of surveyors. The following Field Order, conveying the acknowledgments of the officer commanding, for the valor displayed by our forces on this occasion, has been pnnlished in Camp : " Field Order. " Camp te Papa, Tauranga, "24th June, 1864 "Colonel Greer has the great pleasure of offering his best thanks to those gallant officers, non-commis-sioned officers, and men of the Royal Artillery, 43rd, and 6?th Light Infantry, and the Ist Waikato Militia , who so bravely attacked and carried at the point of the bayonet the rifle pits of the enemy, at Te Ranga, on Tuesday last, utterly routing and driving them fro n the field with great loss. "It is a matter of congratulation that the casualties arronj: the troops attacking were comparatively sm«l'. "This most gratifying result, the Commanding Officer attributes to the well-directed fire of the skirmishers and of the fiold-piece, which prevented the enemy from showing above the trenches, but chiefly to the steady, soldierlike, dashing, and determined manner in which they carried the pits, and followed tip the enemy. " The Commanding Officer has also the of acknowledging the orderly and soldierlike conduct of the men, after the engagement, the readiness with which thev carried the dead and wounded of the enemy, and the care and kindness they showed to the latter; conduct worthy of humane, as well as brave men."