The Native Rebellion.

New Zealand Herald, Volume I, Issue 126, 8 April 1864, Page 3

The Native Rebellion.

MAUNOATAUTAKI. [fkom our own correspondent.] April 5. Thk steamer came in last nijflit, bringing ai|iiautity of gabion* mid •! small mortars ami a largo quantit'v of .-lie!). This addition to the Artillery will make 15 pieces of ordnance now in camp and*all rendv to start, with something like 'JOO rounds of shell' for each piece, and f hear some more guns are coming from '.IV Aivamutu. The Engineers are busy fitting up platforms on beds for the mortars to stand on.

The Maoris have not shewed themselves since that all'air at Kihi Kihi, hut we can see their fires to any extent about 31nu.iigntau.tari in the morning, so the'v are Mill there.

I hear that at Oraknn above 100 dead Maori bodies have been brought in and many more are Kins about that will never be found. Ke'vi's body they say has not been found yet, although it is pretty certain that he was seveivly wounded in two places." I hear that his son is among the prisoners. If no alteration in the present arrangement takes place, we movo to attack Maungataut'ari on Wednesday. "We have everything ready to form a regular seige. and from the vast preparations that have been made for the attack of this place, one would imagine that the General makes pretty sure of their oU'criug a strong resistance. We have any amount of sand-hags and gabions ready. [Our readers in perusing the above will bear in mind that this letter was written on the morning of the same day on which the telegram was sent, announcing the evacuation of 3fautigatautari, and before it was known in camp that that event hail taken place.— Kn. N. A. 11.] TE AWAMUTU. [khom on; owtt (.•oukksposdent.l April \. I forwarded you a short account (in pencilim:) of our engagement, but now that I have obtained a little paper. I ha.-ten ;o give you "the particulars in detail of one of the ino.-t desperate struggles that has ever occurred between semi-barbarous braves and Kriti.-h troops.

To make everything appear in the most intelligent shape 1 will commence at the beginning of our move aud give you a narrative of the events as they occurred in consecutive order.

One hundred and twenty-five men of the 65th, under the command of Capt. Bulkier, with the same number of the 10th regiment, under the command of dipt. Mausugh. the whole under command of Major Myth, !Oth regt., marched from Te Awamutu at 12 o'clock midnight, 30th instant, and proceeded in the direction of Kihikilii, leaving that post on our left. We made a long circuitous nnireh by a mountain mimed Te Kaka, and ultimately reached the Perenui Kiver. which was forded in a most orderly manner by the troops. Proceeding onward, we arrived at another point of the same river, it v. .is re-cros>cd again, and at length after a harrassing march of about 1!) miles through high fern and ti-tree. guided by a native named John Gage, we arrived within about half-a-mile of Oiiikau, —here a little incident occurred which 1 cannot pass without noticing.

Capt. \ on Tcmpsky's Bangers, who formed our advanced guard, suddenly enme upon three natives, who were evidently look-out sentries fur the main body of the rebels, and as quick as thought the leading tiles of the Rangers discharged their ritles and brought one of their number to the ground dead ; the others unfortunately made their escape.

"Without however halting lo take notice of this little allair. we pushed on, and in a few minutes were halted in front of the enemy's position. The ground all round it I'or about 800 yards at each side of the redoubt rose into a gentle incline, hardly noticeable, and was iliuikcd on the east end of a long strip of thick bush, with a deep swamp at equal distance, between it and the position.

far they displayed great, ingenuity for their protection and retreat on the eastern side, as also on the north, south, and west side, which was protected from approach by a deep swamp, and a trench 2,000 yards long, cut out of the base of the hill.

But now for the engagement or rather the beginning of it. Brigadier-Hemral Carey marched from lure at 2 o'clock, and taking witli him about 100 men of KSth and remainder of the 40th regt., proceeded in a direct line by Kihikilii to Ornkiiu, nt the same time 25 vf the (15th from Knngiawhia under Capt. Blowett. and 25 of the same regiment under Capt. (.loner from iluirinu. joined the force, and reached the position at 5 o'clock a.m. on the 31st. At first it was thought to he a wild-goose chase, for not a niuuri or a position could he observed. However, this suspicion was soon dispelled, and on the INlh regt. advancing in skirmishing order under the command of Capt. King, supported by the 40th, they were met by a witlii-riug fire from what hitherto appeared to be nothing more than a post and rail fence. The dashing gallantry of (.'apt. King however brought the Boyal Irish to the charge, but" their gallant leader falling mortally wounded, the 18th were completely repulsed, and fell back on an old peach grove about 410 lards m front of the position. Major Blytli with the lljlh and 10th detachments arrived at this time, and the Brigadier seeing the loss of life that must necessarily occur in repeahd charges, ordered these detachments out in skirmishing older in a position that would entirely surround the enemy : this was dene in excellent style, for tin ugh the line was formed withiu easy range of the enemy's tiie, nota man faltered, but wmt ata steady double in defiance of a tremendous fire which was heaped upon them, —the work of making rifle pits with bayonets was but the work of a few minutes, and the OVStli under Capt. Bulkeley had in less than a quarter of an hour so completely cut off the retreat, that from this moment their escape seemed hopeless.

The 40th at the same time had also seem red the appn acli by tlie front while thelblh were pieparing to cairy on the sap. Captains I'lenitt and Greer's company had also prevented egress or ingress to the position, whilst the Eorcst Hangers under Captain Yon Tompsky were posted at an angle between the 40th and 05th regiments.

Jn these K-veml positions, the troops mentioned maintained their nspective positions, with the exception of being relieved by portions of coips alternately in the sap. No. 0 Company of the Goth remaining throughout as a covering party fertile men employed supping, commanded by Ensign Chayter, who, though a very young oiheer, was the admiration of all who witnes.-til the example lie set his men by now and then working with the spade, while at other times exposed to the enemy's fire, in places of extreme danger, until he at length fell dangerously wounded with six of his gallant Coinpary.

(Jn the evening of the Klst .March reinforcements of the ISth and 70th regiments arrived from the General's Head Quarters, and. I need not say how aeceptable an acquisition they were to us and Genl. Carey.

On the morning of the Ist April a detachment of 108 o* the I "2th arrived from To itore under command oft'apt. Vereker, ami throughout the whole of the three days' action these reinforcements evinced the most livily interest and cheerfulness in having it in their power to assist their comrades of General Carey's Jirig.ide.

During tin: whole days and nights of the ;Mst March and Ist April, the sap was euntinued incessantly by 1111:11 of the various rogts. as well as the the men of Captains .Jackson's and Yon Tcinpsky'.s Forest liangers and Waikato Militia, under Col. llaiiltain, who I should also mention joined Genl. Carey at Kihi Kill).

On the morning of tile 2nd April, field. Cameron and Wall with part of the Colonial Defence Force arrived Irom l'uko liimu, but the General, like the gallant Outrain of Jndiaii fame, declined to take the supreme command and eonsccpiontly left General Carev to push forward his intentions without interference.

Our whole thoughts being now centered on the completion of the sap, and commencement of the shall, much to our surprise, we found on Hearing the position that the enemy were also pushing forward a s;ip to meet us, and just on the very same plan and principle, at length botii met, and here is where the severest struggle ensued, however the natives were forced back, and Col. ilavelock having arrived with a supply of hand grenades, the pitching of them was eifected iii beautiful style by Sergeant McKay of the Koyal Artillery.

This mode of punishment to the rebels, together with a total want of water irom which they had been sullcring lor three days, was more than tliey could bear, and at 11 o'clock determined at all hazards to break through the line of troops,' and with a charge and cheer they cleared Die palling which encircled the Kedoiibt, rushing forward towards the 00th lines and evidently endeavouring to forco tlioir way to a. leinfurcomerat vrhiob lay ia the bush, aad key* a can-

tinual firo on tho Rangers and 65th with tho evident intention of forcing them from their positions; in this they failed and after a sharp flank fire from the ISth and 40th on the left, were compelled to run back into the Kedoubt again. The firing and cheering from the enemy after this failure became fioivcr and more furious tlnn at any previous period of the action, and it becumu evident as a flairs were getting so desperate, that something must be done to bring matters to a close. However at V-past t p.m., a savage yell from the rebels with a heavy volley of musketry from the troops, tnld that a change "had taken place, and as tho natives topped the palling, jumped down and delivered a steady lire, the bugles of the different corps sounded the advance and double, the rebels had in the short space of a lew moments broke through a thin hue of skirmishers to the left, and making for the ti-tree scrub and swamps, the whole force delivered a heavy volley into the flying enemy, they rolled and staggered like a flock of corn, and'two seconds had told a fearful tale.

Hie "ceasefire" then sounded, aud the troops took up the advance, flanked on the right by the Mounted Artillery, on the left bv the Forest Bangers, and as we advanced the path became literally blockaded with the enemy's dead.

The pursuit was continued until 7 o'clock and (he force returned, tired and worn out, after three davs of the most distressing hardships. Hie Redoubt though small was of enormous strength, having rifle-pits within and without. The parapet measured 13 feet thick and about 18 feet high. SO feet long and 41 feet wide. It was entirely surrounded by a post and rail fence, as an obstacle to the charge of troops as well as to conceal the actual position, li was also partly hidden with peach frees, and from these many casualties occurred on our side.

Vn the 3rd we were employed in collecting the enemy's dead aud wounded, which up to this moment numbers 109 dead, and 3<: wounded ; the greatest number of them being Ngatimaniapotos, the remainder East Coast natives.

1 here are .several chiefs of great importance iiinony the dead, the most inlluential being the following : — Agata, Taupori, IV ilone Tainorita, grandfather of Kcwi. as also Kewi's uncle. I shall however forward you a list of the chiefs next mail, together with the names of the killed and wounded on our side. The mail is now closing, so that T will not complete the mimv little incidents of personal bmvcrv until my next. Captain Ring, mortally wounded (dead.) Captain Goner, 05th,"slightly in leg. Lieut. Chevalier, l>sth, severely in leg. Ensign Chavter, lioth, dangerously. Drummer Gillinghum, 65th, killed. Corporal Burnett, both, killed. Private Whitfield, 05th. killed. (15th regiment— 11 men wounded. Total casualties—ls killed, 55 wounded. QUEEN'S REDOUBT. [ntoM oru own cohkesi'ondent.J sth April, 186-1. The new rivi-r steamer ' Stmt' lias passed up the Waikato. and is now anchored at Mere Here. She made a rapid and successful passage from the Heads. It was much feared that in the present lowstate of the river she would not .-uccerd in getting so far up. She is decidedly the linest hoat we have plying, hut on account of her draught of water it is supposed that she will only he engaged in plying between Merc Mere and the Heads, until the. winter rains shall have rendered the river safely navigable further up.

A l.irjro party of volunteers for the " "Water Transport " service passed through yesterday afternoon- They are composed of men from the three regiments of "Waikato Militia, and are all old

A large quantity of shell and other great gun ammunition arrived by yesterday's convoy, and also a good supply of air and cork beds, and other medical requisites for the Purveyor's department.

A number of invalids from Rohni Pokeka were conveyed into the hospital here yesteiday afternoon ; there are some very serious casus among them : there were fourteen in all. It was at first thought when the ambulances started tor the Maungatawhiri to bring them here, that they were some of the men wounded in the recent engagement, but this tinned out false. The wounded will for some time he kept at To Awamutu. as there is large accommodation there in the two large buildings used as school rooms before the breaking out of the war, and besides there is tin- general field hospital at Ngaruawhaia, and which i* much nearer the scene of action.

Though long before this you will have been made acquainted with the full particulars of the tight at Orakau, yd the following extract from a letter written by one of the men engaged, may not prove tutallv void of inteiest to vour readers.

Tin- writer dates from Te Awaimitu on April 3rd, lie says : " We have h;id Fdmc hut work hero during the last two days. On the .'list lilt. the Maoris were observed ;it tlm village of Orakau, about three and a half mill's i'rom Kihi Kihi, busily engaged in constructing earthworks and palisading, and at twelve o'clock the same night the whole of the troops in this camp, viz., three companies of ISth Royal Irish, five companies id' the -Kith Kcgiment, mid half of the 06th Kcgiment, the remainder being left to garrison this post, wen'warned to be ready to march at a minute's notice, and we accordingly started shortly after that time, under command of Drigudier-Geiieral Carey, the ISth under Captain King leading the way. On arriving at the village of Orakau, the position, owing to tin; darkness of Hie morning, was not visible until the party were within twenty yards of the breastworks, when we were greeted with tonic tremendous volleys, a great number of the ISth falling severely wounded, and Captain King mortally, lie died yesterday. As the troops advanced they got under cover of the enemy's works, until the position was completely surrounded, the enemy during the whole time keeping up a tremendous fire. At ten o'clock we commenced sapping, as, if the place had been rushed our loss would have been fearful. The whole of the first April was spent in working the sap, and shelling the place, during which time many of our men were wounded.

" About twelve o'clock on the 2nd the sap was under the Maori works, and, as we commenced to drive, the enemy rushed out ill a body at the weakest point, but not before forty of them were killed inside by the shell and hand "grenades. As the Maoris rushed past we poured in terriblw volieys, and followed the m four miles. The Cavalry chased them seven miles, and by Sir Henry jlavelook'a account killed thirty. The number of dead Maoris counted on the scene of action this morning was 12.3. Without exaggeration I think the enemy's loss must be over I (JO in killed, and 30 wounded and prisoners', the latter are hero. Kewi (according to the account id' his fighting chief who is now a prisoner), was wounded in the shoulder and thigh. It is supposed lie is still lying hidden somewhere in the fern. lam sorry to say our loss is very heavy. As yet lam unable to ascertain the exact number, but I should say about GO casualties altogether.

" The IStli have lost the greatest number. One of the -KJtli named Carman is missing, lie is supposed to be dead. The number of natives defending the position is estimated as having been about '2SO. The number of troops engaged was KOO. The Maoris never fr.ught ljetter, they refused to surrender, mid said they would rather die to a man. I forgot to mention that General Cameron left for Head Quarters this evening. It is expected that lie will shortly attack Maiingatatuero. Kewi's (ieneral of division (now a prisonor here), wrote three letters this morning, one for fan (ieneral, ditto for Field Marshal Thompson, and the last for some other ' big fellow ' in the service of l'otatau."

A number of sick left by the convoy this morning for Auckland.

POJiT WAIKATO. [riiOM Ul'K OtVA' COKItKSI'OJV'DENT.] April 6. A considerable increase in the number of tradesmen and labourers lias given much additional life to the place anil dispatch to the works in progress here, ttarly and late, from day break till sunset, this hive of busy workmen pi}' their tools each after his eallini', building, excavating, and levelling, there is plenty of work for all to be at, this rugged projeeture into a fitting rendezvous for ISritish trades. The sanitary conditiou of the place is being cared for by a main sewer, with several brunches being made, running from the river, accompanied along the site of operations. This is very much wanted, for if great care is not taken to curry away the large volume of water which is sure to pour from these hills when the heavy rains set in, the place will be in danger of being well nigh swamped now that the natural slope of the bank of the river is levelled oil".

Another large store is (join up, CI x -It) ft., also a military hospital/ commijuarisi bakoboutv, additional

ss^tar 1 ™ 11 ' aud the long prouiißcd

Ihe inquest over tho body of Lewis, the man drowned wlule going to Waiuku on Fri(J was held on the 30th ult. before Mr. Begun, B.M\, lor the Jvaipara, whose timely arrival by the 'Ale*andra on that day enabled his friends to dispose of the body nmuediately, for it was in an advanced state of decomposition. From the evidence it appears that the canoe in which thev were sailing having taken vn a considerable quantity of water. Lewis began to be alarmed and, without stripping himself, sprung overboard, intending to swim to the shore, in doing so lie upset the canoe to the great peril of his his companions, who were thus rendered powerless to help lniYi. A verdict in accordance with the evidence was returned. The body was taken on to Waiuku to be interred, where he was much respected, and hud been lor some tnne stationed in the force of special constables. '

A large square flat bottomed punt was launched yesterday, to which steam power is being fixed for raising snags and other obstructions in tho Waiknto and \\ aipa rivers. It is to be taken first to the junctions of the river to clear the Waipa, from there up. ; the ' (ryiunotus ' is expected down to tow it up to the IJluH'. *

On Thursday last an accident of a serious nature • happened to Lieut. Young, in coming from the 'Alexandra'm company with Capt. Williams. In I stepping from the boat on to some rocks on the banks of the ziver, ky some mishap he slipped and tell, doing himself serious internal injury, which confined him to quarters for several days', but the worthy | gentleman is so far recovered as to be able to walk t out. | We have rumours strange and wild of great doings at the front, aud are hnxiouslv waiting for the mail.