RECOLLECTIONS OF THE WAIKATO CAMPAIGN.

Otago Witness, Issue 2179, 28 November 1895, Page 52

RECOLLECTIONS OF THE WAIKATO CAMPAIGN.

By J. H., Balclutha,

11. The whole party now took up a position behind the entrenched earthwork that, luckily for us, wa had thrown up under Captain Ring's supervision during the day and night we had been encamped on this spot, the captain himself posting small parties of four and six at different angles all round the earthwork, each party in charge -of officers and sergeants, with strict instructions to keep a good lookout ; while the main body, under himself, covered the body of poor Ewan, which could be plainly seen. The first move of the Maoris after the &Heace was an attempt to snatch the body of the dead raan, and without a sound or a moment's warning live or six rushed out towards the bedy; but Captain Ring was prepared for this, and gave them a sharp volley, whsn three of them were eeen to fall, but were immediately taken into the bush by their comrades. The next attempt was made by one native who rushed towards the body, but as quick as lightning dropped back again. This Maori was as brave a man as I have ever seen, for in spite of all the watch kept on the body be repeated the attempt several times. He made the attempt once too often, however, for in bis last rush, although he succeeded in snatching up the dead man's rifle, a sergeant named Thomas Kelly, who wore the " gold guns " of my company, shot him fair in the chest, when the Maori gave a wild yell and jumped into the air, fallingbackwards towards the bush with the rifle in his hand. This rifle was found on a dead Maori on April 2 of the next year at the storming of Orakau. It would be a tos3-up to know who gave the wildest yell, Tom Kelly or the Maori, when the latter was hit ; but the sei geant had learned how to use his lungs in his early youth while ranging the mountains of bis native Kerry. Just as he pnt the rifla to bis shoulder Kelly said to a man named Peter Leary, " Whisht, Pether, I'll have him this time."

The natives now commenced a Bharp fire, their bullets whizzing a good deal about Captain Ring, who kept walking to and fro all the time, when his faithful bugler, young Cassidy, said, " Sir, you take my forage cap and I'll wear yours." The captain laughed at this, but all of us echoed what the bugler said, so the exchange took place, and for the first time that day Captain Ring got into the trench. It was now getting late in the day, and the men were becoming restless. They wanted Ewan's body at all hazirds, and a man named Jack Hennegan approached the captain and asked him if he would allow acme men who were ready to volunteer to recover the body to make the attempt. The captain replied in a neat little speech. He said, " I am as anxious as any of you that the body should be recovered, but I do not wish to lose any more of you in attempting to get it just now; but this I assure you, that Ewan's body will be brought back tc our redoubt or mine will before the sun sets." Just then we could see through the scrub a email party approaching, which turned out to be Staff-assistant Surgeon Chandler and eight men carrying the field companion and some rough stretchers. The doctor went to work immediately, dressing wounds and giving the wounded a little stimulants. Hamilton, whose case was serious, was hit while retiring with the skirmishers, the bullet striking him beJow the belt. When the doctor asked him where he was wounded the Micky Free of the company said, " Ob, sir, don't ax him that ; share you can ax me." At this moment we were all startled by a great noise in the bush a little to our left, and the captain, thinking that the natives were trying to surround our party, called for 12 volunteers under Lieutenant Jackson to intercept them. I was one of tbia party, and we made all the haste possible to an open spot on the left about lOOyda from Captain Ring. When we halted the officer gave the word " lie down," which we did at once. We had scarcely done so when a heavy volley passed over our heads, taking Lieut. Jackfeon's cap off. He was just in the act of lying down at the time. Then we heard the regimental call of the 65 th regiment, and immediately answered by our bugler. Then a cheer and a charge ; but we could not see anything of what was going on. During the day a' mounted orderly, hearing the firing going on at Kiri Kiri, rode off to Drury, and reported to Colonel Murray, of the 6{kh regiment, that a party under Captain Ring was surrounded in the bush near Kiri Kiii. The colonel brought a party at once, and entered the bush by an old track which led in to where the natives were. In the rush the 65th bad one man killed and some wounded, but we could not see them from where we were. It waß discovered after the skirmish that the volley which passed over the heads of the twelve men under Lieut. Jackson was fired by the 65th, as our position was just in their line of fire. The bugler now sounded the " assembly," and our party joined Captain Ritg. By this time his men had secured Swan's body, and we returned to our redoubt, taking our dead and wounded on stretchers. We had not got 200 yds away when a volley was sent after us, but luckily without doing any harm. We reached the redoubt about dark, having been away from 8 o'clock in the morning, and without food all the time. A company of "Pitts's 400," under the late Captain Stack, had reached the redoubt before us, having been sent from Otahuhu to reinforce Captain Ring, but as they were not now wanted the captain ordered the commissariat issuer to give each man a " tot of grcg and a biscuit," and the company returned to Papakura that night. Captain Stack, before leaving, generously offered to keep his company under arms all night while we had a rest, but Captain Ring, thanking him, declined tha offer. As the company was leaving Captain Stack called for three cheers for Captain R ug.

There were several acts of conspicuous bravery by at least three men on that day whose names have never, to my knowledge, appeared in print — viz., John Hennegan, John Burrows, and William Conroy. These men made several attempts to recover Ewan's body against all orders to the contrary from tfaa captain* and while ballets were shower*

ing around them. The first-named was the biggest man In the regiment, as well as being one of its bast all-round athletes and a great chum of poor Ewan's, who was also a big athletic mau. Hennegan was afterwards decorated with the medal for distinguished conduct in the field for a great act o£ bravery during the Wariganui campaign. He and a man named James Acton jumped the palisading of a pa and kept slashing away with the butts of their rifles among hundreds of Maoris nearly five minutes before a party got in to their relief. Jack Burrows wore the Crimean, Turkish, and China medals, tb.9 latter for the Taku Forts. He was a tall and handsome man and looked what he was — every inch a soldier. He was drowned while attempting to swim the Patea river during the Wanganui campaign. I do not know ■what became of Conroy, bnt I thiuk he went Home with the regiment. There is one more name that deserves honourable mention here — a n ime that will ba remembered with pride by all New Zealandors, though he who bore \ it is now gone. A gentleman accompanied us that day with a rifle in his hand and dressed like a respectable farmer — namely Mr, afterwards the gallant Major, J.ickaon. | He rendered Captain King great assistance, as he understood the Maori language, and sometimea be would repeat to the captain what the leading Maoris, some of whom were perched on trees, were saying. Lieutenant Gudgeon, in his book ; " Heroes of New Zealand," speaking of' Major Jackson, says: — "He first distinguished himself in repelling an attack made by the rebels on a half-finished redoubt on the Wairoa road, known afterwards as Ring's redoubt, being one of the most conspicuous in its defence, and was further credited with having by his unerring aim severely punished the attacking force." This is an error, Ring's redoubt never having been attacked. I was there from the making of the first gabion to the putting on of the last sod and for weeks afterwards, and there was no attack made on the redoubt during that time or afterwards, so that it would be impossible for the major to distinguish himself in repelling an attack that was never mido. Another error with reference to Major Jackson, in Mr Gudgeon's book (page 109) is the statement that he was promoted for an act of bravery to the rank of ma jar, according to this his promotion dating back to Febiuary 11, 1863, when as a matter of fact the mnjor was really a civilian, he not having joined the Papakura Volunteers as a piivate until July or August of that year. In this book we are told of another colonial officer who first joined the 12th Regiment as interpreter under Colonel Haultain, when nearly everyone knows that Colonel Haultain never com manded a line regiment either at Home or j abroad". There are many errors in this otherwise excellent book. In a few days after the skirmish at Kiri Kiri shots were heard in the direction of Captain Culvert's homestead, about a mile distant, on the Wairoa road, when a party left Ring's redoubt under Captain Noblette and Lieutenant Russell, Royal Irish. When the party got within range a brisk fire commenced, but the Maoris took to their heels I and ran for the bush, which was 300 or 400 ! yards from the houee. When we got to the I house we found the captain's sod, a fine young fellow about 20, lying at his father's, feet, the old gentleman still blzing away. The Maoriß first surprised them and fired a volley at the father and son, who were both outside the house, mortally wounding the young fellow. The old man held his own until we got up. Lieutenant Russell still kept up the chase past Gal vert's house, the captain and a few men remaining with C iptain divert and his dying son. When the party under Lieutenant Russell was about to enter the bush Captain Noblette ordered the bugler to sound the " retire," but no notice was taken of this until the " retire " and " double " was sounded, when Lieutenant Russell and his party returned to Captain Calvert's. The whole no w returned to the redoubt, some men carry irg young Calvert, who died as he entered Ring's redoubt. Captain Ring did all he could to induce Captain Calvert, who was an old retired officer, to stay with us for a time until it should be safe for him to again live at the homestead, but all to no purpose. The old man, who was greatly grieved at the loss of his son, was determined to avenge his death, and said he would do sentry at the house himself. At the urgent request of Captain Ring, however, he accepted a guard of 12 men, who mounted guard every evening in his house, coming of! in the morning. This was kept up for some time, but the Maoris did not trouble them again. In a day or two after this, as we were engaged putting the finishing touches on our redoubt, General Cameron, accompanied by his brilliant staff, was seen to approach. The party was on its way to Wairoa to inspect the redoubt there. When they arrived at our redoubt, the general, with Major Mould, Royal Engineers, inspected the redoubt minutely. When this was over the general addressed Captain Ring in very complimentary language, saying that he had already mentioned the captain's name favourably in a despatch to the Secretary of State for War for his coolness and bravery on a previous occasion. The captain, thongh brave as a lion, was a very modest gentleman (and I use this term advisedly, not as the word gentleman is hackneyed in these days). H6 thanked the general, and said that any officer would be proud of tlfe men he had under him, adding that not a single complaint had been made to him since they marched from Otahubu. The general and staff, after cheera had been given for Captain Ring and General Cameron, rode on to Wairoa, returning to Drury that night. The Papakura Valley had now become quite a military camp, with Colonel Carey, Royal Irish, in command. Being promoted by seniority to the rank of brigadier-general, he was ordered to proceed to the Waikato, which was now being entered by the advance guard of the troops under General Cameron, the command at Papakura bsing given to Colonel Nixon, Colonial Defence Force. Nearly all the Imperial forces were now moviog Waikatowarda, their places being filled by the militia, whose numbers were in- ! creasing daily. Captain Ring had his marching orders too, he being relieved by a detachment of the Ist Waikato Regiment j | under Captain Prere.

An occurrence took place at Papakura the da; that Oaptaia Frero's company was leav«

ing for Ring's redoubt that nearly had a serious ending. As the advance guard under a sergeant was passing the canteen, kept by a oivilian named Mackenzie, one of the men, who was not quite sober, was allowed to quit the ranks and enter the canteen. The noncommissioned officer on duty, who belonged to my company, would not allow the canteen keeper to serve the man with drink. By this time a few more of the advance guard had entered the canteen and threatened to take what they wanted by force. The non-com-missioned officer, a lance-ssrgeant named Fitzstmmons, a very Btubborn and shorttempered man, caught hold of the first man who entered and threw him bodily out of the canteen. This was the signal for a general row. Word was sent through our camp that a company of militia had thrown the sergeant out, and had taken charge of the canteen. We were sitting in our tents at the time eating our ration of "salt junk" and biscuib, when immediately all hands rushed towards the canteen. By this time Captain Frere with the main body of his party arrived, when a free fight commenced. Luckily at this time Colonel C*rey, who was mountsd, rode into the middle of the shindy, and, without asking any questions, ordered the Royal Irish to/return to their tents at once, an order that was promptly obeyed. The colonel ordered Captain Frere's company to fall in, he giving them the word " quick march " himself, and they were immediately on their way to Ring's redoubt. He now ordered the bugler to sound the " fall in " and the " double." This made some of us slsake at the knees, for we knew the old chap well. When we fell in just as we were, some with jumpers on, others in their shirt sleeves, and nearly all bareheaded, the colonel asked one of the sergeants the cause of the row, and after tho sergeant's explanation, he said he would not punish us for taking the part of the sergeant, who had only done his duty, but he saw that one man during the row had a knife in his hand — he must punish him. The colonel then rode up and down the ranks and picked out a man, who denied having had a knife, but all to no use, old Carey was positive, so he ordered the man to j be sent to the guard tent. Just then a man belonging to my company, known as " Mutiny Mick "—he had served in the Indian Mutiny — stepped out of the ranks and, saluting the colonel, said :;' I am the man, sir, who had the knife in my hand." The old colonel looked puzzled at this, and ordered the first man to ba released, while "Mutiny Mick" was sent to the guard tent. In a few minutes he was brought before the colonel, and after having satisfactorily explained that the fact of the knife being in his hand was a mere accident, he being at bis dinner at the time when he rushed out of the tent, the colonel let him off. Had the sergeant on duty been a prudent or sensible man all this would not have taken place, for with a little tact he might have shown the militia man, who could not be expected to know very much about discipline, that allowing htm to have a drink while under armß would be a very serious matter for both of them. I have known many cases of ill-feeling between regiments caused through the thickheadedness of noncommissioned officers whose only qualification for promotion was a little reading and writing, and the main thing of keeping clear of the defaulters' book. Much more than these are necessary to make a good noncommissioned officer, whose position, especially when on duty, gives him a good deal of power. It may not be out of placa here to refer to a case of this kind that caused a bitter feeling between two regiments, nearly ending in bloodshed. I was once on late garrisDn picket with a sergeant who, to use an old saying, was like the " devil's apothecary " — double diligent ; and while parading the streets 1 this night a soldier of the 2nd Regiment (Qaeen'a) came to the door of a publichouae and made some remark that seemed to annoy the sergeant. The man knew that by the regulations of the garrison a picket waß not allowed to enter a publichouse to arrest any soldier unless asked to do so by the proprietor. This was seldom resorted to for fear of losing trade. The sergeant, if he had been anything like a sensible man, would have taken no notice of the remark, but instead of this he jumped from the edge of the footpath and caught the man, who was inside the door, when a Ecafn? took place, the man getting safe into the house and the sergeant being bafflsd. After this he kspt the picket marching np and down this street, until at last I, who knew him well, 'for he was sergeant of my room, tried to get him to take the picket out of the street, snyiog the garrison sergeant-major might be taking notice of us being too long in this part of the town ; but. all to no purpose — he had set his mind on making the man a prisoner. At lecgoh the time came for him to gratify his wish, for as we wore : patrolling past the house the sergeant kept on the footpath, and when opposite the door he made a spring and caught his man, who foolishly remained about the door, and ordered us to take him in charge. The man made his offence worse by resisting, and gave some trouble until he was landed in the garrison guardroom. Two dayß after this I was told off to accompany the sergeant to give evidence against the man when brought before his colonel, with the result, that be was sentenced to a term in the calls. There was nothing very remarkable about all this, but unfortunately it did not end here. A few nights afterwards a man belonging to my company — a native of Surrey, named Tom Locke — while playing cards with some of tha Queen's in a pnblichouse had some words with one of them, who struck him with a quart pot and cut his face open. Tom, who although a very quiet fellow was a good man, with the help ofan artillery man who took his part, soon cleared the house. Some of our fellows then came on the scene and a pitched battle took place, that was only stopped on the arrival of a strong guard from the Queen's Barracks. In consequencD of this row, our colonel confined the regiment to barracks for a week. This unlucky occurrence was caused by the Btupidity and ignorance of a fairly well educated man, who wanted the best qualification to make" a good non-commissioned officernamely, common sense. Shortly after this the Qaeen'B got the route from Portsmouth, where the foregoing took place, and were relieved by tha Second Batallioa GOfcb Kiflea, just landed from China. When commencing this article the name. "Tom L^cke" was

thousands of miles away from my thought^ but since it has cropped up I cannot resist the temptation of spinning a yarn about him before I cross the Maungatauwhid to enter the Waikato. Tom joined us at Aldershot, and was posted to my company. He was a typical son of Hodge — not as we see him portrayed in Punch, but a good-looking English oountry lad, with a loose, awkward gait. He had on his Sunday clothes, the principal garment of which was the old-fashioned smock, elaborately embroidered in front, with a red ootton neckerchief lied in a largo loose bow, brown gaiters cover/* icg a good stout pair of calves, and a pair of the largest feet that had stepped into regimental boots up to date. We all eyed Tom as he walked along the balcony leading to my room, where he was told off to his future quarters. As he entered the room wd gave him a royal Balute by presenting arm*, while one of the lads pkyed a few bars of "The men of merry England" on an old piccolo. Tom returned the ealute by giving us one of those polite salaams after the fashion of Cousin Joe in " The Rough Diamond." From this hour he established himself a great favourite in the company. Like all other recruits, Tom was a bit awkward, bat time and the drill sergeant made a wonderful change for the better in the young 'recruit, who turned out a fine strapping soldier. The only part of Tom's anatomy that didn't seem to change were his f«et, which at all events grew no smaller ; and this unfortunate fact got him into trouble later on, as ws shall seo. When my friend had been about two years a soldier, I was doing garrison guard duty with him on the "Gun Whnrl " guard at Pcrismouth. On these guards the men took their raw rations with them, which they cooked while on guard. The kitchen furniture in those days consisted of a frying pan and a large threelegged iron pot. In this pot the beef waa boiled, and it also bad to porform the duties of kettle and teapot. The guardhouse was one of those old-fashioned square stone buildings with a paved floor, and a wooden bench as a guard bed. The yard outaide waß also paved, and j oat as ugly as the architects could make the Gun Wharf gusrd and all its surrounding*. The sergeant of the guard on this occasion waa z>evcr known to have told the truth obco, nor did he ever feel offended when spoken ot as " Mick the Liar." About midnight, while the whole guard except the sentries were sleeping, the sentry at tho guardroom door challenged the "grand rounds," and we all jumped to our feat afc once, took our rifles f rcm the arm rack, and fell in. The sergeant, counting the cumber, found that there was one man absent. At the same time the " grand rounds," a major ia the 60th Rifles, who was mounted on a wellgroomed charger, did not appear to be abls to manage his mount. The animal kept danciDg and slipping on the paved yard as if it was frightened, and no wonder, for the noise in the guardroom by this time was dreadful. The cc geant ran back to the guardroom to eea what was tho matter with the man and what all the noise meant; when he found that Tom Locke, who was fast asleep when the guard was tamed out, in his hurry when getting off the guard bed had jumped into the iron pot, and there ha was, prancing about like a wild man, with his feet jammed in the three-legged pot. What with Tom dancing about oa the paved floor of the guardroom and the ma jor'fl oharger prancing about outside on the paved yard it sounded as if the old Victory that was anchored oat in the stream had beaten to quarters. The field officer was by this time becoming impatient, and he asked the sergeant for some explanation of the man's unseemly conduct, bnt Mick, whose enunciation was never good, he being a very rapid talker, could not make the officer understand that the man's feet were jammed in the pot. At this moment Tom, putting his bead out afc the guardroom door, said, " I've got oae on 'em hout." Immediately after this the pot wai heard spinning about the guardroom, and private Thomas Locke fell in. " Grand rounds " was then allowed to advanca and give the countersign, after which he inspected tha guard, looking suspiciously at Tom Locke. The inspection over, he gave the Bergsanfc a homily before he ordered the gnard to turn in. The remainder of the night was spent in what was afterwards known in the Mgiment as " Tom Locke's explanation," for Tom's account of the affair caused more fan than the rattling of the old pot over the stones. When the guard was relieved next morning and we all got home to our barracks, the real fun commenced; ..for" the moment I entered the barrack room; with Tom I considered I had a duly to peiform in laying bare the} whole case to the lads in the room, and I may add the story lost nothing in tailing. I only wish I could tsll it as well now. Nobody enjoyed the fun this event caused more than Tom Locke himself. The last time I eair dear old Tom was at Ngaruawahia. He was then recovering from a severe wound in tho abdomen, and was " a goin' 'Ome," as he said himself, to " dear hold Zurrey." (To be continued.)

•— There are few trades for women that offet such piizes as making clothes for other women. The chief dressmaker of a Bond street establishment will command a Balary of from £250 to £300 a year. — Birds differ very much in the heights to which they commonly ascend. The condor, largest of vultures and of all flying birds, haa been observed soaring over 29,000ffc, or about! five miles and a-half above the level of the sea. — There are now over 500 street railway com* panics ia Pennsylvania, where eight yeara »go there were only about 60. The remarkable increase is due almost entirely to the adoption of electricity as a motive pawer for such roads. — What other European capital has a rivet Hke the Thames running through Ha vary heart? Not Paris, for compared with tv« Thames the Seine is little better than a ditch g cor Vienna, for the noble Danuba doe* not pierca the Austrian capital as the Thames piarces London. Buda-Pesth comes neater to the possession of this special feature of our cHj than any other European capital ; but Buda« Pesth is a village compared with London. The Thames alone, with its extraordinary variety ol scenery and life, would secure for London tha palm of beauty among the great cities ol Europe.—Speaker. A BEAUTIFUL COMPLEXION. Apply Sulpaolln* Lotion. It drivM away pimples, blotches, roughness, redness, and all dli figurementg. Bulpholwe develops a loveiff dttH Is bottles. Mad* In London.— [A»r&