THE LATE ATTACK ON THE ESCORT.

Colonist, Volume XII, Issue 1169, 8 December 1868, Page 3

THE LATE ATTACK ON THE ESCORT.

The correspondent of tlic UawJce's Bay Herald at Turangauui redoubt gives the following particulars of the attack on our escort from whom the ammunition wa-3 taken. Writing on the 28th November, he say 8: —

"The transport party breakfasted at Patutalii, where a depot had been formed. Patutalii is rm her less than half way between Turanganui and the front. The party consisted of twenty-four men, of whom only nine were Europeans, and the rest natives ; the whole were in charge of Sergeant-Maj >r Butters, an experienced veteran, formerly of ; Yon Tempsky's corps. About half the party started at 7 a.m., leaving directions for the remainder, who were then saddling, to follow up immediately. Yesterday, and for a few days previously, the natives had shown considerable reluctance to proceed unless Europeans led the way, and upon this occasion they delayed their departure on various frivolous pretexts. Sergeant-' Major Butters and his p irty had proceeded five miles, when Mr. Eobert Goldsmith, who was somewhat- in advance, saw a body of men, numbering between fifty and sixty, advancing. He halted and waited, iintil he had satisfied himself as to the character of the approaching force, when he galloped back to inform Sergeant-Major Butters, who ordered his men to fall back upon the depot, where it was his intention to make a stand, in order to save the ammunition, provisions, &c. In attempting to reach that place, •Sergeant-Major. Butters and h:3 party —twelve men in all —had a narrow escape ; the enemy, being much better mounted, gained vapidly upon our people, who were encumbered with packs, which they were obliged to throw away. All the natives fled, leading the few Europeans to defend the defenceless depob —

no!; even a temporary ditch or bank having been div? at Patutahi. for the protection of the valuable stoiv.s collected there.

" The few Europeans were hotly pursued, the. enemy »t one time being within thirty ya ds of them. They were obliged to continue their way, a-? it was impossible for nine men to withstand fifty or sixty in the open—there licing nothing better in tho slim;; of protection than a tent at Pafcutahi. The' eno:uy followed our men several times from that p'a?e, as far as Puke.imio, wheiv, behind a rotten fence, Sergo.r.itM;ijor Butters drew up his men and faced the enemy, who, after a little flourishing about, thought, fit to withdraw* to Patutahi, in order to secure their plunder. 16,100 rounds of ammunition have fallen into the enemy's hands, with a considerable supply of. provisions, and a few horses, which c.xn bo ill-spare.l at the present time, owing to the scaivity o? tho:o animals. Tlic lesnlt of this great misfortune is thai; the one my, who, there is great reason to believe, were short of ammunition, are now well supplied, whilst our forces are all but entirely without-either provisions or ammunition." The writer adds :— "Everyone here believes that the Lite capture o^ ammunition and stores effected by the enemy w.n brought about by information forwarded to I.ha enemy. That there are traitors amongst tha natives, many of whom lisive relatives amongst the enemy, I hive no doubt. Every movement made by the enemy sine:) lie arrived, has evidently bean guided by intelligence ' received from us ; and I do not see how it nan bo put a stop to, as detection is difficult in fie extreme;." [ Tlio Government account s;iys th:it only nine kejrs, containing 4000 rounds, were captured ; but they do not seem to have reckoned the quantity in stock at Patutahi, which amounted to twenty kegs.]