NAVAL BRIGADE.

Taranaki Herald, Volume VIII, Issue 400, 31 March 1860, Page 3

NAVAL BRIGADE.

Our contemporary the News in his account of the engagement which took place between the armed foice despatched on Wednesday to bring in the families of the Rev. Mr. Brown and Messrs Tonet and Gilbnt from the Omata, and the hostile natives, has eironeonsly stated " The recal having been sounded by Col. Munay, the Nigel's paity retreated from a position they could hardly have hold without suppoit." Now this is manifestly incorrect, as the Nigeis having possession of the pa could have maintained their secure position against^ the whole body of natives. Captain Cracroft left the pa to covei his locket biigade, ond escoit his wounded men, of which he had four. The coriect vei«ion of the affair is as follows : — Between 2 and 3 o'clock p.m., on Wednesday, Captain Cracroft was informed that a detachment of the Csth legiment and a party of volunteers, under Col. Muiray, had proceeded to Omata, were hotly engaged with the enemy and short of ammunition, he was requested to furnish a naval brigade to accompany a Lieut, and a few men of the 65th regiment in charge of the ammunition to Omata. ' At 3 he landed 60 men and officers, and guided by Messrs F. Mace and C. and E. Messenger, used such despatch that he reached the scene of strife at half past five, having searched every empty house on the line of march. Being relieved of the ammunition, the rocket party was advantageously posted, and the remainder of the party proceeded to attack the enemy. By taking advantage of a thickly wooded gully Captain Cracroft came unexpectedly on the enemy, opened fire, drove him back, and charging the fugitives, entered the pa simultaneously with them, and the cutlasses did the rest. A promised reward of £\0 to the capturer of the enemy's flags had caused the palisades to be surmounted and William Ogdenwas the first man in. This gallant affair scarcely occupied more time than its narration. The sailors alone took the pa, held it, and only left it to return on board and provide for the cieatures comfort and safety of their craft. The devices on the principal flag, are the mountains Tongariro, Ruapetiu, and Taranaki, with the M.N., Maori Nation, and on the second a bloody heait and a single star on a red ground.