BATTLE OF NUKUMARU.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XIII, Issue 654, 11 February 1865, Page 3

BATTLE OF NUKUMARU.

Tho New Zealand Gazette, published yesterday, contains the following dospuichos rotative to tho lato affair at Wauganui :— Colonial Defence Office, Auckland, 6th February, 18G5. His Excelloncy tho Governor directs tho publication of tho following despatches, with enclosures, from Lieut. -Genorul;»Sir D, A. Cameron. X.C.8., for general information. Head Qaartors, Wangamri, 33th January, 1865. Sir, — I have the honor to forward, for your Excellency's information, tho enclosod copius of reports rccoivod from Brigudicr-Gcucral Waddy, C.8., relative to tho recent military operations in this district. I have, &c, D. A. Camero.v, Licut.-Gonoral. His Excellency Sir Goorge Grey, X.C.8., Head Quarters, Camp Nukumaru, 2nd February, 1865. Sir, — With refercnoo to my letter of th« 30th ultimo, relative to the engagements with the rebels on tho 21th and 25th J.umary, 1 have tho houor to aoquaint your Excellency, that from information I havo received it appears that the rebels have suffered a very severe loss, having hod Hevonty (70) mon killed, amongst whom are several Ngatiruanui chiefs. Pchimaua Ngarauru, tho principal Waitotara chief, is reported to be mortally wounded. We havo colloctod 23 bodies on the fiold. I havo, <&c., D. A. Cameron, Lieut.-Genoral. His Excolloncy Sir Goorge Grey, X.C.8., &c, <tc, Ac". Camp, Nukumaru, 23th January, 1865. Sir,— l havo tho honor to report for tho information of tho Liout-Guneral commanding tho fovoos, that, iv ooniplianco with tho orders received from him, I marolied from oamp at Alexander's Farm with the force dot-ailed. — Offiocrs, Royal Artillery, <J ; Royal Euginoors, 2 ; Military Train, 4j" 18th Regiment, 13; 50th Regiment, 20 ; Brigade Staff, -I.— Total 46. Sergeants, Iloyal Artillery, 4 ; Royal Engineers, 1 ; Military Train, 1; 18th Ueginiont, 15 j 50th Regiment, 2i.—Tytal, 48. Bunk and File, Royal Artillery, 21 ; Royal Engineers, 14 ; Military Train, 42 ; 18fch Regiment, 301 ; 50th Bogimoat, i 500.— Total, 878.— Towards the Waitotara River, yesterday morning, at 0.30. Tho advanoo of tho troops was necessarily very slow, owing to the steep ascent of tho road from tho beach to tho sand hills at tho Okohu river, and tho passage across those hills of the cart 3 conveying baggage and stores. Tho forco reached this position about 4.30 p.m., whuro I found tho camp close to the Paetuia Lake, and about half-a-milo from the small native villago of Nukuoiaru. Immediately after the camp was formed, I ordered out pickets, and as a pickut of the 18th Regiment approached a bush close to tho villago, which I considered neceßsaryto ocoupy, it was fired upon by a party of rebels, who quickly full baok and took up a strong position at the edge of the bush j farther away from the village ; the men Of the pickot got under oover behind a railed fence with a email ditch. Firing was kept up by both sides till dark, after which it gradually slaokonod, and oeoßed altogether about midnight. It ia with deep regret I havo to report the loss to the servioo of Lieutenant Johustone, 40th Regiment, Deputy-Assiataat-Adjutant-General, a zealous and gallant officer, who proceeded with the picket to soo it posted as I had direoted, and who was mortally wounded very soon after filing began, and who died thi3 day at noon. I enclose a lint of caeualtie". Tho picket first posted wan commanded by Captain Shaw, 18th Regiment, who acted very coolly and judiciously in the disposal of his mon. Seeing the robols wero in a strong position, and believing they were in considerable numbers, which might soon bo increased from the pa at Weraroa, two milos off, I sent out a reinforcement of 100 men, under Major Rocko, 18th Regiment. The robolfi retired during the night, as this morning they wore not to be eoen or lioard in tho bush. I havo, <&c., It. Waddy, Brigadier-General Com. Field Force. Camp, Nukumaru, 26th January, 1865. Sir, — I havo tho honor to report, for tho information of tho Lieutenant-General commanding the forces, that yesterday, about tivo p.m., the outlying pickets ia front of thi3 camp wero suddenly attacked by tho robels in largo numbers, who managed to approach (under cover of the high fern and ilax bushes) unpercoived till close upon tho sentries. After a short; resistance the two pickets wore overpowered and forced to retire. Immediately after tho firing commenced tho troops in camp all got under arms, and I sent a reinforcement to each picket of 100 men. Thu attack on tbo left was at onoe slacked and the Maoris wero soon driven back, but on tho right they advanced with great determination and pushed on through the village of Nukumaru, till about half way between that placo and tho tents of our right front ; here they wero met by tho reinforcement and stoppod. Tho cavalry (Military Truiii mon) at tho same time got round their left flank, and they wero driven back to tho bush rear of Nukumarii, Into this bush the Royal Artillery fired sojno rouuda from the two six-pounder Armstrong guns, and tho Maoris soon retired from it ; considering tho vory difficult nature of tho ground across which the cavalry hadj-io move, their advance was rapid and thoir charge effective. I enclose a return of casualties, which I regret to say is heavy., particularly in tho 50th Regiment, from- which the left picket was furnished. Ton dead of the rebels wore brought into oamp, and two wounded men j but I feel convinced they lost many moro, particularly on the left. Ono of the wounded is Te Arawa, Ngatiamaniapoto, eldest son of Honi Pamipi, a leading chief; both thoso men say that 600 Maoris came to attack our position. I have, &0., R. Waddy, Brigadicr-Gonoral Com. Fiold Force. Nominal Return of men, of the Fie'd Force wider Brigadier-General Waddy, Killed and wounded in action, at Nukumuru, on the 2-Uh January, \ 1865. 40th regiment. Lieutenant T. O. Johnstone, D.A.G., wound of abdomen, died 25th January. 18th regiment, 2nd battalion. Lance Corporal P. Caulin (1616), wound of head, killed, Private P. Connolly (1365), wound of head, fiinco dead. Private C. Heathwood (953), wound of head, sinco dead. Private J. Boyle (245), eovere wound of arm and leg. Lanco-Corpcral I. Scott (1070), severely wounded, left band. Private P. Cranny (1133), wound in head. Private C. Rivers (1520), severe wound of chest. Private J. Dooey (1246), slight wound of knee. Private 0. follngher (844), wound of head. Private J. FHier (644), slight wound of head. R. Waddy, Brigadier-Gonoral, Commander Field Forco. Nominal Rrtwnn, of Men of the Field Force under Brigadier General Waddy, Killed and Wounded in as.twA, at Nukumaru, on the 25th January, 1833. Private James Bricn (578), wound of chest, killed. Private Thomas Graham (647), severe woujjd of wrirt. Private Thomas Lock (1318), severe wound of abdomen. Private Franoji Travpre (W»), severe wound of abdomen, eincc dead,

Private Patrick Whelaa (36), alight wound of abdomen. Private David Zeefo (lOil), slight wound of baud. Private Robert High (415), slight wound of Bhonlder. Private Doniel Watkins (10-11), slight wound of win. GOrn iiegiment. I joutenant W. H. Wilson, left leg, severe. Knsigu D. L. Grant, wound of right breast, dangerously. Private Jonathan Firfhcr (436), wound through hoad, killed. Private Smith Hprgravos (4-191), wound through hoad, killed. Priviito Joseph Gould (933), wound through abdomvn, tomahawked, killed. Privato Wi.liam Vino (862), wound through abdomon, tomahawked, killed. Private William Land (924), wound through abdomen, killed. Private Michael Murphy (960) , wound through thigh, tounhawliud, killed. A Private John Keuiiy (ndi), wound through hoad, tomahawked, ki.luti. Private J«.'hn RMyard (-'73't), wound through head, tomahtovkerl, killed. Private Hoary Puna ('J29), wound through head, killtxl. Private John b'lynn (15 19), wound right elbow, severe . Private James Blcasdalc (4281), wound, left thigh, B3vore. Private Goorgo Box (159), wound left ehouldcr, fiovcro. Private James Riordon, wound left shoulder, severe. Private Pholnn Brown (831), wound left shouldor, aovoro. Private John Loydcn (4527), wound right breast, dauperounly. Private John Barley (654), wound right arm, severe. Private John Cuuuinghatn (05"), wound left arm, eevorc. Private Arthur Poor (953), wound right arm, aevcro. Private Thomas Dobcll (363), wound left leg, Beverc. Private William Gri3in (139), wound left foot, eovoro. Private William Miles (727), wound through loft liand, severe. Private Esau Christopher (7^2), wound right hip and left, arm, dangerously. Private Boot Handover (4059), wound 101 l thigh, aovoro. Private ltobert Baruett (41W), wound loft hip, severe. Private Michael Burko (4UG), wound loft hand, ncvoro. Private Honry Hargravos (4358), wound right Bhonlder, slight. Private William Crout (6224), wound right log, severe. It. Waddt, Britfidior-Gotwral, Commanding Fiold Force.