DARING CAVALRY EXPLOIT

Wanganui Herald, Volume II, Issue 475, 9 December 1868, Page 2

DARING CAVALRY EXPLOIT

Since writing the above, the Cavalry have gained a few more laurels. This morning the detachment of the Wanganui/Volunteer Cavalry, stationed at /Woodall's, under command of Lieutf Day, numbering twentsr£ve, st/rted on an expedition, witlV the oJßject of ascertaining whether\he ehemy was still encamped on the Ball/opposite Woodall's, and if soY his. strength. Leaving their horses behind them, Lietit. Day and hislmen started on foot; and after fording; a deep creek, mounted the hill/on-which the en°my showed signs ofmis presence on Sunday. In a few? minuteY they came in sight of thef pa, and delivering a volley, rushed! right at it. In a moment the fl/x bands were cut, the posts pulled down, and the men; were inside, but the enemy had decamped. The men found as a reward for their daring a strongly fortified pa in the form of a semicircle, and immediately behind the palisading, parapets of earth. The back of the pa opened into the bush, which was not very deuse. The whole place might have been easily surrounded, and every man inside made to surrender. It is probable that the enemy occupied this pa, occasionally, to frighten and keep our forces in check, occupying and abandoning it as it suited his pleasure. The tents were still visible at Nukumaru, where, no doubt, the main body of the enemy is still located. In the pa a large quanrity of timber, posts and rails, &,c. } taken from the settlers, was stored. These were all placed together this morning, a match lighted, and in less than an hour from the time of entering the place the whole was in a blaze, visible for miles around. So the volunteers have destroyed the bugbear which operated so fearfully on 600 men. For se-

veral nights 150 men lay with their breech-loaders and revolvers by their side, waiting an attack from the place, when at the same time the same number was capable of reducing it in half-an-bour./ To-morrow morning this Cavalry, by order of Lieut.-Col. Herrick, commence pa

trolling the country from the lnoutb. of the'Kai'lwi to Stewart's redoubt. This is a step in the right direction, as the Cavalry will quickly draw a lir.e between Tito's advanced guard and our outposts The present lull in the enemy's movements may be ominous of some stroke in a direction riot expected, but it-is certain that, if the colonial forces in this district were only half as active as they ought to be, the enemy would not be able to hold any position he .has taken up this side the Waitotara for a month. The colonial forces are utterly useless from the way they are handled, of which ample proof will be produced in a future issue. The Government need not lay claim to the credit of any efforts they have made, until they adopt the proper means to save the district. In the mean time steps should be taken to prevent Colonel Whitmore from ever landing in Wang'anui, except as a private citizen. If he comes back, as he promised, in a month, the district and Wanganui mig-htas well be in the bottom of the sea. If the Government will persist in sending him back, let the people "hang him up as high as Haaman" the moment he puts foot on the wharf. Although we give this as an Americanism, it would be the only way of saving the district from a catastrophe that would send it back in material progress for twenty years.