OFFICIAL DESPATCHES.

Wellington Independent, Volume III, Issue 190, 7 August 1847, Page 2

OFFICIAL DESPATCHES.

To the Editor of the '• The following Despatches received from Lieut.-Colonel McCleverty~ command , the Troops New Zealand are requested to be published for general information. M. Richmond, Superintendent Camp, Wanganoi, July 20,184? ' Sir,—l hare the honor to report to your Ex'i lency the proceedings of the Force tinder myc"* mand, in action with the enemy yesterday the' noon, extendiug from our position to St JnlJl Wood. n.

I -aoquainted your Excellency in letters dated sth 10th, aad 17ih, instant, despatched by the Race Hoass, of the daring manner in which the enemr penetrated into our own earthen outworks, on more than one occasion; I therefore decided on at once checking this custom, should an opportunity occur, Yesterday about 12 o'clock they approached eri! dently with an intention to draw the troops out of the stockade, and two more daring than the re»t,ia hopes to cut off a settler and some cattle, were par. mcd by two parties of the 58th under Lieut' Ped. der, and 65th under Ensign Thelwall, aud joined by a further reinforcement of the 53th regimtnt under Ensign Middleton, the whole under my or! den ; and these two men narrowly escaped capture. and fled by the ravine aud intrencbraents towards Mr. Harrison's at the back of St John's Wood where a body of the rebels lay concealed. This brought oa an action with the enemy, and sending back for reinforcement)), I indulged a hope that they might be induced to fight upon our ground, in front of, and towards our position. After an hour's fighting, the enemy declined advancing beyond the cover of their own breastworks on the face of the hill, which your Excellency will remember tit St John's Wood, and which have beta multiplied and extended; a gallant charge was here made by the bayonet 15 yards distant, and the enemy broke and fled, oa hearing the cheer by detachments of the 58th and 65th regiments, under the commaedof Captain Wolfe of the latter corps, Lieutenantßil. naevis commanded that of the 58th regiment, Lieutenants Page of the 58th, aud Barnard of the 65th regiment though previously wounded in the head, and Ensigns Middleton 58th, and Thelwall 65th regiment*, were present at this charge made at the distance of 15 yards; the letter officer narrowly escaped being tomahawked by one of the enemy, who was shot by a soldier of the 58th regiment, some of the enemy were bayonetted. We bad 400 men engaged, the enemy about tht same number, but owing to the difficult, broken, and swampy nature of the ground, which extends from the right of our position to Sst John's Wood, I was of necessity obliged to place junior officers in comna md of detachments in extension, under the general superiatendence of the seniors, and thus protecting our flanks. Captain Henderson, Royal Artillery, with the assistance of Lieutenant the Hon. W. Yelverton t pushed forward a brass 3-pounder, and 4 2-5 field howitzer, to cannonade the enemy's position, and I cannot help drawing attention to the devoted gallantry of this imall body, who from the nature of their service were exposed to the moit galling fire, by which they had one man severely wounded. In the meantime I had detached Lieutenent Hay, 58th regiment, in command of a party of the 58th and 65 regiments, the latter commanded by Lieutenant M'Coy, and some of the armed police to endeavour to out flank the enemy by the left, by which means the enemy's riie wa» partially diverted from our advanced body, against this party, who had puthed across a Bwamp of some extent, above their knees in water: Lieutenant Hay was now supported by Captain Hardy, 58th regiment, wh» was next in command, I had left ia charge of the post with discretionary powers. Captain O'Connell 65th regt i a Peninsular officer, though in the sick report from a severe sprain of the ancle, then volunteered to take command of the Stockade, haviDg Lieut. Trafford 65th regiment, to assiit him, the party under Lieutenant Hay joined Capiain Hardy without loss, and took up a commanding position under cover, and prevented the enemy from shewing them* selves on our left flank. 1 At the commencement unseen by the enemy, had thrown Lieutenant Pedder with 20 men into » breastwork on the right, and below the upper stockade, and Lieutenant Holmes, R. N., of H. M. o« Calliope, had with the same alacrity which heuai so often evinced, detached some men to ■""' m dragging the guns, and wilh the remainder and MT« Carnegie, midshipman of H. M. S. Calliop«, « c manned his gun-boat and pushed others forward to tbe first creek, 150 yards from the lower stockade, and opened a fire of musketry, and from the pound carronade, which checked a party, w^°J, a ?* der Mamuku were advancing by the banks of ™ river, this completed the chain of poets which protected our right flank and they suffered no loss. The fighting continued with the main body, ana, V determined if possible to draw the enemy and with this view took up a new position with t> l guns; ihe enemy with great intrepidity came do«n to within 15 yards of the advance, when tbe cniyg alluded to took place; at this time our principi» loss occurred? one man of the 58th regt. (Weiier; and another of the 65tu regt. (Sprait) were em, dead, iv the high fern : the body of the former w not recovered. The Artillery here suffered tbe w»»

of two of their men, od<» mortally (Connolly) and the other slightly wounded, nnd other gallant me n , W ere here wounded of the 58tliand With this advance Lieueenant Servantes, 6ih Foot, Interpreter to the JForcees was present, with our three Ngatitoa allies, one of whom vim wounded in the leg while gallantly fighting. The : enemy now seerued disinclined to advance beyond the point where they were charged ; the fire in front was heavy from'the Artillery and musketry, an d also on the right from the musketry of Captain Hardy's party: » nd aa evening was coming on I returned to the camp.

Though Ihave to deplore the'lossof three gallant soldiers, and the temporary deprivation of the gervicee of 8 others, the enemy have suffered more geverely.we'know of three killed and 10 wounded by their own admission, the former are Te K»pua, Paora te Hotite, and Tβ Tere Tere, the two first chiefs« amongst the wounded are Jaime the native teacher, who pursued Mr. M'Gregor on the Ist July down from Shakespeare's Cliff: Wiremu Wanganui, Wiremu Te Waraite, and a Ngatimaniapoto W as wounded ia front of Lieut. Holmes and Lieut. PeJder's -parties. I have no doubt that their loss far exceeds that of our present information which is limited to accidental knowledge, but more than three were killed in the charge alone, shot or bayonetted ; the natives having an anxiety jo conceal .their 'lose. Their women were heard last night lamenting their loss at Mr. Harrison's. Paora Te Hotite was bayonetted by a soldier of the 58th Regt , , named Lowry, who carried off his musket The body of Private Weller of the 58th Regi. was found and carried away by the enemy, who'rend prayers over, and buried him at Aramoho without degrading mutilation.

The police under Mr. Chetham Strode, were with the advance vying with her Mftjeety'e troops. I canaot conclude this despatch without the expression of admiration »t the gallantry of thg officers and menengaged, the daring of the enemy in advancing to within fifteen yards of the troops bear» me out in this* and I must beg in addiiion to the enumeration of the cervices already detailed, to bring to your Excellency's notice the coaducr of my Acting Brigade-Major Master, Ensign 58tli Rcgt., and of Lieut. Collinson, Royal Engineers, for the services they rendered me under fire in con-' yeying orders. The duties of the latter officer since 4he formation of thi§ post have been mast arduous in which he h»s had the valuable assistance of Lieut. Baineavissßth Regt., from the commencement: and from these two officer* great beneßts -have been obtained to many branches of the service, both in. fortify ing. this position (one of great difficulty) and in every part of the Engineer Department. To Captain Henderson commanding Royal Artillery and my second im3ommand in the advance •yesterday I beg to offer my thanks for hie asssistance and advice. To captain Hardy commimding detachmeHt 58th Regt. I am equally indebted as my second.in command of the force, as also to Captain Wolfe commanding 65th detachment in the absence of Captain O'eonnell (who, presented by an.accident from partaking in active operations, took command of the posts and ren-J dered the best assistance) to Lieut. Holmes, R.N. of H.M.S. Cauiope, alluded to more than once by Captain Laye, I am under obligations for his unceaiing exertions. I can onJy refer to my preceeding details and to your Excellency's knowledge of the ground as to the support I received both from officers and men of her Majesty's ■Sfervice, -and -the Armed Police under Deputy Inspector Strode opposid to an enemy unsurpassed as skir. tnishere j Lieutenant Barnard 65th Regt. though in the head, the ball having -remained In hit cap, continued with the advance.

To Staff Surgeon Couitenay and Assistant Sargeon Philson, 58th Regi,, both of wbom were preseat ia the field, I Jiav.e to express my thank* for their assiduity and attention to the wounded. Respecting our Native Allies of the Ngatitoa tribe, though but three in uumber, under Lieut. Servantes, one of whom was wounded, I would call your Excellency's attention to their gallant conduct, nor can I omit to bring toyour notice the devotion to-our cause shewn by the Putiki natives, who proved their attachment to the Bntish.Gorern•tuent on this occasion. To his Excellency Governor Grey, &c. >XIBT OF THB KILLED AND WODNDED IS ACTION ON THE i9TH JULY, 1847. Killed. Private Wm. WeJler, No. 5 company, 58th regt. Joseph Spratt, Grenaniera, 65th regt. Wounded. Lieut. Barnard, Grenadier company, 65th regt. ment, slightly in the head. '•Gunner William Connolly, Royal Artillery /since dead.) Gunner Matthew Broadhurst,.do. do. slightly. Sergeant William Gibson, 58th regt., slightly. Corporal Francis Reily, 58th regt., do. ■Private Henry Storey, do , severely, if not dangerously (wound of shoulder.joint.) Private William Dunn, 58th regi., severely (injury of fore.arm,) Private Martin "Rogers, 58th regt., slightly. Sergeant Thomas 'Kells, 65th regt., slightly. Corporal William Allsop, 65th regt,, severely (wound of the thigh.) Private James Pagan, 65th ; regt., olightly. «wekiwa R«awiwi,JN S atitoa ally, do.

RECAPITULATION. I officer wounded, 2 men killed, and 11 wounded i one (Royal Artillery) mortally, since dead. • Many eettlers were out, and in the front, nmong«t whom was Mr. M'Gregor, wounded on the lei of Jtx W\ I beg to express my thanks to Mr. Deighto 9, interpreters the.force stationed atWanganui, 85d Mr. Duncan, attached as interpreter to myself. - I have the honor to be, Sir, Your most obedient humble servant, (Signed) W. A. M'CLEVERTY, Lieut-Col, commanding Treops, New Zeaiand. *° Hie Excellency Governor Grey, &c. &c

(Copy.) Camp, "V\an*anui, July 23, 1847. Sin,.-.j uave tne honour to inform you, iv con•fnuation of my letter of the 20th, tlt»t lat>-t evening J received, intelligence that an attack by night whs premeditated by the enemy on different parts of the to»n, as a finale previous to the taua breaking up. •iTieir arrangement was—Mamuku to attack the '"wer stockade, the Ngatirukn the upper, and

the N B »t|mani»noto that in the course of erection ren "th? 'a ''a' •'««'*"»"*<>* •«■».?. i repel thu. At 9 o'clock tliu morning the enemy Wnn/ een , iri u nUfnberß Pwoeeding to St John's wood, and the earthen. entrenchments on the hill which they occupied on the 19th and through which we passed on the reconncrisance of the Ist instant • on the crest of the range they plan ed a red ensign I their number, were at least 600 men, having apparently collected nearly all their force. VV I occupied the middle hill with the greater part of the detachment of the 65th, under Captain Wolfe and a-6_. pounder field.piece under Lieut, the Hon' w. C. Yelverton. A detachment of the 58th regt' under Lieutenant Balnaevis, with * 3-pounder guY were in the breaitwork in advance of the upper stockade, in which latter (both under Captain Hen. aerson, R.A. (was a 12-pounder gun, and a stron» reserve under Captain Hardy, ready to more out" a flanking party under En.ign Middleton, 58 ill regiment, occupied the edge of the sawsmp, and kept up the communication with the seamen under Lieut. Holmes, nnd the 58lh detachment under Lieut. Hay at the lo.ver eiockade, lhaa securing our position and rendering a forward movement easy at any moment.

A few of the enemy shewed themselves on th? low hille between our ttockade and St. John's Wood, where they were in force, and the gum opened a are; the enemy retired, and seemed determined not to risk »n attack : contrary to my expectations, they are well supplied with ammunition. The chief of Putilci wished to hold a conversation with the enemy, which they invited, and I zr&nted permuMon: Mr. Duncan, my interpreter, alto at their request, went forward. They stated they would not attack, fearful of our artillery, (from thi» and other causes I infer that they suffe.ed from the guns on the 19th); and as we would not attack their' entrenchments, they would retire f.oiu them. The Pukihilca natives intend to retire 10-morrow if not the whole of the taua; if so, lh» war is ended for this winter, though I shall not relaxin vjjihnee, having no reliance on expressions founded on fears. Mamuku again was not preient ia the front, but his brother Te Oo stated his determination to Mr. Duncan not to have peace, a proposition which was not made to him, as I consider it far from a desideratum, nor do I believe it to be your Excellency'a wish.

I beg in conclusion to brine to your Excellency's notice the professional assistance and kind attention voluntarily rendered by Dr. Wilson, half-pay Royal Navy, and Dr. Keee, both residents at this place. The medical officers of the force and my. self have to express our thankful acknowledgemente to them. I have, &c, (Signed) W. A. M'Clevbrt?, .Lieut. Col., commanding Troops New Zealand. His Excellency Governor Grey, &C, &c, Sec.

25th. Thesnull marauding parties of the enemy have ceased since the 19tu, and a serious quarrel took place amonget them on the evening uf the 23rd. Another of the enemy is dead, Ko Hikuanu. (Signed) W. A. M'CLEYERTy, Lt.-Col.