TARANAKI.

Wellington Independent, Volume XVI, Issue 1495, 8 February 1861, Page 5

TARANAKI.

t>UOM OUR OORRUSPoNDENT.]

Camp Kairau, near Huirangi, Wednesday, 23rd January, 186!

Beforo tho light of day had fully dawned over fche Waitara plains this morning, fche Waikatos wero taught the most severe lesson fchafc has been inflicted on them sincj-tho beginning of the war, and they will feel it thi more because ifc was of their own se._ki.ig, and tho very reverse of fcheir sanguinary intentions Under cover of fche night thoy advanced silently to carry out a bold and preconoerte.l plan of attacking No. 3, or the adi vance 1 redoubt, occupied by the 40th. So cauf tiously did they proceed that they actually I succeeded in gaining possession of fche front trench of the redoubt in great numbers, ifc being their ] plan to scale the ramparts and storm the forfc. Nor is thore a race of men in tho whole world that, placed in their situation, could havo surpassed the cool determination manifested by tho brave and desperate Waikatos whom we havojusfcde. feated. The native storming party having established themselves in our trenches, and being supported by numerous reserves in the tall surrounding fern, patiently waited fche mosfc advantageous moment for making thair bold and enterprising attempt— fche first gleam of morning. It was afc this moment thafc wo (65th and 12th) were alarmed by tho most tremendous discharge of musketry that I ever heard. In an instant we were out and at our posts. The scene thafc met our gaze was ab once magnificent and terrible, for in the distance we could sco the enemy's long lines of fire flashing with the rapidity of lightning, and wo feared fchafc our friends of the 40fch were suffering. Bufc tho booming of cannon, and tho hard report of rifles, soon told us they wero on tlie alert. Wo were muttering our request to join them when a bugler in the 40th camp sounded the welcome call for the 05fch fco advanco. The notes had nofc yet died away when Colonel Wyatt eagerly shouted—" Light Company and No. 8, double to fchem." Many men besides those named joined tho party, and vre did double; followed by tho only company of tho 12th that is here. As wo swept past No. 2, or the centre redoubt, wo were greeted by a hearty cheer from little detachment of tho 40th, by which it was garrisoned. No. 8 was commanded by Captain MacGregor, who, whilo leading Us round to the trench occupied by the enemy received instructions to tako. his post in the left trench. Tha Light Company, under lieutenants Urquharfc and Ponnefather took 'the right trench; whilst the company of the 12th iv a reclining posture, took their position on the flat ground, a little to our left rear. Meantime the 40th were busy behind their parapets (iring at their numerous enemy in the fern, aud shooting and bayoneting the .many maories who were de-sparate enough to attempt scaling the fort— which they did by means of foot holes mado in fche bank with fcheir tomahawks. As quick as tho natives fell in this desperate attempt they were carried off through the fern by their countrymen, and others supplied their place with tho same fatal result. Ncvor was tho want of hand granades more felt ; the only substitute was fco kindle the fuse of a shell, and throw ifc over with the hand, and thia was done. Bub several of our men wero now wounded, and fche natives still retained possession of the trench. This could not be any longer suffered— the enemy must be routed by a charge. The word was given and received wifch a thrilling cheer, fcho 1 2th sweeping round by the left flank, the Light Company of the 65th by fche right, and No. 8 along the trenches ; indeed ifc was so general thai some of fcho 40fch jumped out over their breastworks and mingled wifch us. Ifc was a terrible moment for the misguided natives. They saw fcheir bold design frustrated ; for with all their prowess they could nofc repel the charge of British bayonets. Thoso who saw a chance of escape fled through the fern, and retreated precipitately along fche gullies on the side, of tho Waitara Valley, hotly pursued by our men. Others, more devoted to their cause, awaited their fate and fought mosfc desperately. They mingled among us in such a manner that wo could not safely fire : our bayonets and fche bufcs of our rifles wero therefore the weapons mosfc used :— and oh I fche revolting scene of carnage that was spread around was such as I would rather nofc describe. As to the bearing of tho natives, I must say that the Waikato chiefs have done us the honor of sending tho mosfc gallant and mosfc ingenious sons of Now Zealand to contend with us for the victoiy. One might looso two legs and an arm and still pity the folly that leads such brave men to destruction. They seem to despiao. death. As I hurried oyer the field I was struck with the appearance of a noble looking young man thafc lay panting under tho pangs of a bullet wound through the breast. I paused over him, and asked if he were a Waikato. " I am," was fche frank reply. The next instant other men were round hira, and some, nofc able to command their fury, would havo totally despatched him were ifc nofc for the humanity of Captain Mc Gregor, who severely rebuked the wanton ferocity of tho men ; and ordered them to take fche native a prisoner to fcho camp. The wounded man, seeing his fate debated, pointed firsfc afc his wound, then to the muzzle of a Boldier's rifle and to his own forehead, in token that death were more acceptable than life so unwillingly spared 1 I mention this fact to show thafc moat men inthe British army do not possess such magnanimity as would incline them to mercy to those savages who have so inhumanly butchered their own comrades on former occasions. The vindictiveness of our men was further excited by the fact, thafc eleven skele t tons of those brave men who fell afc Puketakauere on tho 27 th June, were found unburiel in a gully near tl^e stockade. They were divested of everything thafc could be of use to the enemy ; the skulls of some wero cloven asunder, and all were barbarously mutilated. It should bo remembered thafc the maories professed to have given these gallant men a decent interment.^ The sequel shows how much faith we can place in the statements of our savage enemy ; and few soldiers can reflect upon such desecration of our honored dead without feeling a burning desire for retribution. I trust tho deluded natives may now perceive that whenever this retribution is delayed ib is only to fall on them the more heavily another time ; and their defeat to-day must bo regarded by them as a terrible proof of the fact. Regarding the conduct of our mon during this morning's confljefc, to speak of individual bravery would seem partiality. In general I can only say that eaoh soldier fought as if the success of tho battle depended on his own valor. As tho enemy carried away their men who were killod previous to fcho charge, their total loss cannot ba known, but before I left the field I counted 36 dead, besides somo wounded prisoners. Of course a great many of the wounded got away, and m any may bo still lying dead in the surrounding fern. The enemy still occupies the Huirangi bush; bufc before you receive this ifc shall bo ours, — for on yesterday wo commenced to run a double sap from No. 3 redoubt towards the avenue leading through tha forest. The enemy's nearest cover is a detached piece of bush about five hundred yards from the loft angle of the redoubt, but the general range of their ride pits is TOO yards. The sap is progressing rapidly, and by moans of it 'tis hoped Wo will take the Huirangi with less loss than we sustained to-day in repelling the enemy's attack. Tho total casualties on our sido this morning are one officer (Lieutenant Jackson of tho 40th), and four men killed, and ten wounded. Among the latter is Captain Miller of the 12th. who was struck in tho log by a ball while leading his company to tho charge. I am glad to say that the arms and accoutrements of all the natives who wero killed aro in our hands. Flint locks were numerous, bub there are many muskets and fowling pieces of a superior kind among | fche arms that- aro takon. Their pouches were ! made of blocks of wood, each having, eighteen I holes, and each hole containing a round of ammunition. Thia, in goneral was of a veiy superior quality ; and, fcho mystery s, whore; do

I tho maories get supplies. Of course this can be i only conjecture ; but from ' what I know qf AriieriI can trado in tho Bay of Islands, I think it would Ibe only prudent to keep a watchful eye on that harbour, particularly afc this season ; for tha barrel thafc is made fco contain whale oil may sometimes unconsciously convey, gunpowder Nothing dei lights fcho maori more! than to steal a march on vi by cunning an I strategem Ye hava seen thab many of them, to obtain arms, ottered aud sworn allegiance fco the governmont, and as soon as thoy got fchem iv their possession oarrie 1 off both. legs I and arms fco su .;.orc tha insurgent cause. If a maori wore alio .ved to plead an eiou-o tor such I infidelity ho would probably urge that the musket was given to him butt foreniosfc, and that he thought ifc bufc light still to keep tho muzzle pointed towards the government. He has cunning and energy too, to tako every ad vantage of tha Home Government's delay in sending out troops. The maories know fchafc in every place we throw up a fort, or erect a blockhouse, there must bo troops left to garrison it, — and hence that every success wo gain over, him in oao placo weakeu* the force thafc is left to pursue him in another. The natives would not be so bold and daring if the General had under his command a sufficient force nofc only to garrison positions, but to enable him to strike a heavy blow on fcho insurgents in several places at the Bame ttun. Until this caa be dono the onoiuy may be driven from place to place, bufc not brought fco peaceful subjection. War may bo necessary ; bufc the end of war U peace, — and the sooner the necessary force for establishing ifc be sent out the cheaper Will.be.the victory, and the mora effective tlie conquest,— -tbr the natives will remain too proud and too obstinate to surrender uutil thoy sco an overwhelming power opposed to thorn. 0. P.^