THE WAIKATO REBELLION. STORMING OE RANGIRIRI AND DEFEAT OE THE REBELS.

Wellington Independent, Volume XVIII, Issue 1994, 10 December 1863, Page 6

THE WAIKATO REBELLION. STORMING OE RANGIRIRI AND DEFEAT OE THE REBELS.

HEAVY LOSSES. 185 PRISONERS TAKEN. We invite our readers attention to the following graphic description of the Storming of Sangiriri from the Southern Cross, of 23rd November, the tone and spirit of which will meet with the cordial approval of eveiy portiou of the colony. The news of the fall of Rangariri, which leached town on Saturday evening, caused the most intense excitement; ami the newspaper offices were literally besieged hy persons anxious to obtain copies of tbe second editions, containing the intelligence. The inteiest continued unabated up to a late hour, and tke rain at last compelled the eager crowds to seek shelter in tbeir own homes. This feeling of intense interest was most natural. At length the strength of the Maori forces has come into collision with our troops, and the result was a signal victory over them. It has been thought, and we confess that we were likewise of that opinion, that when the Maoris evacuated Meremere so suddenly, and on the eve of attack, they would never again rally in force and give battle to General Cameron. But the result has been different, and it is well tbat it is so. The enemy, to the, number of 1,000 men, at the head of whom was the Maori King, made a stand at their fortified position of Rangiriri, and or ten hours disputed the ground with an equal 5f not greater number of our troops. We cor' dially acknowledge tbat the enemy on this oc casion, displayed some of that courage which, in former times, made the Maori warrior in the heat of battle no mean antagonist. We go further tban this acknowledgement even, and say that with the advantage of ground on their side, and acting as they were, on the defensive, these advantages no more than balance those of the vastly superior arms and equipments of the troops opposed to them ; and it is do small credit indeed to have achieved a feat which, perhaps, an equal number of the best European troops in a similar position could not have accbieved— namely, to repulse the headlong charge of British troops and British sailors for four successive times. The remnant of the force which did tbat feat of arms are now our prisoners, having surrendered at discretion, Behind their earthworks at Rangiriri they were not contemptible enemies; and now, having vindicated their reputation as brave warriors, laving fought long and well for their nationality — for the preservation of savage freedom and barbarian license — andhaving placed themselves entirely in out power, be their past faults we hope th.it "until it has been finally decided what to do with them, tbey will receive tbe treatment due to brave men vanquished on tbe "battle-field. It is not our present intention to indicate the course the Government ought to take regarding the prisoners. There is a legal difficulty in the way of treating them as " prisoners of war," as the gallant General terras them ; but with that difficulty we will not now meddle. We would rather take our leaders in imagination to the field of battle, and ask them to follow the course of tbe attack and struggle so far as we know it. On Friday morning last, the troops massed at Meremere, marched towards Rangiriri, in two divisions, General Cameron and staff accompanying the last division. Drafts from the rarious regiments in tbe Queen's Redoubt, to the number of about 500, were embarked on board the Pioneer and Avon gunboats ; and h> addition to ibe crew of sailors and marines in "these vessels, there was a strong force of both branches of tbe service manning the four gunboats which the steamships had in tow. Altogether our force numbered from 1,200 to 1,300 officers and men. The country between Mpremere and Rangiriri is open fern land, of that undulating chaiacter so general in this part of New Zealand, The land force encountered no opposition on the line of march, nor were any of tbe enemy seen on either bank of tbe river from the gunboats, until within a short distance of Rangiriri, The enemy fell back, on observing the advance by the river, and it 'at first seemed to those on board as if they did not mean to make a stand in force. But ashore the state of the case was different. The troops were confronted by the enemy in position, who occupied a long line of rifle-pits, constructed with unusual skill. The works were very extensive, and opposed an entrenched face to any line of advance the assailants could make against it. Tbe rifle-pits were connected by traverses, as at Meremere — a fact which was not known by a reconnaissance from the liver. It was supposed by all that had reconnoitered the position from the river, that the lines of rifle pits could be raked by the ship's guns ; but tbeir construction hindered this from taking piace. To be taken they must be assailed in front ; and this mode of attack, we lenow, is most congenial to British feelings. At three o'clock in the afternoon General Cameron drew up bis force in line, about three hundred yards from the .first line of entrenchment. Two Armstrong guns were got into posi tion, and with them and the guns on board the four gunboats, which had been towed into position, the shelling of the enemy's works commenced. The practice was excellent, the natives returning our fire with small arms. Tbe shelling was continued for about an hour and a half, during time the debarkation of the greater part of the conttngent from the Qeuen's Redoubt had been effected. These were led to theattack on the rightflankseveralhuudred yards to the rear of the enemy's first and second lines of defence about the time that the advance was sounded in front. Tbe troops charged with their usual impetuosity, dashing through the fern, and up to the enemy's works in face of a very heavy front aud flanking fire, which told severely on them. The onset of the soldiers was too great to be withstood, and tbe enemy fled from the first line of trenches towards his strongest and central works. The rebels suffered severely here. Whilst this was taking place in front, the force landed from the gunboats attacked the rifle pits, flanking and in rear of tbe position ; but the enemy soon abandoned the defence of the works, and fled precipitately towards the swamp and Lake Waikari,— by which

heir retreat, they had supposed was open. The t laughter of the rebels at this point was greater 1 him elsewhere during the the engagement, t riiey were exposed to a running fire from tbeir < iursiiers for a considerable distance ; and, al- | bough they soou disappeared over the almost « >recipitous side of the deep gully, which stopped ] :he pursuit, they were then by no means safe. ] Lining the edge of tbe gully, the troops fired down on the rebels as they crawled or struggled tbrouph the mud, tall flax, and rough grass, and the corpses of many could be seen lying on a slimy bed. So dense is the vegetation, bowever, that although many bodies could be distinguished from the bank overlooking the swam, the V.ue jackets sent down to pickup any corpses they could find, were obliged to give up tbeir task unsuccessful. They could not see any distance around them. Eminently successful as our forces were at tbe rear, we regret to say the fortuue of the day was differentia front. The first line of rifle-pits was rushed, and tbe enemy driven from biscover at the point of the bayonet. On otir men pressed, lessened in numbers, and exposed to a heavy fire from the rebels in their second line of defence, which turned out to be the centre and key of tbe position. Here those who fled from the first parallel rallied, and so determined was their stand, that the attacking paity were forced to retire under the shelter of the first traversed line. The impetus of the charge was lessened. Four attempts were made to storm the centre | of tbe enemy's position, and four times tbe assailants were repulsed with loss. The 40th attempted to storm it; then the Eoyal Artillery, under Captain Mercer, but with a like result in both instances— the enemy remained in possession, and our force retired. The evening was advancing and General Cameron requested Commodore Sir William Wiseman to land a strong part) of sailors and marines to assist in storming the works. The request was gladly complied with, and tbe gallant blue jackets and marines, led by Captain Mayne, of the Eclipse, were soon at the scene of action. This reinforcement was composed of fresh men, and they j advanced to the attack with the greatest impetuosity, in the face of the heavy and eoatinuous fire the rebels were keeping up. The naval brigade was repulsed. Again they rallied, again they attempted to storm tbe enemy's and again they fell back discomfited. The loss of officers was unusually heavy in these attacks. Captain Mercer fell dangerously wounded, close under the enemy's works, while gallantly lead ing his men ; and tDe same fate befell Captain Mayne, R.N., Lieuts. Downesand Alexander of tbe Miranda and Curacoa. These repealed repulses proved that the position was much too strong to carry by storm without scaling ladders, and accordingly it was determined to effect a breach. Forthispurposegunsweregotinto positiion, and fire opened upon the works, which consisted of a square redoubt, surrounded by a dry ditch 9 feet wide, and protected in frontand on the ! flanks by lines of traversed pits. The parapet was 21 feet high. This, in itself, was a formidable obstacle, but defended by a resolute enemy, who was fairly brought to bay, tbe difficulty in storming it was very much increased. If there had been a supply of scaling ladders at hand, no doubt the place would have been taken by escalade at tbe first onset. And so the firing continued during the night, the moonlight enabling the contending forces to discern each other. But in the meantime the entire of the position, save the redotabt in question, was in our hands, and the troops had gradually worked in and surrounded the enemy. Escape for the rebels was impossible J and finding further resistance useless, they hoisted a flag of truce at half-past tire o'clock on Saturday morning, and surrendered at discretion. The triumph of General Cameron and the troops under his command was complete. The triumph of humanity over the barbarous usages of war, was likewise achieved. The enemy was totally beaten ; hundreds of his bravest were slain, and 183 men, many of them chiefs of distinction, had surrendered as prisoners to us. They knew their lives were at least safe ; tbey had no apprehension of a cruel butchery ?t the hands of their captors; and let us hope that this fact will iuduce the natives in future to act towards those who fall into their power with less murderous cruelty than they have hitherto | shown. One hundred and seventy-five stand j of arms fell into our hands through these p isoners. Our loss has been severe; that of the enemy more so. Tbe rebel loss is estimated at 200, but we think this is under the mark, as the bodies of those who fell in the swamp are never likely to be recovered. Our loss is two officers and thirty-five rank ar.d file killed ;and thirteen officers and about eighty- five rank and and file wounded, — making the total casualties one hundred and thirty-five. Amongst the incidents of the battle, we have been told that tbe enemy, who knew General Cameron personally, directed a very heavy fire towards that part of the field where he was to be seen, but fortunately the gallant veteran escaped unhurt. His orderly was shot close beside him. He was, we believe, an old 65th man. Lieutenant Talbot, of the 65th, was the first man on the parapet, and fell dangerously wounded in three places. This gallant young officer is hardly expected to recover. Captain Mayne, R.N., is also very badly wounded. Captain Mercer, R.A., sustained a very severe gunshot wound His jaw was broken by the bullet, which passed through the toi'gue. For j a time Captain Mercer's body lay close to the j enemy's works, and a trench was dug to the spot where he lay to enable the men to remove him in safety. The chief danger apprehended in Captain Mercer's case was from want of sustenance, the wound in the tongue preventing him partaking of food. However that difficulty has been overcome, and we are glad to find that tbe latest advices report more favorably of his position. He was removed to the Queen's Redoubt; and by means of surgical appliances be has been enabled to take some nourishment. Hopes are entertained of bis recovery. Culverwell, Captain Mercei's servaut, was shot dead at bis master's side. We understand that Matutaere, the Maori King, did not wait long after the advance was sounded. He did remain with his adherents while the position was shelled; but about 4 o'clock he bolted to the Lake, followed and preceded by numbers of the Rebels. It was in the early part of the attack, therefore, that the enemy managed to escape in large numbers, and reserve themselves, we suppose, for a second pitched battle. Possibly the example of tbe King was infectious, and it would be interesting to know whether Thompson and other prominent men of the King movement ran away when matters were becoming serious. The 40th Regiment advanced by the path traversed by Matutaere and his followers not ten minutes previously. The greater number effected their escape in canoes. General Cameron was at Rangiriri yesterday, so tbat an advance on Ngaruawahia has not, in all probability, yet takeu place. During the course of the day we will, doubtless, receive fuller details of the engagement than we can yet give, with the official list of killed and wounded, which we will lose no time in placing i

jefore the prrblic. The prisoners were put on f board the Pioneer, awd 50 of them are now at j :be Queen's Redoubt. One attempted to 1 sscape and was overtaked in bis flight by a rifle bullet, which took effect in his leg. We believe several of the head chiefs of Waikato are < prisoners in our hands. The prisoners are to ■ be brought down to Auckland. In connexion with the storming and capture of Rangiriri, we may mention that praveis for tbe wounded were offered up at St Paul's and y other churches in town yesterday. Mrs Mercer and Mrs Gamble (wife of Col . Gamble, D Q. G.), and a servant started for tbe Queen's Redoubt on Saturday night. On arriving at Drnry, an escort was provided for them. These ladies arrived safely at the Queen's Redoubt. •