THE SEAT OF WAR.

Wellington Independent, Volume XVIII, Issue 2026, 23 February 1864, Page 3

THE SEAT OF WAR.

Fbom our Auckland files to the 13th inst., we make a few interesting extracts:— AN EXCITING INOIDENT. The correspondent of the Southern Cross narrates the following: — An exciting chase by natives happened yesterday to Lieutenant-Colonel Havelock, and the orderly attending him, but luckily was not attend with anything more serious than the loss of a horse. It occurred on the east side of Pateraugi, and was watched with intense interest by both Europeans and Maoris. During the earlier part of the morning the rebels had been in an unusually quiescent state, evidently all hands being employed to deepen the Tifle pits, strengthen the parapet of the redoubt, and extended the defences on the east — (the placets far too extensive already to be effectively guarded by the force having the command of the posi« tion) -but this is uotto the purpose. The ouly natives showing themselves for any length <>f time on the morning in question were two bodies of rebels, working with great d'ligence on the east side of the redoubt. Suddenly, and apparently most unexpectedly to them, two sheila fired from the Armstrong guns, burst in their midst, creating great consternation, and causing tuem atouceto discontinue their labors in that portion of their stronghold. Whether any were injnred it was impossible to tell at such a great distance. The natives then appeared to confine themselves to deepening the trenches and laboring in the pits— the earth thrown up on the sides of the ditches showing bow zealously they worked, despite the iucessaut popping fire of our skirmishers, who lost no opportunity of discharging their pieces on the merest glimpse of a man's head or body. Tb« rebels did not deign to return the fire until the day had well advanced, when they made amend — so far as the number of shots fired could be supposed to do so — for any apparent disrespect. It may have possibly arisen from the appareat quietude of the natives, and influenced by the belief that they wtre 100 busily employed on their extension works to spare any men to prowl -about as scouts, ibat Lieutenant-Golonel Havelock was induced to attempt ii reconnaissance of the ci emy's position' oil the north side— theohly one now remaining riot commanded by the fire of our skirmishers or the artilleiy, andalong which runs the road to the bead of the Mangapiko, whence convoys are frequently noticed arriving. Jt was about twe^e o'clock Avheu Lieutenant- '< Colonel Havelock and his orderly, having! gone a considerable distance along the plain, in ad-

vance of tbe out-sentries, was seen to "b^lpivi proaching tbe foot of » bill forming potffbnf<&j§l the range leading to tbe noith side of 'tlw r t|«^ doubt. Colonel Nixon, and other officers^JßD^lll gaged criicising tbe proportions of the patiVej^ redoubt by the aid of powerful glasses, hafctH! pened to turn their attention' to : tfoe BWeJjff on which Lieutenant-Colonel Havelbck ; .wagif; riding-, when several natives were .seen creepjmgi^ through tbe fern on tbe crest of the hilltpwards |^ the place where Lieutenant Colonel Havelbefciy was approaching. Other natives were running! along the edge of tbe marshy plain at the foot. Colonel Nixon at once despatched a messenger to the officer in command of our redoubt, questing him to take measures to apprise Lieutenant-Colonel Havelock of his danger. In a few minutes this was effectively doner-dii a manner wbich could not be misunderstood; A shell fired from one of the Armstrong gunf, burst high in the air over tbe heads of the'toa-Jr tives on tbe hill, and for a short time caused them to hesitate as to the advisability of beating a retreat or advancing. Tbe nativei in tbe plain, however, continued to advance^ but their intended victims had turned Uieit horses' beads and were making their way back to camp. A very short distance had, bow- i ever, been traversed, before an accident oc* curred— tbe horse of one the oidediet becoming bogged in an old potatoe hole. Tue orderly, finding it impossible to extricate >the borse from its position then took off bis saddle, and securing the carbine and sword, assisted by Lieutenant-Colonel Havelock, made good big retreat. Tbe natives were at this time approaching too close to be pleasant, and be had not time to secure tbe bridle. Before the Maorii dad come up to the place, tbe borae bad 7 struggled out oi tbe bole, and the native tbeo first on the spot tried to capture it. Oo^tbd oilier hand, it apeared to be tbe determination of the artillery that be and his companions coming up should not be successful. : Shell after shell whs despatched as an intimidation, and tbe out sentinels tried tbeir best effortr jkt long rauge to knock him over. Tbe excitement at this tnomeut was of the most intense' '■[■ description— a chase for life oi death being v ; enacted, j»s i i tvere, in a great amphitheatres:^ the stakes, bcit-a: tb<* life of a Imrsa verify the } life of a man oi uhmj. The j,hy was^ being^| carried out in v great natural basin, surrpuuded;^ on all sides by bills, on tbe summits of Which the spectators, classed into two bodies-rijcadly foes—viewed tbe entire performance without let or hindrance. Twice the native tried to bead the horse and prevent it following its master towards our lines, and twice tbe horse: gdt th<e~ ,^F, better of him. The native then losing all hope of capturing the animal, and fearing I within rifle range, again got by ihe"side" : of.t|i^W animal, and, raising his gun, shot it. The horse v|bad scarcely fallen before a loud shout of g triumph sounded throughout the -4 valley; ,;/| from tbe Maoris therein, and being taken up j by the dusky waniois ou the north side of the 5 redoubt was re-echoed with highest acoUMnv. Tbe number of tbeir voices was soon augmented I by. the arrival of the natives who had token part in the affecting drama, for ?the iU(J-3?| pleasant explosions of shells too close tq^ their over-sensitive ears caused the pborfeflo^S i«| to run (without metaphor) for their rery^lififi-;^ Henry firing was shortly after opened from the § redoubt on our skirmishers, and continued throughout the day, •'-"••>'/•' ■■■' '•'■"'■' -^ NEW ZEALAND REINFORCEMENTS. 5 ,*<» •/ V-; {% Tbe Army and Navy Gazette say's r^'Aa some derangement of tbe Indiad reliefs b*B;J taken place in consequence of the pre|ssure/fdH^ troops in New Zealand and China* it may ie §^ well to account for the present state of the rdstetg in this respect. As originally intended,^tb« g 92nd, Ist bait. 13th, 74th, 69th, 68tb, and -i^jj;?^ were to come home from Indi<t, the fWt named regiment not being relieved, and the fite others | being replaced by the 36th, and the 2nd bat- j talionsof the 19tb, 20tb, and the 21st from > borne, and tbe 50th from Ceylon, the 50th being succeeded in Ceylon by the 2nd battalion JWtn from England. This original programme has ;^ been so fur adhered to that the 92nd has-.conae^^^ home, that the 19th and 2lat have been sent to ;H replace the 68th and 74th in Madras, and tbei^l 36th to relieve the 43rd at Calcutta, but the des- :| t ination of the 20th has been changed . from 1 ;^ Bengal to China, and that of the 60th from ; I Madras to New Zealand. v r '^1 To fill the gap, the 55tb and 76tb have been U since sent out, and one of these regiments will release tbe 13th at Calcutta, and another, the 69tb, at Madras. These two regiments will probably start for home in March, and when ';S;/:| that change is completed the 48th, 71 st, 52ndi ? 81st, and 28th will stand first for relief aboutOM the close of next year by the Ist battalion llt^J^|oi 2nd battalion 12th, 58th, and 45th from home, -;| and probably a battalion from the colonies, ■; The pensions for distinguished or meritorious B service vacant by the appointment of -MrfoT-^ySg Generals Wjoyard and Bell to regimental « colouelciea are likely to be conferred on Colonel ||j Brunker, inspecting field officer at Cork 5 and Colonel Wyatt, of the 65th Regiment. f^M 1 ■ •■• ;