CHAPTER II. ARRIVAL AT THE BAY OF ISLANDS...
[Image of page 90]
CHAPTER II.
ARRIVAL AT THE BAY OF ISLANDS--MARCHING UP TO THE CAMP AT RUAPEKAPEKA -- PUKUTUTU'S PAH-- FIRST NIGHT IN CAMP--BURNING THE HUTS BY ACCIDENT--NATIVE TRIAL--TAKING OF RUAPEKAPEKA-- COLONEL DESPARD'S DESPATCH.
WE arrived off the Bay of Islands on the 31st of December, 1845; and having spoken a small schooner, we ascertained that the squadron was in the bay, and that in all probability the natives of Kawiti's tribe, with John Heki and a number of the discontented from the neighbouring pahs, would soon be attacked in their stronghold, which they had built some distance up the country: we accordingly gave up the idea of going on to Auckland with the freight of £5000, and
[Image of page 91]
INTENDED ATTACK.
worked into the bay. Before dark we saw a man-of war's boat coming out under sail, which proved to be the Osprey's cutter, with the captain and master, who came to shew us the way in, and also to give the senior officer's orders, that on our arrival the marines and a party of blue-jackets were to be immediately disembarked and proceed to join the brigade. The news soon spread through the ship; and we all became warlike, and anxious to be of the party. The marines were to proceed to the camp direct, but our men were to hold a stockade at Pukututu's pah, at the head of a muddy little river, with just sufficient water to allow of the launches getting up with the provisions and guns. Had the natives been so disposed, a small party might have proved very troublesome on the banks of the river to our people going backwards and forwards: they, however, did not take advantage of this.
Taking the guns up to Ruapekapeka, was a feat not accomplished without difficulty and
[Image of page 92]
PREPARING FOR
hard work, the landing and getting the thirty-two pounders up a perpendicular hill being in itself quite an undertaking. They were afterwards moved fourteen miles over the most hilly country it has ever been my fate to travel, without a particle of road, and passing through a dense wood. The only assistance the men had were a few oxen--and they, poor animals! had no sinecure: subsequently some horses were procured by the commissariat; this, however, took place before our arrival, at least the greater part of it. I must now describe what occurred after our landing--a scene not easily forgotten.
As soon as the men were told off, and the officers named who were to compose the army (which, by the bye, included nearly every officer in the ship), the muster of dangerous weapons was alarming, the costumes ludicrous. With few exceptions, we made our wills and wrote home, leaving the letters with the ship-keepers. After we were pretty well prepared, we had a
[Image of page 93]
THE MARCH.
convivial meeting in the gun-room, which lasted nearly all night: few if any of the junior members indulged in sleep. I was not to be of the fighting party, but managed to get the captain to send me with the despatches for the Lieut.-Governor in his six-oared whale-boat, which we had brought from England, himself taking a passage with the commander of the Osprey in his gig. We left the ship at four o'clock in the morning, with a beautiful fresh breeze, and the country looking magnificent--thickly wooded down to the water's edge. We called alongside the Castor: she, with the North Star, Racehorse, and the Hon. Co.'s sloop Elphinstone, were lying together at the mouth of the Kawakawa, a small river before mentioned. Having remained there a few minutes we proceeded to the North Star, where Captain Stanley very nearly shot one of the officers in the gunroom, whilst showing him what safe things the patent six-barrelled revolving pistols were;
[Image of page 94]
CAMP AT
one of the six barrels going off mal-apropos, passed through the bulkhead of one of the cabins. Leaving her, we proceeded--and a precious narrow, muddy ascent we had to make; however, in good time we arrived at Pukututu's pah. There a party of men from the Racehorse, under the command of Lieutenant Johnson, senior of the North Star, were stationed. The Calliopes party were to relieve them, and they were to advance to reinforce the camp at Ruapekapeka; having regaled ourselves with a glass of beer at the pah, which was made very comfortable by the addition of a table and stools in one of the huts, with plenty of dry fern for a carpet. As this was our residence for several weeks after, I may as well give a slight sketch of the place.
It was a clear space of ground, including about two acres of land on the top of a hill, enclosed by stakes of various dimensions, the largest being about the size of a man's thigh, and the smallest mere sticks, rather neatly
[Image of page 95]
PUKUTUTU'S PAH.
arranged, and tied together with flax: the shape was an indescribable one; it had probably been added to at various times, to suit the number of inhabitants. The huts had undergone considerable improvement since the arrival of the English, both in appearance and comfort; the grass roofing having been made water-tight, and doors put up, as well as a window in the one appropriated to the officers. The fires were lighted in the open air, and all the cooking done outside the stockade, for a time; our houses being composed of such combustible matter that a spark would have set the whole of them in a blaze: and as we had a considerable quantity of ammunition of various descriptions in a magazine, made by the boatswain of the North Star, in the stockade, it would have been a catastrophe not to be desired. To proceed: we left this, with our despatches carried by the gig's crew, and two days' provisions, as well as a tin box containing ammunition for guns and pistols,
[Image of page 96]
CARRYING THE
belonging to the captain. We had not gone far before we met a midshipman returning from the camp on horseback; and Captain Stanley, being rather lame, relieved him of his steed and mounted, finding he could not march very well with a sprained leg.
We found the road along the ridge of hills very warm; and I and the captain's clerks, who accompanied me as amateurs, frequently relieved the men from carrying the boxes. Their feet beginning to get very sore, we took a rest, having proceeded about eight miles, and began our lunch, or dinner, the tin box quite repaying us for the trouble of carrying it. We then took to the road again: the captain pushing on as fast as his own lameness would allow him to ride, we soon lost sight of him; and in about an hour after the second start, two of our men were completely knocked up, and obliged to lie down on the road; they were, moreover, parched with thirst, having eaten raw salt pork; and not a
[Image of page 97]
DESPATCHES.
drop of water could we get for miles. We met Sir Everard Home, the captain of the North Star, who had been for some time the senior officer but was now relieved by Captain Graham, of the Castor, on his way to Pukututu, to whom Captain Stanley introduced himself. He seemed to think us crazy, carrying the boxes of despatches across such a country on such a scorching day. We made sad travelling of it; and, considering the weight of what we carried, I don't wonder at it; the distance being about fourteen miles, and the hills so fearfully steep, that when the guns were taken up they were obliged to use hawsers rove through blocks to get them up one side of the hill and to lower them down on the other. The boats' crews had pulled some eight or ten miles before we started on our march; and we had none of us been refreshed with a night's rest, which fully accounted for our bad condition. As we proceeded, every one of us showed a dead-
[Image of page 98]
MAKING THE TIN BOX
beaten countenance; and we were obliged to leave one of the clerks a long way behind, with cramp, after having supported him for a mile or two, finding it impossible to give him any more assistance.
We at last came to a river in the valley, thickly wooded, and beautifully cool, where we threw ourselves down and eagerly drank the delicious water. Here we made up our minds to await our straggling companions, who would of course exert themselves to their utmost in getting on, as they were at the mercy of the natives in their present situation. We also held a council of war over the tin box, the key of which the captain had taken with him. It was unanimously voted we should break it open and satisfy our hunger, now become insupportable since we had relieved the more pressing want of thirst. My sword was accordingly applied to the hasp which held the padlock, and open it flew. We did not take
[Image of page 99]
PAY TOLL.
long in carving the remaining cold fowl, and whatever else it contained. We were, in the mean time, rejoined by our lame friend, who revived considerably after taking a glass of the captain's port wine. We soon reached the camp after this last halt, and finding out the Governor's tent, delivered our despatches; we then proceeded to the head-quarters of the naval brigade; where we were kindly received by the officers of the North Star and Racehorse, who had a rough shed for a mess-place, which we shared with them.
One of the mids of the North Star good-naturedly invited me to partake of his hut; there were a few burning fagots in the middle, and, with my blanket, I made myself comfortable, and was introduced to some distinguished guests in the shape of maories, who joined us in our pipes, and favoured us with several songs, which I will describe hereafter. I gave all the news I could to those who had not been fortu-
[Image of page 100]
FIRST NIGHT IN CAMP.
nate in receiving letters from their friends by the mail we brought out.
At the eight o'clock muster we were shown the trenches; and the position we were to take in them was pointed out to us, should there be an attack in the night, which was thought very probable; consequently, we all turned in like troopers' horses, fully accoutred. I for one should have slept soundly enough, notwithstanding this, had I been allowed; but the first interruption we had was a musket-shot, fired by one of the sentries at some imaginary spy from the enemy's pah; which complaint being very catching, about a dozen more sentries fired because the first had done so. The bugles immediately sounded the alarm, and the boatswain's mate piped all hands to the trenches; and out we turned, helter-skelter, jumped into a muddy wet ditch, and placed ourselves in a stooping position, which soon brought on the cramp in my legs.
[Image of page 101]
FIRST NIGHT IN CAMP.
There was, however, no enemy to be seen; the night was dark and pretty cool; and the bushes and stumps of trees, to my uninitiated eyes, took the forms and faces of the tatooed tribes whose acquaintance I had so lately made. After cooling our courage for about an hour and a half, we were quietly dismissed without having had a chance of satisfying the craving for fight, which comes to all beginners stronger than it ever returns after it has been once gratified. The next morning, although not much refreshed by our night's rest, having had a second interruption soon after the false alarm, by one of the sentries nearly shooting an officer of the North Star when going his rounds, we started for Pukututu's pah, where we were to join our own party. We walked down much better from having nothing to carry, and reached the half-way camp very well. There we rested while the men had their dinner; my companions lying down in a hut to take a nap,
[Image of page 102]
BURNED GRASS HUTS.
while I was endeavouring to boil some water in a glass bottle to make coffee. Unfortunately the wind was very high, and the fuel very light; consequently the sparks flew to the roofs of the huts, and in a minute or less the whole camp of twenty or thirty grass houses was in flames. I ran in and roused my comrades, the blaze saving me the trouble of telling them what was the matter. The men who had dozed off were soon made aware that there was no time to be lost in getting the arms and ammunition, as well as themselves, into a place of safety; and having a barrel of ball cartridge, it was as much as we could do, by running into the flames, to prevent an explosion. We had to retreat as fast as we could: the grass being very dry, and catching fire, the whole country was soon in a blaze for a mile or two round our late quarters. We reached our destination without any more mishaps, and were enrolled as part of the force for the protection of the place. Here
[Image of page 103]
TRIAL FOR CRIM. CON.
we lived as it were on a perpetual picnic. Our duties not being very arduous, enabled us to drill our awkward squad, which they much wanted. We were frequently warned of an intended attack. The excitement kept the men on the alert, and, consequently, many a poor stray pig and dog lost his life for not answering the sentries' challenge. We were all in light marching order, having nothing but a havresack and blanket besides our arms, and were obliged to wash our own clothes in the river, whenever we got a good drying day; and many a laugh we had at the first attempts of some few among us in the laundry line.
Whilst stationed here, I witnessed the trial and punishment of two delinquents for crim. con.; the man was a slave of Pukututu's, and the woman the wife of a minor chief belonging to the same tribe, who was absent with the British force. We were astonished one morning to see our quiet neighbours running out
[Image of page 104]
TRIAL FOR CRIM. CON.
of the pah, and shouting most lustily, taking the direction of the old camp formerly occupied by the troops, on a hill just outside the stockade, in which we all lived together. They were mostly old men and boys, left to take care of the women and children; there were a few young men amongst them, who were employed taking parcels backwards and forwards to and from the camp. Several of us ran out to see what caused this extraordinary excitement. Just as we joined them, they had found the unfortunate woman, whom they had stripped quite naked in a very rough manner, and were dragging her down the hill to the lower pah, on the bank of the river, by the hair. She never uttered a scream, although she was much bruised and cut in her rapid descent. The man was brought down in a similar manner, only he was dragged by the heels instead of the hair. We ran down, and, not knowing what was about to take place, endeavoured to intercede
[Image of page 105]
TRIAL FOR CRIM. CON.
for the culprits, who we fancied would be dispatched with a tomahawk. However, being given to understand they were to be tried, and seeing all the men seating themselves in a ring round the prisoners, we stood by and witnessed the scene.
The case was opened by an old chief addressing the bystanders, and calling on such of them as took an interest in either of the prisoners to bring "utu" (compensation for the injury). No question was put to the prisoners, or any accusation made against them: the crime seemed to be acknowledged, as no defence was made. We waited for several minutes, wondering what would happen; not a word being spoken by any of the jury or the grave old judge, who held his tomahawk in his hand, looking solemnly savage. At last the stillness was disturbed by an old woman coming down from the pah with a kit, or small grass bag, of potatoes, which she threw down into the middle of the ring, near the culprits.
[Image of page 106]
TRIAL FOR CRIM. CON.
She was followed by about thirty or forty more natives of all ages, each bringing their load. One threw in a musket, another an axe, another a fish-kettle, and so on, till the heap of goods became rather a valuable collection of maori property: there were several blankets and mats, knives, looking-glasses, fish-hooks, and such like. The crowd then stood round, waiting to hear the decision of the judge. He got up and walked to the heap of goods, turned the various articles over, examining some in his hand; and after a few minutes' delay, he said, "This is good; let us keep it." Whereupon the jury, prisoners and all, jumped up and began moving away the ransom to the hut of the late judge, in whose possession it was to remain till the return of the injured husband. It seems that the friends of both parties contributed towards their relief; and had they not been sufficiently popular to have produced generous feelings in their behalf, in all probability the man would have been dispatched on the spot,
[Image of page 107]
OFFICERS' COSTUME.
and the woman by her husband on his return. As it was, they were both free; and the man in a moment recovered his usual impudent, free-and-easy manner. He said, as he passed us, "All right!"--which he had reason to congratulate himself for. The poor woman sneaked off, looking as if she thought it anything but all right, and evidently feeling that her punishment was not over yet.
We asked some of the maories who were Christians, how they could join in such a trial; and if the "utu" had not been paid, would they have sanctioned the murder of these unfortunate sinners? They answered in a careless way, that "utu" was always paid now-a-days, and murder not necessary.
The costume adopted by all the officers, in this as well as the previous expedition, was a serge frock and sword-belt outside, with the ammunition pouches attached to it; most of us having double-barrelled guns, and wearing the same havresack as the men, and a blue cap
[Image of page 108]
GOVERNOR'S DESPATCHES.
without a band; our object being to assimilate our appearance to that of the men, the natives usually selecting officers as a mark on which to try their skill.
We remained here in constant communication with the upper camp and ships, sending up a daily supply of provisions from the latter, and once or twice a heavy gun, their battery not succeeding in making a breach. The morning of the 11th of January, some despatches arrived for the Lieutenant-Governor, and I was ordered to proceed with them: accordingly I was supplied with a horse by one of our native allies, and strapping a folded blanket on him for a saddle, mounted and took the road in company with a Nelson settler, who came up to have an interview with the Governor, after having been six weeks coming about eight hundred miles in a colonial smack with an Irish skipper, who declared he only had one fair wind the whole time, and that was a foul one, as it blew so hard they were obliged to
[Image of page 109]
ATTACK ON RUAPEKAPEKA.
lay to. We got over the ground much more swimmingly than on the last occasion. As we approached the camp we heard a great deal of firing. Pushing on as fast as our horses would allow us, we soon reached the piquets, from whom we learnt that the pah was surprised, and that they were then following the enemy into the bush. We shortly after met a party bringing in the killed and wounded. It was pouring with rain the whole time, and the ground was dreadfully muddy and slippery; and the men were horribly besmeared with mud and gunpowder, and looked like anything but human beings. There were but few comforts for the poor fellows who had been wounded; but, notwithstanding, they did amazingly well, and some, who were very severely hurt, recovered perfectly. I left my companion and my horse at the camp, and proceeded on foot to seek Captain Grey, who was in the enemy's pah, where I found him with the colonel and several other officers; from
[Image of page 110]
TAKING OF RUAPEKAPEKA.
whom I learned that our native allies had gone into the pah in the morning and found it almost deserted: the enemy was in the rear at prayers, being Sunday, and our incessant firing of shells and rockets had prevented their assembling inside. I will, however, give the account contained in Col. Despard's despatch.
"Camp before the Ruapekapeka,
Kawiti's Pah, Jan. 5, 1846.
"Sir, --In my letter dated the 28th ultimo, addressed to your Excellency, I had the honour of detailing the proceedings of the force under my command up to that time; and I now proceed with the detail of what has taken place since. Before daylight on the morning of the 29th, a party of our native allies penetrated the wood immediately in our front in a most praiseworthy manner, and took possession of an open piece of ground on the opposite side, sending me immediate intelligence of what they had done. I directly moved for-
[Image of page 111]
COL. DESPARD'S DESPATCHES.
ward with 200 men to their support, and secured the position.
"The 30th and 31st were principally occupied in bringing up the guns and ammunition through the woods; a work of great labour and time, as it required between fifty and sixty men to each gun to get them through, on account of the heavy trees it was necessary to cut down in making the road, and the steepness of the hills they had to pass over.
"Several rockets and shells have been thrown into the pah on the 31st, and each day since, with the utmost accuracy, doing great credit to the officers of her Majesty's navy who directed them--namely, Lieut. Egerton, North Star, who had charge of the rockets, and Lieut. Bland of the Racehorse, and Lieut. Leeds of the H.E.I.C. ship Elphinstone, who directed the shells.
"On the morning of the 1st instant, I pushed forward a strong party into the only wood that now divided us from the enemy, and taking
[Image of page 112]
TAKING OF RUAPEKAPEKA.
up a position in the centre of it, on an open piece of ground about 400 yards from the pah, a strong stockade was immediately commenced for the purpose of covering a battery; and the work was sufficiently advanced before night to hinder any attempt of the enemy to drive us away: the work was carried on under cover of a very thick part of the wood, which completely concealed it from the enemy. On the afternoon of the following day, the enemy made a strong sally from the pah, with a view, it is supposed, of turning the flank of this advanced party of ours in the stockade, which was not yet finished; but they were most gallantly opposed by our native allies, under the direction of chiefs Tomati Waka Nene, Noble or Nopera, Mohai Tawai and others, who instantly dashed out and attacked them, driving them back with some loss, supposed to amount to eight or ten killed and between fifteen and twenty wounded. On our side five were wounded on this occasion; and one of
[Image of page 113]
COL. DESPARD'S DESPATCHES.
our most active chiefs, Rippa, was severely wounded the previous day in a skirmish with a small party of the enemy, who, it appeared, had come out of the pah for the purpose of picking off any stragglers from our camp, and who had succeeded in killing one of the volunteer pioneers, who had gone an unnecessary distance for water, and was shot in the act of taking it. Up to this date, no casualty, with the above exceptions, has taken place in the European part of the force.
"It may be proper for me to observe, that in the action of the afternoon of the 2nd, the European troops acted only as a reserve, at the particular desire of the native chiefs, who were fearful that their own people might be mistaken for the enemy and fired upon.
"I have the honour to be,
"H. DESPARD,
"Acting Colonel on the Staff, commanding the Troops in New Zealand.
"To his Excellency Governor Grey."
[Image of page 114]
COL. DESPARD'S DESPATCHES.
"Camp before the Ruapekapeka,
Kawiti's Pah, Jan. 9, 1846.
"Sir, --In continuation of my despatch of the 5th inst., I have the honour to acquaint your Excellency that, the stockade and battery mentioned therein as being commenced within about 400 yards of the pah being nearly completed, I determined on throwing up another, but much smaller, on its right flank, and considerably in advance, so as effectually to put a stop to any attempt on the part of the enemy at making a sally, such as took place on the 2nd inst.; as also entirely to cut his communication with the country on the side of our camp. This second work was completed this day, and two guns (one 18-pounder and one 12-pound howitzer), placed in battery within it. The larger stockade is also now completed, and contains two 32-pounders and four 5 1/2-inch mortars. Our present position before the pah is as follows. The main camp is placed on an open piece of ground, or
[Image of page 115]
COL. DESPARD'S DESPATCHES.
rather ridge, with deep wooded valleys on either side, and thick woods both in front and rear; the distance from the pah supposed to be about 750 yards. In our front are three guns (one 32-pounder, one 12-pound howitzer, and one light 6-pounder), with an apparatus for throwing rockets. From this position several shells have been thrown into the pah, as well as rockets; and much execution must have been done by them, as they were well directed. Within the larger stockade, which, at the utmost, cannot be more than 400 yards from the pah, there are two 32-pounders, and four small 5 1/2-inch mortars; and the wood in front of these guns has been so completely cut down, that nearly the whole face of the pah is now open to their fire. The small advanced stockade contains one 18-pounder, and one 12-pound howitzer, and commands a range not only along the same face (the western) that is exposed to the lire of our other batteries, but will also range along the southern
[Image of page 116]
COL. DESPARD's DESPATCHES.
face, and, I expect, destroy the defences on the south-west angle. Our progress up to this period may have been considered slow, but great difficulties have been encountered, as your Excellency, who has been an eye-witness to all our movements, will, I am sure, admit; and the decided advantage that will arise to the colony at large, if we succeed in carrying this with little or no loss, has decided me in proceeding with so much caution.
"I have the honour to be,
"H. DESPARD,
"Acting Colonel on the Staff, commanding the Troops.
"To his Excellency Governor Grey, &c, &c."
EXTRACT FROM BRIGADE ORDERS.
"Camp before Ruapekapeka, Jan. 11, 1846.
"The officer commanding the forces against the rebel chiefs Heki and Kawiti has the greatest satisfaction in congratulating the whole
[Image of page 117]
COL. DESPARD'S DESPATCHES.
of the force at the brilliant success that has attended their operations of the last two days. The capture of a fortress of such extraordinary strength by assault, and nobly defended by a brave and determined enemy, is of itself sufficient to prove the intrepidity and gallantry displayed by all concerned, whether seamen, marines, troops of the line, artillery of the H.E.I.C. service, or the volunteer pioneers; and it will be a most pleasing part of his duty to bring such conduct to the notice of his Excellency the Governor of New Zealand, and through him to that of her Majesty, and his Grace the Commander-in-Chief.
"The colonel cannot conclude this order without expressing his admiration at the brave and intrepid conduct displayed by our native allies on every occasion since these operations commenced; and more particularly since the assault of the pah, on which occasion their bravery was fully equal to what might have been expected from her Majesty's bravest troops.
[Image of page 118]
TAKING OF RUAPEKAPEKA.
"The colonel commanding feels the greatest regret at the loss of so many brave men as have been killed and wounded on this occasion; but it will be considered an alleviation by their friends, that they have fallen while nobly performing their duty to their Queen and country."
"Camp at Ruapekapeka,
Kawiti's Pah, Jan. 11, 1846.
"Sir, --It is with extreme satisfaction that I have the honour of acquainting your Excellency, that Kawiti's stronghold or pah, at the Ruapekapeka, was this day carried by assault by the force under my command, after a bold and most determined resistance on the part of the enemy, who continued the action long after he had been driven from the fortress; but the ardour and intrepidity displayed by the British force of every description, as well as by our native allies, overcame every obstacle, and after three hours' hard fighting the enemy was obliged to
[Image of page 119]
COL. DESPARD'S DESPATCHES.
fly, and dispersed in different directions. The detail of this attack, as well as that of the preceding day's cannonade, shall be laid before your Excellency with the least possible delay. I greatly regret to add, that our loss on this occasion has been heavy, as will be seen by the enclosed list of killed and wounded; but when the extraordinary strength of the place assaulted is taken into consideration, I am only surprised it has been so small."
I have the honour to be,
H. DESPARD,
"Acting Colonel on the Staff, commanding the Troops.
"To his Excellency Governor Grey, &c, &c."
"Camp before the Ruapekapeka,
January 12th, 1846.
"Sir, ---In my letter of yesterday, I had the satisfaction of acquainting your Excellency of the fall of Kawiti's pah by assault on that day. I now proceed to communicate the
[Image of page 120]
TAKING OF RUAPEKAPEKA.
detail. On the morning of the 10th instant, our advanced batteries being completed (one within 350 yards, and the second about 160 yards off the pah), a general fire was commenced from all the guns, with a view of opening a breach into the place, and several rockets were thrown into it at the same time, for the purpose of driving the enemy out. The fire was kept up with little intermission during the greater part of the day; and towards evening it was evident that the outer works on those parts against which the fire was directed were nearly all giving way, but the numerous stockades inside crossing the place in different directions, and composed of much stronger timbers, were scarcely touched. Towards evening our fire slackened, and was only continued occasionally during the night to prevent the enemy attempting to repair the breaches that had been made. On the following morning, the 11th instant, no person being observed moving within the pah, a few of our native
[Image of page 121]
COL. DESPARD'S DESPATCHES.
allies, under a chief named William Waka, a brother of Tomati Waka Nene, went up to the place for the purpose of observing whether or not the enemy had evacuated it. This party entered the breach unopposed; which being perceived from the first battery, a party of 100 men of the troops under Captain Denny was pushed up rapidly, and together with the natives gained the inside of the stockades before they were perceived by the enemy, who, at the time, were sheltering themselves from the fire of the guns on a sloping piece of ground in one of their outworks. Our parties had scarcely gained the inside when they were noticed by the enemy, and a heavy fire of musketry instantly poured in upon them. The stockades, however, now became our protection; and strong reinforcements being immediately brought up from the camp, possession of the place was secured in spite of all the efforts of the enemy to drive us back, being obliged to retreat and shelter him-
[Image of page 122]
DESCRIPTION OF KAWITI'S PAH.
self in a wood opposite the east face of the pah; where the trees being extremely large, and forming complete breastworks--many of them having been cut down previously, and evidently purposely placed in a defensive position--he was enabled to maintain a heavy fire against us for a considerable time, until a doorway in that face having been broken, the seamen and troops rushed out and dislodged him from his position. He, however, still continued to keep up a fire from the woods, but more with a view to cover his retreat, and enable him to carry away his wounded men, than with any expectation of renewing the contest. The attack commenced about two o'clock A.M., and all firing had ceased about two P.M. The extraordinary strength of this place, particularly in its interior defences, far exceeded any idea I could have formed of it. Every hut was a complete fortress in itself, being strongly stockaded all round with heavy timbers sunk deep in the ground and placed
[Image of page 123]
COL. DESPARD'S DESPATCHES.
close to each other--few of them being less than one foot in diameter, and many considerably more--besides having a strong embankment thrown up behind them. Each hut had also a deep excavation close to it, forming a complete bomb-proof, and sufficiently large to contain several people, where at night they were completely sheltered from both shot and shell. The enemy's loss has been severe, and several chiefs on their side have fallen. The numbers I have not been able to ascertain, as they invariably carry off both killed and wounded when possible. Several of the former were, however, left behind; and it has been decidedly ascertained from a wounded prisoner that the chief Heki had joined Kawiti in the pah on the afternoon preceding the attack.
"As your Excellency has been an eye-witness to our operations, and, I may say, actually engaged in the assault, it may be thought unnecessary to draw your attention to those persons who had a greater opportunity than
[Image of page 124]
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS TO OFFICERS.
others of distinguishing themselves; but the satisfaction I feel in recording the obligation I am under to those persons, makes me persevere in doing so. To the officers, seamen, and marines from her Majesty's ships, for their extraordinary exertions in dragging the guns over steep hills and through difficult and thick woods, as well as for their distinguished bravery in action, the service on this occasion is greatly indebted. To Captain Graham, of H. M. S. Castor, for his co-operation, and the readiness with which he afforded every possible aid and assistance since his arrival; --to Captain Sir E. Home, who had previously been the senior naval officer, and who, not only upon the present occasion but on all former ones, has used the most strenuous exertions to forward all the objects of the expedition; --to Commander Hay, of H. M. S. Racehorse, who commanded the whole of the seamen attached to the force, and who so greatly aided our operations by his personal
[Image of page 125]
COL. DESPARD'S DESPATCHES.
exertions and example, not only during the assault, but in all the previous difficulties we had to encounter; --to Lieutenant Otway, of H. M. S. Castor, commanding the small-armed seamen; --to Lieutenant Falcon, of H. M. S. Castor; Lieutenant Bland, and Mr. Nopps, master of H. M. S. Racehorse; and Lieutenant Leeds, H.E.I.C.S. Elphinstone, who all directed the fire of the guns with such precision and excellence; and to Lieutenant Egerton, of H. M. S. North Star, who directed the rockets, much of our success is to be attributed. To Lieutenant-Colonel Wynyard, commanding the 58th Regiment, I feel the greatest obligation. His advice was of the utmost use to me on many occasions; and his personal exertions, whenever an opportunity offered, as well as his gallantry during the assault, were most conspicuous. To the Captain commanding the flank companies of the 99th Regiment, and Captain Langford, Royal Marines (attached), much praise is due. To Captain Marlow, Royal Engineers, for his
[Image of page 126]
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS TO OFFICERS.
exertions in constructing the batteries; Captain Matson, 58th Regiment, who acted as Deputy Assistant Quarter master-General; and Lieutenant Wilmot, Royal Artillery, who directed the mortar battery, great praise is also due. I have also derived great assistance from the services of Lieutenant O'Connell, Aide-de-Camp to Lieutenant-General Sir Maurice O'Connell, and Acting Major of Brigade to this force. And I must not omit to notice in very strong terms the indefatigable exertions of Captain Atkins and his small corps of Volunteer Pioneers, whose conduct and services during the whole operations have been of the greatest advantage. Every kindness has been shown to the wounded men by Doctors Kidd and Pine, the Senior Medical Officers, and all the medical officers, both naval and military. And I have reason to be satisfied with the exertions of the Commissariat Department, under D. A. C. G. Turner. The wounded men are generally doing well, and the only officer amongst
[Image of page 127]
COL. DESPARD'S DESPATCHES.
them a young midshipman of the North Star, Mr. Murray, whose ardour carried him too far when the enemy were driven from the woods. I have now only to express the peculiar satisfaction I feel, that your Excellency has had an opportunity of personally witnessing the toils and difficulties that were encountered, and the cheerfulness with which every part of the force exerted itself to overcome them; and I beg to express my own sincere thanks for the advice and observations that you have occasionally been kind enough to favour me with during that period. I should also wish to draw your Excellency's attention to Mr. Edward Shortland, who was prevailed upon to act as my interpreter, and who has rendered me many important services while acting in that capacity.
"I have the honour to be,
"Your Excellency's most obedient servant,
(Signed) "H. DESPARD,
"Acting Colonel on the Staff, commanding the Troops.
"To his Excellency Governor Grey."
