✨ Military Despatch Report
Numb. 5.
21
[Coat of Arms graphic]
The New Zealand Gazette.
Published by Authority.
MONDAY, JANUARY 28, 1861.
Colonial Secretary's Office,
Auckland, 28th January, 1861.
HIS Excellency the Governor has been
pleased to direct the following Despatch,
with its enclosures, from the Major-General
Commanding at New Plymouth, to be pub-
lished for general information.
H. J. TANCRED,
In the absence of the Colonial Secretary.
Head Quarters,
Camp Waitara,
23rd Jan., 1861.
SIR,—In continuation of my Despatch of
the 19th instant, No. 15, I have the honor to
state, that since that date, the 19th, 20th, and
21st instant, I have been employed in increas-
ing and completing No. 3 Redoubt, and com-
mencing a double sap in a direct line towards
the enemy's position in the bush, and on the
morning of the 22nd, I proceeded with the Head
Quarters of the 40th Regiment to the new
Redoubt in order to its occupation with num-
bers amounting to 290 rank and file.
A little before daylight this morning, 23rd
instant, heavy firing was heard from the front,
a report soon reached me that No. 3 Redoubt
had been attacked by the enemy in great force,
and that they had been repulsed with severe
loss. I reached the advance with an addition
of 120 men, and found that the enemy had
made a most daring attack on the advanced
redoubt, which had been met in the most de-
termined manner, and a long line of dead and
dying Maories lay on the ground,--whilst there
is little doubt at least double the number of
the enemy have crept away wounded to die.
I enclose Lieutenant-Colonel Leslie's very
clear account of the affair, and I coincide with
that officer most cordially in his opinion as to
the gallantry of the troops and their officers,
and I shall not fail to bring to the notice of
His Royal Highness the General Commanding-
in-Chief, his own services and that of those
officers he has named in his Despatch.
I regret exceedingly the death of that gal-
lant young officer, Lieutenant Jackson of the
40th Regiment, who fell in the tealous per-
formance of his duty, and am happy to find
that the wound of Captain Miller, 12th Regi-
ment, is not severe.
I enclose a nominal return of our casualties,
which are not many considering the desperate
character of the attack.
I also enclose a roll of the Maories who, up
to this hour, have been recognized, and with
them, I have pursued the same
course as at Mahoetahi, that is, have brought
in the Chiefs, (Paora Te Uata, and Wiremu
Hoeta Kumete), for interment in New Ply-
mouth; the inferior Chiefs and followers have
been buried on the ground, and the wounded
Natives brought into this camp for treatment
in hospital.
I trust that the severe losses this manly and
high-spirited race are so continually receiving
will teach them how unavailing are their
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NZ Gazette 1861, No 5
✨ LLM interpretation of page content
🛡️ Publication of Despatch Regarding Military Action at Waitara
🛡️ Defence & Military28 January 1861
Waitara engagement, 40th Regiment, casualties, Maori Chiefs, military report
- Leslie (Lieutenant-Colonel), Officer whose account is enclosed
- Jackson (Lieutenant), Died in performance of duty
- Miller (Captain), Wound sustained not severe
- Paora Te Uata, Chief brought in for interment
- Wiremu Hoeta Kumete, Chief brought in for interment
- H. J. Tancred, In the absence of the Colonial Secretary
- Major-General Commanding at New Plymouth