22
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.

efforts against Her Majesty's supremacy, and
will lead soon to a termination of this unhappy
internecine war.

I have the honor to be,
Your Excellency's most obedient servant,

T. S. PRATT,
Major-General Commanding

To His Excellency
Colonel Gore Browne, C. B.,
Governor, &c., New Zealand.

No. 3 Redoubt, in front of Huirangi,
23rd January, 1861.

SIR,-I have the honor to report for the in-
formation of the Major-General Commanding,
that a most determined attack was made by
the enemy on No. 3 Redoubt this morning,
which, after about one and a half hour's hard
fighting, was gallantly repulsed by the troops
under my command (Detachment Royal Na-
val Brigade, ditto Royal Engineers, ditto Royal
Artillery, ditto Head Quarters 40th Regt.)
supported by a detachment sent to my assis-
tance by Colonel Wyatt, 65th Regt. command-
ing No. 1 Redoubt.

The attack commenced at half-past 3 o'clock
a.m. A storming party of the enemy having
crept up through the fern and effected a lodge-
ment in the ditch of the left face of the redoubt,
and having a strong support about 100 yards
in their rear as well as a line of skirmishers on
all flanks of the Redoubt.

The plan of the enemy appeared to be to
keep down the fire of our men on the parapets
by their support, and by their line of skir-
mishers, while the storming party scaled the
left face of the Redoubt.

The force under my command was under
arms previous to the attack, and quickly re-
plied to the fire of the enemy, who in the most
determined and desperate manner rushed up
the sides of the parapet, and in some instances
seized hold of the men's bayonets, while others
crept round to the rear of the Redoubt and fired
through the gabions which had been placed to
fill up the entrances to the work, and one of
the Royal Engineers was in this manner killed
while coming out of his tent.

A perfect storm of bullets was poured upon
us from all sides for a considerable time, and I
deemed it advisable to call for assistance from
Colonel Wyatt, 65th Regt., commanding No. 1
Redoubt, for the purpose of dislodging the
enemy from our ditch. as I had no hand gre-
nades, I accordingly directed the Regimental
call of the 65th Regiment to be sounded, fol-
lowed by the "advanee," which signal was
promptly responded to by Colonel Wyatt, who
detached two companies of the 65th Regt.
under Captain Macgregor and Lieutenant
Urquhart, as well as one company of the 12th
under Captain Miller, one company of the 65th
crept round the front face of the Redoubt, and
lined the sap at present being thrown out in
advance of the Redoubt, the other crept up the
rear face, at the same time I directed Captain
Miller to charge the ditch where the enemy
was lodged, Captain Miller was I regret
to say wounded while carrying out my
orders, but his company was led on by
Lieutenant Lowry, and it charged in
a most gallant and effective mauner, while the
65th under Lieutenant Urquhart on the front
and Captain Macgregor on the rear face ad-
vanced and fired on the enemy who imme-
diately retired on this combined attack-a
heavy fire was then kept up on the retreating
Maories by the 40th from the parapets, by the
24-pounder howitzer under Lieutenant Mac-
naghten, Royal Artillery, and by the 8-inch
gun in charge of a detachment of the Royal
Naval Brigade.

The enemy completely routed retired in
great confusion, leaving their dead and
wounded, together with arms and accoutre-
ments in our hands, they were pursued for
some distance by part of the 65th and 12th,
until they were recalled by me to the Redoubt.

I cannot speak too highly of the conduct of
the 40th Regiment and of the troops of all
arms who shewed the greatest steadiness
throughout the engagement, and who although
the attack of the enemy commenced under
cover of darkness never shewed the slightest
symptom of confusion, the officers equalling
their men in their gallantry and steadiness, and
I would wish particularly to bring to the notice
of the Major-General the assistance I received
from Major Nelson, Captains Messenger and
Richards, 40th Regiment and would also desire
to bring before him the names of Captain Mac-
gregor and Lieutenant Urquhart, 65th Regt.,
as well as that of Captain Miller 12th Regt.,
and Captain Mould, Royal Engineers, and
Lieutenant Macnaghten, Royal Artillery.

Of the losses of the enemy I cannot form an
exact estimate, but they must have been heavy,
they left in our hands 34 killed, 2 mortally
wounded, and 4 prisoners wounded.

I beg to enclose casualty returns, and have
to deplore the loss of Lieutenant Jackson, 40th
Regt, who was mortally wounded, and died
soon after the engagement. He was an officer
of very great promise, and on all on occasions
had evinced the greatest coolness, judgment,
and gallantry.

I have, &c.,
(Signed) A. LESLIE,
Lieut-Colonel, 40th Regt.,
Commanding the Troops in No. 3. Redoubt.

True copy W. HORSTEY, Lieut. & A.D.C.
To the Deputy Adjutant-General,
Head Quarters, Waitara.

DUTY STATE at No. 3 Redoubt, in front of
Huiranga, New Zealand, on 23rd January, 1861.

Reinforced during the action by one Company of the
12th Foot, of about 80 rank and file, under Captain
Miller, and two companies of the 65th Regiment, of
about 150 rank and file, under Captain Macgregor.

H. CAREY, Lt.C.,
Deputy Adjutant General.