THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE
227

George's Redoubt at Tataraimaka, to attack
the fortified posts of the rebel Maories on
the opposite bank of the Katikara river.
Under cover of three guns (Armstrong's)
of Captain Mercer's battery of the Royal
Artillery, three divisions of selected men,
under the command of Lieuts. Brutton and
Waller, and Ensign Duncan, were pushed
forward, and crossed a broad and very
entangled gully, through which the Kati-
kara runs, and ascended the opposite bank,
reforming on the crest of the hill, which
they were enabled to gain without opposition
owing to the admirable manner in which
Captain Mercer's guns were served, and the
precision of their fire.

H.M.S. "Eclipse," having on board His
Excellency the Governor Sir G. Grey, also
did good service by the fire of Armstrong
shells at the rebel wharres, over the heads of
the advancing parties. The support of 4
companies, (200 rank and file,) under com-
mand of Major and Brevet Lieut.-Colonel
Logan followed closely on the attacking
parties by the same route.

The enemy opened fire on the "advance"
directly they appeared on the level ground;
but, instead of replying to this fire, the
parties under Lieuts. Brutton and Waller
wheeled to the right and extending as far as
practicable, pushed across the level ground
covered with fern, in many places almost
impassable, towards the old pah on the crest
of the rising ground, on the left of the
mouth of the river, as previously arranged,
so as to turn the rifle pits in that position,
and open the road leading over the ford at
the river's mouth. Although opposed by
a considerable number of Maories, these
two parties succeeded in driving the rebels
from their position, opening the road, and
following the Natives a distance of upwards
of one mile down the coast, inflicting loss
upon the enemy, and destroying many of
their whares. Meanwhile Ensign Duncan
had wheeled his party to the left, as also
arranged, and supported by the main body
under Lieut.-Col. Logan, pushed on towards
a very strongly entrenched position on the
summit of a rising ground, about 600 yards
to the left of where the parties had crossed
the river.

The enemy opened fire from a great
number of rifle pits, constructed on every
commanding point, and from the continuous
and double chain of pits surrounding the
wharre it was our object to destroy.

Nothing daunted by the serious opposition
and the heavy fire of the enemy, Ensign
Duncan pushed steadily forward closely
followed by the divisions under Captains
Shortt and Russell under the immediate
command of Lieut. Colonel Logan, and
supported by Captain Woodall and Lieut.
Thompson, with the two remaining divisions
into which the force was divided. For a
few minutes the fire was returned, but find-
ing it of no avail against an almost invisible
enemy concealed in rifle pits, the whole
rushed forwards, and vied with each other
in entering the position, jumping over the
rifle pits from which they met with a most
determined opposition. The Maories fight-
ing desperately to the last, a hand to hand
combat ensued, which was only terminated
by the wharres catching fire, and burning
many of the Maori defenders in the ruins.
Twenty-one Maories were taken out of
the rifle pits killed, three are known to have
been burned in the smaller wharre, and four
in the larger, and it is believed that several
others perished in the flames, which, with
the stench arising from the consuming flesh,
prevented accurate information being ob-
tained. One Maori was picked up dead on
the road, and many more, wounded, escaped
and were seen to take refuge, and hide them-
selves in the fern and bush. Thus in the
short space of one hour twenty-two Maories
killed, were brought away in carts, as many
more were wounded, and destroyed in the
burning wharres, and a complete victory
gained over a savage enemy by the bayonet
alone: not over 5 rounds of ammunition
per man having been expended in the
encounter.

I have to report the loss of one man
killed (Private E. Martin, No. 11).
Two men seriously, I fear, dangerously
wounded (Private H. Shipman, 568, and
Private J. Osborne, 2063); and seven men
otherwise slightly wounded (Privates D.
Hurley, J. Deegan, J. Evans, J. Morton,
P. Flaherty, B. Stagpool and M. Fox)-in
all, 1 man killed, and 9 wounded.

The enemy was evidently completely sur-
prised, and were so confused by the admir-
able manner in which Captain Mercer's
Armstrong guns were served, that the fire
from the rifle pits was very wild, and it was
only at the assault when the enemy-were
speedily overpowered by numbers, that the
serious casualties occurred.

It is impossible to speak in terms of too
high praise of the admirable behaviour of
the officers, non commissioned officers, and
men of the 57th Regt. engaged. The Lieut.-
General was himself an eye-witness of the
rapid and regular manner in which each
party performed the duties allotted to it. I
may therefore be pardoned from further
allusions to the successful result of these
operations in which I naturally, on account
of the officers and men engaged, feel such
pride, but I trust I may be permitted to
bring the names of the following officers
and men to the notice of the Lieut.-General
Commanding, viz., Major and Brevet-Lieut.