✨ Military Operations Report
Numb. 37.
321
The New Zealand Gazette.
Published by Authority.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 7, 1863.
Colonial Secretary's Office,
Auckland, 7th August, 1863.
HIS Excellency the Governor directs the
publication of the following Despatch
from Lieut.-General Cameron, C.B.
ALFRED DOMETT.
Head Quarters,
Queen's Redoubt, 3rd Aug., 1863.
SIR, I have the honor to inform your
Excellency, that on the night of the 1st
instant, I left the Queen's Redoubt with a
force of about 700 men, including a party of
seamen and marines of H.M.S. "Harrier,"
for the purpose of reconnoitring the villages
of Paparoa and Paparata, where I had reason
to believe that a large body of rebels had
collected. Captain Sullivan, commanding
H.M.S. "Harrier," accompanied the force.
After a fatiguing night march, the last mile
of which was through very high and thick
scrub, we reached Paparoa about daybreak,
and found it entirely deserted, though it had
evidently been recently occupied, and I have
little doubt that the Natives had received
some notice of our movements.
After searching this village, we proceeded
along a bush track, which I was afterwards
informed led to Haurake, having missed the
track to Paparata. Some Natives, concealed
so far within the bush on our right as to be
perfectly invisible, opened fire on the leading
files, and wounded a soldier of the 12th
Regiment. We replied to their fire for some
time, but as, from the character of the bush
and scrub near it, it was impossible to get
within reach of them, and I did not consider
it advisable to lose time in searching for a
track. I withdrew the force leisurely, with-
out any attempt on the part of the Natives to
follow us.
When we had reached the open ground, a
large body of Natives came down from the
ranges, and joining the party in the bush,
commenced a rapid and continuous fire of
musketry, in the most absurd manner, as
though they had been closely engaged with
an enemy; although at that time we must
been fully a mile and a half from them.
The troops returned to the Queen's Re-
doubt about 3 o'clock in the afternoon, having
been under arms since half-past seven the
previous evening, and having marched nearly
thirty miles.
I have every reason to be satisfied with
the cheerful manner in which this arduous
duty was performed by the troops, and with
the conduct of all the officers and men com-
posing the force, particularly of the detach-
ment of the 12th Regiment, under Major
Miller, for the bold and intelligent manner in
which they covered the advance over difficult
ground.
I have the honor to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient humble servant,
D. A. CAMERON,
Lt.-General.
His Excellency Sir George Grey,
K.C.B., &c., &c.
Printed and published by W. C. WILSON, for the New Zealand Government, at the Printing Office,
Shortland Crescent.
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NZ Gazette 1863, No 37
✨ LLM interpretation of page content
🛡️ Despatch regarding reconnaissance near Paparoa and Paparata
🛡️ Defence & Military3 August 1863
Military operation, Reconnaissance, Paparoa, Paparata, 12th Regiment, H.M.S. Harrier, Queen's Redoubt
- ALFRED DOMETT
- D. A. CAMERON, Lieutenant-General
- Captain Sullivan
- Major Miller
- His Excellency Sir George Grey, K.C.B.