✨ Military Despatches and Troop Returns
Numb. 62.
513
The New Zealand Gazette.
Published by Authority.
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 1863.
Colonial Secretary's Office,
Auckland, 28th November, 1863.
HIS Excellency the Governor directs the
publication of the following Despatches,
with enclosures, from Lieutenant-General
Cameron, C.B.
WM. Fox.
Lieut.-General Cameron to the Governor.
Head Quarters,
Camp, Rangariri, Nov. 24th, 1863.
SIR,—I have the honor to report to your
Excellency that on the morning of the 20th
instant I moved from Meremere with the
force detailed in the margin, up the right
bank of the Waikato river, with the intention
of attacking the enemy's entrenched position
at Rangariri, in which operation Commodore
Sir William Wiseman, Bart., had arranged
to co-operate with the "Pioneer" and
"Avon," steamers, and the four gunboats.
The troops under my command and the
steamers and gunboats arrived near Ranga-
riri at the same hour—3 p.m.
The enemy's position consisted of a main
line of entrenchment across the narrow
isthmus which divides the Waikato river
from Lake Waikare. This line had a double
ditch and high parapet, and was strengthened
at the centre (its highest point) by a square
redoubt of very formidable construction.
Behind the left centre of the main line and at
right angles to it there was an entrenched
line of rifle-pits parallel to the Waikato river,
and obstructing the advance of troops from
that direction.
On a reconnaissance made on the 18th, I
had determined on landing a force in rear of
the position simultaneously with attacking it
in front, with the view of turning and gaining
possession of a ridge 500 yards behind the
main entrenchment, and thus intercepting
the retreat of the enemy.
With this object 300 men of the 40th
Regiment were embarked in the "Pioneer"
and "Avon," to land, on a preconcerted
signal, at a point which I had selected.
Unfortunately the strength of the wind
and current was such that the "Pioneer"
and "Avon" were unable to reach this point,
notwithstanding the persevering efforts of
Sir William Wiseman and the officers and
men under his command. The same cause
deprived us of the assistance of two of the
gunboats.
After shelling the position of the enemy
for a considerable time from Captain Mercer's
Corps.
| Corps. | General Officers. | Field Officers. | Captains. | Subalterns. | Asst. Surgeons. | Staff. | Sergeants. | Drummers. | Rank and File. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Staff | |||||||||
| Royal Artillery | 1 | 4 | 1 | 45 | |||||
| Royal Engineers | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 12 | ||||
| 1st 12th Regiment | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 2 | |||
| 2nd 14th Regiment | 1 | 2 | 4 | 8 | 3 | 164 | |||
| 40th Regiment | 1 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 75 | ||
| 65th Regiment | 2 | 15 | 6 | 375 | |||||
| Total | 1 | 7 | 7 | 18 | 2 | 4 | 37 | 14 | 771 |
R. CAREY, Lt.-Col.,
Dep.-Adjt.-General.
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NZ Gazette 1863, No 62
✨ LLM interpretation of page content
🏛️ Publication of Despatches from Lieutenant-General Cameron
🏛️ Governance & Central Administration28 November 1863
Colonial Secretary, Despatches, Lieutenant-General Cameron, Publication, Auckland
- WM. Fox.
🛡️ Report on the Attack on Rangariri Entrenchments and Force Composition
🛡️ Defence & Military24 November 1863
Rangariri, Waikato River, Military Operations, Troop Strength, 40th Regiment, Gunboats
- Lieut.-General Cameron
- Commodore Sir William Wiseman, Baronet
- Captain Mercer
- R. Carey, Lt.-Col., Dep.-Adjt.-General