154
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.

once engaged as guides, which circumstance
enabled me to determine on a combined move-
ment.

My plan of attack was to advance with the
main body along the dray road to Orakau; to
detach a force of 250 men under Major Blythe,
40th Regiment, who would take a circuitous
route through a somewhat difficult country,
crossing and recrossing the Punia River, and
marching on my right flank to take the enemy's
position in reverse; and, thirdly, to draw a
force of 100 men from Rangiawhia and Haeirini,
under Captain Blewitt, 65th Regiment, who
would march across to the enemy's position on
my left, the three bodies of troops arriving, if
possible, simultaneously before the enemy's
stronghold shortly before daylight.

At midnight, Major Blythe, 40th Regt.,
marched with 250 men, as enumerated in the
margin,* with directions to take the road to the
right, to cross and recross the Punia River, and
to gain the rear of the enemy's position before
daylight, halting there until he should hear my
attack, and then to dispose of his force so as to
cut off the retreat of the enemy.

The road from Rangiawhia to Orakau I found
on inquiry to be very difficult, being inter-
cepted by deep swamp and thick bush; how-
ever, having every confidence in Captain
Blewitt's energy, I directed that officer who
commands at Rangiawhia—to march during the
night and endeavour to form a junction with
me before daylight on the proper right of the
enemy's position, bringing with him one
hundred men.†

At 3 o'clock on Thursday morning, the 31st
ultimo, I marched with the main body as
directed in the margin,‡ along the dray road
to Kihikihi, taking on Lieutenant-Colonel
Haultain and 150 men from that post, and then
proceeded by the same road to the village of
Orakau, which I reached without opposition as
the day dawned.

The enemy, evidently taken by surprise,
opened fire on the advanced guard, composed of
120 of the Royal Irish and 20 of the Forest
Rangers, gallantly led by Captain Ring, 18th
Royal Irish (and supported by 100 of the 40th
Regiment), who immediately rushed forward to
the attack in skirmishing order.

The position being found very strong—an
earthwork with strong flank defences, deep
ditches, with posts and rails outside, and nearly

• 40th Regiment—1 field officer, 1 captain, 1 subal,
  1 staff, 3 sergeants, 2 drummers, 100 rank and file.
  65th Regiment—1 captain, 3 subalterns, 6 sergeants,
  3 drummers, 125 rank and file. Forest Rangers—1
  captain, 2 sergeants, 25 rank and file. Total—1
  field officer, 3 captains, 4 subalterns, 1 staff, 11 ser-
  geants, 5 drummers, 250 rank and file.

†65th Regt.—2 captains, 1 lieut., 1 sergt., 1 drummer,
53 rank and file. 3rd Waikato Militia.—1 lieutenant,
1 sergeant, 1 drummer, 52 rank and file. Total.—2
captains, 2 lieutenants, 2 sergeants, 2 drummers,
106 rank and file.

‡ Royal Artillery—1 lieut., 2 sergeants, 1 drummer,
31 rank and file. 3 guns, Mounted Royal Artil-
lery—1 lieutenant, 1 staff, 1 sergeant. 1 drummer,
28 rank and file. Royal Engineers—6 rank and file.
12th Regt.—1 lieut. 18th Regt—1 captain, 3 lieuts., 1
staff, 5 sergeants, 3 drummers, 140 rank and file.
40th Regt.—1 field officer, 4 captains, 2 lieutenants,
1 staff, 14 sergeants, 5 drummers, 258 rank and file.
65th Regt—1 lieutenant, 2 sergeants, 1 drummer,
38 rank and file. Militia—1 field officer, 3 lieuts., 8
sergeants, 3 drummers, 137 rank and file. Forest
Rangers—1 lieutenant, 2 sergeants, 1 drummer, 22
rank and file. Total.—2 field officers, 5 captains, 13
lieutenants, 3 staff, 34 sergeants, 15 drummers, 660
rank and file.

covered from view with flax bushes, peach trees,
and high fern. This party were forced to
retire, but it at once reformed, and being rein-
forced by another company of the 40th Regi-
ment, again tried to take the place by assault,
but with no better success. Here Captain Ring,
18th Royal Irish, fell mortally wounded, and
Captain Fischer, 40th Regiment, severely
so, besides four men killed, and several
wounded.

On Captain Ring's falling, Captain Baker,
18th Royal Irish, D.A.A. General, most gal-
lantly galloped up, dismounted, and calling for
volunteers, again endeavoured to carry the
place by assault. This also failed.

Finding that there was no chance of taking
the pa in this manner from the immense
strength, and other men having fallen, I deter-
mined to desist from this mode of attack, and
having heard that both Major Blythe, 40th
Regt., and Capt. Blewitt, 65th Regt., were at their
appointed posts, I decided on surrounding the
place, and adopting the more slow but sure
method of approaching the position by sap,
which was shortly after commenced under the
very able directions of Lieutenant Hurst, 12th
Regt., attached to the Royal Engineers Depart-
ment.

At this time Lieut. Carre, Royal Artillery,
endeavoured to effect a breach in the enemy's
works, but could make no impression upon it.

A further supply of entrenching tools and
gabions (which latter had most fortunately
been prepared at the neighbouring posts for
service of head-quarters on the Horatiu), were
immediately ordered up with the men's blankets,
food, &c., and every possible precaution taken
by the proper disposition of the force, to prevent
the escape of the enemy.

During the afternoon, a reinforcement of
some 150 or 200 of the enemy from the direc-
tion of Mangatautari appeared in sight, evidently
determined on relieving the place. They ad-
vanced to a bush situated about 900 yards in
rear of our outposts, but, seeing that it was
scarcely possible to break through the line
formed by our troops, they halted and com-
menced firing volleys, at the same time exciting
the men in the pa to increased energy, by
dancing the war dance, shouting, &c.

The wounded were sent on to Te Awamutu
and Kihi Kihi. The sap was pushed forward
vigorously, and the troops so posted as to
prevent any possibility of escape by the natives
during the night.

Heavy firing was kept up by the enemy on the
troops, both in the sap and around the place
during the day and night, causing but few
casualties, the men contriving to cover them-
selves in temporary rifle pits, dug out with their
bayonets and hands.

A reinforcement of 200 men, as detailed in the
margin,* under the command of Captain Inman,
18th Royal Irish, reached me from head-quar-
ters during the afternoon.

Having reported my proceeding to the Com-
mander of the Forces in the morning, I was glad
to receive a reinforcement, as detailed in
the margint sent by him, and guided by

• 12th Regt.—1 captain, 1 subaltern, 3 sergeants, 1
  drummer, 92 rank and file. Forest Rangers—1 captain,
  1 subaltern, 4 sergeants, 44 rank and file. Total:—
  2 captains, 2 subalterns, 7 sergeants, 1 drummer, 136
  rank and file.

†18th Royal Irish—1 captain 2 subalterns, 8 ser-
geants, 2 drummers, 110 rank and file. 70th Regiment
—1 captain, 2 subalterns, 4 sergeants, 1 drummer, 89
rank and file. Total—2 captains, 4 subalterns, 12
sergeants, 3 drummers, 199 rank and file.