✨ Military Despatch Report
Numb. 17.
203
The New Zealand Gazette.
Published by Authority.
MONDAY, MAY 9, 1864.
Colonial Defence Office,
Auckland, 6th May, 1864.
H IS Excellency the Governor directs the
publication of the following Despatch,
with the enclosures, from Lieut.-General
Cameron, C.B.
T. RUSSELL.
Head Quarters,
Tauranga, May 5, 1864.
SIR, It having been decided by your Excel-
lency and myself, in consequence of informa-
tion received from Colonel Greer, command-
ing at Tauranga, that reinforcements should
be sent to that Station, detachments were
embarked without delay in H.M. Ships
'Esk' and 'Falcon,' placed at my disposal
by Commodore Sir Wm. Wiseman, and by the
26th April were all landed at the Mission
Station of Tauranga, to which place I had
transferred my Head Quarters on the 21st
April.
On the 27th April I moved the 68th Regi-
ment, under Colonel Greer, and a mixed
detachment of 170 men under Major Ryan,
70th Regiment, towards the rebel entrench-
ment, of which I made a close reconnaissance.
It was constructed on a neck of land about
500 yards wide, the slopes of which fell off
into a swamp on either side. On the highest
point of this neck they had constructed an
oblong redoubt, well palisaded and sur-
rounded by a post and rail fence-a for-
midable obstacle to an assaulting column,
and difficult to destroy with artillery. The
intervals between the side faces of the re-
doubt and the swamps were defended by an
entrenched line of rifle-pits.
I encamped the 68th Regiment, and Major
Ryan's detachment about 1200 yards from
the enemy's position on the 27th, and on
that and the following day the guns and
mortars intended to breach the position were
brought up to the camp, which was joined
by a large force of seamen and marines,
landed at my request from the ships of the
squadron by Commodore Sir Wm. Wiseman.
The composition and strength of the force,
assembled in front of the enemy's position
on the evening of the 28th, are shown in
the margin.*
*General Staff-4 field officers, 1 subaltern.
Medical Staff-2 field officers, 1 subaltern.
Naval Brigade-4 field officers, 6 captains, 7 subal-
terns, 36 sergeants, 5 drummers, 371 rank and file.
Royal Artillery-1 field officer, 1 captain, 3 subal-
terns, 1 staff, 1 sergeant, 43 rank and file.
Royal Engineers-2 rank and file.
Moveable Column-1 field officer, 2-captains, 3
subalterns, 1 staff, 6 sergeants, 4 drummers, 164 rank
and file.
43rd Regiment-1 field officer, 5 captains, 3 subal-
terns, 3 staff, 17 sergeants, 12 drummers, 250 rank
and file.
68th Regiment-3 field officers, 6 captains, 15
subalterns, 3 staff, 34 sergeants, 21 drummers, 650
rank and file.
Total-16 Field officers.
20 Captains.
35 Subalterns.
8 Staff.
94 Sergeants.
42 Drummers.
1480 Rank and file.
Detail of Artillery employed-
1 110-pounder Armstrong
2 40-pounder Armstrongs
2 6-pounder Armstrongs
2 24-pounder howitzers
2 8-inch mortars
6 cohorn mortars.
Having received information that, by
moving along the beach of one of the
branches of Tauranga harbour at low water,
it was possible for a body of troops to pass
outside the swamp on the enemy's right, and
gain the rear of his position, I ordered Col
Next Page →
NZ Gazette 1864, No 17
✨ LLM interpretation of page content
🛡️ Despatch Regarding Military Operations and Reconnaissance at Tauranga
🛡️ Defence & Military6 May 1864
Military operations, Tauranga, Despatch, Troop movements, Artillery, Reconnaissance, 68th Regiment, Naval Brigade
- T. Russell
- Lieut.-General Cameron, C.B.
- Colonel Greer
- Major Ryan
- Commodore Sir Wm. Wiseman