204
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.
Greer to make the attempt with the 68th
Regiment, after dark on the evening of the
28th, and in order to divert the atten-
tion of the enemy from that side, I ordered
a feigned attack to be made in his front.
Colonel Greer's movement succeeded per-
fectly, and on the morning of the 29th he had
taken up a position in rear of the enemy,
which cut off his supply of water, and made
his retreat in daylight impossible, but was
necessarily too extended to prevent his
escape by night.

I enclose Colonel Greer's report of his
proceedings.

During the same night the guns and mor-
tars were placed in position, and opened fire
soon after daybreak on the morning of the
29th. I gave directions that their fire should
be directed principally against the left angle
of the centre work, which, from the nature
of the ground, I considered the most favor-
able part to attack.

Their practice was excellent, particularly
that of the howitzers, and reflects great credit
on the officers in command of batteries.

About 12 o'clock, the swamp on the
enemy's left having been reported by Capt.
Greaves, Deputy Assistant Quarter-Master-
General, practicable for the passage of a gun,
a six-pounder Armstrong gun was taken
across to the high ground on the opposite
side, from which its fire completely enfiladed
the left of the enemy's position, which he was
thus compelled to abandon. The fire of the
guns, howitzers, and mortars was continued
with short intermissions until 4 p.m., when
a large portion of the fence and palisading
having been destroyed, and a practicable
breach made in the parapet, I ordered the
assault.

150 Seamen and Marines under Com-
mander Hay, of H.M.S. 'Harrier,' and an
equal number of the 43rd Regiment, under
Lieut.-Colonel Booth, formed the assaulting
column.

Major Ryan's detachment was extended as
close to the work as possible, to keep down
the fire from the rifle-pits, with orders to
follow the assaulting column into the work.

The remainder of the Seamen and Marines,
and of the 43rd Regiment, amounting to-
gether to 300 men, followed as a reserve.

The assaulting column, protected by the
nature of the ground, gained the breach with
little loss, and effected an entrance into the
main body of the work, when a fierce con-
flict ensued, in which the natives fought with
the greatest desperation. Lieutenant-Col-
onel Booth and Commander Hay, who led
into the work, fell mortally wounded. Cap-
tain Hamilton was shot dead on the top of
the parapet while in the act of encouraging
his men to advance, and in a few minutes
almost every officer of the column was either
killed or wounded. Up to this moment the
men, so nobly led by their officers, fought
gallantly, and appeared to have carried the
position, when they suddenly gave way and
fell back from the work to the nearest cover.

This repulse I am at a loss to explain,
otherwise than by attributing it to the con-
fusion created among the men by the intri-
cate nature of the interior defences, and the
sudden fall of so many of their officers.

On my arrival at the spot I considered it
unadvisable to renew the assault, and
directed a line of entrenchment to be thrown
up within one hundred yards of the work, so
as to be able to maintain our advanced
position, intending to resume operations the
following morning.

The natives, availing themselves of the ex-
treme darkness of the night, abandoned the
work, leaving some of their killed and
wounded behind.

On taking possession of the work in the
morning Lieutenant-Colonel Booth and some
men were found still living, and, to the
credit of the natives, had not been maltreated;
nor had any of the bodies of the killed been
mutilated. I enclose a list of our casualties.

I deeply deplore the loss of the many
brave and valuable officers who fell in the
noble discharge of their duty on this occasion.

The 43rd Regiment and the service have
sustained a serious loss in the death of Lieu-
tenant-Colonel Booth, which took place on
the night after the attack. I have already
mentioned the brilliant example shown by
this officer in the assault; and when I met
him on the following morning, as he was
being carried out of the work, his first words
were an expression of regret that he had
found it impossible to carry out my orders.

The heroism and devotion of Captain
Hamilton and Commander Hay reflect the
highest honour on the Naval Service.

The loss of the enemy must have been
very heavy, although not more than twenty
bodies and six wounded were found in and
about their position. It is admitted by the
prisoners that they carried off a large num-
ber of killed and wounded during the night,
and they also suffered in attempting to make
their escape, as described in Colonel Greer's
report.

In my reports to His Royal Highness the
Field Marshal Commanding in Chief and
the Right Honourable the Secretary of State
for War, I have brought to their favourable
notice the names of the officers who par-
ticularly distinguished themselves on this
occasion.

Commodore Sir Wm. Wiseman on this, as
on every other occasion, co-operated with
me in the most cordial manner, and I am
much indebted to him as well as to the whole
of the officers and men of the Royal Navy
and Marines who took part in these opera-
tions, for their valuable assistance.

I have, &c.,

D. A. CAMERON, Lieut.-Genl.

His Excellency Sir G. Grey, K.C.B.,
&c., &c., &c.

Camp Puke Wharangi,
1st May, 1864,

SIR, I have the honour to state for the
information of the Lieutenant-General Com-
manding, that in compliance with his instruc-
tions I marched out of camp with the 68th
Light Infantry (strength as per margin),