'History of the Indian Navy. (1613-1863).' [‎188] (207/622)

188
HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVT.
of sufficient height to protect the guard from the enemy's fire.
A small battery was also formed in rear of this stockade for the
four mortars, two of which were afterwards removed to the
advanced battery. So well did the sailors and soldiers work,
that before night the stockade was far enough advanced to
render it secure against any attack of the enemy. On the after
noon of the following day, the enemy sallied out from the pah
in great strength with the apparent view of turning the flank of
the working party in the advanced stockade, but they were
repulsed with loss" by the native allies, the Europeans acting as
a reserve. With a view to prevent a renewed attempt of the
enemy to make a sortie under protection of the woods,
Colonel Despard caused the construction of a third battery to
the right, within 150 yards, for the reception of one 18-pounder
and one 12-pounder howitzer, which were to bear upon the
same face, the western, of the pah ; this battery was also pro
tected by a stockade of rough timber.
As soon as the batteries were sufficiently advanced to admit
of their being unmasked without danger, all the pioneers were
employed in cutting down the wood in their front, which was
completed by the 9th of January, when the entire face of the
pah was left bare. As by that date the supply of shot in camp
was considered ample, about ten o'clock on the morning of the
following day, all the batteries opened simultaneously, and
their fire was kept up, with little intermission, during the
greater part of the day. At first but little impression appeared
to be made, and it was not until several hours' firing that the
outer works showed signs of giving way ; by sunset the outer
stockade was completely broken down in two places, "but,
nevertheless," says Colonel Despard, " it was evident that the
inner fences and the strong stockades, which crossed the body
of the work in different directions, were scarcely injured."
Towards evening the British fire slackened, but was occasionally
continued during the night to prevent any repairs being made
to the breaches. In the meantime the enemy had begun to
retire during the night, which it was impossible to prevent
owing to the woods coming close up to the pah in several places.
On Sunday morning a party of the native allies, perceiving the
pah silent, crept up to it, when Colonel Despard, seeing them
in the breach, proceeded towards the pah with one hundred
men, under Captain Denny of the 58th Regiment, and entered
the breach. An entrance had scarcely been effected than the
enemy, still remaining in the work, opened a heavy fire from
the right, but the advance pushed in, and having gained some
of the inner stockades, they maintained themselves until a re
inforcement arrived, when the Maories were driven out of the
pah. The enemy, however, desirous of carrying off their kule
and wounded, kept up a hot fire from the w T oods, and even ma e