Letter to his parents

Five page letter from Camp Tauranga dated 24 Jun 1864 addressed to Major Colville's parents. Provides a description of the Battle of Gate Pa (29 April 1864) and a fuller description of the aftermath, including the action at Te Ranga on 21 June. Describes preparations for the attack on the 600 "rebels" at Te Ranga by 500 soldiers under the command of Colonel Greer. Includes a sketch of the line of rifle pits. Describes the attack led by Major Colville (who had dismounted and thrown away his scabbard) and Major Synge, the tactics of the enemy, their responding volley, the subsequent bayonetting of 64 Maori in the rifle pits and the shooting of a further 54. Also describes events of the following day when Major Colville returned to the battle site in command of a party of 300 men to bury the fallen, including the chief Rawiri Puhirake. Colville writes of his delight at the actions of the men of the 43rd Regiment whose reputation had been `somewhat tarnished' at the battle at Gate Pa. Mentions the enclosure of a lock of a chief's hair in the letter and describes the treatment of prisoners including an unnamed Maori woman whose husband had been killed at Gate Pa. Letter ends with comment about the progress of Captains Smith and Berners, both of whom were wounded at Te Ranga.

Quantity: 1 folder(s).

Physical Description: Mss