3-016-760 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

The War in New Zealand: Rangariri, from the Waikato [River], 1864. Scene of '...General Cameron's victory on the 20th of November...[The] new redoubt, which General Cameron has begun to construct, is in the centre, marked by a flag; with the British encampment on the rising grounds, and the Maori redoubt seen beyond...on our right...[is] the old Maori Church, and the graveyard where those killed in the fight are buried. On our left hand some flat-bottomed gun-boats and canoes are moored. The British head-quarters are in the large square tent upon the hill towards our left...The British...stormed the rifle-pits facing the Waikato River...300 men of the 40th had landed...and those of the Maoris who could not get into their "Keep" were compelled to fly across the swamp...General Cameron ordered an attempt to take this stronghold by assault...the Royal Artillery, armed with revolvers...attacked it and failed...another party of sailors...threw hand-grenades into the redoubt. All these attacks, however, were baffled by the overwhelming fire of the Maoris, and by the difficulty of approaching their position...Every officer who took the lead here was either killed or dangerously wounded...The fortress...thus cost a large expenditure of English blood'. From "Illustrated London News", 1864.