The Taranaki Wars - 1860.
Officers Report
As reported
in the New Zealander 25th May 1861
MAJOR GENERAL PRATT and the TROOPS in NEW ZEALAND
from the Melbourne 'Argus'
Major General PRATT issued the following general order before
resigning the
command of the forces in New Zealand:-
"Head Quarters, Camp Waitara
March 30th, 1861
"(No. 623)
"Commodore Seymour, commanding the Naval Brigade, having
intimated to the
major-general, commanding, that in all probability the Naval
Brigade will
return to their ships very shortly, the major-general before
quitting New
Zealand, has to express his great satisfaction with their
services on shore
whilst under his command, which have been most conspicuous on all
occasions,
and he has particularly to thank Commodore Seymour for his very
cordial
co-operations, and for the gallant and unhesitating manner in
which he has
given him very effective assistance whenever it could be of use.
"The major-general must also mention the very efficient
service rendered by
Lieutenant Batiscombe, of her Majesty's ship Pelorus, not only
with the
Naval Brigade, but also while employed as assistant in the Royal
Engineer
department. Midshipmen Hotham and Wadlow, whilst employed with
the heavy
guns on shore, had also an opportunity of showing their gallantry
and good
service. And the major-general must add his high opinion of the
services of
the Royal Marine Artillery and Royal Marines under Lieutenant
Morris, Royal
Marine Artillery.
"Her Majesty having decided that the command of the troops
in New Zealand
shall be separated from that of the Australian colonies, and that
Lieutenant-General Duncan E Cameron, C.B., shall assume the
command of the
forces in that colony, all reports will be made to
Lieutenant-General
Cameron, C.B., from this date.
"In relinquishing the command of the forces in New Zealand,
the
major-general feels it due to the troops who have served under
him so
gallantly and so energetically, and with such continuous success
as to have
produced a cessation of hostilities, and the probability of a
permanent
peace, to thank them, of all arms, for their arduous labours and
the
unremitting cheerfulness with which they have performed them.
"The major-general begs particularly to thank the following
officers, whose
services he will bring more prominently forward in his dispatches
to the
home authorities:
Commodore Seymour, commanding the naval forces in the Australian
colonies.
Colonel Mould, commanding Royal Engineers
Captain Mould, R E
Lieutenant, R.E
Lieutenant Warburton Batiscombe, R.N., employed in the Royal
Engineer
department
Captain Strover, commanding Royal Artillery, and latterly, for a
short
period, Captain Mercer, Royal
Artillery, commanding.
Colonel Wyatt, commanding 65th Regiment
Lieutenant-Colonel Leslie, commanding 40th Regiment
Major Nelson, 40th Regt, commanding a detached force at the
Waitara for some
time.
Major Logan, commanding detachment 57th Regt
Major Douglas, commanding detachment 14th Regt
Major Hutchins, commanding detachment 12th Regt
Major Herbert, commanding Taranaki Militia
Lieutenant Woods, commanding detachment Naval Brigade, from
H.M.C.S.S.
Victoria
Colonel Sillery, deputy quartermaster-general
Lieutenant-Colonel Carey, deputy adjutant-general
James Mouat Esq, C.B., deputy inspector-general of hospitals
Deputy-Commissary-General Jones
Captain Paul, Major of Brigade
Lieutenant Forster, R.A., aide-de-camp
Lieutenant A King, Militia, aide-de-camp
"The major-general has to regret the loss of many brave
officers and
soldiers in this service, but more particularly-
Captain Strange, 65th Regiment;
Lieutenant M'Naughton, R.A.;
Lieutenant Brooke, 40th Regt;
Lieutenant Jackson, 40th,
who nobly fell in the execution of their duty.
By command,
(Signed) "R Carey, Lt-Col. D.A. General"
