It was therefore necessary to leave behind half the ammunition, a great part of the

provisions, and all the baggage belong ing to the men, who thus moved iv light order, merely carrying a knapsack and a blanket apiece. The guvs then became a source of difficulty. The proper gun carriages had been removed in Auckland, having been con sidered old and unserviceable, and had been replaced by clumsy ship carrifges, with little heavy wooden wheels. The guns were thus top-heavy, and were a constant source of vexa tious delay. The ouly mode of dealing with them was to drag them at the tail of the drays. Here it will be as well to sum up the force:— Colonel Despard. BOfch, commanding. 58th, Major Bridge ... ... ... 270 fl9th, MajorMacpherson ... ... ... 180 Mth, Colonel Hulmo ... ... ... 70 Marines oEH M.S Hazard, Capt. Johnston and Lieut. Phillpotts ... ... ... 30 Auckland Volunteers, Lieut. Flgg ... ... 80 630 The guns were four in number, two 6-pounde.r brass ones, and two ]2-pounder <;arronades,_ in charge of Lieut. Wilmot, R.A., and Captain Marlow, of the Engineers. Our Native allies under Tamati Wulca numbered 250 They had been onsconsced before the Ohacawae pa, agreeably passing the time in oc casional skirmishes with the enemy until the arrival of their British confreres. It was in one of these skirmishes that Heke received his wound. The march for the Waimato missionary station, distant 12 miles, commenced soon after noon, and was accomplished in about 13 hours—that is, !>y 1.30 in the morning. Almost at the first river crossing one of the carts containing ammunition broke down: itcr.uld not be repaired, and so was left for the time. In charge of a body of men. A little further on the second cart and a bul lock dray sunk immovably into the mud; nor could all the horses, bullocks, and men drag them out. Darkness and torrents of rain came on, and so a halt was called until the moon rosn, and then this toilsome march was resumed. Constantly did the top-heavy guns roll over, and If this happened in a swamp, as was not un frequenlly the case, they simply sunk out of sight. Curses loud and deep and threats of terrible vengeance found vent this night. 