THE ROYAL ARTILLERY INSTITUTION. 
379 
with Dean and Adams* revolvers (the use of which they were well acquainted 
with from having been armed with revolvers while acting as cavalry), and Capt. 
Mercer was told that in case there was any serious difficulty met with in the 
projected storming of the Maori entrenchments at Rangiriri, his men would 
be called upon to assist in the assault. Owing to the difficult nature of the 
ground it was 3 p.m. before the force arrived at Rangiriri. The guns were 
brought into action about 600 yards from the centre of the Maori works, on 
a rising ground behind which the limbers were placed nearly out of fire. 
The Maories began firing directly the guns came into action, but without 
effect, except a few shots striking the wheels and gun-carriages. 
The object of the artillery fire was to engage the attention of the natives, 
while the steamers, which had arrived opposite Rangiriri about the same 
time as the force under General Cameron, proceeded to disembark troops 
in rear of the works. The disembarkation took a considerable time. The 
natives did not show at all, but continued firing as long as the guns did. 
When the assault was ordered the rapidity of fire was increased; shells 
had been prepared in expectation of the assault, and the guns were loaded as 
fast as they were fired. The shells burst beautifully, and prevented the 
Maories taking any aim at the advancing troops, but when, from the near 
approach of the storming party to the works, the shelling was stopped, the 
soldiers suffered severely. 
Half the position was quickly taken, and the Maories who escaped rushed 
some to the Waikare Lake, where they were shot down by the 40th Regiment 
which had landed in rear of the work, and some to a few canoes in the 
swamp, but two shells from the Armstrong's bursting among the latter, they 
ran back to their entrenchments and joined others who had remained in the 
works. 
The last gun Captain Mercer looked over had been laid on a canoe 
supposed to be about 2000 yards off, crossing the Waikare Lake and full of 
fugitives. The canoe was smashed by the shell and swamped. 
About an hour after the first assault had been made, a message was brought 
from General Cameron to Captain Mercer asking for some shells to be sent 
down to be thrown by hand among the Maories. Captain Mercer sent 
back an answer to say that Armstrong shell were unsuited for this purpose, 
and he had no common shell. 
Soon after this an aide-de-camp brought an order for Captain Mercer to 
bring down his men to drive out the Maories, who were still resisting. 
Captain Mercer accordingly led his men to the assault, which failed, as others 
had previously done, owing chiefly to the men not being able to get to a 
hand-to-hand fight with the natives. Captain Mercer was mortally wounded, 
Sergeant-Major Hamilton was shot in two places, and four other non-com¬ 
missioned officers and men were killed or wounded while trying to get into 
the work. 
Driver Culverwell, who was Captain Mercer's servant, seeing his master 
shot down, ran to his assistance and was mortally wounded while doing so. 
The gunners were then employed in filling up a narrow passage leading to 
the principal Maori work from which much loss had been inflicted on the 
troops, and which, while open, prevented assistance being given to the 
wounded who had passed the entrance. 
Some 5J-in. common shell were obtained from the gun-boats and thrown 
[vol. iv.] 50 
