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in Color Sergeant McKenna, the detachment found a commander whose coolness, intrepidity, and judgment, justified the confidence placed in him by the soldiers brought so suddenly under his command. I need scarcely assure your Excellency that it will give me great pleasure to report the meritorious conduct of this detachment to his Royal Highness the Field Marshal commanding in Chief, and to the Right Honourable the Secretary of State for War, and to recommend to special notice the names of Lieutenant Butler, Color Sergeant McKenna, and the other non-commissioned officers and soldiers so honourably mentioned by Colonel Wyatt. I have, <_~ D. A. Cameron, His Excellency Sir George Grey, K.CB. Lieutenant-General.

Enclosures to No. 24. COLONEL WYATT TO THE ASSISTANT MILITARY SECBETAEY. Camp, Queen's Redoubt, September 11th, 1863. Sir — In accordance with the wishes of the Lieutenant-General, I have called upon Color Sergeant E. McKenna to furnish me with a report of the action at Cameron on the 7th instant. From the corroborative statements made to me by Lieutenant Warren, who had ample opportunities of acquiring full information of the various events and places, while in command of the detachment, 65th Regt., that proceeded from the Alexandra Redoubt in search of the missing, on the Bth, (under Colonel Murray), and subsequently on the 9th, I am perfectly satisfied with the truthfulness of the appended letter. As acts of daring and gallantry are sure to be appeciated, I trust the Lieutenant-General will be pleased to bring this instance to the notice of His Royal Highness the Field Marshal commanding in Chief, for some special mark of approval on the part of Her Majesty, for his gallant conduct, after both his officers had been shot, in charging through the position of an enemy heavily outnumbering him, and drawing off his small force through a broken and rugged country, with the loss of but one man killed and another missing. As soon as I can obtain the necessary documents from the officer commanding at Tuakau, I will not fail to bring to the notice of the Lieutenant-General the gallant conduct of Lance Corporal Ryan and Privates William Bulford and John Talbot, who removed the body of their Captain from the field of action, and remained with it all night in the bush, surrounded by the enemy, and also that of Privates Benjamin Thomas and John Cole, who after remaining all night in the fern with Lieutenant Butler, who was badly wounded, in the morning carried him several miles towards the 65th Camp, until met by the reinforcement under Colonel Murray proceeding to their assistance. I would also beg to bring to the notice of the Lieutenant-General the conduct of Drummer Henry Welsh, who, when Private Grace was killed, picked up his rifle and emptied his pouch of any ammunition and copper caps, under a galling fire, and thus prevented the enemy from obtaining that trophy, and I trust that the cool and determined bravery of the small parties under the command of Color Sergeant McKenna and Sergeant Meara will be favourably considered and honorably mentioned. Only one rifle was captured by the enemy, that of Private Bellringer, who was killed when with the advance Guard, which was then fearfully outnumbered and hardly pressed by the enemy, and slowly retiring in skirmishing order. I sincerely trust and hope the Lieutenant-General will make a favorable mention to His Royal Highness of Lieutenant Butler, who in the late, and already in the present war, has proved himself a most promising officer, and unsurpassed for coolness and conduct under trying circumstances. From my knowledge of the late Captain Swift, I may safely say that I considered him one of the best Officers I ever had the honor of commanding, and one who held a high position in the estimation of every individual in the 65th Regiment I have, &c, Alfred F. W. Wyatt, Colonel and Lieutenant-Colonel Commanding 65th Regiment. The Assistant Military Secretary.

COLOE SERGEANT MCKENNA TO THE ASSISTANT MILITARY SECBETABY.' Alexandra Redoubt, Tuakau, Bth September, 1863. Sir, — I beg to state for the information of the Lieutenant-General Commanding, that at 1 o'clock p.m., on the 7th September, 1863, I proceeded under command of Captain Swift, with the force as per margin,* to attack a party of Natives who had set fire to the friendly Native pa, erected on the Township of Cameron, for the purpose of trying to rescue Mr. Armitage and a party of friendly Natives who were known to have been down there, also a quantity of Commissariat supplies, brought up from Waiuku. * 65th Regiment.—l Lieutenant, 3 Sergeants, 1 Drummer, 50 Rank and File.

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