E.—No. 5

From Major Ryan's description of the last two miles to this settlement, it would appear necessary that a larger force of Militia should be sent there, in order to ensure the safety of provisions and ammunition being conveyed thither, and the roads are very heavy and difficult for draft. I have, &c, A. A. Chapman, Lieut.-Col. Commanding 2nd Batt., 18th Royal Irish, and Troops at Drury. The Deput} r Quarter-Master General, Queen's Redoubt. P.S.—A list of killed and wounded is annexed to Captain Inman's report. Major Ryan did not return till just 10 o'clock, p.m. Your letter just received as the orderlies with this were starting. 12.40 a.m., September 15, 1863. MAJOR EYAN TO LIEUTENANT-COLONEL CHAPMAN. Camp, Drury, 14th September, 1863, 10 o'clock, p.m. Sir, — I have the honor to report that in compliance with your instructions, I proceeded this day at 3| p.m. with a force, strength as per margin,* to the assistance of the party at Pukekohe under Captain Inman, 2nd Battalion, 18th Regiment. On arriving at the entrance to the bush, about five miles from Drury, I met Captain Inman's force returning with three carts and two dead men : but as he had left the wounded at the Pukekohe Stockade, I proceeded at once with the ambulance and stretchers that accompanied my party, and taking back with me the men of the 70th, who were with Captain Inman, he continued his march to Drury. On arriving at the Pukekohe, Doctor Peake, 2nd Battalion, 18th Regiment, attended immediately to the wounded, and as it was nearly 6 p.m. and the road was extremely bad and difficult for two miles through the bush, Doctor Peake thought it better to remove them at once. We accordingly started without delay, all the wounded being placed in the ambulance, and a dead man of the 65th Regiment was carried on a stretcher. At the earnest request of Captain Moir, Pitt's Volunteer's, commanding now at Pukekohe, I consented to leave at the stockade the party under Ensign Phillips, 2nd Battalion, 18th Regiment, which Captain Inman had previously ordered to remain there, as a reinforcement. Captain Moir informed me that he considered he could scarcely hold the place, if attacked again in force, unless these men were allowed to remain. The force left under Ensign Phillips were 1 sergeant, 2 corporals and 25 privates, 2nd Batt., 18th Regiment. Captain Moir's force at the stockade, consists now of strength as per margin, but he informed me that the settlers have no ammunition and that he has only about forty rounds of spare for his men. If it be considered necessary to hold the Pukekohe position, I think it will be found a very troublesome one, both on account of its situation, and of the bad state of the road which runs through bush for the last two miles. The dead and wounded brought in by me, are as per margin.t I have, &c, G. A. Ryan, Major 70th Regiment. Lieutenant-Colonel Chapman, Commanding, Drury. P.S.— The Natives were still in the neighbourhood of the Stockade, as they could be seen just before dusk carrying away their wounded to a house on an opposite hill. They left six dead on the ground. Captain Moir seemed to think that the Natives were two or three hundred in number.

CAPTAIN INMAN TO LIEUTENANT-COLONEL CHAPMAN. Camp, Drurv, 14th September, 1863. Sir, — In accordance with instioictions received from you this day, I proceeded to Pukekohe with the detail as per margin, || to assist and relieve Captain Moir, Volunteer Militia. On arriving at about 1 p.m. within about a quarter of a mile of Pukekohe Stockade, I found Captain Moir embarrassed with carts, which were fixed in the mud. Having rendered him assistance, and hearing firing in my front, and being informed that the Stockade was attacked, I hastened thither, leaving instructions with Captain Moir to follow us as soon as possible. On arriving within about one hundred yards of the Stockade, I found that the enemy were in position on two sides of it, at about forty yards distance ; I also found that, in addition to the usual garrison, a detachment of the 70th Regiment, consisting of Lieutenant Grierson and twenty-five men, had arrived from Shepherd's Bush in the early part of the day. Throwing the men into skirmishing order, I advanced in the direction of the enemy, who were strongly posted on an incline in cleared bush under the Stockade, * 2nd Batt., 18th Regiment: 1 Captain. 1 Subaltern, 1 Sergeant, 30 Rank and File. 70th Regiment: 1 Field Officer, 1 Subaltern. 1 Sergeant, 20 Rank and File. 1 Rank and File Royal Artillery. 65th Regiment: 1 Sergeant, 12 Rank and File ; but these last did not all accompany me, seven of them having returned to camp. t 65th Regiment: 1 Private, dead. 70th Reeiment: 2 Privates, dead ; 1 Captain 3 Privates, wonnded. H Royal Artillery : 7 Rank and File. 18th Royal Irish : 1 Sergeant, 20 Rank and File. 65th Resiment: 1 Subaltern. 20 Rank and File. 70th Regiment: 1 Captain, 1 Sergeant, 20 Rank aud File.—Total: 1 Captain, 1 Subaltern, 2 Sergeants, 67 Hank and File.

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