“The Honour of the Assault.”

The officer in command could see no Maoris. A thin wreath of smoke curled up on the hill-top. Pratt and Carey were discussing the situation when Captain Atkinson walked up to the General and said, in a voice that did not conceal the emotions seething within him:—

“General, my men were slow in parading. This is our land. I claim for the Taranaki Volunteers the honour of the assault.”

The General looked at Colonel Carey who said:—

“Captain, the dispositions for the attack are not yet completed. In any case, you and your men are entitled to an honourable position in the field. You shall hear from the General later.”

It was decided that the assault should be headed by a company of the 65th Regiment and a company of the Taranaki Volunteers under Captain Atkinson. The Volunteers were extended to the left front of Mahoetahi, their left flank under Captain Atkinson on the extreme left. With a rush they took possession of a hill about a hundred yards from the pa where the Maoris lay hidden. Major Herbert, commanding the combined storming party, received the order to charge. Under a hot fire the Volunteers furiously assaulted the hill-top, bayonet for bayonet with the big Irishmen of the 65th on their right. The Maoris met them hand to hand; there were many desperate encounters with bayonet and tomahawk. Two of the Volunteers were killed. Atkinson himself with a small party occupied a low hill on the left and kept up a destructive flanking fire. The Maori resistance, though heroic, was short. The hill was cleared; nearly fifty warriors lay dead on the field.