Attacking The Meremere Line
The next attack in the Waikato began on 31 October by water. Cameron had two armoured steamers, the Avon and the Pioneer, as well as four armoured barges on the Waikato River, which between them could carry 600 men. The Māori had established a very strong defensive line at Meremere which effectively blocked any advance south of the British position. The British occupied a position on a spur just below an old pa called Te Teoteo. Here they built Pickard's Redoubt. On 29 October two 40-pounder Armstrong guns were unloaded from the Pioneer and placed just below the redoubt. From a distance of 2 km they then bombarded the Meremere fortifications which were located on a small knoll on the south side of the Whangamarino swamp. By now the British were in a position to encircle Meremere using water transport. Two trips were made and 1,200 men were successfully landed at Takapau where they could attack from the rear.
The Māori had cannon and used them to try to stop the steamers but without cannon balls, they were forced to use rocks, grocers' weights, and old iron which were ineffective against the British steamers.
Recognizing that they were now in danger of being surrounded, the Māori abandoned the Meremere fortification on 1 November and withdrew south. The British occupied the position and built a redoubt, which is still visible, on the knoll.
Read more about this topic: Invasion Of Waikato
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