Painted from the site on the Great South Road where General Cameron (1861 - 1944) and his troops had passed through in 1863. At the time this watercolour was produced (1866) it was still officially a military road.

The lake portrayed is Lake Waikare - the artist has spelt it Waikerei which was a common mistake at the time. Lake Waikare is in the Waikato District near Te Kauwhata. The Waikare Hills and Hapuakohe Range in the background are on the eastern side of the lake.

On 20 November 1863, General Cameron's British forces attacked the Maori fortifications at Rangiriri on the edge of the Waikato River. The fortifications, designed by Te Wharepu, had been constructed entirely of earthworks on an isthmus between the Waikato River and Lake Waikare in an act of resistance.