The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1859-09-20 00:00:00

THE DISASTER IN CHINA.

HONGKONG, July V.

Intelligence from the north is of the most disastrous
nature, our forces having been repulsed at the entrance
of the PCIIIO with very severe loss. Mr. Bruce arrived
off the Peiho on the 18th of June, and sought com-
munication with the authorities on shore. No officers
of rank were found, but some messages were inter-
changed between some petty Mandarins and Mr. Bruce's
suite. The Wooer of these was, that the foreign
31inisters would be allowed to proceed to Pekin by a
passage to the northward, but that no man-of-war
would be allowed to enter the Peiho. They disclaimed
acting under Imperial orders, stating that the forts
and barriers were constructed by the country people
to protect them against pirates. Failing to obtain any
satisfactory intercourse, Mr. Bruce handed the matter
over to Admiral Hope, who, on the 25t1m of June,
proceeded to force • passage.
The result is given in the enclosed extracts from
the NqrtA China Herald of the 9th and 14th inst. :

shore.

" ifer Majesty's chip--, of the Peilio, July 1.
" On the 25th of June, the negotiations with the
Chinese having come to nothing hut a put off to gain
time, the Admiral with his flag flying in the Plover,
followed by the gunboete Lee. Nimrod, Cormorant,
Banterer, Starling, Foreoter, Kestrel, Janus,
and Haughty, proceeded to take up a position off the
Peibo forte, ready to attack in case the Chinese
xhould Wier any resiotance to clearing away the bar-
rier*. At 2 p.m., the otations having been pretty well
obtained (with the exception of the Starling and
Banterer, which were oil shore—the former on the
xouth and the latter on the north bank), the Plover
and opouum weighed ; the latter proceeded to clear
away • pauage through the iron stakes which com•
imsed the first obstruction. Two of theme having been
drawn, the Plover, followed by the Opossum, pained
through them, and elm the second boom, which lied
been deotroyed by the flag captain on the previous
night. On arriving at the second she attempted, to-
gether with the Opoweinni, to break through it, but
without effect. Alinost immediately a single gun was
fired at her, and directly all the uiasks were rolled
up and a tremendous fire woo opened on the squadron,
awl the action became general. The Lee, by signal
from the Plover, passed through the stake* to the *up-
pers of the Admiral. The Plover and the °postman
were, however, soon obliged to slip, the fire being too
! heavy for them, and followed by the Lee, dropped
, clear off the stakes at 3.15. 'Me I.,onilioat Plover sat-
fered very much in killed and wounded. An officer
wee gent to the reserve Wonder up reinforcements, but
the tide was km strong for the boats to attempt to
pull up. The American flag officer very kindly offered
to tow the boob; up to a position to enalde them to
reach the guailioato. At 4.30 the enemy's fire was
slackened conoiderably, orders were sent down to the
reserve for Marines mid Naval Brigades to ',reran) to
land, and the Forester and the oposonui, together with
the Toeywan, proceeded and towed them to the Nim-
rod, the place of rendesious. At all early period of
the action the Admiral had been wounded on board
the Plover by a splinter in the thigh, and that canoed
was ahneet entirely disabled. He shifted his flag to
the Opossum. When there be took his elation on the
! caboose, and thence issued hio orders, until a round
shot cut the mainstay on which he wan leaning and
caued him to fall to the deck, a height of some eight
feet. breaking a rib and severely shaking hitu. After
a abort time he left the Opeuum in the 1M Clouds's
gig, and proceeded to the Cormorant. where lie re-
mained. At 5 45 the boats, having aosembled along-
side the Niuirwl, pushed for the shore as near the *takes
as pouible and opposite to the left bastion, about idtal
yards distant from it. The landing here was composed
of mud oboe.. knee deep, and the greatest difficulty
wan experienced in getting up the sealing ladders and
bridges. The Marines aud Naval Brigade, a small
portion of which had only juot landed, oohed to the
front under • very heavy fire from six gaud iii flank
and in front. The fire from the walls of giugslls,
rifles, and arrows wee also very heavy.
" No check had hitherto taken place, but here a ditch,
tire feet deep awl ten broad, occurred. and the men
haring nu choice, plunged urea+, mid thereby wettmt

their ammunition. A party of some 50 officers and men
again pushed on and acrum another wet ditch, which
took them within 20 yeards of the wall. In the mean-
time Captains Sandwell and Vansittart, as also Colonel
Lemon, having been wounded, the commands devolved
On Commanders Cowmen II and Major Parke. It was
uuw about 9 o'clock, and darkness had set in. The
poeition of the landing party was most precarious; 50
officers and men alone remained in the first ditch, and
about 150 in the second. Many had been killed end
wounded, and, with the exception of a small body 150
yards further back, no reinforcements appeared to be
offering, and the men already at the front were perfectly
exhauettA, and without dry ammunition or rifles fit to
use. The officers in vain encouraged their men to
charge to the walls, but it was ineffectual ; the men
were few and dune up and even if they had not
been they never could have carried them against
the thousands that lined the walls. Under these
circumstances the commanding officer despatched an
officer to the rear to ask for instructions, and the
senior officer sent him back immediately with orders for
the force to withdraw, as no reinforcements could be
sent. Directly this order was received the wounded
were despatched to the rear by twos and threes, and two
hours having been given them to get to the boats, the
small advanced party retreated in good order from ditch
to ditch, examining the ground in their retreat for any
wounded that might have been overlooked. Many
poor fellows, alas! in the retreat fell to rise no more,
but the wounded were saved and brought off.
" In the meantime the boats of the squadron under
Captain Willes employed themselves in embarking the
wounded and landing party, and at 1 o'clock or • little
after they were all off. 'lle gunboats did their duty
ably, and covered the landing party up to the latest
moment it was prudent to fire, and shortly after as
• testimony of their hard-fought day, the Lee and
Kestrel sunk, and the Haughty just managed to keep
herself afloat till the morning. when she went down,
but fortunately out of range. At 3 a.m. the Cormorant,
with the Admiral on board and full of wounded, was so
fast grounded that it Wad considered necessary to leave
her, as she was right under the batteries, and at day-
light the enemy would doubtless concentrate their fire
on her, whereas if she were temporarily abandoned it
was hoped that the enemy would cease firing on her,
and the next night we should be able to get her off.
For the llama reasons the Plover and Starling, both
immovably grounded, were cleared of their crews. The
niorning of the 2fith showed our squadron in sad con-
dition, hardly a gunboat but was disabled. However,
during the .lay the carpenters of the squadron were em-
ployed patching them up temporarily, and the Starling
having limited, her second meeter pn.cetelol in a dingy
and cut her cable, when she drifted out of range with
the ebb. Tivo night atteuipts were rustle by Captain
Wills to recover the t'ormorant and Plover, but without
success. The Cormorant's ship's company having re-
niained till 11 a.m, to endeavour to float her, a inset
terrific fire was opened upon her from batteries both
north and south, and it 40011 became evident that she was
sinking. Orders were therefore sent down to
mender Wodehouse ordering him to abandon her if be
hail no hopes. Her ship's company and officers were
embarked accordingly, but not before the water was up
to her lower deck, and half an hour afterwards she went
down head foremost. The same night fresh attempts
were made on the Plover, but it was found impracticable,
as she was full of water, and gave no hope of her being
able to float. At daylight the Kestrel, sunk on the 25t1m
under the batteries, was observed drifting out, and,
having been towed by the Janus into shoal water, was
eventually recovered. During that day the enemy got
on board the Plover over the mud, and Hayed us the
trouble of destroying her by setting her on fire them-
selves, but not before a great portion of her stores had
been recovered.

"The next two or three days the boats of the Chesa-
peake were emp'oyed destroying the abandoned vessels
as much IA po.sible.
"I have no time to add more, as I hear a vessel is
going to Shanghai. Pray let me hear from you as soon
as possible. We shall in all probability remain in the
Gulf till nearly the last.
"I send you • list of the killed and wounded, which you
will see is • very heavy one, considering that the total
number of men of all anus engaged did not exceed 1,300
men. There may be one or two names omitted, but it
is very difficult to discover among so Lusby vessels who
are in the list of casualties. I cannot now ascertain the
number of sentivn and marines in each vessel, but the
total loss, ineludiog officers and men of 41 arms, is 404
killed and wounded. Tlie officers are as follows:
" Cast:AE.7IES BEFORE THE PEIHO FoRTS 04 JUNE 25,
1850.
KILLED.

Lieut. Graves, R.N., the Assistance, killed on shore-
Lieut. Clutterbuck, R.N., the Coromandel, killed on
lore.
Lieut. Rason, R.N.. the Plover, killed on board.
Captain ICKenna, Royal Regiment, killed on board
the Plover.

—•
Ur. Herbert, midshipman, the Chesapeake, killed on
shore.

....
Lieut. Woo'bridge, Royal Marine Brigade, killed on
shore.

. .....
Lieut. Inglis, Royal Marine, the Hightlyer, killed in
boat.

WoUNDED.

Admiral Hope, severely.
Captain Van.dttart, the Magieonne, loss of left leg
below knee. .

Captain Shadwell, the Highßyer, severe wound of
foot.
Captain Willem, the Chesapeake, slightly.
Colonel Lemon, Royal Marine Brigade, ~everely.
Lieut. Purvis, R.N., the Hig!Ayer, slightly.
Lieut. Buckle, Magicienne.
Mr. Buruiston, master, the Banterer, slightly.
Mr. Armitage, midshipman. the Cruiser, severely.
Mr. Powlett, midshipman, the Cambrian, severely.
Mr. W. B. Smith, mate, the Chesapeake, severely.
Mr. Phillipa, iiecond master, the Plover,
Lieut. longley, Royal Engineers, the Plover, iieverely.
Rev. H. Hewliatt, chaplain, Royal Marine Brigade,
severely.
Captain Masters, the Chesapeake.
Captain Slaughter. Royal Marine Brigade.
Lieut. Williams, Royal Marine Artillery.
Lieut. Crawford. Royal Marine Artillery.
Lieut. Collier, Royal Marine Brigade.
Lieut. Carrington, Royal Marine Brigade.
Lieut. Smith, Royal Marine Brigade.
Lieut. Perceval, Fury, slightly.
TOTAL KILLED AND WOUNDED.

British, 464: French, 4 killed and 10 wounded, inclu-
ding Captain Tristanlt (Du Chills), wounded in the arm.
TOTAL Or MARINE BRIGAUZ ONLY.
Killed. Wounded.
Officers 1
Sergeants 2 13
Buglers 0
'orporals 1
Rank aud file ... 24 104

142
"JuLy 14.

"Since our issue of the 9th the Hon F. W. Bruce, and
M. to Bourboulon, the Ministers of England and France,
with their suites, have arrived in Shanghai, the former
in the (7oromandel, the latter in the 1)u Chayla. The
Magicienne and Assistance are gone to an anchorage
off Chinhae, Ningpo, near Kinfang island, where the
British squadron will rendezvous, to iecruit the sick
and wounded. The Helmer arrived yesterday fruit. the
Gulf on the Bth. The Admiral in the Chesapeake was
waiting until the disabled gunboats were ready to ac-
company him to the rendezvous. The Highflyer WU to
leave on the Bth for Shanghai, under sail, where she will
take her station again as guardship. The Cruiser and
two gunboata will remain in the Gulf. The American
Minister was holding communication with the Chinese
officials at a more northern entrance to the Fedi°. It is
expected he will proceed to Peking."
Mr. Horace Rumbohl and the Count Kleskowski,
Secretaries of the British and French Legations, pro-
ceed by this mail with despatches for their respective
Governments. .

This deplorable affair may be productive of the most
serious consequences, and the prestige of foreign nations
has received • blow the effect of which it will be difficult
to eradicate. There is no force in China sufficient to
cope with the emergency. and it most be nearly a year
at least before anything decisive can be attempted. Br.
Bruce, we understand, awaits fresh instructions and
reinforcements; meanwhile the news of our defeat will
be heard throughout all China. We sincerely trust
that the British Government will not look lightly on
this matter, for every effort must be used, if we would
regsin our former position, or retain that which is left
to us.

We believe that the Beet is to be distributed among
the various ports, to protect, if necessary, the residents
there, as it is imposaible to foresee the tuni events may
now take. The general impression. however, seems to
he, that the great value of our trade to the Imperial
Treasury will prevent the existing commercial relations
being interfered with. It Nevins clear, however, that
the Emperor never intended to ratify tie treaty, and
that his ament was gimii as means of getting rid of
Lord Elgin's expedition, and gaining time for the resist-
ance now so successfully made.
All remained quiet at Shanghai up to the 15th inst.,
and little apprehemion Man felt. The news had not
reached Foochow on the 16th, which is our latest date
from thence.
At Canton matters remain as before.
From Cochin China we learn negotiations arc still
pending.