The Sun.
London, England, 1864-11-12 00:00:00

The Late Battle in Japan.

The Scotsman publishes the following plssages
'rota a private letter by an officer engaged in the
.ate affair at the Straits of Simonosaki :
H.M.S. Conqueror, Straits of Simonosaki,
Saturday, Sept. 10, 1864.

You will see by the heading that we have proceeded to
the Inland Sea—we, that is, the French, Dutch, and one
American vessel, and last, not least, the English. Every
one thought that the idea of giving Prince Nagato the
three months he had asked fo: had been agreed to; but on
Saturday, three weeks ago, news came on board the admi-
ral's ship from the Minister that, in consequence of intelli-
gence received fromYeddo, he must start at once and force
the Straits. Accordingly, wo embarked on Sunday, and
sailed the following morning. Captain de Courcy, Norcock,
and myself, with one company, embarked ou board the
Leopard, a paddler, and very comfortable she is. We got
down here this day week, and our company was tranahrred
to the Argus, a smaller paddler. The following day (Mon-
day last) the allied fleets engaged the forts, dding them a
considerable amount of injury without• any loss of a serious
nature to ourselves, except on board the Tartar, which lost

scene men.
Tuesday, G'h September.—E,rly in the morning all the
marines of the fleet and the battalion met en board the
Argus to be landed. There were not enough of captains
to lead the companies, so I was given command of a
company composed of different ships' marines, being the
senior subaltern not otherwise engaged. We landed about
eight in the morning, as also did a naval brigade, consisting
entirely of blue jackets. Col. Suther had command of the
whole. Our battalion of ships' marines, under Col. Adair,
went along the beach to a fort which ships kept firing on,
and which had vex), heavy guns. We took it almost with-
out resistance, dismounted the guns, blew up the magazines
and destroyed its buildings 'We were assisted by the French
and Dutch; and ships' boats, armed with guns in their
bows, crept along the shore fo assist us. After resting, we
procoeded a long distance along the beech till we came to
the outskirts of the town of Simonosaki, the principal street
of which faces to the sea. Along the street we went in
column, having a party destroying and gutting the houses
in case of being fired on from them. We had not gone far
when the enemy appeared—as quickly disappearing again
before a well-directed volley of musketry and case-shot
from the field-piece in the boats. We suppose our fire then
was very deadly, but had no time to find out, as the houses
in our rear were blazing, and our retreat would have been
cut off if we had not retreated at the top of our speed.
The day was then declining; and we returned and were
waiting abreAst of our ships for boats to take us on
board, and eating our dinners most contentedly, when we
heard tremendous firing of every kind up the ravine at the
foot of which we were resting. Soon we got a message to
say that there was a troublesome fort to be silenced, and
they wanted more men. Three companies, of which mine
was one, were sent up to assist. The fort was being ap-
proached by the naval brigade on the left side of the ravine,
so we went up on the right aide, under a not very heavy
fire from them. We had advanced a considerable distance
up this ravine when we lost sight of the other side from
the nature of the ground; and when next we got into more
open country we saw that the naval brigade were on the
point of entering the fort at the further end of it from us.
and the Japanese were rushing out at the other end with a
field-piece, with the object of planting it in some higher
part commanding the fort. We dashed forward to intercept
them. The road on which we were and the read on which
they were apparently converged, and we got within 80 yards
of them. I fired two shots, still cunning, with my long
service revolver, keeping my Dean and Adams for close
work, when at that moment we came to a turn of the road
which showed us where they were dragging the gun to. At
the distance of 120 yards, as near as I could guess, there
was a formidable stockade, between which and ourselves
there was no cover, and they gave us a tremendous volley
of it from musketry only. Several men dropped killed or
wounded. I shouted to my company to get up the wooded
bank to the right and keep under cover, and gradually work
up so as to get above the stockade, and fire down into it. I
was preparing to accompany them when I saw two mon
wounded lying within two paces in front of me, who were
vainly trying to mewl out of the fire, which was still well
kept up by the Japanese; and I ordered four men to carry
them to the rear. I had great difficulty in making myself
heard, and in these few seconds' delay I got shot myself. I
was taken to the rear, and luckily met Angus Robertson,
assistant-surgeon, who was hurrying up with stretchers,
&o. Directly he saw the two holes he said ' It's all right,
the bullet's gone clean through, and by the direction, I
don't think it has touched the bone.' This proved to be
given
thei n' i'
correct. Captain de Courey was then hit, as was also
ricochet,Captain Awlheizeahnder, r was struck by a
, stunned
him,
and knocked him down the
R.N., and Col. Adair
bank. They then fired a field-piece down the ravine, but
luckily pointed it too high.
Sept.—The fighting is all over. Prince Nagato has
.:nin, but considers he is very hardly treated, as he says
15coon encouraged him to fight against us, promising
b
support which he never gave. The Tycoon told us the
contrary : that he had persuaded Nagato to keep his treaty
with us, but he would not. The Tycoon is jealous of his
power, and wanted to see him beaten. Another instance of
the deceitful policy of the Japanese is most extraordinary.
On the southern side of the Straits is the property of another
prince who is friendly to foreign Powers. Ile, when he saw
the bombardment commence, took fright that Nagato should
afterwards make war on him for not assisting him, and sent
a message to the admiral begging him to allow him to fire
blank cartridge, to make it appear he was firing at us from
his forts. Of course, his request was refused. When they
do such things among themselves they naturally will be
more deed fal to foreigners when there is anything to gain
by it, and we never shall be able to understand the pet ple
till more Europeans have thoroughly mastered the lan-
guage and mixed with all ranks of the people.

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