The Sun.
London, England, 1862-07-16 00:00:00

ATTACK AND CAPTURE OF NINGPO.

Her Majesty's ship Encounter, Ningpo,
May 10, 1862.
Sir,—l found it necessary to capture the city of
Ningpo and drive the rebels out, under the follow-
ing circumstances :
You are aware, sir, that the rebel chiefs had been
informed that if they again fired, either on our
ships or in the direction of the settlement, we should
deem it a casus belli. This morning, at 10 o'clock,
the Kestrel and French vessels Etoile and Confu-
cius, were fired on by the Point battery. .1 cleared
for action in this ship, when a volley of musketry
was fired on us from the bastion abreast. The un-
dermentioned vesssels—viz., Encounter, Itingdove,
Kestrel, and Hardy, with the Etoile and Confucius,
French gunboats, now opened fire, with shell on
the walls and batteries, which was replied to with
much spirit from guns and small arms. At noon,
having silenced the guns and knocked down the
battlements, exposing the top of the wall, 25 feet
thick, at a point where I intended to scale, I ceased
firing and went to dinner. At two I landed and
installed a party of marines, under Mr. Alexander
D. Douglas, midshipman, in a house commanding
the walls, got scaling-ladders reedy,and when joined
by Lieut. Kenney, the senior French naval officer,
I scaled the walls, meeting with a most determined
resistance ; it was here the gallant Kenney, one of
the first on the wall, was dangerously wounded. I
nowdadvanced and took possession of the Salt Gate,
kee ping up a heavy fire oa the enemy, who under
cover of the houses, returned it. At four p.m. I
sent the Hardy, Kestrel, and Confucius, with orders
to cut away the bridge of boats, pass up, and shell
the south and west gates; this duty was ably per-
formed under a galling fire, kept under by the Con-
fucius and Hardy, whilst Lieut. Henry Huxham
landed on the bridge, spiked the guns in the bat-
tery there, whilst Mr. Leach, assistant engineer, 2d
class, cut the chains—then opened the bridge,when
the three vessels passed up into position.
In the meantime the enemy made desperate efforts
to regain the Salt Gate by front and flank attacks,
and in one of these latter the bayonet and spear
nearly met; it was when leading on his men in one
of these charges that Lieut. W. N. Cornewall fell.
Words cannot express our sorrow for the loss of
this gallant and amiable officer. At five o'clock,
owing to the flank movements, all opposition ceased,
when we passed on to the North Gate, and joined
Commander Robert G. Craigie, who had scaled the
walls and taken the gate with some opposition,
From the masthead the rebels were seen to leave
the city, so I returned to the Salt Gate, placed the
Taoa-tai and Imperial soldiers, who now landed
from their junks, in charge of the city, and re-
embarked our own and the French people.
I was most ably assisted throughout the day by
Lieutenant Kenney and M. Caligny, commanding
the Etoile and Confucius respectively, and the men
under their orders. The severe wound which de-
prived me of the services of Lieutenant Kenney is
much to be regretted, and the manner the Con-
fucius was handled and fought reflects the highest
credit on her commander.
I esteEm myself peculiarly fortunate in having
had such able gun-boat commanders as Lieuten-
ants Huxham and Archibald G. noble; the manner
they worked their vessels in this narrow river, with
a spring tide running, and the beautiful practice of
their guns when close under the city walls and ex-
posed to round shot and musketry, is beyond all
praise. They speak highly of the conduct of their
officers and men.
I have much pleasure in bringing to your notice
the conduct of officers and men under my orders ;
where all behaved so well distinction would be
invidious. Lieutenant Hugh Davis, with Mr. H.
H. Rawson, midshipman, commanded the seamen
when Lieutenant Corne wall fell. Acting Lieuten-
ant E. C. Tinling, ably assisted by Mr. William
Cantlow, boatswain of the ship, got the howitzer
on the walls and into aetion, Mr. James B.
Scarlett, assistant engmeer, 2d class, a volunteer,
was one of the first upon the wails. Dr. A. Irwin,
was continually under fire
surgeon, of this ship,
when attending the wounded.
When on the wall the ship was in charge of Mr.
Edmund Swain, master, and he was of great
service, with Mr. William Ferns, gunner, in cover-
ing our landing'evith the pivot gun, manned by
cooks and stewards.
Mr. Hewletts, acting interpreter, did good
service, and in the performance of which, when in
company with Mr. John Ashton, assistant pay-
master, be was repeatedly exposed to the fire from
the walls.
I regret that our casualties, a list of which I beg
to enclose, are so many ; but
under the circum-
stances, considering the vermin nature of these
rebels, I felt that if one blow was not followed by
another, most serious consequences might result to
the foreign settlement, and the shelling having had