The Sun.
London, England, 1862-08-06 00:00:00

', May 31, 1862."

ADMIRALTY, ATJG. 4.
A despatch, of which the following is a copy, was
received at the Admiralty on the 28th ult., from
Vice-Admiral Sir James Hope, K.C.8., the Com-
mander-in-Chief of her Majesty's ships and vessels
on the East Indian and China station:—

" Operations against the Rebels in the vicinity of
Shanghai.
(No. 218.)

" Imperieuse, Shanghai, June 3.
" My Lord,—You will be pleased to acquaint the Lords
Commissioners of the Admiralty that on the 18th ult. the
force under General Staveley snd Commodore Kersanson
moved up the creek from Najaor to Tsiolin, which town
was taken on the morning of the 20th.

" Information being received on that day of the irruption
of a large number of rebels in the vicinity of Woosung, the
force returned to Shanghai on the 22d, leaving a garrison
in Najaor with the view of eventually securing the Pootung
Peninsula when the rebels shall have been entirely cleared
out.

" On the 24th the force moved out to Nauseang ; the
25th was occupied in closing up the boats, which had been
considerably retarded by want of water in the creek, during
which day some desultory skirmishing took place with the
rebels, who in considerable numbers surrounded the vil-
lage on all sides, except the south.
" On the following morning the great mass of rebels had
moved off to the westward, and the detachment noted in
the margin* moved on to Kading, for the purpose of with-
drawing the garrison, and returning the same evening,
having effected their object without difficulty or loss.
" On the 27th the force returned to Shanghai, the last
boat arriving on the following morning.
" Between the 9th and the 18th a force of Imperialist
troops, consisting of from 7,000 to 10,000 men (got together
by breaking up their camps at Tsippo and Yakitun and
withdrawing 2,000 men from the garrison of Paoshan), was
moved out to the vicinity of Taitseam, a town in the occu-
pation of the rebels, where they suffered a severe defeat,
and were entirely dispersed with the exception of a few
hundred who got back to Pawoshan.
" This movement, ordered by the late Viceroy Sich in
opposition to the remonstrances of the present Governor,lby
whom he has since been replaced, and without communi-
tion with the Allied Commanders, with the design of
effecting the capture of Taitnam, has resulted in completely
uncovering the country to the westward of Shanghai, to
which the camps at Tsipoo and Yakitun had afforded a cer-
tain amount of protection.
On the 18th the rebels first appeared in the vicinity of
Woosung and Paoshan, whence they retired on the 21st,
having failed in making any impression on the former town,
the capture of which may have been in their contemplation.
On the same day the defeat of the Imperialists was
heard of at Kading, and on the 21st the rebels were first
seen in the neighbourhood of that town, occupying the
village of Nanseang, by which its communication with
Shanghai was cut off.

6' Between that day and the 25th, when the greater part
of their force moved off to the westward, the town was more
or less surrounded by large numbers of rebels, estimated at
not less than 25,000, and was attacked on several occasions,
but without effect.

"From Kading the rebels moved by Wangdon to Sekim,
where they have established a camp of 20,000 men with two
smaller posts of 5,000 and 3,000 men, in advance towards
Sung-Keong, at Tsakapan and Tomkio, respectively.
s, They have also surrounded Tsing-pu in large numbers,
which town is held by a garrison of 1,000 of Col. Ward's
troops, and they have established camps at Quang-fu-lung
and higher up on the water communication to Tsing-pu,
containing about 2,000 men each.

441 have stationed the Pearl at Minhong, to maintain the
communication with Najaor, and the Centaur at Sung-
Keong for the like purpose.

MO; the morning of the 30th, probably on information
that Col. Ward with a portion of the garrison was absent
for the purpose of throwing supplies into Tsing-pu, an
attack was made on Sung-Keong by a body of 1,500 rebels,
who were driven oft with a loss of 100 by a party of the
C people, under the orders of Lieut.P. W.Stephens,
one man
anbeing slightly wounded.

This party from the Centaur will rejoin their ship on
the arrival of 300 of Col. Ward's troops, which will return
from Ningpo•
it On the map which I forward the recent operations of
the troops, the movements of the rebels, and their present
positions are given with as much accuracy as the informa-
tion at my command in regard to the topography of the
country and other matters will permit.
" Having been present with the force, except at the cap-
ture of Kading, I avail myself of this occasion to express
the sense I entertain of the general good conduct of the
officers and men composing the Naval Brigade which has
been employed with the troops, a return of which is annexed,
and to bring under their lordships' notice the names of
those officers whose position has rendered them most pro-
minent during a service which, if unattended by any severe
fighting, has involved:a good deal of hard work, the mate-
rial and supplies of the army being conveyed entirely by
water, the chief labour of which naturally devolved on the
brigade.

The organisation and management of the flotilla was
conducted by Captain Borlase, of the Pearl, in command of
the brigade, assisted by Captain Willes, of my flag ship,
and Commanders Gibson, of the Imperieuse, and Strode, of
the Vulcan, under whose immediate superintendence the

guns were got into position, the bridges moved up for cross-
ing the ditches (operations generally performed at night
and in close proximity to the enemy), and the other duties
devolving on the brigade were performed with a zeal and
ability to which, in conjunction with that of the other offi-

cers, I ascribe their uniform success.
" Such preliminary investigations of the creek as became
requisite in consequence of their complexity wereund
under-
taken by Captain Willes assisted by Mr. Dathin, Master of
the Imperieuse, during the course of which he had an affair
with the rebels in the vicinity of Tsiolin, described in the
letter I annex.—l have, &c.,
a J. HOPE, Vice-Admiral and
Commander-
in-Chief.
" The Right Hon. Lord C. Paget, C. 8., M.p
.)
Secretary to the Admiralty."

Return of the Naval Brigade attached to the Troops under
Brigadier.. General Staveley, during the recent Operations
against the Taepings, in the vicinity of Shanghai.
Captain John Borlase, C. 8., Pearl.
Captain G. 0. Willer, C. 8., Imperietise.
aperieuse.
Fieldpiece party,
Commander Gibson
Ist Small-arm .. .. 30
Company, Lieut. H. Fawkes .. 50
2d Small- (1
arm -orapany, Lieut. A. H. G. Richard-
son .. • • ..

.. 50
..._ 130

* Two mountain guns, 500 troops, Colonel Stanley ; two
12-pounder field-pieces, 40 Nanines, Captain Willes.

Way between the WoOsung river and the sea on the Pootung
side is held by the Allies, and that the walled town of Cho-
lla was captured by them a short time since.
" The Viceroy has engaged to place 1,000 of his troops in
Nauwei, on the Poo-tong side, one of the towns whioh has
recently sent in its allegiance. This leaves the Viceroy
with only 3,600 men on the Shanghai side.
" The force at my disposal is at present 1,643 infantry
and in artillery, the French having 400 Chasseurs and 300
sailors,
"The accompanying memorandum (report annexed) by a
committee I appointed to report on the immediate defences
of Shanghai shows that nearly the whole of my troops are
required for this purpose, besides the French force stationed
here.

"On the arrival of the remainder of the troops from the
north I shall be able to move out with a column and attack
the rebels, should they venture to come near the city, but
with so small a force, and not the slightest assistance to be
expected from the Chinese troops, I consider that it will be
husaei lietssselfa,n
edspeuncsiaafileytonaotwtemthpatt tot
hdeo
hmootr ewteha at:
ehr o
comingis
upon us.

I
übpoeinngtzbelre to do " quite agree with you that the prospect:of the Chinese.
Euro-
pean officers, and armed with muskets.
"The Viceroy, however, shows much reluctance in plac-
ing men at nay disposal for this purpose, and says that if
"This is, I consider, because the
would not render it worth their whiplea
he engaged men they would not remain.
anythingisingaforter
otfhecmilloovees,
tdreapineedndsbyenEtiurreoly.
" That they would remain, if properly paid and treated,
may be inferred from the fact that a company of Royal
ytohedowaonul. d give them
Artillery here have a company of 280 Chinese drilled to the
guns, and to assist in moving them, who not only adhere
to their engagement, but are very hardworking
melt, and behave well under fire.
"I would, therefore, most strongly urge you A° move
the Chinese Government to place at my disposal 3,000 men
for training in the same manner as was done at Tien-tsin,
and that arrangements be made by which these men should
be paid by our Commissariat, and the necessary funds be
supplied from the Customs revenue of Shanghai.
" It might be still better if I were allowed to raise these
men myself, and decide on the rate of pay they should re-
ceive, the Chinese finding the officers, clothing, barracks,
&c. " I have, &c.
" C. W. D. STAVELEY, Brigadier-General.
" Commanding Her Majesty's Troops in China.
"His Excellency the Hon. F. W. A. Bruce, C. 8.,
Her Majesty's Minister in China.
"(True copy.)
"LOFTTIS MANSERGH,
" Deputy-Assistant Adjutant-General.