The Sun.
London, England, 1862-05-16 00:00:00

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CHESTER RACES.—THURSDA
The settling on the great race of yesterday went on very
smoothly at the rooms during the morning, after which
some betting took place on the Dee Stakes and the Derby.
The weather was beautiful, the attendance on the course
quite equal to that usually seen on the third day, and six
races were run, the finest of all being the Marquis of West-
minster's Plato, which ended in a dead heat. A dispute
arose after the Dee Stakes,- which were given to Costa, Who
was first past the post. The remaining races contained but
little interest, and the last was run before six o'clock.

PR1CE.....-..4d.
STAMPED ....sd.

7111 E .FIGIII WITII THE REBELS NEAR

ILIA G-HUNG.

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On Th
Admiral
Sir James Hope, K.C.13., Commander-in-Chief of
the Naval Forces in China, proceeded up the on g-
poo River above Shanghai in her Majesty's steam
tender Coromandel, with a detachment of Royal
Marines from her Majesty's ship Imperietne, under
Captain Holland, for the purpose of reconnoitring
on the Pootung side of the river. Information had
been previously obtained that a well-armed band of
Taiping rebels were located within a village some 20
miles from Shanghai.
The Admiral was joined on the spot by Colonel
Ward and a detachment of his disciplined Chinese
troops. A reconnoitring party of about 100
Marines and Chinese then landed under command
of their officers, when they marched towards a small
village called Seaou-dong, which was said to be an
outpost of the rebels, and strongly fortified, their
main body being located at a large village or un-
walled town a few miles further on, called Nan-
jaou. They had been committing great depreda-
tions in the. country around, and had recently
defeated a large Imperial force sent against them.
As the reconnoitring party approached the place
they found it strongly fortified, and the rebels, in
great numbers, very bold, advancing towards them,
shouting and inviting them to come on, at the same
time opening a brisk fire upon the party. The
leaders, having effected their reconnaissance, re-
turned to the boats, with two of Ward's soldiers
slightly wounded.

- ----•
The Dee Stand Cup, of 50 soya, added to a- handicap
sweepstakes of 5 soya each. , Winners extra. Grosvenor
Course. 9 subs.
9(Tomas) 2
ibb
Mr. Barber's Doncaster; 5 yrs, Set Sib (Entvrisile) 1
Grimshaw) 3
Cap
t.
T. Hunt's Jacob, 5 yrs, at 51b
Mr. J.
Christie'sJ. As
Sweethood's E
j mveesrslaastiinnge: 3 4yrys, 6t 8
rs,i
7stl
.1b (J. Daley) 4
'Mr. Hawkesley's Paradox, 3 yrs. 7st 411 b .. (H. Taylor) 5
Betting—C to 4 agst Doncaster, 3to 1 agst Sweet Jessa-
mine, and 5 to 1 agst Paradox.
J. Grimsbaw weighed for Maid of Lune, but the filly did
not get to the post in time to start.
~.
andPaDraodnoexajautme:eNh ssi
jumped off witheeat
Jessamineclea
lead, followed
and EverlastingfollowedliyJacob
lying side by side. In this way they ran past the stand to
the Railway-bridgo turn, when Sweet Jessamine took third
place, and followed closely in the wake of the leaders. On
entering the straight, 'Doncaster went to the front, was
never after headed, and won in a canter by three lengths ;
a bad third ; the others were pulled up.
Dee Stakes of 10 soya each, with 200 added, for 3-yr-olds.
Second to reee've 50.sovs out of the stakes. Grosvenor
Course. 38 subs.
Mr. Merry's Costa, Bst 101 b ... . .... . . (Challoner) 11 r) 1
Lord Wilton's Lay Evelyn c, gst 10Ib ....... . Ashmall) 2
Colonel Towneley's Hubert, Bst 101 b ......... (Borden) 3 Mr. Dawson's The Town Councillor, gst 101 b (Bullo:k) 4
The following also ran :—Alchymist, Elector, Trust, and
Drummer Boy.
Betting-6 to 5 agst Alchymist, 6to 1 agst Hubert, and
7 to 1 each agst Costa, Town. Councillor, and the Lady
Evelyn colt.
Hubert was the first away, but was immediately after
passed by the favourite, who took a clear lead next the rails,
Hubert going on third, with Lady Evelyn colt, Trust, and
Costa following next; then came. Town Councillor, and
Drummer Boy, Elector being last. On passing the stand,
the Lady Evelyn colt obtained the second place, Hubert
going on third, Trust next, with Costa at her girths, the
others following in the order we have given them. On
reaching the T.Y.C. post, Alchymist appeared in difficul •
ties, and shortly after was headed by the Lady Evelyn colt,
who came on with the running, followed at the bridge
turn by Hubert, Costa, and Town Couneillor ; but on their
fairly entering the straight, Costa came up on the whip
hand and followed Lord Wilton's colt to opposite the Dee
stand, where Hubert was beaten, and the leading pair
joined issue and finished a fine race home, Costa winning
in the last stride by a head; Hubert was third, beaten two
lengths; a bad fourth, the Drummer Boy and Trust next.
Elector, who was last throughout, bolted in some time after
the others had passed the post.
On returning to weigh Ashmall, the rider of the Lady
Evelyn colt, made a complaint against Challoner for driving
him on to the rails, and thereby preventing him finishing,
which was investigated by the stewards, who after hearing
evidence thereon awarded the race to Costa.

A gunboat was immediately despatched to Shang-
hai for reinforcements, and the Chinese soldiers re-
turned to Sungkeong for assistance.
Next day, Friday, the 28th of February, the ex-
pected reinforcements arrived, and mustered at
Ming-hong, consisting of 350 British sailors and
Marines, 300 French soldiers, 35 artillerymen, and
about 700 Chinese, with four howitzers from Brad-
shaw's battery, one from the Imperieuse, and two
belonging to the French.

A boat had just been intercepted by Le, the Chi-
nese commander-in-chief at Ming-hong, conveying
a rebel despatch requesting a thousand men to be
sent from some head-quarters, so that they were
evidently preparing to resist an attack.

It being too late in the day to commence opera-
tions on Friday, nothing was done until the follow-
ing morning. Saturday, March. 1, when the whole
force was landed, and they marched to the fortified
village, accompanied by a number of coolies bearing
litters and stages for constructing bridges. The place
lay about two miles inland, directly opposite to
Ming-hong, and was approached by a tolerably
wide road, rather better than usual, which rendered
the transport of the artillery comparatively easy,
the only delay being caused in crossing one or two
rough bridges.

Handicap of 5 sovs each, 3 ft, with 40 sovs added. Win-

ners extra. Three furlongs. 18 subs.

Capt. Christie's Miss Julia, aged, lost 41b (G. Fordham) 1
Mr. Bruce's Sybil, 2 yrs, sst 71b (J. Grimshaw) 2
Mr. Smith's Melody, 3 yrs, 6st (M'Cormack) 3
Betting-100 to 30 on Miss Julia.

The favourite having got her head in front, and with her
usual determination came on with the running, on enter-
ing the straight had both her horses in trouble, and can-
tered in four lengths in advance of Sybil, who finished a
like distance in advance of Melody.
Marquis of Westminster's Plate, value 100 soya, added to a
-handicap sweepstakes of 10 soya each. Second to receive
20 soya out of the stakes. Winners extra. Grosvenor
course. 18 subs. •
Mr. Bignell's Wild Rose, 6 yrs, Bst ..(Norman) (W. 0.) t
Lord Uxbridge's Genera Hess, 5 yrs, Bst 21b (Ohalloner) t
Mr. Fobert's Dictator, 4 yrs 7st 91b (Fordham) 3
Count F. dp Lagrange's R'
adji Stavros, 3 yrs, Est 21b
(Hunter) 4
The following also ran S—Coronet, Rara Avis, Astarte,
and Master George.

Notwithstanding all these impediments, the ex-
pedition arrived before the place of attack at 8 a.m.,
and halted at about 500 yards' distance. Few flags
were shown by the rebels, and only one or two men
could be seen moving about. It was evident that
they were keeping very close, and reserving their
fire until the troops got nearer. At first it was sup-
posed that they had evacuated the place,'when parties
of skirmishers from Ward's corps sent to the right
fearlessly crept up under cover of the graves, and
soon began to exchange shots with the enemy, upon
which all doubt as to their having evacuated the
place was removed.

Betting-5 to 2 each apt General Hess and Hadji Stay-
roe, 5 to 1 each agst Wild Rose and Coronet, and 8 to 1 agst
Dictator.

Hadji Stavros was first on his legs, but cn being pulled
back Wild Rose went to the front with Master George and
Rara Avis at her quarters, and Hadji next, the rear being
brought up by- Dictator and Coroniit. After passing the
T.Y.C. post General Hess took third place, and Rara Avis
dropped back beaten. Wild Rose continued her lead, and
Master George was beaten before coming to the bridge
turn, where General Hess and Hadji ran abreast, and closed
up with. Mr. Bignell's mare, the three running nearly
abreast to the distance, when they were joined by Diut.toi
on the whip hand; but on reaching the Dee stand Hadji
Stavros was beaten, leaving the two leaders and Dictator to
finish a fine raco home, which ended with a dead heat—
Dictator finishing half a length in their rear, a head sepa-
rating the third and fourth ; the others beaten off. Decid-
ing heat—The plate was divided, and Wild Rose walked
over.

In the meantime the remainder of the expedition
had a sufficient opportunity of surveying the work
which was before them, and which presented de-
fences of a very formidable nature. In front there
was a mass of bricks and tiles, the debris of a few
houses which were standing the day previous. Be-
hind this barrier appeared rows of stakes driven
into the ground, thick and close—about 3ft. high,
interspersed with short pointed bamboo sprigs.
Then came a trench about ift. deep, the sides of
which were completely studded with these small
bamboo spikes. On the opposite side were more
stakes very thickly set in the ground, and beyond
these rose an earthwork some 15ft. high, sur-
mounted by three cavaliers, each pierced with three
ports, but containing only one gun, the intermediate
space being filled up with strong barricades of red
boxes filled with earth and stones, coffins, bags of
cotton, sandbags, tables, and furniture—in fact,
everything that could be stuck together to form a
barricade, thickly ioopholed for musketry—a place
that could not be stormed without the loss of a
great many men, unless assisted by artillery.
The fire on the right now became more frequent.
It was evident that the enemy were being roused
up. A shell or two was thrown in, which proved
to the rebels that their foreign asailants were in
earnest, at which they opened fire with gingalls,
muskets, rifles, and small guns. The action then
became general, and for about an hour an incessant
fire was -kept up on the enemy from small-arms,
with an occasional shell. The fire of the enemy was
stubborn, and continued up to the last moment,
when the marines had got close up to the barricade,
only waiting the admiral's orders to enter the en-
trenchments.

The Scurry Handicap of 5 sovs each, with 30 added.
Winners extra. Half a mile. 16 subs.
Captain Christie's Spicebox, 5 yrs, 7st 101b..(Fordham) 1
Mr. T. Hughes's Juliet, 6 yrs, 7st 21b (Prior) 2
Mr. Murphy's Leoonra, 3 yrs, 6st 81b (H. Taylor) 3
Lord Coventry's Mousetrap, 4 yrs, 7st 21b (Maidment) 4
The following also ran :—Miss Lucy, David Anh, Sister
to Stafford colt, and Abaft filly.
Betting-3 to 1 each agst Juliet, Leonora, and David
Ann, 5 to 1 agst Spicebox.

Juliet cut out the work to the half- distance, when she was
headed by Spicebox, who won cleverly by a length, tho
same distance separating the second and third, and a liko
distance between the third and fourth.

First Year of the Fourth Biennial Produce Stakes of 10
sovs each, h ft, with 100 sovs. added, for 2-yr-olds ; colts,
Bst 71b; fillies, Bst 41b. Second to receive 20 sow. Six

- _
furlongs. 25 subs.
Mr. Jackson's Formidable (31b) Bst 41b ......(Bullock) 1
Mr. Saxon's Sweet Willie (31b) Bst 41b (Midgley) 2
Mr. Snewing's Watford (31b) Bst 41b (Parsons) 3
Betting-5 to 4on Formidable, 6to 4 agst Watford.
The favourite made all the running, and won easily by
two lengths ; a like distance between the second and
third.

At this time the enemy were observed to be re-
treating in great numbers from the rear, when the
shells from Bradshaw's artillery were thrown ra-
pidly among them, committing fearful havoc.
Numbers also fell under the firo from the rifles
of the French and English sailors who were ex-
tended out on the left to cut them off; but the na-
ture of the country precluded this, so they kept up an
incessant fusillade on them as they ran away. Some
of Colonel Ward's soldiers had got round on the
other side, and were in hot pursuit. The fire from
the earthworks being pretty well silenced, the
British Admiral waved his cap, when the Marines
under Captain Holland and Lieutenant Sturt, and
the blue-jackets under Commanders Gibson, Fawkes
and Richardson, entered in front through a breach
which was soon made by an extempore company of
sappers and miners—blue-jackets—under Lieu-
tenant Bosanquet, of her Majesty's gunljoa
little,
but
who seemed to enjoy the work t Flamer,
exceedingly. A
severe contest then took place in the main •
am tt Street of
the village, where the rebels rallied for
they could not withstand the bayonet charge of the
Marines and the heavy fire poured among them.
Many fell, and some hand-to-hand conflicts took
place. _

From inquiry and observation, the number of
Taiping rebels holding the place could not be less
than 6,000 ; of these between 600 and 700 were
kiled, and upwards of 300 taken prisoners. The
streets and houses presented an awful spectacle.
The bodies in some places lay in heaps, and the
plain beyond the village was strewed with those
who were shot down in the flight. The practice of
Bradshaw's mountain howitzers was good, as soon
as the range was obtained, but the rockets were a
failure. The French guns also played with great
effect. Every one engaged behaved with coolness
and courage, advancing gradually, and getting
through the before-mentioned formidable obstacles
forming the outer defences, through the trench, and
right up the breastwork, long before the guns were
silenced.

As for the Chinese organized under Colonel Ward,
they seemed to know no fear, and perhaps exposed
themselves too much. The loss of this force was
one officer very badly wounded, about ten rank and
file killed and 40 wounded, some severely. Two or
three English Marines were badly wounded ; but
from their being kept better under cover, the i
foreign portion of the force suffered slightly n com-
parison.
The British Admiral himself, accompanied by
Mr. Alabaster, the Consulate'interpreter, was right
in front directing the attack in that part, while
Ward and his men vigorously assailed the enemy on
the left. After all was over the village was set on
fire, and the foreign troops erabarked for Shanghai.