The Sun.
London, England, 1841-05-07 00:00:00

TO lIIs EXCELLENCY SIR J. J. GORDON BREMER, C. 8., LC H.,
COMMODORE OF THE FIRST CLASS, CuMMANDER-IN-CHIEF,
&1. &C. &C.

Her Majesty's Ship Wellesley, Chuenpee,
January 8, 1841.
Sir— I have the honour to report to you that the troops
Arnunderilemry, acing my
leomcmand, consisting of a detachment of Royal
one 24-pounder howitzer and two 6-
pounder field guns, aided by a party of seamen from her
Nlakstfa ships Wellesley, Blenheim, and Melville, de-
tachments of the 26th and 49. h regiments, a battalion of
Royal Marines, the 37th Madras Naive Infantry, and a
detachment of Bengal Voluntt era, in all 1.400 men, landed
yesterday at nine o'clock, two miles below Chuenpee
Point, for the purpose of capturing the several forts and
batteries on Chuenpee,
The troops landed without opposition, and having formed
them, I sent forward an advance of two companies of Royal
Marines under Capt. Ellis ; the guns were then moved on,
supported by the detachment of the 26th and 49th regi-
ments, follue el in column by the Marine battalion, the
37th Native Infantry, Ind the Bengal Volunteers.
After advancing a rei'e and a half, on reaching the
ridge of a hill, we came in sight of the upper fort, and of a
very strong entrenchment, having a deep ditch outside,
and a breast-work round it, which was prolonged upwards,
connecting with it the upper fort ; it was also flanked by
field batteries, having deep trenches in rear of the guns
for the purpose of shelter; the whole was strongly lined
with Chinese soldiers, wbe, immediately on seeing us
cheered, waved the;r flags in defiance, and opened a fire
from their batteries ; our guns were promptly placed on
the crest of the ridge and commenced firing—this was
duly returned by the Chinese fir about twenty minutes,
and indeed in this, as well as our other encounters with
them, it is but justice to say they behaved with courage;
during this time the advance crossed the shoulder of the
lull to the right, driving be fore them the Chinese, who had
lined it in considerable numbers, then descending into the
valley, took possession 01 a field battery placed there.
had previously ordered two companies of the 37th Native
Infantry, under Captains Bedinefl H an: Wardropr, r, to
scour round a h'll to t'se right of the advance, where they
encountered the Chinese in some forces and drove them
away with much loss. Captain Duff, commanding the
corps, speaks highly of the conduct of these companies,
which he bad supported by another under Lieutenant
Hadfield.
Seeing that the fire from our guns was causing the
Chinese to fly from the entrenchment and baiter.et, I
moved the column down the slope, causing the two leading
companies of Marines, under Captain Whitcomb, to clear
the wooded bill in front; I took a sub-division of them,
got into the entrenchment, and proceeded up, inside tie
breastwork, to the upper lost, in which there was still a
number of men; these were speedily dislodged by the two
Marines who first reached it—the fort was entered, and
the British ensign hoisted by a Royal Marine.
The lower Get, which had 16 guns facing the sea, and
was surrounded by a high wall, and a small battery be.
tween, was from this completely. exposed ; but the fire of
these, as well ac of the upper fort, had been si eeced
by the ships attacking on the sea lice. They were still
in considerable numbers in the lower part of the fort, and
had locked the gate; a fire was therefore kept up front
the bill, and the advance coming round the lower side of
the gate forced it by muskntry. Ou entering they met
with considerable resistance, which was speedily subdued;
some men then entering an embrasure on the flank, the
fort was taken and our flag hoisted.
The whole of the forts and batteries being now in our
possession, we proceeded to render the guns unserviceable
and dismantle the fort, setting their encampments on fire,
and on re-embarking, the magazine in the loner fort was
blown up.
lam happy to say that the loss on our sue has been
small, and would have been less but for the explosion of
an expense magazine in the fort after the capture. The
Chinese, however, suffered a. vet ely ; between 300 and
400 were killed and wounded, including amongst the killed
" the Heptiti," an officer with rank equivalent to our
Brigadier-General : about 100 prisoners were taken, who
were released as the close of the day.
I have great pleasure in stating to your Excellency the
admirable manner in which the whole force behaved, and
I beg to recsmmend to your notice Major Johnson, 26th
Regiment, commanding detachments of the 26th and 49th
Regiments. I must particularly mention Captain Ellis,
commanding the Marine battalion, an old and previously
distinguished officer, who conducted the advance during
the whole day with the greatest gallantry and judgment,
and he speaks in the highest terms ot the men forming the
advance. Captain Knowles, R.A., who placed his guns
admirably, and dismantled the forts after their capture;
Captain Duff, commanding the 37th N. 1., and Captain
Button, commanding the detachment of Bengal Volun-
teers. From Lisuteeant Stransham, Adjutant of the
Royal Marines, who acted as Brigade Major, I received
most valuable assistance during the day, and gladly
availed myself of the services of your military Secretary,
Lieutenant Stewart Mackenzie, 90th Regiment, who vo-
luntereed to act on my staff, and took charge of a party of
skirmishers of the advance the better part of the day.
Lieut. Wilson, of her Majesty's ship Blenheim, com-
manded the seamen • and the guns were dragged forward
in good style, and the disembarkation and re-embarkation
of the troops was ably managed by Lieut. Symonds, of
her Majesty's ship Wellesley.
I enclose the list of guns captured and destroyed, and
also the return of the casualties —I have, &c.,
(Signed) J, L. PRATT, Major, 26th Cameronians,
Commanding the Force.

LIST OF CASUALTIES IN THE FORCE .EMPLOYED AT THE
ASSAULT AND CAPTURE OF THE FORTS AND BATTERIES
ON CHUENPEE, ON THE 7TH ('F JANUARY, 1841.
Wounded.
Second LieutenantiWhite, Royal Marines, slightly.
Assi,ont- Surgeon M‘Peerson, Bth Madras Light Ca-
valry, burnt by explosion.
Mr. Arthur Vyner, mate, R.N. (H. M. S. Blenheim),
severely.
Royal Artillery-1 gunner and driver, slightly.
Royal Marines-2 sergeants, 7 privates, severely ; 2
privates slightly.
18th Royal Irish-2 privates, ditto.
37th Madras Native Infantry-2 havildars, 1 naique, 10
privates, sever ely.
3 officers, 2 sergeants, 11 privates, 1 gunner and driver ;
2 havildars, 1 naique, 10 privates—Tot4l, 30.
( Signed) A. B. STRANSHAM, Actg. Brigade Major.
Calliope—one seaman, severely.
Samarang—L:eut. Bowers, seveely ; 1 boy, first clam,
sevr-rely.
Hyacinth-2 seamen severely, 3 slightly—Total 8. Of
the force employed on shore, 30-38 grand total wounded.

(Copy.)
Her Majesty's Ship Blenheim, nff the Bocca
Tip's, Jan. 8, 1841.
RETURN OF ORDNANCE MOUNTED IN THE FORT AND EN.
TRENCHMENTS AT CHUENPEE WHEN STORMED AND CAP-
TURED ON THE 7TH JAN. 1841.

In the upper fort, guns, iton, 9; lower fort, guns, iron,
19 ; in the entrenchments, guns, iron, 15 ; guns, iron, not
mounted, 23—Total, 66.

The guns in the forts were nearly of the same calibr..
as the British 18 and 12-pounders. Those ia the en-
trenchments 6-pounders.
Th.. guns were all rende ed unserviceable, and the car-
riages destroyed.
(Signed) J. KN3WLES, Captain, Commanding
Royal Artillery.
On Ty-cock-tow 25
Three guns were of the same calibre as those on Chuen_
tee, also rendered unserviceable.
In the junks about 82, from 12 to 4 pounders.
RECAPITULATION.
On Chuenpee and it, dependencies 66
On Ty-cock-tow . 25
In the junks ...........

Grand total

TU COMMODORE SIR J. J. G. BREMER, C.D., K., COM

111 A NDER-IN CHIEF, &C., &C., &C.
Sin-In obedience to your instruction of yesterday, I
proceeded with the ships placed under orders off Ty-cock-
tow. The fort c,•mmenced its fire upon us at abottt 20
minutes past ten o'clock, which I did not reply to until 1
took up my anchorage 10 minutes alter abreast of it, about
200 yards' distance, which was e's near as the depth of
water would permit cf our approach. The Modesto,
Druid, and Columbine, anchored in sucession, and in a few
rni,iutes, so destitteti\ze and well-directed was the fire of
the ships, that that of the enemy was silenced, with the
exception of an occasional gun or two. At 11-20 A. M.,
observing that we bad effected a practical breach in the
southern cod of the I,irt, [directed the boats to be manned
and armed, to proceed to storm it. Lieut. Bowers (first
of this ship) immediately landed, support, d by the boats
of the Modeste : those of the Druid and Columbine.,
under the command of Lieut. G.Adsenith (first of that ship)
pr,..ceedud to the north end.
An attempt at resistance was made by the enemy at the
breach against Lieut. amen and his party, but was in-
stantly overcome by the gallant and d, t..rmined ru,h on-
wards of our men, which so appalled the garrison that they
instantly made a !laity retreat user the hill wall, lest•in. us
masters of the fort.

The guns, amounting to twenty-five longs, of different
calibre, were then spiked, the trunnions knocked off, a shot
wrapped round with wet canvass driven hard home in elch,
and they were then thrown into the sea, their carriages
burnt as well as tl:t? whole of the building., and mag mes
blown op, previ,us to which later operation ill the
wounded of the enemy were carried away clear of the fort.
111,1 r loss judging f,um tne numbei of killed lyiq in every
direction must twit: been most severe.

My b-st thanks are due to Capt;,io Smith and Comman-
ders Etres and Clarke, for the efficient a.,(l able support
they havc afforded me. It is impossible to say ton much
in lav,,ur of aol those under my command, their conduct
merit; my warmest approbation. Of Li .ut. Boners (first
of this ship) I cannot speak too highly. In the attack of
the breach he received a severe sabre wound across the
knee, which I fear wit deprive me for some time of his
sertices. I beg le,;ve to recommend him most strongly to
your fivourablo consideration, as well as Mr. Luard, mate,
who behaved most gal'ai.tly ut the breach ; the zealous
conduct of this promising young offi:er has repeatedly
drawn forth my commendations.
Our damages are very trifling, being merely some of the
standing rigging cut assay and a shot turough our hull, the
fire of the enemy passing all over us.
Enclosed I beg leLvo to return a list of wounded on
board toe Samarang. I have, &e.,
(S gned) JAMES SCOTT, Captain.
Her Majesty's ship Samarang, Canton River, Jan. 8,
1841. (True copies.)
T. H. MADDOCK, Secretary to the
Government of India.

INDIA.
HERAT AND AFFGHANISTAN.
The events now proceeding in Afignanistan are in the
highest degree interesting and important.
At the commencement of the month information was
received here, by way of Sukkur, of the advance of a Persil!'
army on Herat, and f the trench. ry of our former ally,
the vassz.l of Shah Soojall Xamrau Shah, who bad sent
out a deputation to meet it. On the arrival of the Persian
forces, the Herat mission immediately left the forting, $