The Sun.
London, England, 1860-10-17 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON WEDNESDAY EVENING, OCTOBER 17, 1860.

down so as to resemble the adjacent ground. The
weight of a man placed on these pitfalls would at
once throw him upon the traps, which might or
might not have exploded, for opinions are divided
upon that point. However, thanks to the guide,
the shells were soon dug up and filled with water.
The south fort of Peh-tang, in which we now
found ourselves, consists of two cavaliers, connected
by a curtain with a waving trace. In each of the
cavaliers are embrasures for three guns, in addition
to four in the curtain. Beyond the southern cava-
lier are embrasures for two guns, which would have
completely swept the spot on which the landing
was effected ; and beyond the northern is one
for commanding the bend of the river. The
cavaliers are 30 feet high, the parapet wall 16
feet high and 10 feet thick. The fort is open
behind, its only protection consisting in a crenel-
latedwall affording little or no shelter. A deep and
wide ditch, filled by the tide, surrounds it on three
sides ; on the fourth it is level with the streets of the
town. The embrasures were blinded with mantelets,
and the whole fort was admirably built with a corn•
binatio4 of mud and straw, well calculated for re-
sisting round shot. The north fort is of similar con-
struction, but only carries 11 guns. All the guns
were removed shortly before the attack at the Peiho
last year and taken to a place called Shwang-Kiang,
about 12 miles from Tien-tsin, where there is said to
be a large entrenched camp. In the guardhouse was
found a paper, stating the total strength of the gar •
rison at 504 men. This number, however, included
detachments to various dependent posts; but 327
men were always kept in the forts. They were the
first to leave the place as soon as the allies were seen
approaching. A proclamation was also found, dated
in April last, from the Governor-General of Chih-li.
He informs the people that Sang-ko-lin-sin has been
appointed Generalissimo of all the Mongolian and
Tartar troops in the district, and desires that sup-
plies may be given to them at reasonable rates,
Sang-ko-lin-sin, on his part, undertaking that there
shall be no plunder.
From the top of the northern bastion Sir Hope
Grant and General Montauban took a survey of the
surrounding country, and a wretched scene of deso-
lation it presented. To the east was the sea and
mouth of the river, with its soft mud banks. North,
south, east, and west, one great muddy morass ex-
tended in every direction, not a trace of vegetation
being visible within a circuit of six miles. But one
road could be discovered—the causeway on which
the troops were halted. It therefore became a sad
necessity to take possession of the town and to house
the troops at the expense of the inhabitants. Peh-

tang is intersected by one main street, nearly in the
centre. It was arranged that the portion to the
north should be occupied by the French and that
to the south by the English armies.
Oh, bells matribzo detestata! What painful scenes
does war necessitate, and to what miseries was this
harmless population subjected through the arro-
gance and obstinacy of their own rulers ! They had
not the remotest expectation of a hostile landing in
their town, for, to use their own phrase, " it was a
Taku affair with which Peh-tang had nothing to
do." But the Peiho was staked and the coast inac-
cessible, and so the occupation of Peh-tang became
a military necessity. At a moment's notice 30,000
people were turned out of house and home. Women
with babies in their arms, young girls and old men
were hurrying through the streets, driven from
house to house, and finding no rest. Fortunately,
there were numerous junks in the river by which
many of them at once escaped to the adjacent vil-
lages. Fully one half of the town was occupied at
once by the troops and coolies, and next morning
the latter were despatched in search of forage and
water, so that within 24 hours every house was
broken open.
A sad scene of plunder ensued, in which, accord-
ing to the accounts of the Chinese themselves, nine-
tenths of the mischief was done by tie coolies
attached to the two armies. Sir H. Grant was on
board the Coromandel with the Admiral, about to
proceed up the river on a reconnaissance, when he
heard .what was taking place. He immediately
despatched Major Lowe, military Aide-de-Camp to
the Admiral, with the most stringent orders that
any British soldier or coolie attached to his force
discovered plundering in the streets or houses should
be at once handed over to Captain Usher, the Pro-
vost-Marshal, and severely punished. Captain
Usher was not slack in carrying out his orders,
the English troops were confined to their quarters,
and the roll called frequently. I am most happy to
say that, though for the three days succeeding the
occupation I was constantly in the town, I did not,
even in the unoccupied houses in their own quarter,
discover even one English soldier plundering. Those
caught during the first few hours were severely
flogged, but with regard to the Royals there was
not a single complaint, to the honour alike of offi-
cers and men. An immense number of pigs were
found in the town, and so strict was our General in
carrying out his orders that two unfortunate pri-
vates of the Rifles who had been unlucky enough to
catch a couple of porkers just after the General
passed by, were, by his direction, at once handed
over to the Provost-Marshal, and got two dozen
each. Sir Hope was quite right in punishing this
disobedience, but it was rather hard on the men, for
the French, who act on a different system, were
carrying off the unclean animals in every direction.
Passing a large house in one of the principal
streets, I heard the voices of women crying for help.
On entering, I found Lieutenant Roberts, of the
Royals, who is attached to the Coolie Corps. Two
of these fellows were discovered in a room where
three or four women had secreted themselves, whom
they were beating over the heads with bamboopole3,
in order to exact information as to where their
money R as kept. The Provost-Marshal gave them
a tremendous castigation on the spot, but not a
whit more than they deserved. In the corner of the
room sat an old woman of 90, in second childhood,
nearly imbecile, and trembling with fear. On his
knees before Lieutenant Roberts was her son, a
man of 50, who, with clasped hands and streaming
eyes, apparently besought for mercy. Mr. Roberts
in vain attempted to raise him, and was unable to
ascertain what he wanted. Fortunately, Mr. Mor-
gan, oue of the interpreters attached to the army,
happened to be passing, and stated that the man
was begging for a few hours' delay in order to make
arrangements and get his mother and family on
board a junk. It was absolutely necessary to have
possession of this house, -but, at the greatest in-
convenience to himself, Lieutenant Roberts granted
the required delay, and in the afternoon saw the
whole family safely out of the town. Returning
home I passed a box in the street with a French
sentry over it. I lifted the lid and found the bodies
of two young girls of 15 or 16 who had been
poisoned by their friends lest they should fall into
the hands of the " barbarians." They were par-
tially clothed, and, from the active state of decom-
position, it was clear they must have been killed as
ccouuil d 60,701 t i yo
wt he
ve se or
the army entered the town.
stande r
es tiosr ioenseaadtttennfidnetd.ti
by
yn
bult
such exceptionally painful circumstances that I can-
not omit it. When Mr. Parkes came into the fort
he was accompanied by a Chinaman fairly educated,
and evidently a better class of shopkeeper. He it
was who pointed out the mines, told whence the
water could be brought, and gave much valuable in-
formation. Not having seen his friend for two days,
Mr. Parkes on Saturday morning went in search of
his house. The doorway was broken open, and in a
large room at the back lay the dead bodies of three
women, evidently mother and daughters. A China-
man who had recognised Mr. Parkes followed him
into the house, and poured out a most incoherent
story, which he ended by offering to show him the
man he searched for. He was at the French hos-
pital, recovering from the effects of poison, and told
his story in the following terms :—On the day after
the town was occupied his house, which was in the
French quarter, was broken open and plundered
eight or ten times by coolies and three or four
times by French. Mr. Parkes had told him that if
attacked by coolies he should mention his name, and
say he was under his protection. The first band of
plunderers happened to be Cantonese, and retired,
disappointed and swearing. The next batch came
from Shanghai, and so the. invocation of "Parkes"
was ineffectual against them. They threatened the
women and commenced breaking open all the
drawers and cupboards, destroying what they did

not carry off. At length, towards nightfall, this
poor man and his family, fairly frightened to death,
determined on poisoning themselves. The opium
acted much more rapidly on the women than on

the man, who was probably aecustomed to its use,
and when the last party of French arrived, they
tound the women dead and the man just alive.
They carried him to the hospital. There a strong
emetic was administered, and he is now walking
about. On Monday Mr. Parkes took two coolies,
and, accompanied by Captain Grant, went with
the Chinaman to his house, in order, if possible,
to save something from the wreck. On behold-
ing the scene of desolation which awaited, him, the
poor fellow burst into tears, and regretted that his
life had been saved—ruined, wifeless, and childless
as he was. Mr. Parkes did his best to administer
comfort, and he will now be properly looked after.
I trust and believe that the result of all this will be
that the army will never occupy another town with-
out giving the inhabitants 48 hours' notice to depart
with their valuables. The force which landed on
the Ist inst. was drawn up on a narrow causeway,
surrounded by a sea of mud, where no tent could be
pitched, and unless the troops had been housed at
once they must inevitably have perished during the
rain which fell soon after our arrival. It was a hard
necessity of war, and most devoutly it is to be de-
sired that such a necessity may not again arise. A
kinder hearted man than Sir Hope Grant does not
exist, and no efforts are or will be wanting on his
part to diminish the miseries entailed by a hostile
force. Above all, it is to be hoped that the women
will be protected, for I have heard of scenes—in
which English soldiers took no part—that I cannot
describe, though happily, they are few in number.
The houses of Peh-tang are built of mud, one
story high, with rooms running out of each other,
like a rabbit-warren. Never—not in the wildest
parts of Bulgaria or the farthermost steppes of
Russia, have I seen so miserable a place, and yet
thesewretchea houses contained much valuable pro-
perty in silks, furs, and embroideries. The officers
of the 15th Punjaubees occupy the principal pawn-
broking establishment. Room after room is piled
from roof to ceiling with costly goods, all neatly
ticketed and perfectly arranged, An enormous
provision of water was kept in large stone jars,
some houses having as much as six or
eight tons. This water is brought down in boats
from a place about six miles distant. In the house
occupied by Brigadier Crofton is a curious collection
of pictures, principally caricatures. One, represent-
ing the signature of Sir Henry Pottinger's treaty,
is uncommonly well executed. The Mandarins are at
one table, the British authorities at another, their
uniforms strictly copied; down to the proper number
of stripes on the Post-Captain's arm. Behind them
are six marines, and behind the Mandarins.an equal
number of" braves." This house is one of the best
in the town—large, airy, and spacious. From three
courtyards, in one of which is a grapery, the rooms
run out in every direction without plan or order.
The centre court communicates with the women's
apartments—the nurseries on one side, the sleeping
rooms on the other. In the former toys, little
shoes, and Chinese primers lay scattered about,
while the principal sleeping apartment was rich in
silks, embroideries, and small-footed satin bottines,
covered with paper butterflies, which spread their
wings to the air and fluttered about as their owner
toddled along. In this room also was a mechanical
group of a most filthy character, which was immedi-
ately destroyed. In the building occupied by Bri-
gadier Pattle we picked up a letter, enclosing a
document written in the most delicate characters,
and a model of caligraphy. It turned out to be
from Pekin, and addressed to an uncle by his
nephew—studiorum emeritus. He had passed his
examination for the second degree, and sent a copy
of his successful essay. His letter was full of plans
for visiting his relations at Peh-tang, and was only
dated in April. The wreck and ruin spread around
us afforded an excellent commentary on the vanity
of human wishes.
The Commissariat have taken possession of a num-
ber of the country carts, in one of which it was pro-
posed that Mr. Bruce should have entered Pekin as
Minister of England. They are of the most wretched
description,—common arabas without springs, co-
vered like the tilted market carts in Holland.
There is no seat inside, and not more than three
feet and a half from the roof to the floor. A curtain
let down in front, and the contents of the vehicle
could be carried from one end of China to the other
without any Chinaman being one whit the wiser.
The object of the Pekin Mandarins in insisting that
the Ambassadors of France and England should
land at Peh-tang, and travel in such vehicles, is
abundantly apparent. However, to Peh-tang the
Emperor ordered the allied Ministers to go and
wait his pleasure, and to Peh-tang the allied armies
have come, and only wait the morrow to advance
on the Peiho. In no sense can Peh-tang be said to
be the highway to Pekin. Between the river on
the banks of which we landed, and the Peiho there
is no communication, except it be by canal. This
river runs to the north, while the course of the
Peiho is westward. Sad, indeed, is it that the ob-
stinacy of the war party should cause such miseries
to an unoffen ding multitude, but a lesson will shortly
) be read which Sang-ko-lin-sin himself is not likely
to forget.
Having taken a trip up the river in the Coromandel,
to search for a practical road, and having discovered
nothing but mud and osier beds for four miles, Sir
Hope Grant determined to make a strong reconnais-
sance along the causeway on the morning of the 3d.
At 4 a.m. the force started from the town. It con-
sisted of 1,000 men of the Queen's Rifles, and 15th
Punjaubees, under the command of Brigadier Sut-
ton, and an equal force of French, under.the com-
mand of Gen. Collineau, with two French rifled
3-pounder mountain guns, and a party of engineers.
It was arranged that the French should be in ad-
vance, the English in support, and so they marched
along the road. For three miles the prospect was
unvaried, a raised mud causeway and a sea of mud
and water on either side. Then came a ruined joss-
house on the road, where a few Tartar vedettes
were visible, who retired as the head of the column
approached. About half a mile further stood a
bridge, about 15 feet wide, at a point where the
causeway had been cut, so as to admit the flow of
the tide to the other side and prevent the road being
flooded. This bridge the enemy did not attempt to
destroy. Half a mile beyond the bridge the raised
causeway stops, at a point where the tide ceases to
flow. The road is then carried over the level of the
flat, which consists of hard mud, sparsely covered
with thin green furze bushes. Here are three de-
serted houses, which were occupied by some 300
Tartars, with mounted vedettes extended on either
side. The night had been rainy, and the causeway
was ankle-deep in mud, and the ditches full of water.
Soon after the head of the column had passed the
bridge the enemy opened a sharp fire from gingals
and matchlocks. The ditch is here fully three feet
deep, but on the French being ordered to deploy
they jumped in at once, formed on either side the
road, advanced skirmishing behind the salt mounds,
and drove in the Tartar outposts, who retired be-
hind the houses on the right of the road. They then
showed 2,000 or 3,000 cavalry extended right and
left, protecting their own flanks and threatening
those of our allies. The two French mountain guns
were ordered to the front, and commenced shelling
the houses. In 10 minutes the enemy again retired,
and the column continued its advance. The road
now ran over the flat, the country around being
practicable for cavalry, though flooded in many
places by the heavy rains of the previous night.
The French formed on the right of the road, and the
English on the left, in column in echelon of regi-
ments. This formation was rendered necessary by
the deep pools interspersed here and there, which
prevented an advance in line. A large intrenched
camp was seen stretching right across the road,
protected by crenellated mud walls and by salt
hills. From the moment the first shot was fired
the enemy had been receiving constant reinforce-
ments, until at length they had fully 5,000 cavalry
in the field. A large body manoeuvred to threaten
the left flank of the English, who changed front to
the left, and the Queen's threw forward two com-
panies of skirmishers up to the edge of some pools,
where they opened fire on the cavalry. They soon
retired, and the skirmishers were recalled. All this
time a heavy fire was kept. up by the Tartars. The
fire was well directed, but from the great 'distance

at which it was opened—at least 1,500 yards—the
balls of the gingals and matchlocks did very little