The Sun.
London, England, 1860-11-05 00:00:00

WAR-OFFICE, SUNDAY, Nov. 4, ISGO.

Mr. Secretary Herbert has received two despatches with
enclosures, of which the following are copies, addressed to
him by Lieutenant-General Sir J. Hope Grant, K.C.8.,
commanding the forces in China
Head-quarters, Tangku, Aug. 24, MO.

Sir,—l have the honour to report that the allied forces
were unable to leave I'ehtang until the 12th August, on ac-
count of the very heavy rain, which had made the country
almost impassable.
On that morning, however, the troops marched according
to the following dispositions, viz., the 2d division of infantry,
In Armstrong battery, a rocket battery, Madras sappers, and
the cavalry brigade, with three six-pounders. The whole,
under Major-General Sir Robert Napier, struck off to the
right of the road leading from Pehtang to Sinho, for the
purpose of turning the left of the Tartar position. This
column exprioiced the greatest difficulty in getting through
the deep heavy ground, which extended for more than two
miles out of Pehtang, and .considerably delayed the depar-
ture of the main column, under Sir John Michel, which
moved along the causeway leading directly from Pehtang to
Sinho, and which was composed as follows—the Ist Infan-
try Brigade, a company of Royal Engineers, an Armstrong
battery, 1,000 French infantry, and a French battery, all
under Brigadier S:-.avely. This was followed by the 2d In-
fantry Brigade, two 9-pounder batteries, and a rocket bat-
tery, succeeded by the main column of French.
On approaching the entrenched camp, the Tartar cavalry
moved rapidly down to attack Sir Robert Napier, who was
at this time about two and a half miles off, on my ' right
flank. His report of that part of the engagement I beg to
enclose.

Sir John Michel's division deployed at the same time in
front of the enemy's works, and opened fire with Lieut.-
Colonel Barry's Armstrong battery, and Capt.Desborough's
9-pounders, a French battery being on the left, together
with a French and an English rocket battery. These guns
kept up such a heavy fire, that the Tartars were unable to
resist long, and they abandoned their works, being closely
followed into their second entrenched line at Sinho, which
they were unable t• defend, and fled to Tangku.
I enclose Sir J. Michel's report of this affair.

The enemy's force was composed principally of cavalry,
and numbered about 4,000 men. At Sinho I was joined by
Sir R. Napier's div,ision and the cavalry, who had cut up
a good number of the Tartar horsemen.
The loss of the Chinese was about 100 men.

On the 13th I reconnoitred the ground along the banks of
the Peiho leading to Tangku, and found it tolerably firm,
though intersected with creeks and ditches. I ordered
these to be bridged during the night, and on the morning of
the 14th an allied force moved from Sinho towards Tangku,
keeping their right flank on the bank of the river. The
English part of the force consisted of the Ist infantry divi-
sion under Sir John Michel, and the artillery, as per mar-
gin,* which formed one grand battery under Brigadier-
General Crofton, R.A.
On arriving within a mile of Tangku, a battery and some
junks on the right bank were silenced by two Armstrong
and two 9-pounder guns; and a party of sailors who had
been brought up for the purpose crossed the river and
burned the junks.
The whole of the Artillery was then advanced to within
600 yards of the entrenchment, and opened a heavy fire on
the walls ; two French batteries deployed on our left, the
enemy replying with ten or twelve guns, and a brisk fire
of gingalls and matchlocks. The artillery gradually advanced
to within 350 yards, and the enemy's guns being silenced a
breach was commenced, when a passage across the double
wet ditch was discovered at the river's edge by the 60th
Rifles, and an entrance was effected, the Chinese retiring
with great precipitancy. At the same time the French ad-
vanced with great gallantry and entered by the mein gate,
which had been partially broken in by the artillery fire.
The garrison of Tangku retreated, some into the North
forts, and some across the river to Tangku.
I am happy to say that our losses in these two engage-
ments were very slight, owing to the enemy being com-
pletely paralysed by the superior fire of our artillery.
Forty-five guns were captured in Tangku. My thanks-
are due to Major-Generals Sir John Michel and Sir R. Na-
pier, commanding divisions (the former had a horse killed
under him on the 14th) ; also to Brigadier-General Crofton,
commanding Royal Artillery, and Brigadier Pattie, com-
manding the cavalry, for the able way in which they exer-
cised their respective commands; and the whole of the
officers and soldiers acquitted themselves to my satisfaction.
I beg to enclose a list of etsualties.—l have, &c.,
(Signed) J. HOPE GRANT,
Lieutenant-General,
Commanding her Majesty's Forces in China.
The Right Hon. the Secretary of State for War.

Head-quarters, Tangku, Aug. 24.

Sir,—l have the honour to report that after the capture
of Tar gku on the 14th inst., I commenced bfinging up
siege guns and ammunition from Pehtang with a view to
the reduction of the uppermost fort on the left bank of the
Peiho, distant about two miles from Tangku.
The ground upon which it is necessary to advance was
mostly of a very difficult nature, and intersected with broad
and deep canals used in the manufacture of salt.
I placed Major-Gen. Rir R. Napier in charge of the ad-
vance, his division being quartered at Tangk. Under his
superintendence bridges were thrown over these ditches and
canals by Lieut.-Col. Mann, commanding Royal Engineers;
and heavy guns, as per margin,t with a good supply of am-
munition having been brought into Tangku, the 67th Regi-
ment and an Armstrong battery were pushed forward on
the evening of the 19th, to within 2,000 yards, to cover the
working parties making roads, bridges, &c. On the 20th,
the road was made practicable to within 800 yards of the
fort, batteries were traced, and the heavy guns were brought
out ready to place in position by daybreak of the following

* Armstrong batteries, 22-pounder batteries, 2 rocket
batteries.
t Two 32-pounder guns, two 8-inch howitzers, three 8-
inch mortars, three 59-inch mortars.

day. The Chinese opened fire during the day, and were re-
plied to by Capt. Milward's Armstrcng guns at 2,000 yards
range with good effect, and the firing gradually oeased.
During the night batteries were constructed for the heavy
guns and mortars, and for one field battery, also for two 8-
inch guns, which were brought up by great exertions from
Pehtang during the night; and the whole were placed in
position by daybreak of the 21st August.

It had been arranged witk the Admirals that the gun-
boats should gross the bar that morning, and should engage
the outer North Fort and the flank cf the outer South Fort,
at the same time that the attack on the inner North Fort
was commenced by the land forces.

At five a.m:, however, the Chinese opened fire upon the
troops from all their forts within range, and we were thus
forced to reply an hour earlier than had been intended.
The Artillery was disposed as follows :—A French 24-
pounder battery of six pieces, one English 8-inch gun, and
two Armstrongs, played on the inner South Fort to keep
dcwn the fire they might otherwise have poured on our
right flank. Two Armstrong guns and two 9-pounders
fired from Tangku across the river at an entrenchment
which flanked the French right ; three 8-inch. mortars were
in the centre at 600 yards range, and to their left rear an
Armstrong battery, two 32-pounder guns, and two 8-inch
howitzers, all of which played on the fort we were attack-
ing. In addition to this, two 9-pounder guns, four 24-
pounder howitzers, the remaining two Armstrong guns,
and a rocket battery were placed in the open ground about
800 yards in front of the fort.

The storming party of infantry consisted of a wing of the
44th, under Lieut.-Col. MacMaton, and a wing of the 67th,
under Lieut.-Col. Thomas, supported by the other wings
of the two regiments, and the Royal Marines, under Lieut.-
Col. Gascoigne. A detachment of Royal Marines, under
Lieut.-Col. Travers, carried a pontoon bridge for crossing
the wet ditches, and Major Graham, RE., conducted the
assault. The whole were commanded by Brigadier Reeves.
The fire of the artillery was most effective, the guns of the
fort (of which many were of very large calibre), were spee-
dily silenced, and at about 7 a.m. the magazine blew• up
with a terrific explosion. A few minutes later the maga-
zine in the outer Neith Fort was also exploded by a shell
from the gunboats.

The field guns were all advanced to within 500 yards of
the fort, and redoubled their efforts.

The fire of the luta having almost entirely ceased, a
breach was commenced near the gate, and a portion of the
storming party was advanced to within 30 yards to open
a musketry fire, the French infantry being on the right,
the English on the left.
The fire of the artillery being thus partially compelled to
slacken, the enemy emerged frost their cover, and opened
a heavy fire of musketry on our troops.
The French, under Gen. Collineau, immediately pushed
on to the salient next the river, crossed the wet ditches in the
most gallant manner, and established themselves on the
berm, from whence they endeavoured to escalade the walls;
this, however, they were unable to effect from the vigorous
resistance of the Chinese.

The efforts of the Sappers to laydown the pontoon bridge
were unavailing, no less than 15 of the men carrying it
being knocked over in one instant, and one of the pontoons
destroyed.

At this juncture Sir R. Napier caused the two howitzers
of Captain Govan's battery to be brought up to within 50
yards of the gate, in order more speedily to create a breach,
and a space sufficient to admit one man had just been made
when our storming party, now joined by the head-quarters'
wing of the 67th, under Col. Knox, who had partly crossed
by the French bridge and partly swam over, forced their
way in by single file in the most gallant manner, Lieute-
nant Rogers, 44th Regiment, and Lieutenant Burslem,
67th Regiment, being the first to enter, when they assisted
in the regimental colours of the 67th, carried by Ensign
Chaplin, who first planted them on the breach, assisted by
Private Lane, 67th Regiment, and subsequently on the
cavalier, which he was the first to mount . At the same mo-
ment the French effected their entrance, and the garrison
was driven back step by step, and hurled pell-mell through
the embrasures on the opposite side.
llere the same obstacles which had impeded our advance
obstructed their retreat ; in addition to two wet ditches and
two belts of pointed bamboo stakes, there was swampy
ground, and a third ditch and bank.
The storming parties opened a destructive fire on them
from the cavalier, and this was enhanced by the canister
fire of Captain Govan's guns, which had been moved to the
left of the fort for this purpose.
The ground outside the fort was literally strewn with the
enemy's dead and wounded—three of the Chinese were im-
paled on the stakes. A few fugitives reached the outer
North Fort, which opened fire to cover their retreat, and
was answered by the Armstrong guns with good effect.
About an hour after this the whole of the forts on both
aides of the river hauled down their war banners and hoisted
flags of truce. General Montauban and I sent each an
officer to ask:their meaning, and summon them to surrender,
but they only received an evasive and insolent reply, and
were defied to come on to the attack.
Accordingly two fresh regiments, the 3d Buffs and the
Bth Punjab infantry, having been brought up, I advanced
to attack the outer North Fort. Two 8 -inch guns were
placed in position against it; the other siege guns could not
be brought up.* The field batteries were placed at 800
yards' range on an arc encircling the left and front, the
French guns on our right. Not a shot was fired by the
enemy, and the allied infantry pushed on, crossed the
ditches, and scaled the walls, without meeting any opposi-
tion; the garrison of 2,000 men being made prisoners.
This fort was stronger than the first. They are all con-
structed on the same plan, being redoubts with a thick
rampart heavily armed with guns and wall-pieces, and

having a high cavalier facing seawards, the guns of which
wore all turned in towards us ; they have two unfordable
wet ditches, between which and the parapet sharp bamboo
stakes were thickly planted, forming two belts, each about
15 feet wide, round the fort, an abattis encircling the whole,
and further covered by pieces of water, which force an ad-
vance to be made only on a narrow front.
Towards evening the garrisons of the South Forts were
observed to be evacuating them, and detachments of Eng-
lish and French were passed over in ships' boats, and oc-
cupied them. There is not now the trace Of an enemy near
us, and the whole of the.forts and entrenched camps are in
our hands, containing about 400 guns, many of which are
of very large calibre.
It is difficult to account for the confusion and uncertainty
which seemed to pervade the enemy when the first fort
fell , but it now appears that the general in command was
killed, and the second in command either killed or missing;
and the confusion caused by this, together with the severe
lesson received in the first fort, rendered them incapable
or unwilling of further resistance.
I cannot conclude this despatch without expressing my
sense of the very valuable services of Major-General Sir
Robert Napier, who conducted the attack, and whose as-
sistance has been most useful.
The service of the artillery under Brigadier-General
Crofton was most excellent ; its effects I have already
described.
The engineering operations were conducted by Lieut.-
Colonel Mann ; and, lastly, I must bring to notice the gal-
lant conduct of the storming party, which was commanded
by Brigadier Reeves, who, himself severely wounded in
three places, did not quit the field until ho had conducted
his men into the fort.
The wounded were removed as soon as possible to Taku,
where every arrangement for their temporary reception was
made by Dr. Muir, the principal medical officer.
Many others, both officers and soldiers, behaved in a man.

ner deserving of being mentioned, but want of time does not
permit me to treat of it in this despatch, and of a future
occasion I shall do myself the honour of bringing their
names to your notice.

I would also wish to inform her Majesty's Government
how cordially and sincerely our French allies have co-
operated with us, as well as the admiration I feel for their
gallant conduct in the field.
General de Montauban has always shown every disposi-
tion to act thoroughly in concert with me, and to co-operate
in every manner in his power.

The services of the gunboats will doubtless be brought to
notice by the naval commander-in-chief, and I beg here to
record what a valuable and efficient colleague I hare found
in Admiral Hope, whose unwearing exertions throughout
the whole campaign, and in discharging the onerous duties
of transporting this large force to the seat of war, have
contributed greatly to the success of the operations.
I have, &c.,
(Signed) J. HOPE GRANT,
Lieutenant-General Commanding
her Majesty's Forces in China.
The Right Hon. tho Secretary of state for War, &c.

Head Quarters, Ist Division, Camp,
near Sinho, August 24.

Sir,—l have the honour to report that, in obedience to
the orders of his Excellency the Commander-in-Chief, the
Ist Division, under my command, marched from Pehtang
about half-past ten a.m., on the 12th inst.
On reaching the enemy's second picket-house, which is
about 900 yards from their entrenched position, skirmishers
of the Ist Royals were sent to the left, and some of the 31st
to the] right, and shortly afterwards Colonel Barry's bat-
tery of Armstrong guns, and Captain Martin's battery of
9-pounders (the whole under the command of Captain Des-
borough), opened fire on the enemy's entrenchment at a
distance of about 800 yards; after a cannonade of twenty-
five minutes, the enemy's cavalry were seen moving to their
left from the entrenchments.

The guns then advanced to within 500 yards, and played
on the enemy's position, as also on the cavalry, who were
moving to their right ; the fire of two Armstrong guns
quickly dispersed their cavalry, and in a few minutes the
advance was sounded, and the enemy's position-found to be
abandoned.

The enemy now retired to the entrenched village of Sin-
ho, but Sir Robert Napier's division having turned their left,
the cavalry of the enemy, in large numbers, escaped behind
this village towards the Peiho forts.

The Armstrong guns, at a range of from 2,000 to 2,500
yards, made good practice on the fugitives.