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

'TUBE OF THE TAKU FORTS

(From a Supplement to the Gazette of Friday.)
FOREIGN-OFFICE, Nov. 3, 1860.
Th c following despatches have been received at
the Foreign-office from the Earl of Elgin, her
Majesty's High Commissioner and Plenipotentiary
in China :

Steam Sloop Grenada, Pehtang, August 20, 1860.
(Received Nov. 2, 8.15 p.m.)
Iy Lord,—l have the honour to enclose translations of
Van .fe despatches which I have received from the Governor-
Gel feral of this province, with a copy of my reply.
The rapidity with which these missives succeed each
other, is evidence of the desire of the Chinese authorities to
arrest our military operations.
It was not in my power to reply with corresponding
celerity, because I thought it right, before so doing, to con-
fer not only with Vice-Admiral Hope, who is on the spot,
but also with Lieutenant-General Sir Hope Grant, at the
head-quarters of the army, and with Baron Gros, whose
residence is at the anchorage in the gulf.
No reference is made in these despatches to the demands
conveyed in Mr. Bruce's ultimatum.
it is, of course, impossible to listen to overtures which
are marked by so significant an omission.
Moreover, I think it important after all that has occurred,
that the occupation of the Peiho Forts by our military
force,"and the opening-up of the river to Tientsin, should
precede any serious negotiations for the re-establishment of
peace; and with this view, I have deemed it my duty to
signify to the Commanders-in-Chief my anxious desire that
they will expedite to the utmost their measures for effecting
these objects.—I have, &c.,
(Signed) ELGIN ♦ND KINCARDINE.
The Lord John Russell, &c.

Hang, Governor-General of Chih Li, &c., makes a
communication.

Whereas the powers along the seas that trade with, or
while they trade with, China, are always held to be at peace
with her ; since the arrival of the British Minister he has
been daily moving troops (or engaged in hostilities), the Go-
vernor-General cannot say with what intention. Himself
looking up and identifying himself with his Majesty the
Emperor's bounteous love for all living souls, on the re-
ceipt of the British Minister's communication he at once
acquainted his Majesty with the truth (or made true report
of its contents to his Majesty), and he has this day the
honour to receive an imperial decree to the effect that his
majesty the Emperor has appointed a Minister to await in
the capital the British Minister's arrival there, in order
that they may confer together.
In obedience to his Majesty's decree the Governo-Gene-
ral makes this communication, to which he hopes [the Bri-
tish Minister] will be so good as to reply.

A necessary communication, addressed to his Excellency
Lord Elgin, &c. _ _

Hien -Fang, 10th year, 6th moan, 28th day-14th
August, 1860.
._.
......

Translated by (Signed) THOMAS WADE, Chinese Secre-
tary.

Hang, Governor-General of Chih Li, &c., makes
a communication.
On the 28th instant (14th August), the Governor-
General, as the records show, wrote to apprise the British
minister that he had had the honour to receive an imperial
decree to the effect that his Majesty had appointed a high
officer to await in the capital the arrival of the British
Minister to confer with him and settle matters.
The officer sent in with this, on his return, reported that
a white flag was lying in the British camp, showing a de-
sire for the suspension of hostilities (or indicating an inten-
tion to suspend hostilities). Evidence so complete of the
British minister's desire to maintain friendly relations un-
broken, is extremely gratifying.
Although it was not the Governor-General who nego-
tiated the treaty of the Bth year (1858) with the British
minister, still as his Majesty as been so good as to appoint
a minister, to await the British minister's arrival in the
capital, negociations could at once be entered on.
_ _

It will doubtless be right, however, now that peace is
solidly established between the two nations, that arms
should be laid aside for evermore. As soon as the Go-
vernor-General shall receive the British minister's reply,
he will send an officer to learn what day it will suit him to
Nx. for an interview at which everything may be discussed.
A necessary communication addressed to his Excellency
Lord Elgin, &c.

Hien Fung, 10th year, 6th moon, 29th day—August 15,
1860.

Translated by THOMAS WADE, Chinese Secretary.

Hang, Governor-General of Chih Li, &c., makes a
communication.
The Governor-General has twice addressed the British
Minister, and has as yet received no reply.
On the 13th instant (16th August), about the hour of
eight, he had the honour to receive an Imperial decree, to
the effect that "his Majesty had instructed an Imperial
Commissioner to proceed [to this place] to negotiate, and
that he will arrive immediately. Respect this."
It becomes his duty to communicate this to the British
Minister, who he trusts will instruct the military and naval
commanders-in-chief to suspend hostile operations, and so
prevent any loss on either side, as this might occasion a
breach of friendly relations.

He, therefore, writes a necessary communication ad-
dressed to his Excellency the Earl of Elgin, &c.
Hien Fung, 10th year, 6th moon, 30th day—August 16,
1860.

Translated by Thomas WADE, Chinese Secretary.

The undersigned, the Earl of Elgin end Kincardine, her
Britannic Majesty's Ambassador Extraordinary and Pleni-
potentiary in China, has received three despatches from his
Excellency the Governor-General of Cbih Li, under date
respectively the 14th, 15th, and 16th instant.
The Governor-General announces, first, the appointment
of a high officer, who is to wait the arrival of the under-
signed iz Pekin, subsequently the immediate approach of an
Imperial Commissioner, and requests him to call on the
Commander-in-Chief of her Britannic Majesty's forces to
desist from further hostilities.

In his despatch of the Bth instant the undersigned
apprised the Governor-General that the military and
naval cemmanders-in-chief had been called upon to
act, in consequence of the unsatisfactory reply given
by the great council to the demands of the British
minister, conveyed in his letter to the council in March
last. They are engaged in Wring possession of the Taku
forts, and opening up a passage for the undersigned to
Tientsin. Until the object shall have ben accomplished,
and sufficient assurances given of the resolution of the
Chinese Government to concede points demanded in the
letter in question, the undersigned cannot call on the mili-
tary and naval commanders-in-chief to suspend their ope-
rations. (Signed) ELGIN AND KINCARDINE.

Tientsin, August 26, 1860.

(Received Nov. 2, 8.15 p.m.)
My Lord,—l have the honour to enclose the translation
of a despatch to me from the Governor-General of the pro-
vince of Chih Li, which was sent on board Admiral Hope's
vessel when he reached this place on the 21th inst. ; also
a despatch to me from Hang and Wan, announcing the
appointment of Kweiliang, with whom I negotiated the
treaty of 1858, and Hang Fah, the Governor-General of
the province of Chili Li, to be Imperial Commissioner to
treat with me at Tientsin.—l have, &c.,

(Signed) ELGIN AND KINCARDINE.
The Lord John Russell, &c.

Hang, a President of the Board of War, Governor-General
of the Province of Chili Li, makes this communication :
I beg to inform you that I, having in the first instance
retired from Taku to Tientsin, have now caused to be
withdrawn from the latter place all the troops forming its
garrison, and also to be removed the guns from all the
batteries. As we are now establishing friendly relations
between our two countries, I hope that when your Excel-
lency cornea to Tientsin, you will not bring many vessels
of war, which I fear night excite alarm in the minds of the
ilhabit'inte• To this end I address you.
To his A communication.
Hien
w,atellency the Earl a Elgin, &c.
Punic, loth y, 7th month, 7th day,
(Itigtist 23, 1860.)

Wan, by Imperial APpointment Minister Resident of
sening, and Itang;by Imperial Appointment, Minister
co CommunicaGtintrollei-one;---
enral of the Ronsehold, &c., makes this

• (Trauslatio
On the 9th day of the seventh 11.-
perial des : mouth
(25th August) we
receive at Tientsin an Im
the month, in the following term" dated the Bth day of
We hereby appoint Kweiliang Hangud
by express
High Commissioners. Let Kweiliallg p Fu Imperial
to join his colleague, and transact businZsceed
Respect this.
On the same day we received another decree, as follows:
Let Hang-ki remain at Tientsin, to transact
b
cinder the orders of Kweiliang and Hang Full. wasuitnees
fit to come immediately to the capital. Respect this. Blin
We make known the above to your Excellency, and we
Excellency request that you will wait the arrival of his
Kwei, Imperial High Commissioner and a member of the
council, who is to come to Tientsin, and in concert with
his Excellency Hang, Imperial High Commissioner and
Governor-General of the province of Chili Li, conduct ne-
gotiations with your Excellency.
This is important.

A communication.
To the Earl of Elgin, &c.
Hien Fung, 11th year, 7th moon, 9th day.

(Extract of a Despatch from the Earl of Elgin to Lord
- John Russell.)
Steam Sloop Granada, Tientsin, August 26, 1860.
(Received Nov. 2, 8.15 p.m.)
4 I have the honour to inform your lordship that I arrived
last night at this place.
My despatches enclose translations of several communi •
"Molls which I have received from Chinese functionaries.'"
A Pentad of these various documents will, I think, sit-

- „

tisfy your lordship that the Emperor of China desires
peace, although he has not fjuite yet made up his mind to
concede all that lam instructed to demand. His reluc-
tance to do so will no doubt be surmounted in d .e time,
Vice-Admiral Hope and Lieut.-General Sir H. Grant
have exerted themselves to the utmost to prey nt the cala-
mities of war from falling with severity en the peaceable
inhabitants of the country. This co se is recom-
mended by policy, as well as by humanity ; !or here, as in
other parts of China, the people, when unmolested, prove
to be the moat useful purveyors for the wants of the army.
The cavalry brigade, consisting of two squadrons of
King's Dragoon Guards, and Fane's and Probyn's horse,
with Stirling's 6•. pounder battery, have just arrived. They
performed the journey frgm Peiho to this place by land.
Mr. Wade, who, at my request, accompanied them, reports
that their march has been most prosperous; that the
people, though greatly alarmed at their appearance, took
heart when they found that they were not maltreated, and
offered readily for sale such supplies as the country affords.
Lieutenant-General Sir Hope Grant has found a suitable
encampment for them in the vicinity of the town.

The persons (gentry of this place) who were appointed to
procure supplies for Sang Kolinsin's army have, at Mr.
Parke's instance, undertaken to perform that service for
us.—l have, &c.,
(Signed) ELGIN AND KINCARDINE.
The Lord John Russell, &c.

Tientsin, Aug. 26, 1860.

(Received Nov. 2, 8:15 p.m.)
My Lord,—l have the honour to enclose the copy of a
very interesting report which I have received from Mr.
Parkes, who, at my request accompanied Vice-Admiral
Hope when he advanced upon Tientsin on the 23d instant,
and who has, since the admiral's departure, been rendering
the most useful services in making arrangements fur the
reception of the allied troops and ambassadors at this place.
—I have, &c.,
(Signed) ELGIN AND KINCARDINE.
The Lord John Russell, &c.

Tientsin, Aug. 26, 1860.
My Lord,—l have the honour to make the following
report to your lordship of particulars which have come
under my notice during the proceedings of the last three
days. _

After quitting your lordship on the morning of the 23d
inst., I joined Admiral Hope, who proceeded up the Peiho
in his tender, the Coromandel, accompanied by a division of
five gunboats. At half-past two p.m. the forts of Shwang-
keang were passed, and found to be deserted. The people
of the various villages on the banks of the river turned out
to look at the steamers as they passed along, and, far from
evincing any feeling of hostility, gave proof of their good
will in hauling, entirely of their own accord, at the hawsers
or ropes that had occasionally to be landed, and also in
bringing fresh fruit and vegetables to the boats that were
sent ashore on this service.
At seven p.m. our small squadron anchored at a point
ten miles below Tientsin, and I had an opportunity of con-
versing with a number of respectable persons who repre-
sented themselves as a deputation sent by the people of the
city to pay their respects to the allied commanders. From
them I learned that the authorities entertained no idea of
defending the extensive works recently thrown up by Sang
Kolinsin for the defence of Tientsin, and that both garrison
and guns had been withdrawn. That San Kolinsin himself
had passed by the place the previous day (or within 24 hours
of his abandonment of the southern Peiho forts), but only
with a small body of one or two hundred jaded horsemen,
and that he himself was too dispirited to enter the city. The
Viceroy Hangfuh, they said, had also
..arrived from Taku
this day at noon.
Admiral Hope having determined, upon receipt of this
intelligence, to occupy Tientsin with the small force he had
with him, the gunboats pushed on the following morning,
and having landed parties of marines at the two forts which
command the approach to Tientsin, arrived off the city about
9 a.m. Several subordinate officers came off with polite
messages from their superiors, in reply to which the Admi-
ral requested the viceroy to come himself to the Coro-
mandel. His Excellency complied without hesitation, and
was accompanied by Hangke and Wantsenen, the officers
commissioned by the Emperor to escort your lordship to
Pekin. Admiral Hope informed them that they must con-
sider Tientsin to be in possession of the allied forces ; that
the people would be scrupulously protected, and the civil
authorities allowed to remain in the exercise of their func-
tions, and he showed them a proclamation which I had
prepared by his direction for the purpose of apprising the
people of this change in their position. The viceroy and
his companions made an ineffectual attempt to induce Ad-
miral Hope to regard them as the governors of the city, but
a reference made by them to Canton led the Admiral to
observe that the situation of the two cities and of their re-
spective native authorities must be considered parallel.
While this interview was proceeding a party of marines had
taken possession of, and hoisted the English and French
flags on the east gate of the city, and the above-mentioned
proclamation was posted in the same public thoroughfare.
The Admiral having desired me to remain at Tientsin
and to act with Captain M'Cleverty as occasion might re-
quire, I proceeded to inform myself of the condition of the
city. Having found out the temporary residence of the
viceroy and commissioners, I had a long and friendly con-
versation with them on the position of affairs, my object
being to make it plain to them that the Chinese Government
had it in their power to arrest the progress of hostilities—
hostilities which they by their faithless acts had entirely
brought upon themselves, by agreeing inconditienally to
the terms of your lordship's letter to the viceroy of the
17th inst., and that delay in doing so was full of peril to
them. The viceroy told me that he had forwarded that
letter to Pekin the moment he had received it, but no fur-
ther instructions had reached him on the subject. I pointed
out that, during the short intervening period, all the Taku
forts and Tientsin had fallen, and that our army was now
on the march, remarks which led them to offer many perso-
nal assurances of their wish for the restoration of peace, &c.
Having knowledge that a committee of supply had been
formed, by Sang Kolinsin, at Tientsin, to assist him in his
operations, I requested the viceroy to direct the native gen-
try who compose this committee to act as a board for the
supply of our troops with fresh provisions, and before the
evening had closed in I had the satisfaction of arranging with
several members of this committee the manner in which
large supplies of bullocks, sheep, fruit, and vegetables were
to be brought in for our use.
The following morning, the 25th, the first supply of pro-
visions that had been ordered was punctually delivered,
and the committee rendered me further assistance in a
search which I then made for suitable quarters for your
lordship, and undertook the repair of another building
which may be required for the public service. At an in-
terview which I had with the commissioner Hangke, he
showed me an imperial edict dated the previous day
(24th), appointing K wei-leang and Hangfuh (the vice-
roy), to be Imperial Commissioners for the transaction
of business with your lordship, and ordering the former to
travel by post to Tientsin. I spent the greater part of this
day in visiting many of the streets of the city, and the
country around it; and wherever I went, although I was
unaccompanied by any guard, the people received me in a
very friendly manner, and evinced but little alarm at the
new state of things. I observed that women were being I
taken out of the city; but bullocks, droves of sheep, forage,
&c., were being brought in, and most of the shops remain
open. At one place, Peitsang, five miles from Tientsin,
300 or 400 of the villagers set themselves willingly to work,
by my desire, to clear out some granaries which I thought
might be required for the accommodation of our troops.
I have noticed that the viceroy has removed from the
streets, as I requested him to do, the recent hostile procla-
mations of Sang Kolinsin. But one met my notice, issued
only six days ago, in which the people are informed that
the allies have been defeated, and we are now suing for
peace, and that therefore the people need not be alarmed,
nor remove from the city.
This morning I again had occasion to see the Commis.
sioner, Hangke, and he showed me an Imperial edict de-
priving Sang Kolinsin of his three-eyed peacock's feather,
his honorary position in the body-guard, and his command-
in-chief of the Manchoo-bordered blue banner. The edict
characterises the above as a " light punishment."—l
have, &c.,

(Signed) HARRY S. PARKES.
The Earl of Elgin and Kincardine.

French Head-quarters, Tungko, Peiho River, August 25,

1860.

(Extract.) (Received November 2, 8.16 p.m.)

My Lord,—l have the honour to' inform your lordship
lig the allied forces are in possession of the Peiho Forts,
and that the river is now open up to Tientsin, whither it
is the intention of the commanders-in-chief to proceed im-
mediately, each with 1,000 men and• a battery of artillery.
The remainder of the allied forces to move up to some
eligible ground within about 16 miles of Tientsin.

In consequence of the heavy rains the troops were un-
able to leave Pehtang until the morning of the 12th of
August, when a force of 2,000 French and English, with
two batteries of artillery, marched along the causeway to
attack the Chinese intrenched camps situated about five
miles from Pehtang; Gen. Janvrin's division followed. Sir
Robert Napier's division previously moved to the right by
a sort of cross road, which was supposed eventually to di-
verge towards the same direction. On arriving within
range of the first camp, the artillery:opened and soon drove
the Tartar's cavalry, &c., out of it. The same with the
second. Whilst this was going on, a large body of Tartar
cavalry came down and actually rode within 200 yards of
Sir Robert Napier's artillery. The infantry opened fire,
our cavalry charged, and dispersed them, causing them
considerable loss.
General de Montauban then marched a force with artil-
lery along a causeway to attack what appeared to be a large
entrenched camp close to the river E'eiho, bnt upon open-
ing fire, found that nothing could be effected from the
causeway, the ground on either side being impracticable ;
he sounded the retreat, and
encamped his force on the
ground between the two entrenched camps taken in the
morning.
Monday was employed in building, bridges, &c., over the
various creeks. On Tuesday morning a division of sash
force, with its artillery, the English to the right and the
French to the left, marched to the attack of the entrenched
camp above mentioned

The artillery opened, and gradually approached to within

400 yards, silenced the fire of the Chinese guns, the infan-
try with difficulty crossed two big ditches, scaled the walls,
and captured the camp and villages of Tungko. Sir R.
Napier took up his quarters in the place with his division.
The French marched back to their camp. The loss in
killed and wounded was slight on the part of the allies ; the
total hot exceeding 20.
On the 15th instant, the Emperor's fete day, salutes were
fired.

The time was employed till the 18th in getting up provi-
sions, building various bridges, the tide constantly flooding
the whole country, and in fixing upon a spot for one to be
built over the Peiho, where the French engineer, having
crossed the river with two companies of Chasseurs to recon-
noitre the ground on the other side, was attacked by the
Tartar cavalry and a fire of gingals, &c, opened upon him.
The Chasseurs drove away the cavalry, and more troops
having crossed the river the Chinese withdrew.

The construction of the bridge immediately commenced.
Sunday and Monday nights were employed by Sir R.
Napier in throwing up batteries, &c.,.and on Tuesday the
21st, about 5 a.m., a force of 1,600 English, and 1,000
French, with all the heavy guns which could be brought
up, commenced the attack of the forts, the Chinese being
the first to open fire. The firing of our artillery, English
and French was excellent, and soon told with great effect
upon the fort, a powder magazine inside of which was
blown up. The besieged made a most determined resist-
ance, and it was not till after two hours heavy cannonad •
ing that the infantry was ordered to advance.
Nothing could surpass the desperation with which the
besieged fought, every description of missile being brought
to bear upon the attacking parties. At length, after a very
prolonged resistance, the English and French succeeded in
getting a footing in different parts of the fort, each much
about the same time, and the allied flags were planted
upon the top of the cavalier in the fort.

The Chinese Commander-in-Chief, a relation of Sang
Kolinsin's was killed in this fort, the whole of which was
strewed with the bodies of the dead and dying. The French
loss in the attack was about 130 killed and wounded, and
the English about 200.

The gunboats, during the attack upon this fort, fired at
long range upon the North Fort nearest the:mouth of the
river, in order to create a diversion. They also succeeded
in blowing up a magazine in that fort.

During the time given to rest the men after gaining pos-
session of the fort, a flag of truce was sent from the other
side of the river, but as it was merely bringing a letter for
Lord Elgin and the object appeared to be to gain time, the
order for the attack of the Lower North Fort was given at
two p.m.

To our surprise we approached without a shot being
fired, and having crossed with great difficulty the various
ditches, &c., entered, no resistance being made by about
1,500 men, whom we found in the fort.

It soon became evident, from the appearance of the Great
South Fort opposite, that it had been evacuated ; a small
force was despatched across the river to occupy it.
No sooner had we entered the Lower North Fort than a
tremendous storm came on which soon rendered the whole
country impassible for heavy artillery, and would have pre-
vented our carrying on operations for some days, had they
not luckily been just in time brought to a conclusion.
During the night the navy removed the various barriers
at the entrance of the river, and at daylight the English
Admiral, accompanied by several gunboats, ascended the
river as far as the ♦illage of Tangken, and the day before
yesterday some of them were sent on to Tientsin.
Thus in one day we got possession of all the forts. The
prisoners taken were all set free, and some of our troops
have already cometenced their march upon Tientsin by
land ; 2,000 French and English have also started for that
place in gunboats. Tientsin, I hear, has been made over
to us by the Chinese authorities.

I am happy to inform your lordship that, in all the inter-
course which has taken place between the allied comman-
ders-in-chief, departments, &c., the utmost cordiality has
prevailed, and has mainly contributed to produce the happy
results which I have herewith briefly brought to your lord-
ship's notice.—l have, &c.,

(Signed) ST. GEORGE FOLEY, Colonel,
Her Majesty's Military Commissioner at the
headquarters of the French army in China.
The Lord John Russell, &c.

P.S. Upwards of 500 guns have been taken in the forts,
more than 100 of brass, 50 of which are of a very large
calibre. ST. G. F.

WAR-OFFICE, SUNDAY, Nov. 4, 1860.
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, 1i.C.8.,
commanding the forces in China :
Head•-quarters, Tangku, Aug. 24, 1860.
Sir,—l have the honour to report that the allied forces
were unable to leave Pehtang 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,
an 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 experienced 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 Stavely. 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 division 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 bulks 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, MA.

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 casualties.--I 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,--I hays the honour to report that after the capture
of Tangku on the 14th inst., I commenced bringing 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,- 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 heavyguns 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.