The Sun.
London, England, 1860-11-06 00:00:00

THE CAPTURE OF THE TABU FORTS,

(From the Gazette of this Evening.)
ADMIRALTY, Nov. 5.
Despatches, of which the following are copies, have been
received from Vice-Admiral Hope, C. 8., the Commander-
in-Chief of her Majesty's ships and vessels in China.
CAPTURE OF THE FORTS AT THE ENTRANCE OF THE
PEI-HO.
(No. 287.)
Coromandel, in the Pei-ho, Aug. 27, 1860.
My Lord,—You will be pleased to acquaint the Lords
Commissioners of the Admiralty that on the 12th instant
the allied troops moved out of the village of Pehtang, and
occupied that of Sinho, driving back a considerable body
of the enemy, and taking two entrenched positions on their
march, and that on the 14th they attacked and captured the
fortified village of Tang-kou, the enemy retiring across the
river and into the forts oa its northern bank. To the
despatches of the Lieutenant-General in command I beg
to refer their Lordships for the detail of these and other
purely military operations.
2. The Lieutenant -General in command having ac-
quainted me with his intention of attacking these forts on
the 21st, the French and English gunboats, with the rocket-
boats of the fleet, were moved into the Peiho on the day
previous, in order to shell the outer North Fort, with those
of light draft, while those of larger size should be held in
reserve for the purpose of checking the flank fire of the
Southern Fort, should it open on the troops during their
advance.
3. The attack of the troops on the inner fort commenced
about daylight, and that of the gunboats, which had been
delayed for want of water in the position assigned to them
about six, half an hour later the magazine of the inner fort
exploded, as did that of the outer fort shortly after. At
nine the allied flags were shown from the inner fort, and
at eleven the firing ceased, flags of truce being displayed on
all the remaining forts.
4. During the afternoon the outer North Fort was taken
possession of by the troops without further resistance. In
the evening the South Fort, being deserted by the enemy,
was occupied, and the booms across the river were removed,
but the iron stakes, of which there were two double rows,
being fixed with much firmness, a passage through was
not opened till noon of the following day, when the gun-
boats passed up and anchored off Tang-kou.
5. On the following day, a force of English and French
gunboats* left for Tientsin, and on their arrival next morn-
ing, finding that the town was destitute of troops, and the
authorities anxious to make their unconditional submission,
in concert with Admiral Charner, I placed guards in the
forts and on the city gates, hoisting the allied sags in token
of its military occupation. It is the intention of the Lieu-
tenant-General in command to place an adequate force in
the town or its vicinity, the infantry and artillery portion
of which are now being forwarded in the gunboats.
6. The fire of the gun-boats and rocket-boats f, which I
placed under the orders of Rear-Admiral Jones, to whose
assistance on all occasions I have been much indebted, was
well directed and serviceable : that of the French gun-
boats attracted attention by its precision. Being placed
well in on the mud on the northern bank of the river, at
high water, only one English gun-boat was within long
range of the South Fort, and all being more or less out of
the line of fire of that which they attacked. The enemy,
after a few shot, which fell short, ceased to fire on them,
and consequently they sustained no casualties whatever.
7. While therefore I have not on this occasion to draw
their Lordshipa' attention to conduct, such as that which
distinguished both officers and men in the attack of last
year, I yet gladly avail myself of this occasion to ex-
press the sense I entertain of their unwearied exertions, not
merely in effecting the landing of the army here, an opera-
tion continued without intermission until it was completed,
but also in the fitting out of the transport fleet ; the embar-
cation at Talien-whan Bay, all of which together with the
keeping up the supplies of the army has involved muoh
heavy labour.
8. 1 am indebted to Commander Ward and the survey-
ing officers under his directions, for a chart of Talien-whan
Bay, and the coast line of the extreme of the Gulf of
Pechili, made early in the year, notwithstanding much bad
weather, for accurate surveys of the Pehtang and Pei-ho
rivers, while still in the possession of the enemy, and for
much zeal and ability displayed in subsequently buoying
those rivers.
9. I am unwilling to conclude this despatch without
acknowledging the cordial co-operation on all occasions, of
my colleagues, and more especially of Vice-Admiral Char-
ner, on whose suggestion the effective position assigned to
the gunboats was adopted.—l have, &c.,
J. Hovz,
Vice-Admiral and Commander-in-Chief.
The Right Hon. Lord Clarence Paget, C. 8.,
M.P., Secretary of the Admiralty.

(Inclosure to No. 287, of 1860.)
The undersigned, Hang-fuh, Viceroy of the province of
Chi-li, addresses the following communication to the
English, and French (French and English) Military and
Naval (Naval and Military) Commanders-in. Chief.
On the sth day of the present month (21st August), the
Honourable Commanders-in-chief advanced upon the forts,
both by sea and land, and took those on the northern bank ;
this success proves the efficiency of the troops of the hon-
ourable Commanders-in-Chief, and the Chinese Army
being defeated tender their submission. The latter have
accordingly withdrawn from all the forts on the southern
bank, and are now willing to surrender into the possession
of the honourable Commanders-in-chief all these forts, to-
gether with the whole of their munitions and any fortified
camps or entrenchments. The undersigned further engages
to depute officers to point out to officers on the part of the
Commanders-in-chief the position of any mines that may
be in the forts, and of all secret defences placed in the river,
in order that no injury may be occasioned thereby to the
honourable Allies. It is understood that the delivery of
the forts as soon as effected shall be followed by the cessa-
tion of hostilities in this locality, and also that no injury
shall be done to the inhabitants, who shall be efficiently
protected both in person and property.
A necessary communication, dated Heenfung, 18th year,
7th month, sth day (August 21st), 1860.
Translated by
(Signed) HARRY PA.RRES.
True Copy. (Signed) H. HOPE CREALOCK, Lieut.-Col.,
Military Secretary to her Britannic Majesty's
Special Embassy to China.

PROCEEDINGS OF BATTALION OP MARINES SERVING

WITH THE ARMT.

Coromandel, in the Peiho, Aug. 27, 1860.
(No. 288.—One Inclosure.)
My Lord,—Herewith I forward for the information of the
Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, the report I have
received of the late operations, from Lieutenant-Colonel
Gascoigne, who is in command of the battalion of Royal
Marines serving with the army, and should they prove to
have been so fortunate as to have obtained the favourable
notice of the Lieutenant-General in command, I feel
assured their lordships will feel pleasure in meeting any
request which fmay be made in their favour by his Royal
Highness the Commander-in-Chief.—l have, 4k0.,
(Signed) J. HOPE,
Vice-Admiral and Commander-in-Chief.
Right Honourable Lord Clarence Paget, C. 8.,
Secretary of the Admiralty.

(Inclosure in No. 288 of 1860.)
Battalion of Royal Marines (L. 1.) Ton-Ku,
Aug. 24, 1860.
Sir,—I have the honour to report for the information of
the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, the proceed-
ings of the Battalion Royal Marines under my command,
serving by your order with the expeditionary force, and
attached to the Fourth Brigade in the Second Division,
since landing in Pehtang on the 9th instant.
On the 12th August the whole force (excepting the 99th
Regiment), moved out for Sinho. The Tartar cavalry
showed themselves in great numbers during the advance
and made demonstrations of attack, but were repulsed with
considerable loss, the casualties being few on the side of
the allies. Our own battalion, though engaged, having
none.

On the 14th, at daylight, the artillery with the 3d and
4th Brigades, and a French force, were sent forward to take
the strongly fortified village of Tou-ku. After a severe
bombardment the 60th Rifles effected an entrance at the
west angle upon the river, the casualties having been but
few on the part of the allies. Two deep ditches encom-
passed the place, and the loss to the enemy was great.
On the 21st (having marched out of Ton-ku the previous
evening), the Artillery, Engineers, Royal Marines, 44th
and 67th Regiments, accompanied by about 1,500 French,
moved to the attack of the strong North Peiho Fort. The
right wing of the Royal Marines being sent forward under
Lieut.-Col. J. 0. Travers, to carry the pontoons and
scaling-ladders, these companies were commanded by Cap-
tain J. C. Symonds, Brevet-Major J. C. D. Morrison, Capt.
J. B. Prynne and Lieut. T. H. A. Brenan, with No. 6
Company, which (on account of the deep mud and heiril
weight of the pontoons) was subsequently ordered to assist.
These officers all distinguished themselves by endeavourtieng
to surmount the difficulties that met them at every
ns,4
The pontoons being laid down by order of the Comm_ al
Engineer, the ladders were immediately taken rounedantaoptehe
right angle and put across the ditch. A rush of
smthe n
wide
them caused them to be used as bridges tote o;
water to
ditch, the men standing up to their armpi
support them.
andod the others
An entrance was effected at the main
same time as at the angle. This fort eomm
T,ractice from
and inconsequence of its fall, and some good 4,
gate about the
m anne) the forts
four gunboats (mu shell exploding
f the bat-
pport, and during the as-
iedgeasr
do ft
et hteh rivere
operations,
remainder he ll ies
0.
talion Was kept moving up
required further assist-
on I`)orittlth sr
angle, sbould either pom
Fault tots so placed as to c.omtimnhaanyed access to the gate or the
_ _ _

anCe.
Tile loss to the battalion was 1 privato killed, 5 officers

an-boats Captain Mc ClevertiT—
Fores'ter, and Algerine.
* First Squadron ,
HatvgcliiSrdtaSuliqucandr?rnP°S3,9-1114-boats, under command of Cap-
tain 'Lord John Hay :—Clown, Drake, Woodcock, and
J Third Squadron of Rocket-boats, Commander'Aplin.
Fourth Squadron of Rocket-boats, Comultulder Air 9
I

1 sergeant, 2 corporals, and 21 privates wounded. A list of
them is inclosed and all of them are doing favourably.
thl have the satisfaction of reporting the good conduct of
e
buringatthtalion generally. Lieutenant •Colonel Travers,
these operations, supported his well-known cha-
racter for devotion and untiring energy. Assistant-Sur-
goon D. M. Shaw, was well up to the front under fire, and
gave instant attention to the wounded men. Dr. J. Little's
arrangements for quickly passing them to the rear being
most complete and satisfactory.
Captain Prynne was one of the first to enter the fort,
followed by some men of his company, and shot down with
his revolver a mandarin of note, since ascertained to have
been the General-in-Command.
Captain Pmane speaks highly of Sergeant Teacle, of the
Bth Company, Sergeant Knapp, of the 83d, Corporal Kelly,
•f the 61st, Private Bray, of the 16th, and Private Bower-
man, of the Bth Company. The conduct of Sergeant Henry
Trent, of the 83d Company, was deserving of all praise, as
he continued his indefatigable exertions toget the pontoons
up, although wounded, until another severe wound obliged
him to be taken to the rear.—l have, sir,