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

EXPEDITIONARY CORPS TO CHINA.

THE GENERAL COMMANDING-IN-CHIEF THE
FRENCH TROOPS IN CHINA TO HIS EXCELLENCY
THE MINISTER OF WAR.
Head-quarters at Sin-Kho, Aug. 18.
, Mousier le Marechal—l have the honour to ad-
dress you the following account of the operations
of the 14th.

The allied army, which left Peh-Tang on the
12th, after having repulsed the cavalry of the
enemy, and driven their infantry from the en-
trenched positions which it eccupied round Sin-
Kho, installed itself the same evening in the vicinity
of this village, which is situated above all the de-
fences of the left bank of the Peiho. The same day
a reconnaissance on a road from Sin-Kho made
known to me that there was at about three miles
below a large intrenched camp, situated round the
village of Tang-Kou, and strongly defended both by,
natural obstacles and forces of infantry and artil-
lery.

This camp, which rested on the Peiho, could only
be reached by two ways; one, the road followed on
the 12th, and of which the sides drowned, so to
speak, by lagunes, did not allow any deploying of
artillery or infantry ; and the other, which was
adopted by the English General in-Chief and my-
self for our principal and common line of operations,
was the left bank of the Peiho itself. This ground
was cut by numerous canals, which presented diffi-
culties to our march, but those difficulties were
overcome by the ever zealous and intelligent co-
operation of the engineers, artillery and pontoneers.
It thus became possible to approach near enough
to the entrenchments to develop the batteries of the
two armies, open an efficacious fire, destroy great
part of the defences of the enemy, and send against
them the columns of assault, which, supported by
the bulk of our forces, were to carry the works.
Such was the plan adopted, and in the morning
of the 14th the two armies moved in the following
order :

The English army, supporting its right on the
Peiho, descended parallel to thexiver, whilst the two
brigades of Generals Jamin and Collineau, in close
columns, and at half distance for deploying,
marched on its left and on the same line. All the
infantry was preceded by artillery, which had on
this occasion to engage first in the action; and the
artillery was covered and supported, particularly
on the left, by an advanced guard of infantry,
consisting of a company of engineers, 200 marines,
and two companies of riflemen.
The ground which we had to go over was less
firm than tbet assigned to our allies, but the march
of the army nevertheless was not delayed. About
eight o'clock the two batteries of four, and the
section of rocketmen deploying to the left of the
English pieces, opened fire with them at about
1,500 metres (1,640 yards) from the entrenchments.
The (precision of the fire, in spite of the very vigo-
rous, but fortunately ill-directed reply of the
enemy, soon produced the effect of allowing Colo-
nel de Bentzman's column to approach their line
by a movement in advance by demi-batteries. The
battery of mountain howitzers entered in line as
soon as the shortened: distance rendered its fire
efficacious.

In the meantime our masses of infantry were
kept at a distance, and I caused to be executed
on our extreme left, on the road indicated above, a
diversion by two pieces of four, supported by the
2d battalion of marines. These two pieces were
to maintain themselves on a line with the left of
the army, and were to destroy the defences situated
at the extremity of the road which it was follow-
ing, that point having been recognised as that to
which the column of assault was to proceed.
The artillery approached to within 400 metres
(437 yards) under a fire which diminished by
degrees. Most of the enemy's projectiles passed
above is, and fell in empty space in advance of our
infantry, which was then deployed in massed bat-
talions.

About nine o'clock the fire of the Chinese was
almost extinguished, with the exception of that
from some embrasures at their extreme right,
which fired on our left.

The moment hEid arrived, and after coming to an
understanding with General Grant, I, approaching
all my infantry by a movement in advance, gave
orders to Lieut.-Colonel Schmitz, chief of my ge-
neral staff, to form the troops of the advanced
guard in columns of assault, and at their head to
carry the enemy's entrenchments.
This superior officer, though at the time rather
seriously unwell, acquitted himself of his mission
with remarkable energy. The company of engineers,
followed by coolies, carrying the ladders, the two
companies of debarkation, Commandant Jauregui-
berry ; the 7th and Bth Companies of the 2d bat-
talion of Chasseurs, Commandant de la Poterie, next
reached the edge of the counterscarp, through a
rather sharp fire of musketry. Lieut.-Col. Schmitz
leaped into the ditch, full of water, followed by Cap-
tains Chanoine and Guorrier, of the General Staff,
and Captains Paillot and Etienne, of the 2d battalion
of Foot Chasseurs. He was the first to reach the top
of the parapet and plant the national flag there in
the sight of the whole army. He called the troops
to him; they rushed into the interior of thei,
woroder.
rks,
in pursuit of the defenders, uow flying in
At the same moment an English cohonn disorder.
den-
tered by another point, and the entrenched
ethe ditch
camp
r
was in our power. A bridge thrown
v
o
soon enabled the other troops to complete the
iw theoetche
occu-
pation, and the pursuit, though
the
numerous canals intersecting
camp in all directions, continued the
to l
beyondnteri theor f
op-
posite side. At this moment, after conferring with
General Grant, we determined to stop.
A great number of dead left on the spot where hundred more found in
the
they had fallen, about a
deserted houses of the village,
rank who had cut their
llage, and the bodies of
several mandarins of high
throats when their troops took to flight, proved
own
that the enemy's losses were considerable, and bore
witness to the destruction caused by our rifled artil-

Lieutenant• Colonel Schmitz, chief of the general
staff.—This superior officer, though seriously indis-
posed, commanded the storming column with
remarkable energy. He was the first to reach the
top of the parapet, after crossing the ditch full of
water, in which he was the first to throw himself.

Captains Chanoine and Guerrier, of the general
staff. In the Artillery, Colonel Bentzman, the com-
mander of the expeditionary corps; Col. Foullon
Grandchamps ; Chef- d'escadron De Laportaliere,
Crouzat, Schneegans ; Captains de Blairville, Coat-
pont, and Marie, who directed and commanded the
batteries which silenced the enemy's fire.
In the naval corps of debarkation :—Captain of
frigate Jaurequiberry, commander; Betzor, quar-
termaster of the Nemesis, killed; and seven non-
commissioned officers and sailors (names given).
In the Engineers, 2d battalion of Foot Chasseurs,
and 3d Regiment of Infantry, of Marine ; 21 subal-
terns, non-commissioned officers, and men (names
given).
The Field Hospital Service, conducted with zeal
and devotedness under the enemy's fire, is also en-
titled to praise and to the gratitude of the army.
DE MONTAUBAN, Commander-in-Chief.
Head quarters of Sin-Kho, 15th August.

Camp of Sin-Ho, Aug. 24.
Monsieur le Marechal—l have had the honour
of addressing to your Excellency the report on the
occupation of the right bank of the Peiho, which
was effected on the 18th of August, by the troops
of the first brigade (2d battalion of Foot Chasseurs
and the Ist battalion of the 101st of the line).
On the 20th, General Jamin, by my order, made
a reconnaissance for the purpose of examining the
defiles in advance of his front. He soon met with
works strongly occupied, and was obliged to halt
before a fire of heavy artillery. It then appeared
evident to me that on both banks it would be im-
pessible to reach the forts without first carrying a
large entrenched camp similar to that of Tang-kon,
wh;ch we took on the 14th. From this moment
the arrangement of the whole of the Chinese works
was well known to me.

On each hank, at the mouth of the Peiho, was an
enormous fort, commanding the sea and the ap-
proaches to the stockades; further up was another
fort covering the fire of the former, and raking the
river; and lastly, for the purpose of protecting the
whole line of defences, was a vast entrenched camp
situated at the extremity of the mainland and of
the lagoons.
The position of General Jamin's brigade covered
my point of passage, and had the effect of threaten-
ing the only line which remained to the enemy.
In accord with General Sir Hope Grant, I ordered
the works of the bridge, which we were construct-
ing in common, to be expedited as much as possible,
but as, in consequence of the breadth of the river,
which is i❑ this place 260 yards, some days would
be necessary to complete this bridge, it was decided
that we should profit by this delay to attack the
Nearest fort of Tan g-kou, on the left back.
The gunboats of the two fleets were at the same
time to cover, with their long range guns, the fire
of the fort on the left bank below that which we
intended to attack.

The English brigade of Sir Robert Napier and
that of General Collineau were designated for this
operation, which was fixed for the 21st.
General Coliineau went to bivouac in the camp
of Tang-kou in the evening of the 20th with a com-
pany of Engineers, the Ist battalion of the 102 d of
the Line, and two battalions of Marines. A battery
of 12 rifled guns, a detachment of pontoneers under
the command of Colonel Grandchamps, and a sec-
tion of field hospitals were to join him at daybreak.
This general immediately placed himself in com-
munication with General Napier, who had taken a
position in advance of Tang-kou, and had sheltered
his siege materiel behind an epauhnent.
It was decided between them that in the attack
of the following day the French troops should oc-
cupy the right of the English.
In the morning of the 21st Collineau's brigade
debouched on the field of operations which pass
through the swampy grounds extending in advance
of Tang-kou. The company of Engineers had pre-
pared this march by filling up during the night a
cutting in the road on the right.
At daybreak the enemy's forts opened fire on the
English artillery.
General Collineau made the following arrange-
ments :—Two pieces joining their fire to that of the
English siege-pieces, were directed against the fort
attacked; the four other pieces, placed on the bank
of the river, commenced a counter fire on the bat-
teries of the forts of the right bank, the fire from
which took us en d'echarpe.
The Ist battalion of the 102 d (Col. O'Malley) and
the Ist battalion if Marines (Col. de Vassoigne)
were deployed in the rear, and sheltered by a bend
in the ground. The 2d battalion of Marines (Com-
mandant Domenech-Diego) remained in reserve at
Tang-kou.
Towards seven o'clock a formidable explosion
took place in the fort we were attacking.
General
Collineau immediately caused three companies
af
the 102 d to advance, who took up a positionfram the
behind
a little epaulement at about 300 metres
counterscarp. The fire of our artilleertyre"raendoeuxbpllead_
its intensity. At about half-pas
sion more terrible than the first t seven
Araewatelvyard,atmheaglierde
the second fort on the left bank.
from the forts on the right annoyedlandus twoexceedingly,
English
p
and two English
howitzers, were br-oiugechestoof gainst them.
against the line of the most
advanced troops, and directed
The decisivemoment
a approached..campto General Col-
Captain Leser-
geant-d'Hendecourt, aide ti
lineau, was sent
in
bly: him to reconnoitre the abstacles.
three fosses full of water, tra-
They
'nuconsistedd y
soil, and only to be reached by
versing
Toads about two yards wide. The
interval between
two slippery the
last two fosses and the foot
of the ramparts where_ _ the fire of our artillery had
not been able to make a breach, was covered with
acoctessory defences of all kinds.
By common a accord, Generals Collineau and
Napier sent forward their columns of assault. The
light company of the 102 d advanced, whilst coolies,
carrying ladders under the direction of a section of
Engineers commanded by Captain Bovet, marched
towards the counterscarp. The 4th company of the
Ist battalion of the 102 d followed close on the light
company, and Colonel O'Malley took the command
of that column. However, the fire of musketry
caused us rather serious losses ; the coolies, of
whom several were struck, were unwilling to ad-
vance, arid a new section of Engineers had to carry
forward the ladders abandoned by them.
Thanks to the skill and activity of the Engineers
and the intrepidity of oufsoldiers, the obstacles were
soon surmounted, and the ladders raised against
the rampart. On the instant Gen. Collineau sent
a supporting column, composed of three companies
of infantry of marine. Then occurred one of thosea
memorable struggles which it is very difficult to
describe. On one side, some men of the 102 d and
of the marine infantry, mounting the ladders
one
by one, bayonet in hand ; on the other an enemy,
fighting desperately with muskets, pits arrow,

and rolling cannon-balls from the fop
The French flag was planted on tf."
Drummer Fachard, of the 4th comb
talion of the 102 d, one of the first arrived, And who
supported an heroic otruggle. Colonel O'Malley,
Chef de battalion Testard, of the marine infantry;
Chef d'escadron Campenon, sent by General Col-
lineau soon after the commencement of the action
to urge on the movement ; Lieut. Bouvier, of the
navy, comma /Wing the coolies ; Lieut.-Colonel Dupla
of the general staff, who had claimed the honour of
marching with the storming column—drew our sol-
diers after them. The energy of the troops over-
bore all resistance; they entered the work. and then
a fresh struggle commenced on that ground, which
the enemy defended inch by inch with indescribable
desperation.
ae s
el with
.o 2two only
andia
wn Were
wounded.ruee spared
duared o h
byA y
At last the fort was taken; the English also
entered on their side; the enemy rushed to all the
issues, throwing themselves from Ate embrasures
into the ditches, and making for the second fort,
under a storm of shot, which strewed the ground
y wounded.
But our losses were heavy and painful, Lieut.
cz.nd pveerrreier ,
of the
the Vooluttigeouf eightrs of the 102 d,
of
te d
their Quartermaster
ow dead
r
ltah,
eattached
etcootxi_
the
corps of the Coolies, were killed;
and Lieutenants
lialme and Porte, Adjutant Lunet, of the 102 d,
w
pany of Voltigeurs alone counts 62 men killed and
wounded. Commandant Testard, before entering'
the fort, was covered with lance wounds and con-
tusions, besides having been knocked backwards
by a cannon ball thrown down on his head.
Although leaving to General Collineau the com-
mand I had entrusted him, I was present through
the whole affair, and was able to observe all its
details.
The sole taking of this first fort was a complete
victory, but it was scarcely nine o'clock in the
morning, and I had to ascertain if great conse-
quences could not be derived from the success we
bad obtained.
I therefore entered the fort to concert with Gen.
Grant. At that moment the fire from the right
bank, which had so much
disqajeted us! in the
ceased
morning, had completely and white flags
were displayed from all the enemy's works.
Bearers of flags of truce presented themselves,
demanding to communicate with the Ambassadors.
General Grant and myself told them that at two
o'clock precisely, unless complete submission were
made, hostilities would recommence. I took advan-
tage of this delay to give repose to our troops.
i
I had given orders to Colonel de Bentzman to
bring up immediately the two batteries of 4, the
second battery of 12, and the section of rocket-men.
The 4's were to be directed on the second fort of
the left bank, which became the new object of our
attack ; the 12's and the rocket-men were to de-
ploy on the banks of the Peiho in such a way as to
attack in counter-battery the great fort on the right
bank, the batteries of which could take our columns
in flank.

At two o'clock precisely Gen. Collineau advanced
on the second fort, leaving in reserve the troops
which had been engaged in the morning, whilst
the artillery deployed kept itself in readiness to
open fire. He arrived with his troops at the brink
of the fosse without receiving a single shot ; the
obstacles were crossed by means of ladders ; the
rampart was escaladed ; the marines penetrated by
a postern situated on the very bank of the river,
and our two columns met in the interior of the fort,
pressing between them a garrison of 3,000 men, who
had thrown down their arms and seemed plunged
in stupor.
This second fort, like the first, was armed With
formidable artillery, and had on its walls pieces of
enormous calibre.

This new success gave the measure of the demo-
ralisation of the enemy.
Chef d'escadron Campenon and Capt. de Cools *
were at this moment engaged in collecting the means
of crossing, and had seized a junk. I ordered them
to cross to the right bank with some English officers,
charged with a similar mission by General Sir
Hope Grant, and to summon the Vieeroy of
Petcheli to immediately abandon all the defences of
the Peiho.

On reaching the opposite shore, these officers at-
tempted to enter the first fort, but were prevented
by a military mandarin, who ordered the draw-
bridge to be raised before them. At this moment
another mandarin, bearing despatches for the allied
generals, presented himself to them. These des-
patches, immediately opened and translated by Mr.
Parkes, of the English army, offered to abandon to
the allies the forts taken !n the morning, and the
opening of the Peiho to the squadrons, but reserving
to the Chinese the forts and works on the right
bank.

These proposals were rejected, and the French
and English officers resolved to go and see the
Viceroy in his yamoun at Takon.
They were well received by him, and a very long
conference ensued with the Viceroy, who appeared
at first immovable.

A r eight in the evening only the Viceroy yielded,
and handed to the officers addressed by him to the
Commanders in-Chief of the allied armies the act of
e,:paulation, in which he gave up all the forts and
entrenched camps n the two banks of the Peiho,
with all the materiel of war, and left free access to
the river. The next morning, at daybreak, this
document was in our hands ; but the evening before
companies of our marine infantry and some English
companies had landed on the right bank, the de-
fences of which had been evacuated in the utmost
disorder by the Tartar troops.
In brief, the action of the 21st has made us
masters of five forts, two immense fortified camps,
an enormous quantity of arms of all kinds, war
stores, and 518 cannon of large calibre.
In concluding this report, I think it my duty
to call your Excellency's particular attention to
' General Collineau, who in the desperate struggle
of the 21st displayed the gallantry and energy
you know him to possess. I cannot speak too
highly of the calmness and military skill with which
he directed the operation. This general officer had
his right epaulet pierced by a ball during the assault.
In fine, from the very outset of this campaign
and in the midst of difficulties without parallel in
Europe, the troops have always distinguished
themselves by their constancy and eagerness for
action. The artillery, which had so important
part to play, has been what it has shown
everywhere. The engineers zealously accomplished
the difficult task imposed on them. The servicell for
of
the field hospitals was above all praise, as itself
the care bestowed on the sick in our hospitals, as
for the first assistance afforded to the wounded on
the field of battle.
I annex to this report the
wounded, the returns of the cannonitaken in the
i t
forts, the general order No. lists of killed and
of the 21st, and lat the iir e
Excellency recoramendations promtion, to
orea address to your
relative to the affair
which I pray you to call the gracious notice of his
Accept, &e.,
Majesty the Emperor.
DE MONTAUBAN.

GENERAL ORDER.
Soldiers of the Expeditionary Corps,—The forts
of the Peiho have fallen into the power of the allied
armies with 518 guns of large calibre, and an im-
mense quantity of arms and ammunition.
I thank you in the name of the Emperor for the
constancy and energy which you havelc e i
d.
s ii,s atipi le
ah63,ote
h0(10e.
You have exalted the flag of Fran
leagues from home, and in a country ii
soil often failed beneath your feet.
The Emperor will bear in mind what you have
Adjoined to these lines, which will have an echo
you who pfayrstieclfulianrel
done
IthpelaaeffeaGir o
in our country, I confine m
yitidnigsttihnge
distinguished
themselves those amongathternesierlvielesaidn the 21st of August, and
sanguinary conflict displayed e ner al Caorlelai nt e
calm,au , who in
decision,
and
o fficeernse [Herear gnfy.
do 1 l 0 ws
men.
A.
Lieutenant-Colon 1' InD
a list of officers, non-commissioned
on npgi
nt h
ne
nodffi officeChefrs n admEe
sd e
aa
dr er
o—n
Canapen,
uu of thee Staff ; Captain Foerster, de Cools,
and Lesergeant d'Hendecourt, aides-de-camp of
; E
General Collineau Captains Beziat, Gallimord,
and Bouvet, of the
Engineers
ineers ; Colonel Foullon-
Grandchamps, theArtillerycommandingd;Colonel de
during
the day ; Colonel O'Malley, of
the
102 Vassoigne, of the Marines; Dr. Gerrier, chief sur-
geon of the Field Hospital ; the Abbe Tregare,
principal chaplain, who, says the order, "caused
himself to be remarked by all for his devotedness
in the field of battle."] .
DE MONTAUBAN,
General Commanding-in-Chief.
of Sin-ho, Aug. 25, 1860.

Cam

strong, of Killoa, near Lloydsboro', in
Int:LAND 1N THE LAST CENTURY.—Williarn Arm-
perary, told me that he well recollects his father, who at his
death had attained the advanced age the county of Tip- •
of 87 years. telling
him that in his early days so sparse was the population in
the locality in which he resided, that it was usual when a
death took place in the neighbourhood to light a fire at
nightfall on the nearest eminence, to notify the occurrence
of those living at a distance, and that their attendance
would be required to convey the corpse to the grave.—
Notes and Queries.
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