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

IN TO CHINA

(From the special Correspondent of the Times.)
PEH-TANG, Aug. 9.

From a wilderness of mud and water, destitute of
tree, plant, shrub, or grass, amid stinks and stenches
which would defy a Simon and drive a Letheby to
despair, 'midst a scene of utter misery and desola-
tion exceeding the Laureate's picture of the dejected
Mariana at the moated grange, from Peh-tang,
whither our Ambassador has so often been admo-
nished to proceed, is this letter written. The army
is disembarked in China Proper—proper in no Eng-
lish sense of the word—and I will endeavour to
describe how we got into Peh-tang, and how we
expect to get out of it—what has been done during
the past fortnight, and what is now proposed.
After despatching my last letter from Tah-lien-
hwan, and after the troops were fairly embarked, I
walked over the ground lately occupied by the first
division. The villagers had returned to their houses,
and even the women reappeared, unscared by the
three unarmed barbarians who were roaming about.
As soon as the troops were off, Gen. Hope Grant
summoned the notables of the villages, and re-
quested them to assess the damage done to their
crops and property by the five regiments which had
been encamped for a month. After full considera-
tion they sent in a claim for 180 doll.—less than
£4O English. This modest bill is the best evidence
that could possibly be afforded as to the admirable
conduct of the soldiers. On the 26th, at 5 a.m., the
fleet began to weigh anchor. It was a magnificent
sight, as one large transport after another got under
way; those in Odin Bay working out under a press
of sail, those in Victoria Bay being towed outside
the headland by gunboats and steamers. The
breeze was light and variable ; every class and va-
riety of ship and steamer was represented, from the
four masted Adelaide, towing two transports, to the
small iron river boats brought up from Canton. The
Chesapeake had her steam up, but Captain Willis
was determined to show the sailing qualities of his
fine frigate, so he worked across the bay and then
sailed out with every stitch of canvas set low and
aloft. By 10 o'clock the whole fleet was clear of the
headland, when the wind dropped and fell to a dead
calm. The Chesapeake furled sail and, followed by
the Feroze, with Lord Elgin on board, and the
Scout, Furious, and Fury on her quarters, steamed
with all speed for the rendezvous. Towards the
afternoon heavy smoke was visible to the south-
ward, indicating the position of the French fleet,
and the weather became oppressively hot, a fore-
taste of that to be experienced after landing.
At 11 a.m. on the 27th the. Chesapeake dropped
anchor at the rendezvous, about 20 miles from the
Peiho. Here were the Cruiser, Actaeon, Dove,
Janus, Woodcock, and Watchful. The Granada,
with Sir Hope Grant and Staff, arrived soon after-
wards. Towards the north an American frigate
with her tender, and a Russian frigate, corvette,
and two gunboats were waiting events, and lay
anchored outside the bar opposite the Peiho.
During the afternoon steamers came dropping in,
both paddle and screw—" outside walkee arid in-
side walkee," as the Chinese call them. About
five p.m. a long line of smoke down the horizon
announced the approach of the French, who
anchored at nightfall about ten miles from the
English squadron. Major Fisher, R.E., awaited
the arrival of the fleet at the rendezvous. He went
down to the Peiho and to Pets-tang a few days in
advance of the expedition, and made a careful re-
connaissance of both places. At the Taku forts the
defences were strengthened exactly at the spot
attacked by the gunboats last year, and an abatis
was thrown out. At Peh-tang nothing whatever
had been done ; the river was unstaked, and the
forts opened from behind. About 2,000 yards from
the south fort Major Fisher discovered /I place
where troops could land through the mud, and it
was therefore determined that the army should dis-
embark at that spot.

At eight a.m. on the morning of the 28th the
French fleet weighed anchor and bore down in line
in three divisions. The Duchayla, with Baron
Gros's flag at the main, led the van, Admirals
Charner, Page, and Protet following at the
head of their respective divisions. The large two-
deckers and iron transports brought up the rear,
and the fleet was well and quickly anchored
two cables' length from the English, the
Admirals' ships being close alongside. Towards
afternoon a strong breeze from the south-
ward sprang up, which brought in our sailing
transports in one dense mass. On approaching the
Admiral ship after ship came out from the ruck,
passed under the stern of the Chesapeake, anA re-
ceived its instructions. No accident whatever
occurred in this large fleet, and not one ship was
moored in a foul berth. Seven men-of-war formed
" pointers," behind which the transports anchored
in as many lines, and nearly all took up the exact
position assigned to them. The masters of these
vessels deserve great credit for the zeal and energy
they have displayed on all occasions, and the Ame-
ricans engaged in the transport service have been
fully equal to the Britishers in their anxiety that
all should go well.

The morning of the 20th was frightfully hot and
sultry, but about noon a breeze sprang up, which
lowered the thermometer eight or ten degrees
within half an hoer. It is this sudden change of
climate which makes the greater part of China so
unhealthy, and most fortunate was itthe.t Tah-lien-
h wan was discovered, with its clear, dry atmosphere
and fine bracing air. In the afternoon Consul
Parkes arrived from Canton to assist Lord Elgin in
the work lie has before him. As Lord Elgin's
duties cannot commence until the naval and mili-
tary operations are concluded, Mr. Parkes, with
the ambassador's consent, tendered his services to
Sir Hope Grant, who most gladly accepted the
offer, and Mr. Parkes accompanies the expedition.
Day was just breaking on the 30th when the
fleet again got under way, the Chesapeake, Magi-
cienne, Feroze, Scout, and Granada at the head. At
eight a.m. they anchored in five fathoms water, the
Taku forts being just visible in the distance. The
English ships came down rapidly in loose order,
until at length the flotilla of despatch gunboats and
gunboats hove in sight, towing one or two Com-
missariat junks each. They defiled in regular suc-
cession before the flagship, the Roebuck leading,
the Slaney bringing up the rear, and Admiral Hope
at length found himself in sight of Taku, ready to
avenge the glorious disaster he suffered last year.
All preparations having been made, it was deter-
mined to attack the Peh-tang forts on the 31st.
Orders were accordingly given for disembarking the
troops in ships' boats at ansearly hour of that morn-
ing. The evening of the 30th was dark and threat.
ening, and a lurid, unsettled sunset betokened a
stormy night. About 9 p.m. a whirlwind passed
along the fleet. The storm was circular, and played
along the water for some time before striking a ship;
then came a terrific squall Which lasted about a
minute, end caused the largest vessels to heel over
Eke skiffs, The Feroze was hit with its full force,
while a boat under sail Within 20 fathoms of her
escaped untouched. Clouds of sand accompanied
this tornado and were whirled about the ships in
every direction. As the fleet lay fully 12 miles from
Pehtang it was necessary in the disembarkation. to
use all the ships' launches, and h'ave them towed by
the gunboats, Early on the morning of the 31st the
Admiral sent a steamer round the squadron with an
intimation that the landing would not take place in
consequence of the heavy, chopping sea. He felt
there was great risk irr towing boats in such wea_
he postponed the
ther and for such a distance, and

start for a day.
the ist of August the
Lung before cockcrow an
whole expedition was afoot. .1),11., heavy clouds
were
.impending, and at daylight thP rain corn•
menced falling in torrents. However, the sea had
gone down considerably, and as it was high water.
at Pehtang shortly before 3, we felt quite satisfied
that the landing would' take place. At 9 a.m. tlit
welcome signal was made, and all the launches
pulled off for the various transports, to embark the
men allotted to them. The English force consisted
of the Second Brigade of the .First Division—the j
2d (Queen's), the 60th (Rifles), and the 15th Pun-
jabecs—in all 2,500 men, besides a party of Artil-
lery with rockets, and a company of Royal Engi-
peers. The French had an equal number of the
101st, the 102 d, and Chasseurs, in addition to some
rifled guns, and the caTalr7 escort of General Mon-

tauban, mounted on their Japanese ponies. Every-
thing was ready before noon, when Admiral Hope
and Sir Hope Grant went on board the Coromandel.
She steamed away at once, and headed the squa-
dron, the gunboats following in regular and an-
broken line. To each gunboat were attached six
launches full of troops, and the decks of most of
the little vessels themselves were crowded with
soldiers. The Slaney was the first in the wake
of the Admiral. Then followed the Leven,
Janus, Clown, Woodcock, Drake,Watchful, Havock,
Forester, Opossum, Firm, Stanch, Banterer, Bustard,
Flamer, Bouncer, and Snap. The Leven carried
the military Staff; on another gunboat Admiral
Jones hoisted his flag, and whipped in the flotilla.
Crossing the bar, they were joined by the Renard,
Beagle, and Ringdove despatch boats. The French
were on the starboard quarter, with five large des-
patch gunboats and several steamers towing junks
and boats, closely packed with troops, and one of
the little iron gunboats I saw at Chefow arrived
just in time to join the expedition. The weather
had now cleared up, and the sea was calm. The
Taku forts lay within three miles on the port quarter,
looking sullen and threatening, but giving no other
sign of life than a Tartar flag which waved fromthe
largest battery. In our rear were the combined fleets
of England and France, while far a-head the blue
flag of Admiral Hope streamed from the Coromandel
as she led up to Peh-tang. Soon after 2 o'clock the
gunboats anchored about 2,000 yards from the forts.
All the embrasures were masked, and no troops
visible. These forts are about three miles from the
mouth of the river, the passage of which they com-
mand, the town standing immediately in theirrear.
On a causeway running towards Taku a picket of
Tartar cavalry was visible, but no communication
whatever was made from their commander. Some
of the inhabitants were also seen hurrying along the
causeway from the town, including two men of rank
in sedan chairs, protected by a mounted escort. At
3 p.m. the Generals determined on landing 400 men,
half English half French, and making a reconnais-
sance towards this road. The 2d (Queen's) supplied
the English portion of the advanced party, and the
boats at once pulled off to the mudbank. They were
very soon aground, and the men jumped out up to
their middles in mud and water. On reaching the
shore a flat of soft, sticky, slippery mud extended
around on every side. Through this we waded,
sinking ankle deep at each step. For fully three
quarters of a mile did we flounder and struggle be-
fore reaching a hard of similar mud, evidently co-
vered by the sea during very high-,tides. Nearly
every man was disembarrassed of his lower in-
teguments, and one gallant brigadier led en his men
with no other garment than his shirt. Immediately
after the reconnoitring party had effected a land-
ing, the Tartars retreated along the causeway, and
the order was given to disembark the rest of the
force at once. This was effected without accident
by 5 o'clock, not a single shot having been fired by
the enemy.
Never did more hopeless prospect greet an army.
Mud and water everywhere, and "not a drop of
drink." Pools of brackish water were scattered
about here and there, but perfectly undrinkable,
and not a well or spring could be found. The ground
was dotted with salt hills and groves, affording ex-
cellent cover for riflemen, but there was neither tree
nor building of any sort or description.
It had been arranged between the Commanders-
in-Chief that our troops should take up position on
the right—the side nearest the town—and that the.
French should be formed on the left flank of the
English. Immediately on landing, however, a
French colonel, whose zeal outran his discretion,
rushed forward with the Chasseurs and occupied
the causeway close to the gate, on the very spot
which had been allotted to the English forces. Sir
Hope Grant at once halted his troops and spoke to
General Montauban. In the promptest manner,
and without a moment's hesitation, the French
General despatched Col. Schmitz, his chef d'etat
major, to recall this regiment, which was soon
marched along the causeway to its proper position.
The English army then advanced, the Rifles to the
right, the 15th Punjabees in the centre, and the
Queen's on the left. They were on an island 'cut
• off from the causeway by a deep ditch, 40 feet wide,
through which the tide flowed. In plunged the
1 brigade, and sunk middle deep in the vilest and
' most stinking slush; but the men struggled gal-
' lantly on, and in a few seconds the whole force was
on the road. Tho sun was sinking fast as from
the causeway, raised some six: feet from the marsh,
we surveyed the position. To the right was the
town, with a wooden gate at the end of the road.
A few feet in advance of the gate the causeway
had been cut for a breadth of 20 or 30 feet, so as to
admit the flow of the tide to the other side ; over
this ditch was a wooden bridge. The bridge and gate
were occupied without delay by 100 Rifles and 100
French without a shot being fired. The ground in
front was precisely similar to that in our rear—mud
and brackish pools—while about six miles to the
left a row of trees and a few houses were visible. It
was the position of Arcola, an enormous marsh,
with one causeway running across it, and a resolute
enemy would have hold the place against any odds.
Sir Hope Grant was strongly pressed to occupy the
town at once, hut he steadily and most properly
refused. Evening was rapidly closing into night,
and consiliis nox apta ducum, lux aptior arms. He
was perfectly ignorant as to the force in the forts,
and it would have been most imprudent to engage
his army after nightfall in the narrow streets of a
Chinese town, while during the dark it would have
been utterly impossible to preserve discipline and
save the inhabitants from the horrors of a sack. So
it was arranged that the gunboats should attack at
4 next morning, and the whole army lay down in
the mud on the causeway, without tents or cover-
ing, and waited the approach of day. The advanced
picket at the gate kept edging up to the outskirts
of the town, the inhabitants of which were found
at the doors of their houses in a dreadful state of
trepidation. They brought water, and showed an
anxious disposition to assist the soldiers in every
way. No sooner did this intelligence reach Consul
Parkes than he went to the gate and interrogated
the most intelligent man he could find. From him
he learnt that the forts were deserted, with the
exception of 75 men, who had sworn to fight to the
last. These were not odds to frighten " Harry
Parkes," so he asked permission from Sir Hope
Grant to visit the forts, accompanied by Captain
Williams, of the Royals, Deputy-Assistant-Quar-
termaster-General, and a corporal and two file of
the Rifles. Before starting he took a hostage, and
left him with the General as security for his safe
return.

About ten o'clock he started on his errand and
passed through the very centre of Peh-tang. The
people were standing about the streets full of alarm
and anxiety, but no Tartar soldier was visible. The
gate of the South fort was locked, and offered slight
resistance to the blows of the Riflemen, who were
soon in the fort. It was entirely deserted, and the
half-dozen guns in the embrasures were "dum-
mies," made of wood bound with hide. The
Chinaman who accompanied the party warned them
that the place was mined, and pointed out the spots
where the infernal machines were placed. Mr.
Parkes brought away half a dozen flags, and returned
to the army at midnight with his valuable budget of
news. The intelligence was conveyed to General
Montauban and Admiral Hope, and every one com-
posed himself to sleep as best he could. About
2 o'clock a party of the Rifles saw four mounted
Tartars on the mud, within a few yards of the cause-
way. They fired, and killed a horse, and most pro-
bably his rider, for the animal was afterwards
found, as well as the marl's pouch, accoutrements,
in p d rovkiore;. At half-past 4 the bugles rsounded
the reveille, and soon after that hour
the Generals
and their Staffs rode through the town and into the
South fort. All the houses were shut
French Sapp
ofrs
up,
andc hardly
a stirrinig. A Party coinl
panied General Montauban, the rest of the army
renfaining on the causeway. The Sappers set to
work and dug out the mines, of which there were
four. The earth had been carefully moved round a
of 30 feet. At intervals of six or sevse, Were
seven feet
Scicl-rinch shells, filled with powder and slugs,
placed in tin cases. These were connected by
rupees, with traps into which flint and steel
locks were set, and they again were attached to
strong small cords. The whole was covered with
matting, and a thin layer of earth carefully flattened

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
fouud 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-
lated.rwall 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 mantel ets,
and the whole fort was admirably built with a com-
bination 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,
abbut 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 fonnd, 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 ♦isible within a circuit of six miles. But one
road could be discovered—the cause way 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, bella nzatribus 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 the 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 Majof 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
he at once handed over to Captain Usher, the Pro-
vost-Marshal, and severely punishcd. Captain
Usher was not slack in carrying out Es orders,
the English troops were confined to their quarters,
and the roll called frequently. lam 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 beard 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 bamboo pole
in order to exact information as to where their
money was 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
iu vain attempted to raise him, and was unable to
ascertain what he wanted. Fortunately, Mr. Mor-
gan, one 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
the army entered the town.

I could multiply these sad stories ad infinitum
but eui bono ? However, there is one attended
I dedb
by
such exceptionally painful circumstances h
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 hsck lay the dead bodies of three
women, evidently mother and dv.ughters. A China-
man who had recognised Mr. Parkas 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 follo wing 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,
fNms
sndisappointedffaneeg thu
al against
adi
nssot swearing.
the
them.T
invocation
The n
They
y e batch
of
fp
threatenedcame
rct"Parkes"
drawerse
women
aanndcl
ei ,commenced
or.d
miened breaking open all the
s, destroying what they did