The Sun.
London, England, 1858-07-29 00:00:00

CAPTURE OF THE FORTSQF THE PEI 110.

(From a Supplement to Tuesday's Gazette )

ADMTRALTY, JULY 27.
A despatch, of which the following; is an extract, has
hem received by the Lords Commissioners of the Mud.
mity, from Rear-Admiral Sir Miala.:l Seymour, K.C.8.,
the e ,mtnander-in-Chief of her Majesty's ships and vessels
the East India Station, dated May 21,

I cceordingly lost no time in consulting with Rear-Ad.
uairal Riganit de Genouilly, and making the necessary ar-
angerreats, and the same afternoon we proceeded with
ell the English gunboats, enema the bar to the month of
the river, where the gun-vessels and French gunboats
named in the margin (Nimrod, Cormorant, Mitraille,
Fusee, Dragonne, Avalanche) had been previously station-
ed, to give weight to the negotiations. The Slaney, Firm
Staunch, and Bustard conveyed our landing parties, and
the Leven and Opossum those of the French.
From the arrival of the Ambalsadors on the 14th April,
the Chinese have used every exertion to strengthen the
forts at the entrance of the Peiho ; earthworks, sand bag
batteries, and parapets for the heavy gingalls, have been
erected on both sides for a distance of nearly a mile in
length, upon which 87 guns in position were visible, and
the whole shore had been piled to oppose a landing. As
the channel is only aleent 203 yards wide, and runs within
oyardsi of the sheakese defences presented a formid-
ableslpt appearance. T e -ong mud batteries, mounting re-
-33 end 16 guns bad been also constructed about
. dlanrantdhaed
bryeakankrseinvgerbaal
steionntrs,enaenhdedit cwaams
1,000 yards up the river, in a position to command our ad-
enable,
tohisatfolarrtgseanbdoditehssofeatrmooppss had arrived from Pekin. All
pliknwOeWrlle
w
coloured flags under which erethceoveret, with the various
"troops of the eight
}miners," as the Tartar soldiers are styled, range them-
selves.
At S a.m. yesterday, the notification to the Imperial
Comraissionor Tan, and the summons to deliver no the
forts within two hours, were delivered by Captain Hall,
agg Captain
allant f
my Flag Captain, and Capitaine Iteyneud, Il
the French Admiral, and accompanied by rey
col-
league, and attended by our respective secretaries and Flag
Lieutenants, we embarked in the Slaney, to direct the
movements of the squadron.
I beg to enclose a copy of the plan of attack, which was
arranged in concert with Admiral Rigault.
No answer having been returned to the summons by 10
o'clock. the signal agreed upon was made, and the gun-
boats advanced in the prescribed order, led by the Cor-
morant. The Chinese opened fire immediately, and the
signal to engage was made a few minutes afterwards from
the Slaney. By the time all the vessels had anchored in
their respective stations, the effects of our well-directed
fire had become very apparent. The first fort was entirely
dismantled and abandoned, and the second partially so,
whilst those on the north side had bet n completely sub-
dued by the Cormorant and two French gun-boats. At
the short range within which we engaged, every shot told,
and many of the massive embrasures of mud were levelled
by shells. At the end of an hour and a quarter, the
enemy's fire ceased. The landing parties were then
pushed on shore, the one for the north forts, under the
orders of Captain Sir F. Nicholson and Captain Leveque,
and that for the south forts, under Captains Hall and
Reynaud, Flag Captains, the Royal Marines on each side
being commended by Major Robert Boyle and Ist Lieu-
tenant McCallum.
0 .ving to the destructive fire from the gunboats, but
little opposition was made to our landing, and the Chinese
troops were observed moving off in masses, whilst our
eople wet ein the boats. The flags of the Allied Powers
:.00n replaced those of the Chinese. On the south side 200
large Bing ells were found in position near the landing
place, on an embankment.
Having obtained possession, the dismantling of the
works was commenced and field pieces landed for the pro-
tection of the forces against the possible attacks of the
Chinese. Shortly after the landing, our gallant allies sus-
t,dned a melancholy and heavy loss of men, killed and
wounded, by the accidental explosion of a magazine.
When all the vessels had taken up their positions, a bold
attempt was made to send down upon them a long array
of junks, filled with straw in flames, and drawn across the
river ; but they fortunately grounded, and though the
people, guiding them down the river with ropes, made
great efforts to get them off, a few shells from the instard
'-nv. thee- away, and the vessels burnt out without doing
any damage.
melee sell and labour had been expended in the con-
struction of these forts. The guns were much better cast,
tud not so unwieldy, as those in the Canton River, and
were both r equipped in every respect. They had good ca-
nister shot, and the hollow 8-inch shot appeared imitations
from our own. Thera were several English guns in the
' batteries.
Directions were now sent to Captain Sir F. Nicholson
and Capitaine Leveque to advance and capture the two
forts up the river, which had kept up a smart fire.
This movement was successfully executed, under the
supporting fire from the Bustard, Staunch, and Opossum.
Several entrenched camps were also destroyed,
The Chinese stood well to their guns, notwithstanding
Mot, shell, and rockets were flying thickly around them.
Most of the gunboats were hulled, some several times,
whilst boats, spars, and rigging were cut by round shot,
grape, and giugall balls. This signal success, after the Chi-
nese had ample time to fortify their position, and were con-
fident of their strength, may probably have a greater moral
4frect on the Chinese Government than if we had attacked
them in the first instance, when they were less prepared.
The necessary arrangements at the entrance of the river
having been completed, a further advance was made to the
villeee of Takoo, where we found a barrier of junks filled
with combustible matter, moored by chains right across
the river, whilst seven similar obstructions to our pro-
gress were observed within a mile higher up. Captain
Hall, with my flag lieutenant and a party of men, landed,
and took possession of 18 field pieces in front of an aban-
doned encampment at Takoo. Whilst on shore the resi-
dence of the High Commissioner Tan was visited, and
found deserted, though a significant proof of his recent
presence was found in a beheaded Chinaman near his gate.
It was ascertained here that the main body of the Chinese
' troops had retired with Tan to a position about eight miles
up the river. - -
The barrier at Takao offering good security to our vessels
below, it was made our edeenee 1 re_a: ti tee night,
i 2 char,;o of Sir F..k.ielielsou and Capitaine Thoyon.
I enclose a list of our eastutirtes, amounting to 1 warrant
officer and 4 men killed, and two officers and 15 men
wounded. That of our gallant allies is, I 'egret to state,
much heavier; amounting to 4 officers and 2 men killed,
anti 5 officers and 56 men wounded. Many of the
wounded wore taken on board the Coromandel, flag tender,
where arrangements bad been made for the purpose, under
the able supervision of Dr. C. A. Anderson, Staff-surgeon,
whose services ou this occasion, and on all former occa-
sions where we have been employed on active service,
I feel bound to bring to their lordships' favourable notice.
It now becomes my pleasing duty to mention to their
lordships the laudable conduct of both officers and men
under my orders. From Captains Sir Frederick Nicholson,
Hall, and Osborn, I have received the greatest assistance,
as well as from Commanders Leckie, Saumarez, and
Cresswell. Commander Saumarez excited the admiration
Of the whole force by the noble manner in which he led
the attack, and for some time sustained the heavy fire from
the north forts.
I can bear witness also to the zeal and gallantry of the
officers c.immanding the gunboats, and beg to recommend
Lientenaao.s Hoskins, Nicolas, Hudson, Wildman, and
Hallowee, to their lordships' faveurabie notice, as well as
the second masters, particularly Mr. C. Prickett, of the
Opossum, who has been severely wounded. I also beg
strongly to recommend Lieut. A. Bland, of the Pique, an
old and meritorious offer r. The names of Lieut. R. P.
Cater, of the Calcutta; Lieut. A. T. Thrupp, of the Nim-
rod ; Lieut. IL K. Lest, of the Cormorant ; and Lient.C.
Parry, of the Surprise—have been also brought to my no-
tice. Commander Saumarez has brought to my knowledge
the gallant conduct of Mr W. H. Fawckner, master of the
Elk, lent from the Hesper, and of Mr. H. H, Burniston,
Paymaster; Mr. Webster, Master's Assistant; and Mr.
Campbell. Midshipman, of the Cormorant-whoworrakfed a
24-poneder howitzer, and kept upt a continuedtheir
an iedm Inn
recommendi in
rom
attention to the list of the officers
that gun on the south forts. I beegnoonceadll. lordships'
wouldlll accompanied
this, a. on other expeditions; Mr. W. D. Jeans,
alsob
H. M. Arnold,
my
whomsecretary,
loons duties during
for promotion the progress
chief clerki
of the operations in China.
In conclusion, I have much gratification in recording the
nmfyoraihicse'ar.
cordial co-operation of my gallant colleague, and of the
sole desire to carry into effect the orders of our forces under his command. We have been actuated by
the
re-
spective Governments, in a spirit of the most perfect
friendship.
Arrangements are making for a further advance up the
river towards Tientsin.
I have the honour to enclose two sketches of the forts,
male by Lieut. A. T. Thrnpp, of the Nimrod, and Mr.
F. C. B. Bedwell, secretary's clerk.
I have, &c..
M. SEYMOUR,
Rear-Admiral and Commander-in-Chief.

LIST OF CASUALTIES AT THE CAPTURE OF THE FORTS AT
THE MOUTH OF THE PEIHO, ON THE 2CTH MAT, 1858.
KILLED.
Fury—Mr. John Colley, carpenter.
Calcutta—Thomas Halloran, A.B.
Nimrod—Henry Love, A.B.
Bustard—William Potter, private no}al Marines.
Furious—John Cunningham, A.B.
WOUNDED.
Calcutta—Henry Calvert. ordinary, slightly. Thomas
Collins, ordinary, ditto. William Smith, A. 8., ditto.
Nimrod—E. A. T. Stubbs, lieutenant, slightly. John
Sutton, stoker, severely. James Martin, A. 8., slightly.
Fury-- Michael Parker, A. 8., slightly.
Coromandel—Richard White, ordinary, slightly.
Cormorant—George Stevens, boatswain's mate, slightly.
Slaney—G. G Dunlop, gunner, 3rd class, slightly.
Opossum- Mr. C. Prickott, second master, severely.
Staunch —G. Davis, A. 8., slightly, J. Blair, A. 8.,
ditto. J. Palmer, ordinary, ditto.
Bustard—James Parsons, quartermaster, slightly. Pat.
lick Nevin, A. 8., severely.
ABSTRACT.
Number killed and since dead .
Number Wounded

.. 5
~ 16

Total

... 21

CHAS. A. ANDERSON,
Staff Surgeon on Detached Service.
FRENGII Loss.

Kilted .
Wounded

”I 6
61

, . 67

Total ...

Grand Total ... 88

„A.—A lamentable
FRIGHTFUL ACCIDENT AT Mht
17,13 of July, by the
Malta, attended
o.ccident occurred on Satufrdtahy:rt ,
nin
Ruler and Oriental
quarter to 11 in the
tailing in of a portion
employed in loading
No. 7, neitherof V' '
rnorniog, when the coalmenN Bst the wall
dividing
•la coals from o. ore,
Company'swiwith
serious
loss
toofreis,feoa.t Atwhteerearie' s,
a lighter with .
W tei is a 8
yetbeing unecp al t' the pre,B, re of the large
roofed,
quantity of coals contained in it, Euddenly gave way,
distressing to relate, a number t f the workmen who
and,
had not time to effect their escape were o 'ushed to death
Wog mass of stones, coa's, and rubbish.
it from the adjoining stor,
by the t
Twenty men were employed in
accichnt took place, 12 carrying coals and eight re-
No. 8 store when the
moving a heap of coal dust which lay close to the
door. These flatter eight escaped, while 10 out of
the 12 engaged in removing thi coal from the inner
part of the store were killed on th 3 spot, and another
was so severely hurt as to render his immediate re.
etoval to the hospital necessary.