The Sun.
London, England, 1858-07-27 00:00:00

EVENING JULY 27, if,sg

they went to breakfast. Wandering away a little
distance from the refectory, ono of the party hap-
pened to see below the identical tents they were in
search of.
Such is the story as it has been given to, us by
one not an eye-witness. Whether upon this all of
them returned to the city (we expect they did)—
or, as we were first informed and reported, a de-
tachment went back for reinforcements—we cannot
say. But it is a fact that, with three days' rations,
about sundown a 14rge body of men left the city,
and to support the movement a Naval Brigade,
under Captain Grenfell of the Amethyst, was orga-
nised. At this point we will let each arm of the
service speak for itself. Says a naval friend—" The
Naval Brigade was in two divisions-210 men from
the Tribune, Amethyst, and Bittern, 150 from the
Camilla, Hornet, and Actaeon. The last-mentioned
division was under Colville of the Camilla (the only
Commander in the Brigade), and left Canton at
midnight. In due time they fell in with the other
division near the Lancashire Witch, and a
landing was effected iu good order. But after
that, whew !—Where were the roads ? How-
ever, on they went, till, when within a mile of the
Brave's camp, Grenfell called a halt." Captain
G— " would suggest that we went in at a dash"
said the lucky ColvilleCommander C—'s sugges-
ion passed unheeded—again suggested—again dis-
regarded. One hour, two hours, three mortal hours
did that brigade remain stationary, till by and bye
the sun took its effect, and down dropped the men,
in all, throughout the day, to the number of 18
were they floored, though none fatally. Another
suggestion by Commander Colville to go in with a
dash meets a re poese of " Go to the rear with your
men, sir, and bring up the sick." This was simply
to get quit of the importunacy. " More is said,
but we shall not quote it.. Suffice it, that by five
p. m. the Naval Brigade were back in the Eastern
Parade Ground .; they had hardly had a fair shot at
the foe."
Now for the letter of a friend in Vother arm :
" From all accounts the first day must have been an
exceedingly pleasant one ; the party arriving at
the point intended before the heat of the day had
fairly set in. The locality fixed upon was exceed-
ingly picturesque—a, large though almost deserted
joss house, in a well wooded and watered valley,
some few hundred feet beneath the highest
peak of the_ ' White clouds.' In spite of the intense
heat of the sun, the strength of the breeze ren-
dered the atmosphere, (specially in the shade, very
refreshing to men who had for some five months
been cooped up inside the walls of Canton.
" In the course of the forenoon an intrenched en-
campment was discovered about five miles distant,
containing about 50 or 60 large ridge tents ; this the
General at once decided to attack ; an exploit, how-
ever, as the rcsult will show, easier in anticipation
than in execution.
" Dur ing the afternoon we heard in Canton that
Col. Holloway, with 500 marines, 50 artillerymen,
and two field-pieces, had received orders to advance
in a direction about midway between the Gene-
ral's position and the river, while the gunboats
were to land somewhere between Canton and
Whampoa, the 70th N. 1., and 300 men of the Naval
Brigade, it being hoped that by this arrangement
the Chinese would be surrounded and cut to pieces.
" Vain hope ! Gunboats grounded ; the two
field-pieces stuck fast, or were kept back by some
impassable obstacle, and the vast majority of the
troops lost their way among the paddy fields.
" A strong force of French, however, the Gene-
ral's party, and a portion of Colonel Holloway's
force got into communication at last, and shortly
afterwards the Chinese opened the ball by a simul-
taneous discharge of eight or ten large jingalls from
the neighbourhcod of a village on the left hand side
of the line of march ; our men thrown out in skir-
mishing order soon drove the enemy (some 300, the
Chinese themselves said) away. For the time only,
as I regret to add that Doctor Turnbull, passing the
same way on a pony a short time afterwards, was
captured and decapitated, though the trunk was
recovered, and received such burial as it was in the
power of our men to give. An orderly, with a
dooley and four of the military train likewise dis-
appeared in the same place."

SEIZURE OF THE PEIHO FORTS.
(From the long Kong Register, June 1.)
" We are indebted to an officer of the United
States frigate Mississippi for the following intei
ing account of the capture of the forts at the mouth
of the Peitio. The United States steam frigate
Mississippi reached this on Sunday evening, the
30th ult., having left the Gulf of Pechelee on the
afternoon of the 22d. She brings news of the com-
mencement of hostilities. As negotiations had, as
was to be expected, totally failed, Lord Elgin placed
the affairs in the Admiral's hands, and he proceeded
with his usual promptitude to bring them to an

issue :
" The mouth of the Peiho is defended by forts on
each bank, about a mile and a half from the upper edge
of the bar, which averages from a half to three-quarters
of a mile in width. Beyond this and about four miles
and a half distant lay the larger ships. On the evening
of the 19th all preparations were made for the attack by
the gun-boats and ships lying inside the bar. At 7 a.m.
Captain Hall, of the Calcutta, puled in and desired the
forts to surrender, telling them if the flags were hauled
down by 9 a.m. the farts would be taken possession of
peacefully ;—if the flags were not hauled (I, wn, firing
would commence and the forts be captured by fcree.
Nine o'clock came, but with no sign of surrender, and
another hour was given them The two admirals were on
beard the gunboat S:aney, with the English and French
pennants flying. Toe Certnorant, which was the leading.
Gip of the attack, had been lying close up to the forts
on th right banks of the river and th people of the
forts e Lad been observed training their guns .on her
At 10 a.m. the flag of battle was hoisted by
all the gunboats arid steamers along the line,
with the exception of the Cormorant., whieh
ran up the French flag almost at the came
moment running her anchor up to her bows, and
getting under weigh. On her deck were only to he seen
three solitary individuals—the Captain, Saumarez, the
master conning the ship, and the steersman, the men
lying down at their quarters. She gradually edged over
towards the fort on the right bank, running past them
beautiful style, fired upon as she passed each fort
witlaiut returning a gun. During her passage she got
hulled 10 times ; but, owing to closing so much on the
forts, their shot for the most part passed over her with-
out doing damage. After passing them she ran over to
the left shore, and, running into the mud with her broad-
side to the forts on that Fide, commenced the action. She
was followed by two French gunboats and the Nimrod,
which latter vessel came to the assistance of her comrade.
The different gunboats took up their stations, and as they
fell into them opened fire with precision. After about an
bones cannonading, to which the Chinese reply was quick
but ineffective, the Slaney, with the Admirals on board,
ran teraight up through the fleet, towing the attacking
columns under Sir F. Nicholson of the Pique, and Opos-
sum towing another party under Captain Hall. The
French supplied an attacking party for the forts on the
right bank. The boats pushed off and the men were
soon on shore. Then followed the usual scene—the
Chinese bolted, and the French attack being made very
quick, a mine was sprung, which caused them coma-
thrable loss. The forts on the left bank were taken
by the British without much lose, although mines were
also exploded on their advance, by the bursting of one
of which the carpenter of the Calcutta and two seamen
were killed. In about an hour and forty minutes
we were in possession ef all the forts at the mouth of
the river. The Admiral then proceeded on beard the
Cormorant, while Admiral de Genouilly went on
board one of his gunboats. At ,this tirue a mass of
flames from a numbe;r of fire-rafts was observed
drifting round a point of land higher up ; by some
mismanagement the rafts were allowed to go too far
over to the right bark, and there the leading rafts
speedily grounded, while the others were helped into a
position by the boats of the fleet. Had they taken the
right direction, the Cormorant would have had a nar-
row squeak, as she was rather tight in the mud. Sir
Michael, leaving the Cormorant, returned to the Slaney,
but Admiral de Genouilly continued on board his gun-
boat. The Slaney and Cormorant, with other gunboats,
steamed up to attack a large fort mounting 31 gun.,
situate round the bend of the river, while the Nimrod
was left to direct her fire at the fort over the spit of
ground. In a short time this fell into our hands, and in
ahem two hours and a halt from the commencement of
the attack the ac ion had ceased by the capture of all
the forts.
" We are happy to Fay the lot's on our side was very
slight. Orly one officer, the master of the Opossum,
.being severely wounded by a shot in the side and thigh.
We have no exact or reliable Particulars of the loss on
the British side, but do not bear that it exceeds 25
killed and wounded. Our allies, we are sorry to say,
owing to the explosion a a mine, suffe tad more severely,
15 men, it is said, being killed and 40 men wounded ;
some of the latter dreadfully burnt and torn by the
explosion. Among the killed are four lieutenant?,
One, the first of the Fusee, was cut in two by a shot ;
another had Lis dap knocked off by a shot, on which be
exclaimed—a' I act lucky to-day,' but immediately fell
down dead, Without the tuatta of any tenon': (at hie,

pet son.
"The Ciiinc,:e Etack to .heir gut 1.1.“.;.61 Lilly, an
there were the usual acts of selisa.crifice. One blue-
button Mandarin was found by the French in the fort
which they bad captured, dead, beside a gun, having