The Sun.
London, England, 1859-09-21 00:00:00

IEE NAY],

" Off the Peiho Forts, June 28.
" I hope this will reach you before the paper gives
you any news, as it might make you uneasy if you
saw u y name among the wounded •, however, I am
all right, thank God Almighty, and shall be out of
the sick list to-morrow. It is bad news I have to
give you. Our battalion, which formed the storming
party, has been cut to pieces =every officer in it
either killed or wounded, and 1170 men hors de com-
bat out of 370 strong that landed. I will give you
an account of the storming as it happened to me.
On Saturday the 25th the gunboats (11 in number)
took position off the forts, and at 2.45 p.m. com-
menced action at about 600 or 700 yards distance.
After an hour's firing, during which several guns
were silenced, a magazine blew up on the north side.
The gunboats made excellent practice, but, notwith-
standing this, the Chinese kept up a heavy fire, so
much so that one gunboat had upwards of 100 shot
in and through her, of which 42 were below water 7
mark. Of course, she sank ; but they had time to run
her on a bank, and her hull just shows above water.
The gunboats suffered severely ; six of them were
sunk, one lost 30 men killed or wounded out
of 33, her complement ; others lost 20, which
was the average. The Coromandel, with the Ad-
miral on board, was standing close in the whole
afternoon. She suffered greatly too. The Admiral
is very badly wounded; they sal. his leg will come
off. He was wounded by a splinter. You could
almost put your fist into the wound. I hope he
will get over it, for he is a fine fellow. At 5.30 p.m.
the signal was given for the marines to land and
storm the forts. A Yankee steamer took our boats
in tow, and when close in we cast off, and with
three cheers gave way for the shore. Major Parke,
Smith, Woolridge, Huleatt (chaplain to our bat-
talion), and myself were in the first boat that
touched the beach. The water was about four feet
deep where the men jumped out. I, like a muff,
did not wait to go forward, but jumped over the
stern of the boat and was nearly drowned, but I got
hold of an oar and scrambled in again. I was wet
all over ; however, it did not matter much, as you
will see. We had to walk 200 yards uuder a heavy
fire before the water was knee-deep. We lost a
good many men, as we got into the mud, which
was very deep. One round shot knocked over 10
of our men. It was impossible to form properly
because of the mud and the heavy fire. Poor
Huleatt did not go a dozen yards before he got a
shot in the thigh. I went up to give him assist-
ance ; he asked me for my. pocket handkerchief to
tie up his wound. I was in the act of handing it
to him when a shot hit me on the side of my head,
and over I went, at Huleatt's feet, stunned for the
moment. I was soon on my feet again, and, throw-
ing Huleatt my pocket handkerchief, trudged on
as well as I could. My goodness ! did we not get
it now ? We were about 200 yards from the
wall, and subjected to all the cross fires. I suppose
we lost 100 marines in the space of as many yards.
The forts we thought were silenced opened fire on
us. I never saw such slaughter. Poor fellows !
they were carried off half-a-dozen at a time. Here
were we, 350 marines and a few blue-jackets, storm-
ing a fort manned by 20,000 men, of whom many
were Europeans in the pay of the Chinese Em-
peror, and 300 cannon. There were no supports
to back us up, and we went on to almost certain
death. All the ladder party were killed but
two, and several ladders smashed by round shot.
At last, after an hour's struggle, we reached the
ditch. Col. Lemon got on the bank, and ordered
the advance to be sounded. Some of us jumped
down into the ditch, but were rather sold, for,
instead of finding it knee-deep, it was out of our
depth. Many men were shot going over the bank,
some only slightly wounded rolled down the bank
and were drowned in the ditch. I was one of
the first to jump down. I never swam in my
life. I don't know how it was, I got across
some how or other. When they found it was
so deep they ordered up the ladders to cross on ;
several were broken in getting the men across.
After going some shlrt distance knee-deep in mud
we came to the second ditch ;'this was a dry one,
and was composed of very soft mud. You may
not credit it, but we were an hour or more cross-.
this ditch, a distance of about 20 yards.
was nearly left to be smothered in the mud;
the men thought I was wounded, and were leav-
ing me to go on, at last two or three men of
my company dragged me out. The sights we
saw at the second ditch are beyond all description.
It was here our officers were picked off so. We were
not 80 yards from the wall, and being dressed in
red, while the men were in blue, made us conspicu-
ous marks for the enemy's riflemen. (They had rifles,
for several of our men were wounded by their balls.)
I should say only 250 men crossed the second ditch,
the remainder were hors de combat in the mud and
ditch. Now came the tug of war. We had crossed
two ditches and the third lay before us, not 50 yards
from the wall. We had only three ladders left, and
if we broke any of those it was all up with us, as
none of our rifles would go off; the ammunition was
wet, and the 'rifles also, besides being choked up
with mud. Unless we could put three men at a
time on the wall (about 30 feet high) we should
stand no chance, as we had nothing but cold steel
to fight with. Well, we laid the ladders across,
and one or two went over all right. I was holding
on to the middle of the ladder, when two or three
fellows got on it and it broke, and down I tumbled
into the middle of the ditch. I held on to the
scramble of the
ladder,
up
When I got on to the
and managed to get
was a nice spectacle before me, the walls
btboraont khkee n
there
bank
part
a
covered with men not more than 35 yards' distant.
When they saw me they gave a volley. I don't
know how it was I escaped. My clothes were cut
to pieces, and yet, with the exception of a few
scrapes here and there, I was all right. Was it not
a pity all the ladders were broken ? And here were
we looking on, while the enemy stood on the walls
picking us off at their leisure. In front of us the
mud was covered with spikes, and chevaux de (rise
close under the walls. We had not been here half
an hour before every officer was hit. It was now
orders came for us to retreat. Parke now com-
manded us, for Lemon and Masters were both badly
wounded. I suppose we stayed in front an hour
and a half after the retreat sounded,. so as to cover
the wounded to the boats. Now, to make a long
matter short, we had to go through the same ob-
stacles and fire, and it took much about the same
time. Poor Wolridge was shot dead just before we
left the front. Plucky young fellow ! every one
liked him so much; and poor Inglis was wounded
in the leg and drowned. I came across Williams
(R.M.A.) ; he was badly wounded. The quarter-
master-sergeant was helping him, so I gave a hand,
and between us got him down to the boats, and we
were down there up to our breasts in water for two
hours, and I was helping two wounded men, one on
each arm. I was afraid at one time I should have
had to leave them. I was taken with the ' shakes'
at this time, from being so long in the water. All
this time the enemy kept up a tremendous fire. An
officer who was at the Redan (he had the Victoria
Cross in the Crimea) told me at the time we were
under the walls the Rcdan was child's play com-
pared to this. It was a fire, and no mistake. All
the men's uniforms were cut to pieces ; it was really
wonderful how some of us escaped. I got hit in
four places ; what hurt me most was one of those
infernal machines called ' bouquets ;' they are com-
posed of all kinds of things; they fall and then
burst, a lot of burning stuff comes out, water won't
put it out. I got some on my arm, did it not make
me yell just ? I put a lot of earth on it and put it
out. The boat I got iuto took me first on board
the Coromandel. The decks were covered with
wounded ; there was no room there for me, so I got
them to put me on board a gunboat. Some kind
individual got me a change of raiment. I had to
stay up all night to keep the men pumping the ship;
as it was, she went down half-an-hour after we left
her. I hear they have got her up since, and some
of the other gunboats as well that were sunk. Poor
Graves, the first-lieutenant of the Assistance, was
shot dead before we reached the first ditch. Poor
fellow ! he was appointed beach-master, but was
allowed to give it up at his earnest request, for he
said his only chance of promotion was going to the
front with the storming party. Captain Vansittart
had his leg taken off by a round shot. In fact,
nearly every officer in action was either killed or
wounded or missing. I never saw men behave
better than ours did ; the engagement began at a
finished at about
qtwuaoroterrthtoretehia•e.emo.n thontehe2fsotlhl, and finished
morning. They
are firing still on the gunboats (June 29). I send.
you a plan of the forts. I think it was about 12.30
when I got on board the I had been nearly
seven hours in the wet and mud. This has opened
our eyes a little as to what the Chinese can do, and
taught us a good lesson. I generally visit the
wounded men twice a day. Poor fellows ! they are
picking up nicely. lam all right, only cut up at
the loss of so many of my comrades. Only 25 of
my company were at the storming party, of which
the captain and 14 men were killed or wounded."

A message was received by the naval authorities
at Portsmouth yesterday to hasten forward with all
despatch for sea service the outfit of the Sphinx, 6,
the Odin, 22, and the Ringdove, 6, screw—the first-
named for immediate commission. _ _ _

The Clio, 20, screw, Capt. Miller, arrived at Spit-
head yesterday morning from the Nore, and ex-
changed the usual complimentary salutes with the
Victory, in Portsmouth harbour, flagship of the
Commander-in-Chief, Admiral NV. Bowles, C.B.
The building of a perfect squadron of men-of-
war is being carried on with unremitting activity
at Pembroke Dockyard. The most important vessel
on the stocks is the Howe, a magnificent three-
decker of 121 guns. She is over 4,000 tons burden,
and is to replace her namesake broken up some
years ago at Sheerness. This fine vessel is rapidly
approaching completion, and could be got afloat at
a very short notice. The Defiance and Zealous, two
of the new-class 91's, are building. There are also
three first.class frigates—viz., Itnmortalite, Aurora,
and Tweed—each mounting 51 guns, in course of
construction, of which the two first are far ad-
vanced. The smaller vessels are five in number,

some of which are progressing rapidly.
The reports from Malta, which reach down to
the 15th of September, announce the departure
thence that day of the 11arlborough, bearing the
flag of Vice-Admiral Fanshawe, the commander-in-
chief, with the Orion and Victor Emmanuel screw
steam ships of the line and Lapwing gunboat, which,
joining the Renown, Conqueror, Centurion, and
Princess Royal, screw steam ships of the line,
cruising in the offing of Malta, shaped a course for
the northwar4-aml wtward, bound, it is said, some

to Gibraltar, in consequence of the attitude of Spain
at Algesiras, and the others to the Morocco coast,
upon a free communication with which the supply,
of the garrison of Gibraltar in a great measure
depends. The squadron under Rear-Admiral Mundy
continues cruising in the waters of Sicily, whence,
after filling up water and provisions at Malta, some
of the ships will be despatched eastward. The
Euryalus, having on board Prince Alfred, who re-
turned from leave on the 3d in the Banshee,
left on the 10th for the Piraeus of Athens and

other ports of the Grecian Archipelago, whence she
will extend her cruise as far as Constantinople,

returning to Malta about Christmas, as his Royal
Highness is to be in England in February. The
Cadmus arrived at Malta from Leghorn on
the 14th of September. Rear-Admiral nacres
arrived on the 12th of September in the Para
steampacket from Southampton, and immediately
entered on his duties on board the Marlborough
as Captain of the Fleet. The Caradoc despatch
steamer awaits at Malta Sir Henry Rawlinson,
K.C.8., and suite, and will convey them to Poti,
in the Black Sea, en route for Teheran. The Vic-
tor Emmanael arrived on the 4th, and the Doris on
the sth at Malta, both from Syracuse. The latter
left again on the 13th, and the Cressy on the sth,
both with sealed orders. The Orion arrived on the
10th, and the Boxer on the 12th, from Palermo,
and on the 14th the Cadmus, from Leghorn.
The screw steam-frigate Imperieuse, 51, Captain
Frere, having discharged her powder, left Ply-.
mouth Sound on Monday for Hamoaze, and went
at once into No. 1 dock, Devonport Dockyard. She
makes 12 inches an hour from a leak in the after-
part.
Mr. E. Halse, joiner in the Devonport Dock-
yard, had a part of his left hand cut off on Mon.
day by the steam circular saw. He was conveyed
to the hospital, where amputation at the wrist was
performed.
The Admiralty yacht Osborne was appointed to
leave Plymouth yesterday (Tuesday) for Pembroke.
It is reported at Plymouth that the Defence
Commissioners will recommend floating batteries
for the fortifications of the coast.
The. mechanics and artisans employed in her
Majesty's Dockyard at Chatham have decided on
presenting", the Right Hon. Mr. J. Wilson, late
M.P. for Devonport, with a piece of plate, as an
acknowledgment of his strenuous and successful
exertions to procure for the artisans of the Royal
dockyards, and the other workmen belonging to
the other public establishments, an increase in their
superannuation allowance, according to the provi-
sions of the Civil Service Superannuation Bill, the
clauses extending the benefits of the measure to the
mechanics and labourors of her Majesty's Anelryards.
being passed entirely through the exertions of Mr.
Wilson. A large and influential meeting of the
dockyard workmen was held at the LondJn Tavern,
Chatham, on Monday night, to make the necessary
arrangements in connexion with the proposed pre-
sentation.
Rear-Admiral L. T. Jones was yesterday ap-
pointed to be second in command on the East India
and China station.
The following appointments were made yesterday
at the Admiralty :—Commander E. D'O. D'A.
Aplin, to the Centaur, commissioned ; Commander
G. F. Day, to the Sphinx, commissioned ; Com-
mander R. G. Cragie, to the Ringdove, commis-
sioned; Commander H. Harvey, to the Snake, com-
missioned ; Commander J. G. Goodenough, to the
Renard, commissioned ; Commander E. Hay, to the
Beagle, commissioned; Lieut. E. F. Weld and
Lieut. F. W. H. M. Heron, to the Encounter ;
Lieut. F. W. Prosser, to the Centaur; Lieut. C. R.
F. Boxer and Lieut. R. B. Fitzroy, to the Odin ;
Lieut. J. F. L. P. Maclean, to the Sphinx • Lieut.
C. A. Watts, to the Renard • Lieut. H. C. gtretten,
to theatendezvous • ' J. M. Hockley, master, to the
Odin ; W. H. Jawcker, master, to the Encounter ;
J. D. Switzer, master, to the Centaur ; Francis
Taylor, master, to the Sphinx ; Spencer R. Huntley,
acting mate, to the Arrogant ; W. L. Dodds, second
master, to the Renard ; Edward Colbourne, second
master, to the Ringdove ; the Hon. Victor A. Mon-
tague, midshipman, to the Algiers ; H. F. P. Pop-
ham, A. T. Gresley, T. Suckling, A. W. Floyd, E.
T. Piper, Eustace Rooke, and W. T. Morgan, naval
cadets, to the Marlborough, additional, for disposal ;
the Hon. E. A. T. Pery, naval cadet, to the Aga-
memnon • C. R. Pelly, naval cadet, to the Trafal-
gar •,F. W. E. Kuper, naval cadet, to the Terrible ;
H. F. H. Hallett and A. C. D. Crawford, naval
cadets, to the Melpomene ; F. J. Rendell, E. J. W.
Taylor, and H. P. Wylly, naval cadets, to the Mars ;
W. F. Murray, naval cadet, to the Amphion ; G.
T. Burn, E. B. Boyle, and J. H. Bambridge, naval
cadets, to the Imperieuse ; T. H. Broughton, naval
cadet, to the Edgar; and G. B. Green, naval cadet,
to, the Aboukir.

THE ARMY.

Yesterday the hired troopship Earl Balcarras,
1,488 tons, Capt. H. Morris, belonging to Messrs.
M'Leod and Co., embarked the following officers and
reinforcements at Gravesend for KurraChee :—Cor-
net E. Goldsmith and 49 non-commissioned officers
and men of the 7th (Princess Royal'3) Dragoon
Guards; Ensign C. Roger and 28 men of all ranks
of the 70th Foot, and 71 non-commissioned officers
and men of the 98th Foot, from the depots at Canter-
bury ; Capt. G. A. Harrison, Lieut. It. B. It. Red-
ford, Lieut. T. R. H:awkini, Ensign G. W. Coventry,
Ensign R. M. Borthwick, and 103 non-commis-
sioned officers and men of the 79th (Cameron) High-
landers, from Stirling ; Ensign W. G. M'Crea, En-
sign T. L. Priestley, Ensign H. B. Scott, and 182
non-commissioned officers and men of the 46th Regi-
ment, from Templemore ; Capt. H. L. Cafe and 7
men of the 94th Regiment from the Hut Barracks,
Chatham ; and 4 men of the 51st Light Infantry,
from Chichester. The following officers also em-
barked for Kurraohee in the same vessel :—Lieut.-
Col. It. J. Baumgartner, C. 8., 27th Enniskillens,
in command, and Capt. R. Halahan, 24th Regiment
—total, 14 officers and 444 non-commissioned offi-
cers and men, the'whole in medical charge of Assist.-
Surgeon W. Collis, 98th Regiment.
Yesterday morning the two company depots
of the 31st (Huntingdonshire) Regiment, under
the command of Captain C. Prevost, and the 91st
(Argyleshire) Regiment, commanded by Capt. M.
Potter Macqueen, marched into Chatham garrison,
from Pembroke depot battalion, for the purpose of
occupying the quarters vacated the previous dly by
the 31st and 61st depots. On their arrival they
were inspected on the general parade-ground by
Major-Gen. Eyre, after which they were marched
off to their quarters in Chatham Barracks and the
Hut Barracks, Brompton. The officers attached
to the two depots have been already enumerated.
The depot of the 81st Regiment is about 250 strong
—the service companies are now at Poonah, and
have been serving in India since 1853. The head-
quarters of the 91st Regiment are at Madras, the
regiment having been only five years in India ; the
depot is 450 strong, and recruiting still proceeding
for it.
An order has been received at Chatham from the
War-office directing the depot of the 29th Regi-
ment, which has long been quartered at Chatham, to
hold itself in readiness to proceed to join the head-
quarters of the regiment, which have just arrived in
England from India, after an absence of 17 years.
The 29th depot is encamped within the Spur
battery, but in consequence of the 61st depot
having left the camp on Monday, the only depot
besides the 29th now under canvas is the Ist bat-
talion 23d Royal Welsh Fusiliers. The officers at-