The Sun.
London, England, 1859-10-14 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, OCTOBER 14, 1859.

AN AMERICAN VIEW OF THE PELHO

DISASTER.

The following letter is addressed to the Secre-
tary of the Navy, 'Washington, by the flag officer
of the United States squadron off Peiho River,
July 4:—

Sir,—The last despatch which I had the honour
to send you reported this ship in company with the
chartered steamer Toey-wan, at sea off the Yang-
tse, on her way to the Peiho, with our Minister to
China, Mr. Ward, and suite on board. _

That gentleman has reported to the Government
the result of his interviews and correspondence
with the Chinese commissioners at Shanghae. I
shall only refer, therefore, to that subject so far as
is necessary to your understanding the circum-
stances which placed us in a very unexpected posi-
tion on our arrival at the Peiho, and produced as
unexpected results.
The Chinese commissioners were those with
whom our late Minister, Mr. Reed, concluded the
treaty last year at Tien-tsin, and with whom he
subsequently arranged the tariff at Shanghae,
where they have remained ever since.
In the interchange of visits between these com-
missioners and Mr. Ward, the latter was escorted
by a number of officers, and 60 marines of our
squadron • this being not only suited to the dignity
of Mr. Ward, but intended as a compliment to the
Chinese commissioners, to whom Mr. Ward wished
to extend the greatest consideration.
Mr. Ward informed them that ho was on his
way to Pekin to exchange the treaties, which it
was obligatory on both parties to do on or before
the 18th of June, now near at hand. _ _

They replied that, having signed the treaties,
they must themselves exchange them ; that they
could not reach Pekin from Shanghae in less than
60 days, and that by agreement with Lord Elgin,
the late British Ambassador, they were expected
bo remain at Shanghae until the arrival of the
present British Minister, Mr. Bruce.
Mr. Ward then offered to exchange our treaty at
Shanghae, which they evaded on the ground that
the treaty was at Pekin, and they proposed to Mr.
Ward that he should remain at Shanghae until the
arrival of the British Minister.

Mr. Ward, although doubting their sincerity, in
a spirit of consideration and forbearance accepted
the proposition, thus waiving the specified time of
exchange.
The British Minister, on his arrival a day or two
after, refused to hold official intercourse with the
commissioners, on the ground, as I understood it,
that Pekin was the place specified in the British
treaty for the exchange, and that he was on his
way there for that purpose
_ _

Unsuccessful in their endeavour to detain the
British, and to re-open negotiations at Shanghae,
the commissioners apparently yielded, and de-
spatched couriers—who they asserted would arrive
in a week—to Pekin, to prepare, as they said, the
authorities .for the arrival and reception of all the
Ministers, and their conveyance to Pekin, where
the treaties would be exchanged by a special com-
missioner on the 25th June, the day specified in the
British treaty.
The commissioners notified Mr. Ward of this ar-
rangement, and requested him to accompany the
British and French to the Peiho. To this he con-
sented, thereby to a certain extent assuming the
same platform with the latter.

I will here remark that the sincerity of the
Chinese commissioners was much doubted at the
time, some of their countrymen at Shanghae declar-
ing that delay was their object, as they were forti-
fying the Peiho very strongly, and had placed in
command'a Mongol prince of high military reputa-
tion, who was known to be very hostile to the
" treaties."

We reached the anchorage •ff the Peiho on the
21st June, where we found the British and French
Ministers and their fleet.

On my first interview with the British admiral,
James Hope, I learned that the Ministers (English
and French) had announced to the authorities on
shore the object of their visit, and that they should
proceed by the river to Tien-tsin, on their way to
Pekin, conformably with the " treaties."
The Chinese had positively refused them the as-
cent of the river, the entrance to which, they found
very strongly, fortified, and across which several
lines of barricades had been constructed.

The Chinese declared that this river, which we
had all navigated as the Peiho a year ago, was
only one mouth of the Tien-tsin river, and that
there was another entrance 10 miles to the north,
which entrance was called the Peiho, and was the
point referred to in the treaties.
They insisted that the Ministers should remain
off this northern entrance until the arrival of the
commissioners from Shanghae (which could not be
short of two months), when arrangements would
be made to convey them to Pekin by this route.
The British and French Ministers considering
this an evasion with a view to gaining time to
strengthen their defences, had referred the matter
to their respective natal commanders, who notified
the Chinese that if the obstructions in the channel
of the river were not removed by the 25th of Juno,
the day for the exchange of treaties, they would
themselves proceed to remove them.
I will here remark that in the Chinese charts
there is a small river emptying into the sea
10 miles to the north of this, and which, diverging
gradually from the course of the Peiho as you
ascend it, has its source far in the interior. Some
20 miles from its mouth it is connected with the
river we know as the Peiho by a narrow creek,
said to be dry at low, and having but five feet at
high, water.
After due deliberation, Mr. Ward and I decided
to enter the river we had known as the Peiho in
the steamer Toey-wan as far as the barricades, as
though ignorant of access having been refused the
English and French. If the forts should ire across
our bows to bring us to, we would anchor and com-
municate ; if into us, having no guns, we would
retire and act accordingly.
Twelte British and one French steamer, all
small, had previously concentrated within the bar,
at the mouth of the river, just out of gunshot of the
batteries.

We entered the river, in execution of our plan,
at 11 a.m. on the 24th ult., and passing through
the British squadron, without communicating,
pushed up towards the barriers.
At this time not a man was to be seen at the
forts, nor a gun in an embrasure ; nor, although
flagstaffs were on the parapets, was a flag dis-
played. There was nothing to indicate that the
forts were armed or manned.

Subsequent events show this to have been a de-
ception and ambuscade, intended, I do not doubt
(in the confidence of their own strength and the
small force of the English), to invite a conflict in
order to annul the treaties of last year.
We had approached to within 300 yards of the
first barrier, at which point, should we not be fired
on, I had proposed anchoring, when we grounded,
and failed in all our efforts to back off. The tide
was falling fast, and our situation was critical, not
only from the facility with which the batteries
might demolish us, but, as we were on the edge of
a steep bank, from the probability of the steamer
falling over and filling.
At this moment I received from Admiral James
Hope an attention and kindness which must place
me under lasting obligations to him.
Although he had reason to think that she would
be fired upon by the forts, he sent a gunboat to my
aid, with the message, that had he known of my
intention to pass up he would have furnished me
a pilot, and that he expected to see me fired on.
The gunboat failed in her efforts to extricate me,
and there being, as I have said, a probability of the
Toey-wan falling over and filling, the admiral de-
spatched a second gunboat to me, placing her en-
tirely at my disposition, with the handsome and
generous offer that I should hoist on board of her
the American ensign and my own personal flag.
I declined the offer, with a just appreciation,
however, of the personal kindness to myself and
the delicate compliment to our service.
The Toey-wan was more fortunate than I ex-
pected, and a favourable wind having sprung up,
we got her off at high water. •
About two hours after grounding we sent a boat
to the nearest fort with my flag lieutenant, Mr.
Trenchard, and the interpreters, to inform the com-
manding officer that the American Minister was on
board the Toey-wan, on his way to Tien-tsin and
Pekin, in accordance with our treaty and an under-
standing with the Chinese commissioners at
Shanghae.
They were met at the landing by an officer pro-
fessing to be of low rank, who said that his orders
were not to permit the removal of the barriers, and
to fire on those attempting it ; that he believed that
a high officer had been appointed to meet the mini-
sters at the north. He also asserted, most falsely,
as subsequently shown, that there were no troops
and only a few country militia in the forts.
Although the interpreters were allowed to get
out of the boat for greater facility of conversation,
they were not permitted to approach the forts.
The Toey-wan floated late in the evening, when

I observed that the British were 'wronging them-
selves apparently for action. I th3refore dropped
down to the mouth of the harbour and below them,
so that my lights might not inteiere with their
signals, or my position with their operations.
The British in the night remo'ed with their
boats a portion of the lower barrier,but the Chinese
restored it in the morning.
At 2.45 p.m. on the, 25th, the thy specified for
the exchange of treaties, the Britis stood up the
river for the barriers, Admit al Hope leading in one
of the gun-boats.
This whole force consisted of 10 gun-boats, in-
cluding one French and three larger steamers, of a
class denominated despatch-vessels, carrying in all
about 50 guns. They also had on board some
Chinese junks, at the mouth of the river, a reserve
of boats with seamen and marines.
On the admiral's reaching the first barrier the
forts suddenly swarmed with men, and a terrible
fire from very heavy guns was opened on him from
all the forts on both sides of the river.

Two of his vessels at this moment grounded near
the spot the Toey- wan had grounded the day
before.

The British and French fought with the most de-
termined valour, but fifteen minutes sufficed to show
me, without a hope of success.
The fire of the Chinese was directed with fatal
skill, and was chiefly concentrated on the admiral
and the vessels nearest to him. His flag vessel
being disabled and her crew cut up, he shifted
his flag to a second, and on her meeting the
fate of the first, he again shifted it to the
Cormorant, one of tie larger (despatch) steamers.
Here again the fire was concentrated on the flag of
the gallant admiral.
By this time, four p.m., several of his vessels had
been sunk, and it was eN idea to me that nothing
could enable him to extricate himself and retire
from the hopeless conflict but the reserve of boats
and men at the junks ; but at the time the tide was
running too strong for the crowded boats to stem._

The Officer in charge of these boats now visited
me. He said nothing of—aid, but his silent appeal
was powerful indeed. In the few moments he was
on board he would look anxiously, alternately at
his admiral and at the boats.
After he left I held a consultation with Mr.
Ward, and he agreed with me perfectly that, under
all the circumstances of our position with the
English, and the aid the admiral had tendered me
the day before, I could do no less than to tow the
boats to his relief.

I made the offer, which was thankfully and
promptly accepted,
While the boats were making fast to hawsers,
which I veered astern, I insisted on Mr. Ward and
his suite leavinc, tin Toey-wan, and going on board
one of the junks,' for reasons that will be obvious.
He at first reluctantly yielded, and left us, but
soon returned in one of the English boats, declaring
that as the Toey-wan was his home and was going
under fire with his approbation and concurrence,
he would remain in her. I reluctantly yielded to
his gallant impulse.
At this time a ycung British officer came to me
from the vessels engaged to say that the gallant
admiral was dangerously sounded, and had but six
men left. He (the officer) had two boats sunk in
reaching me.
I towed the boats through the British line to
within a short distance of the admiral, whose flag
vas flying on the Cormorant, when, casting them
off, I retired to the rear of the line, near the French
gun-boat, and anchored for the night.
I took up this position, as it might enable me to
aid the wounded, and should boats be sunk to re-
scue their crews.

After anchoring I thought of the admiral and of
his chivalrous kindness to me the day before, which
from an unwillingness to intrude upon him when
he was preparing for action, I had in no way yet
acknowledged.
I, therefore, with my flag lieutenant, Mr.
Trenchard, went in my barge to visit him. When
within a few feet of the Cormorant a round shot
struck the boat, killed my coxswain, and slightly
bruised my lag lieutenant. We fortunately
reached the Cormorant before the boat entirely
filled.

I found the admiral lying on his quarter-deck,
badly wounded. I informed him that I had called
to pay him my respects, and to express my regret
at his condition. After remaining on hoard the
Cormorant about ten minutes, I took advantage of
an English boat that was passing to return to the
Toey-wan.
The Cormorant after this Was • sunk, and the
admiral shifted his flag to a fouith vessel, the Coro-
mandel (a thing, I believe, unprecedented), thus
evincing an indomitable valour under very dis-
heartening and almost hopeless circumstances.

At dusk, about eight p.m., a desperate attempt
was made, by landing front boats, to storm the
forts, but they stood in an impassable morass, and
the assailants were repelled with heavy loss.
On the morning following this day and night of
slaughter—the action still continuing, but the fire
more feeble and distant--I found that six of the
English vessels were sunk, and that the remainder
had withdrawn to a more distant and safer position,
from which they could easily get out of gun-shot.
I now prepared to return to the Powhattan with
Mr. Ward, but first called on board the Coromandel
to take leave of the admiral, and also on board the
French gun-boat, to inquire after the French com-
modore (Tricault) whom T had met on board the
Cormorant when I called on the admiral, and who
had subsequently been wounded.
I deferred my departure by re 'nest that I might
tow to their ships at sea two launch-loads of the
wounded English.

On reachini the Powhattan I again despatched
the Toey-wan into the harbour, in charge of Lieut.
Johnston (first of the Powhattan), with orders to
remain at the mouth of the harbour, outof fire, and
to afford all aid consistent with our neutrality.
After an efficient performance of this duty for 24
hours he rejoined me.

The sea Officers with me in the Toey-wan on this
service were Capt. Pearson, Lieuts. Trenchard and
Semmes, all of the Powhattan ; and Midshipman
Merchan, of the Germantown. The engineer officers
were Messrs. City and Archer. Capt. A. S. Taylor,
of the Marine corps, was also with me. I have to
thank them for their zealous services.
My coxswain, John Hart, whose death I have to
lament, was the son of John and Mary Hart, now
living at Jamaica, Long Island. He was a widower,
but has left a young daughter 8 years old.
I shall communicate the sad event to his parents ;
and as his child, whom he supported, will be enti-
tled to a pension, may I beg the favour of you, sir,
as soon as the proper papers shall be filed at the
department, to direct that the pension be issued
without unnecessary delay.
Hart had been a long► time in the navy, having
served under me 15 years.

The English retired this morning from the river,
having recovered and brought out three of their
sunken vessels, and destroyed the others.
Their loss is about 450 killed and wounded, in-
cluding 12 French. Eight officers are killed and
23 wounded. Among the wounded are the four
senior officers, includin g the Admiral and thc French
Commodore Tricault.
They attacked with about 1,200 men.—l am, sir,
with great respect, your obedient servant,

THE AFFAIR OF 'JAE PEIIIO.

The Bishop Auckland Ilerald contains ac account
of a public welcome given to Capt. Longley, R.E.,
son of the Bishop of Durham, on his arrival in
Bishop Auckland. An address of congratulation
having been presented, to Capt. Longley, the gal-
lant captain in acknowledging it said—" It is with
feelings of sincere gratification that I return you
my thanks for the address which you have pre-
sented to me. I have, as you say, been a long dis-
tance from home. It was in Oct., 1857, that I was
ordered to India with my company, but on our ar-
rival overland at Point de Galle our destination
was changed to China. -I arrived there in time to
take part in the action at Canton, under General
Straubenzie, after which I had the honour to be
named aide-de-camp to the General- I was present
at the uffair at the White Cloud Mountains and
capture of Namton, and remained at Canton till the
arrival of his excellency the Hon. F. Bruce, her
Majesty's Plenipotentiary, and Admiral Hope. In
June we left Canton for the Peiho, under Admiral
Hope, who we expected would go direct to Pekin
to ratify the treaty which had been made, We found,
as you know, that the passage up the river was
stopped by a strong barrier, and the forts which had
been taken last year rebuilt. Of course we were not
I able to ascend the river. Mr. Bruce and M. Bour-
bonnel, the French Ambassador, then pl iced the
matter in the Admiral's hands, and an attempt was
made to pass the barrier, the result of which is al-
ready known to you. My company was distributed
among the gunboats, and I, with 10 men, was on
board the Plover, where we acted as sharpshooters:
On the order being given I went ashore with the
landing party, and was in the act of carrying the
scaling ladders through the mud when I was un-
fortunately wounded. I remained two hours with
my men, and then returned on board to get my
wound dressed. It is not for me to criticise the
acts of my superior officer ; there is an oriental
proverb which says, Speech is as silver, but silence
is as gold,' and the admiral is so much my senior
that it would not become me, and I am sure you
will excuse my going any further into the matter.
There is one expression, however, in your address
which I would like to correct if you will allow me,
and that is as to the treacherous Chinese.' I
don't think we have any right to accuse them of
treachery, because, when Mr. Bruce made his ap •
pearance, they told him to go up by another way
which was open ; but for certain reasons perhaps
he thought it was not consistent with the honour
of this country—he thought it better to attempt to
force the passage • but they certainly did not offer
to let him go up the other way, and therefore there
perhaps may b.: some excuse for them. They cer-
tainly did not fire the first shot, for it was not until
after Capt. Willis, the admiral's flag captain, had
blown up the first barrier, which was tantamount
to a declaration of war by us, that they fired upon
him, and he retired. Next morning the gunboats
were ordered to take up their positions at 7 o'clock,
but on account of the strong tide and the wind this
could not be effected until two o'clock in the after-
noon; and during the whole of this time the Chinese
never fired a shot. Had they opened fire during
this interval when the gunboats were aground I
don't think one of them would have escaped ; but
they waited until the admiral had pulled up the
first row of stakes and gone sowards the second be-
fore they fired upon us. Therefore I don't think we
can call them treacherous Chinese. Then, as to the
report which stated that there was a trap laid for
us—this is entirely incorrect—there was no trap at
all. We saw it all before we went; we saw the masks
before the embrasures, and of course concluded that
there were guns behind them, and we saw the mud
we had to cross. Therefore I hope you will hear
no more about traps or treacherous Chinese. Then
as to our forcing civilisation upon these barbarians,
as we term them, it appears to me",to resemble such
a case as this. A crusty old gentleman lives in
Bishop Auckland, who likes to follow his own
crotchets and keep within his own house ; but a
number of persons meet together, go to him, and
say, You must come out and be civilised; 'or, you
must let us into your house, and become a Chris-
tion.' Now I think that man has a right to defend
his own house the best way he can ; every man's
house is his castle, at least it is acknowledged tube
so in England, and I don't know why it should not
be so in China. I don't say that we are to give up
our trade if we can hely it, but I don't th nk we are
right in forcing our civilisation upon China ; I
don't think we show them very good examples of
Christianity, or teach such good customs that
they need wish to imitate them ; and it is a fact,
as stated by Lord Elgin, that the further he went
into the interior the better disposed the people were
towards us; but at Canton and other places, where
we have been established for 200 years, they have
very bad feelings towards us, because they have
had much injustice done to them. As to the
part I have played in the late affair, I don't
think I have done any more than my duty. My
wound is now healed, and the surgeons tell me I
may take any exercise I like ; but had it not been for
my good constitution I probably should not have
recovered. I have to thank you not only for the
kind manner in which you have spoken of me, but
also for the terms in which you have mentioned my
father. I am gratified to think that he has succeeded
in gaining your regard and respect during the
short time he has been among you."