The Sun.
London, England, 1857-08-03 00:00:00

GOVERNMENT DESPATCHES FROM THE
CHINESE WATERS.

THE LONDON GAZETTE EXTRAORDI-
NARY, SATURDAY, AUG. 1, 1857.
ADMIRALTY, Aug. 1, 1857.—The Lords Commis_
sioners of the Admiralty, at a late hour last night,
received despatches from Rear-Admiral Sir Michael
Seymour, of which the following are copies :
OPERATIONS IN CANTON RIVER.
Calcutta, at Hong Kong, June 10, 1857.
Sir,—l have the honour to rt port proceedings in
the Canton river since my letter by the packet of
25th May.
The arrival of the Tribune and Amethyst having
enabled me to reinforce Commodore Hon. C. G. J.
B. Elliot, the senior officer in the river, that officer
at once commenced offensive operations against the
junk forces ; and on the 25th and 27th ult., he took
the gunboats and the boats of her Majesty's ships
under his orders, up the Lope Creek, against the
fleet which has been so long stationed in its inner
waters, where he had the good fortune to capture
or destroy about forty mandarin war-junks, in a
manner which has called forth my entire approval.
I lasg to invite the attention of the Lords Commis-
Commodore Elliott's
:dings, and to the offi-
seinocuileorssedofrethpoertAodfmhiirsapltryocet
cers be has named for their conduct in the affair.
In my letter, No. 119, I signified my intention
of proceeding up the Canton River. I accordingly
embarked in the Coromandel steam tender, Lieut.
Sholto Douglas commandine, on the 29 h May,
and with the remaining gunboats, and the boats of
H.M.S. Calcutta, under the command of Com-
mander H. R. Holland, arrived the same day at
second bar.
I was reluctantly under the necessity of depriv-
ing myself of the urgently proffered services of my
flag-captain, W. K. Hall, whose presence at Hong
Kong his long, under trying circumstances, proved
most beneficial to the colony.
Having now an adequate force at my disposal, I
lost no time in taking the neceszary steps fur an
attack on the war junks, which have been visible
up the Fa'sham Creek since the 4th of January
las', when they made sr determined and well-
arranged an attempt to recapture the Macao
Fort, and block up the channel. The enclosed
copy of a general memorandum to the squadron,
and abstract statement (numbered 2 and 3) will
show my arrangements and the disposition and
nature of the force selected for the'purpose, which
proceeded on the 31st of May to the upper part of
the river.
Just before day break on the Ist of JUne I ad-
vanced up the Fatsham Creek in the Coromandel,
the Haughty following, having in both vess-ls de-
tachments of seamen, tinder the command of Com
modure the Hon. Chas. Elliot, and of Royal
Marines in charge of Captain Robert Boyle, R.M.,
and the other officers and boats attached to the Ist
Divi-ion, in order to capture a fort with outworks,
mounting 19 guns, on an advanced elevated point,
which commanded the approach to the position oc-
cupied by the junk forces. The flight of several
signal rockets showed that the Chin se were fully
alive to our proceedings. When within about
1,500 yards of the fort the Coromandel grounded
on a barrier of sunken junks filled- with stones,
and the enemy opened fire. The landing party of
seamen and marines were immediately put in the
boats and sent a-head, and under a very heavy fire
of round and grape, in which the junk fleet joined,
the fort was almost immediately in our possesion,
Commander Elliot setting the good example of
being one of the first in it. The landing was par-
tially covered by the fire from the Haughty. ' One
or two of the guns in the fort were immediately on
the war junks. Happily this important service
was effected without loss. The position was a re-
markably strong one, and, defended by a body of
resolute troops, might have bid defiance to any
attack. The Haughty, having landed her party,
went on with Commodore Elliot and the boats of
the Ist Division, to co-operate with Commodore
Keppel. I ordered a portion of the Royal Marines,
under Lieutenant and Adjutant Burton, to remain.
as a garrison in the fort, and sent Captain Boyle,
with the remainder, about 150 in number, to the
scene of operations by land, to cut off the
enemy retreating from the junks, and to
prevent the advancing boats being annoyed
by gingalls or matchlocks from a large vil-
lage adjoining—a favourite tactic with the
Chinese. One half of this force was ultimately sent
back to the fort, and the remainder rejoined the
squadron up the creek.
As aeon as Commodore the Hon. H. Keppel per-
ceived the men of the Ist division ascending the
heights, he advanced up the channel on the east
side of Hyacinth 'Aland, with the gun and other
boats of the V, 3d, and 4th divisions, in order
stated in the programme. With the exception of
the Haughty and Plover, the gun-boats soon
rounded, but, agreeably with my instructions, the
boats were pushed a-head. The junks, which were
admirably moored in position to enfilade the whole
of the attacking force, soon opened a very heavy
fire, keeping it up with great spirit until our boats
were close alongside, when the crews commenced
to abandon their vessels, and to effect their escape
across the paddy fields. The blowing up of one or
two junks hastened this movement. In about 20
minutes we had possession of about 50 junks.
Leaving the 3d and 4th divisions to secure the
prizes, Commodore Keppel then proceeded about
three miles further up the creek, where more mast
heads were visible, and found 20 junks moored
across the stream in a very strong position, which
opened such a well directed and destructive fire,
that he was obliged to retire and wait for reinforce-
ments. The launch of the Calcutta was sunk IT a
round shot, the commodore's galley had three
round shot through her, and several other boats
were much injured. On additional boats coming
up, the commodore shifted to the Cilcutta's black
barge, and again advanced, and after a severe action
the elemy gave way. They were pursued as far as
Fatsham, a distance of seven miles, and 17 of them
captured and burnt. In consequence of my orders
not to molest this large and important city, the
three junks which passed through the creek on
which it is built effected their escape.
The result of the expedition was the capture of
between 70 and 80 heavily armed junks, mounting,
on an average, from 10 to 14 guns (many of them
-long 32-pounders), nearly all of European manu-
facture. As no object would have been gained by
removing the prizes,T caused them, with a few ex-
ceptions, to be burnt ; and the flames and nume-
rous heavy explosions must have been seen and
heard far and wile.
This engagement opens a new era in Chinese na-
val warfare. Great Judgment was shown in select-
ing the position for the fleet, and the Chinese, par-
ticularly the last division attacked by Commodore
Koppel, defended their ships with skill, courage,
and effect. I enclose a list of casualties, which I
regret to state is large, amounting to 3 officers and
10 seamen and marines killed, and 4 officers and 40
seamen and marines wounded ; but it is to me a
matter of stirprise that, under the circumstances of
the case, the loss was not greater.
I deeply regret to report the death of Major
Kearney,- Deputy-Assistant Quartermaster- Geeeral
to the China Expeditionary force. This officer was
on duty in the Canton River, and gallantly volun-
teered his services in the boats. He was killed by
a round shot in the Fury's gig in the attack upon
the upper division of junks.
Kong the same evening, I had the wounded collected as soon as possible,
and sent them to Hong
by
charge of Dr. Anderson, staff surgeon of the'Cal-
out'a.
The force remained at anchor on the night of the
jlusitikoffiJeeutn, June,
and in the
on
n the
droppedpthoesitfoiollnowbienfgoremoocrncuinpgie(i
down to the main river, towing five of the captured
vessels, which were the only ones saved from the
general conflagration.
In the execu ion of these important services I
need hardly state that every captain, officer, and
man did hill duty, and where all have so distin-
guished themselves, I refrain from making indi-
vidual selections. Should their lordship, there-
fore, consider the two engagements as worthy of
special marks of their approval, I would le, g to sug-
gest that due regard should be paid to seniority and
services.
I must not, however, omit to bring to their lord
ships' notice the gallant and efficient assistance
afforded me by Commodores Keppel and Elliot, and
'he captains in charge of the several divisions.
Commodore Keppel led the attack on the junks,
and the fact of his galley having bad three round
shot through it, and five men, out of her crew of
six, killed or wounded, is the best proof of the
manner in which he maintained his position.
Commodore Keppel's report of his proceedings
is herewith enclosed, and I beg to add a tracing of
the Fatsham Creek, showing the position of the
forts and of the junk forces, before the commence-
ment of the at ac:r.
I !eft the river on the afternoon of the 3d, for
the purpose of receiving the mails from England,
and of waiting the arrival of Lord E'gin.
All is perre ;fly quiet to the northward. The
squadron continues generally healthy-, but latterly
there has been a sliatht increase of fever and dysen-
tery, which may be expected at this season of the
year.—l have, &c.,
M. SEYMOUR,
Rear-Admiral and Commander-in-Chief.
I beg to add that Mr. G. Raymond, smaster of
the Encounte,, at Macao, volunteered his services

as a pilot, and tDok the Hong Kong up the Fats-
ham Creek—a service of danger. M.S.
The Se3retary of the Admiralty.

OPERATIONS AGAINST JUNKS UP THE
ESCAPE CREEK.
Sybille, 2d Bar, Canton River, May 29, 1857.
I hail the honour to report to you ye-tenday that
her Majesty's gunboats, tenders, and ships' boats
captured or destroyed about 40 mandarin junks
(snake boats) on the 25th and 27th inst. I beg to
report the nature of the operations more in detail.
The fleet of junks which formerly remained near
the main branch of theriver had moved to aposi.ion
about sor 6 miles up the Creek. As it was very
doubtful whether our small steamers could get up
to them, it was necessary to have a sufficient boat
force to follow up the Creek, independent of gun-
boat support.
At daylight on the 26th our force was in the
creek, and soon afterwards a mandarin fleet of about
40 junks was moored in good order acrrss the
stream. The tide was a strong ebb, which rendered
it less easy for the junks to escape, and although it
made our progress slow, it enabled us the better to
thread the way among the shoals.
A heavy fire from the junks opened upon the
leading steamers as they approached, but at too
great a distance to tell with effecf. Shcrtly, after-
wards, as the Hong Kong got within good range,
I she orened fire, and was soon supported by the
Bustird and Staring, the others being at distant
range. The fire from the junks then slackened,
and they got under weigh. Some were soon after-
wards abandoned, and the rest plying their oars
endeavoured to escape up the creek.
The steamers followed, though very slowly, on
account of the shoal water ; the Sir Charles Forbes
and Stanch grounded early, then the Starling, and
eventually the Hong-Kong ran ashore. The signal
was immediai-ly made for the boats to go ahead,
and a general chase took place. The junk force
divided ; the main body of about fifteen continuing
up the main channel were followed by the boats,
led by Captiin Edgell, who detached four pinnaces
up a creek to the left to follow the smaller division.
Commander Forsyth accompanied these pinnace',
which succeeded in capturing them all (ten in
number). Commander Forsyth speaks highly of
the gallant way the Hornet's pinnace, under Mr.
R. A. Brown, acting mate, dashed in, unsupported
by the other Wats, which she had ds anted, against
three of these heavy armed junks, which struck
to her.

The main body, followed by Captain Ede ell, were
soon beyond raw-Jo of all exc-apt the Hornet's rocket
boat and Sybille's pinn tee, which kept within
reach of them for a long time ; and Captain Rigell
brings to my notice the b laviour and m, st accurate
fife kept up by Lieut. Brock iu the former boat,
and by Mr. Hudson, acting mate, in the late".
The chase was continued by this divisi‘in' which
I accompanied for about 12 or 14 miles above the
place where the steamers had grounde I, when the
work fur the men at the oars having been exc s-
sive I determined to turn back, but with the view of
getting at the junks, which we still htd in sight, at
a future time, by another passage.
Near the point at which we turned, at the village
Tseen Twe, we found the lorcha Anonyma,
which was captured last December, whilst in tow
of the steamer Thistle. I burnt her.
On getting back to the gun-boats at night, I
found that Commander Corbett' who had very pro-
perly remained with the Stanch on her grounding
—the other commanders having gone on—had sent
the Inflexible's paddle-hog after a junk that tried
t i escape down a creek to the right and captured
her. Commander Forsyth had returned with his
party, and Lieut. Dent, assisted by the officers of
the gun-boats, had secured or destroyed all the
prizes. The Chinese having returned to one of
thejunks below, she was recaptured by Mr. Molloy,
second master, with the Starling's and Hong Kong's
boa's. Lieut. Dent brought to my notice the cm-
duct of that officer.
In all, 27 heavily-armed snake boats (belonging
to the Admiral Su Hoy) were captured or de-
s`royed. Their armament consist of one heavy gun
in the bow, generally a long 32 or 34-pounder, with
from four to six lighter guns ; each vessel pulls
about 40 oars. This service was fortunately ac-
complished with the loss of two men only wound:a.
The day was excessively hot, and I cannot speak
too highly of the spirit with which the men stuck
to their oars, through a harder day's work than I
have ever before witnessed under a tropical sun.
One or two cases (but not severe) of sunstroke oc-
curred in the gunboats.
At daylight next morning the steamers proceeded
down the creeks wirla the boats and ten prizes in
tow, and attached with the Sybille, at the second
bar.

Further arrangements were now made to follow
up the war boats that had got away. I hail already
the previous day, stationed the Tribune off Sawshee
Channel, and I now moored the Inflexible abreast
of the Second Bar C eek, down which her guns
could then range. From the knowledge I now pos-
sessed respecting the ve 'ions creeks, from Escape
Creek downwarde, I considered it possible to guard
all the outlets to the river, and with a force of boats
to scour the Inland Creek and .compel auy junks
there either to meet that force or retire towards the
'main river. Commander Foreph with his division
took up his station in Escape Creek in the evening.
At daylight on the 27th I proceeded up S tw-hee
Channel. as previously, arranged, the boats being
towel by the steamers for ten or twelve miles. I
then sent the Bustard to strengthen Ganmander
Forsyth's diviri..}n, and desired Li}lutet,ant Dent,
in the Hong-Kong, to take with him the In-
flexible's pinuac,, and go a short distance up the
Second Bar Creek. He succeede lin passing com-
pletely through into E=cape Creek, and met Com-
mander Forsyth. Casing off from the steamers,
the briats pulled up the Sawshee Channel, and we
soon heard from the natives (who showed us every
geed feeling) that fur of Su Hoy's retreating
squadron had on the 25th gone up to TOUrlv,-
Kouan, and that there were other mandarin junks
there. (I beg here to mention the very great as-
sistance I have received from the Ilev. Samuel
Beal, chaplain of this ship, who was good enough,
at my reque4, to accompany me each day as
Chinese interpreter; to his aid the successes of
the expedition are in a great degree due, as I had
failed to obtain an interpreter from Hong-Kong.)
About ten miles from where the steamers were
left we opened the city of Toung-Kouan, and ob-
served the mastheads of the war junks. The boats
now gave way with a will, and though the junks
were in sight fully two miles off, they succeeded
in taking them cemple`ely by surprise ; the boats,
as they dashed in,',firing into a small battery which
commanded the river, and into the war junks,
caused them to be immediately abandoned. The
junks lay scattered along the whole length of the
town, through which the river runs, and prepara-
tions were now made to destroy them, with the
exception of one, the finest and hew:est armed
war junk I have seen in China, which I hoped to
be able to take away.
It soon became apparent that the Chinese troops
were n ,t going quietly to submit to this proceed
ing without further resistance, and the creek being
narrow, with houses on either side, they had every
facility to pick off our inen. As we first passed up
only a few giugalls and matchlocks opened ; these
increasing in number, prestntly gave consi-
derable annoyance, and it was necessary to keep up
a continued fire with some of the boots' guns, from
musketry, and from the Tribune's rocket-boat,
which did good service, while ceher parties were
employed de,troving the junks, which occupied
some time, and it was necees try to burn those at
the upper end of the town first, and so on in suc-
ceseion, to enable our boats to get back.
The chief attacks from the shore took place
towards Our. rear, at the battery at the lower end
of the town, where most of the casualties occurred.
Commander Tumour was active and useful, and
on two occasions landed in a very gallant manner
with small parties of marines,. under Lieut. G. L.
Blake, 8.M., charged some two hundred well-
armed men, and drove them beyond the embank-
ment S.

An attempt was made to tow down the fine war
junk alreidy noticed, but she accident dly caught
tire, and she was therefore destroyed with the
others. That being accomplished the boats returned
down the creek.
This again was a severe day's work ; offi:ers and
men behaved admirably, and with the grea.e4
spirit. I beg to report to y ()lithe able a,ssistadc3 I
received from Captain Edgell, and from Com-
manders Forsyth, Corbz-tt, and Tumour, during
the two days' oprations. Their zeal and activity
the last cl,.y (as before) was emulated by the officers
of all ranks under them, from Lieutenant iNaree,
the senior lieutenant, to the junior cadef.
Captain
share taken by Lieutenant Staniforth in the
E kelt brings to my notice the active
Tribune's barge ; and th e services of Mr. Hudson,
acting mate of the ship, I beg particularly to
notice.
Lieutenant Richard Cox. of the 38th Regimental
Madras Rifle., accompanied the expedition each
day as a :volunteer, and made himself very useful.
kSigned) C ELLIOT, Commodore.

RETURN OF THE FORCE ENGAGED IN THE ESCAPE CREEK OE THE
25TH MAY, THE CAPTURE AND DESTRUCTION OF CHINESE

WAR VF ;,4

- -- • .
• Steam tender Hong Kong, Lieutenant E. T. Dent; gun-
boat Busta rd, Lieutenant Collinson ; steam tender, Sir C.
Forbes, L io utenant Viscount Gilford ; gunboat Starling,
Lieutenant V illiers ; gunboat Staunch. Lieutenant Wildman.
Sybille. —Launch, Lieut. E. Nares ; Lieut. Blake, R.M. ;
Mr. Price' midshipman. Barge, Mr. A. T. Brooke, midship-
man. Pinnac e, Mr. T. K. Hudson, acting mate ; Lieut.
Swale, R.M. Cutter, Mr. W. H. De Burgh, midshipman.
Raleigh.— putter, Commander Tumour ; Mr. John Forbes,
sis taut-surg e on ; Mr. Pilkington, midshipman, Launch,

Inflexible.—Commander Corbett. Starboard paddle-box
boat, Lieut. Hanson ; Mr. C. Buckle, midshipman. Port
paddlo-box boat. Mr. J. Stokes, midshipman; M. Magrath,
assistant-surgeon. Pinnace, Lieut. Bacon; Mr. ' Trefusis,
midshipman.
Fury.—Paddle-box boat, Lieut. Smith, Mr. Moysey, as-
sis ant-surgeon ; Mr. Hayes, midshipman. Pinnace, Mr.
Smith, acting mate. Total force of guns and -boats ; Thirteen
cutters and seven gigs.

RETURN OF THE FORCE ENGAGED ON TEE 27TH MAY AT THE

DESTRUCTION OF CHINESE WAR BOATS AT TOUNG-KOITAN.

Sybille.—Lieutenant Nares : Mr. Brook, midshipman,
Lieutenant Bake, R.M. Pinnacl, Mr. Hudson, actinl mate;
Lieutenant Swale, RH. Cutter, Mr. De Burgh, midshipman.
Raleigh. -Cutter, Commander Tumour ; Mr. Forbes, as-
sistant-surgeon; Mr. Pilk ing' on, midshipman. Pinnace,
Lieut. nant Graham : Mr. Dupries, midshipman.
Tribune.—Gig, Captain Edg,ll; Mr. W. Elwyn, naval
cadet ; Mr. J. Phillipps, acting second master ; Barge, Lieu-
tenant Staniforth ; Lieutenant Ozzard, R.M. Mr. Burnett,
acting assistant-surgeon ; Lieutenant Cox, volunteer, 38th
Regime .t Madras Native Infantry. Pinnace, Lieutenant
Norman; Mr. Parker, midshipman ; Mr Hawkins, naval
cadet. Cutter, Lieutenant Slowtherd ; Mr. Mangan, midship-
man ; Mr. Verry, gunner.
Inflexible.—Gig, Commander Corb2tt ; Mr. W. Burney.
Starb and paddle-box b oat, Lieutenant Bacon; Mr. Buckle,
Midshipman ; Mr. 31 grath, assistant-surgeon. P. •rt paddle-
box boat, Mr. J. E. Stokes, midshipman; Mr. R. A. Turton,
midshipman.
Fury.—Paddle-box boat, Lieutenant Smith ; Mr. Moysey,
assistant-surgeon ; Mr. Haynes, midshipman. Pinnace,
Mr. Sm th, acting mate.
Total force of boats with guns;—Nine cutters and five
gigs.

RETURN OF CASUALTIES IN THE FORCE ENGAGED IN THE CAPTURE
AND DESTRUCTION OF CHINESE WAR BOATS IN ESCAPE CREEK,
ON TfIE 25T11 OF MAP.
The Hornet's Pinnace.—Richard Warren, A. 8., severely;
Edward Roche, A. 8., slightly.