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

fill! SUN, LONDON, MONDAY EVENING AUGUST 3, 1857

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

OPERATIONS AGAINST JUNKS UP THE
ESCAPE CREEK.
Sybille, 2d Bar, Canton River, May 29, 1857.
' I had the honour to report to you yesterday 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 the river 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 across 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 effect. Shortly, after-
wards, as the Hong Kong got within good range,
she opened fire, and was soon supported by the
Bustard and Starting, 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 immediaiely 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 Captain Edgell, who detached four pinnaces
up a creek to the left to follow the smaller division.
Commander Forsyth accompanied these pinnaces,
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 boats, which she had distanced, against
three of these heavy armed junks, which struck
to her.

The main body, followed by Captain Edge:Jß, were
soon beyond range of all except the Hornet's rocket
boat and Sybille's pinnace, which kept within
reach of them for a long time ; and Captain dgell
brings to my notice the behaviour and most accurate
fire kept up by Lieut. Brock in the former boat,
and by Mr. Hudson, acting mate, in the latter.
The chase was continued by this division, which
I accompanied for about 12 or 14 miles above the
place where the steamers had grounded, when the
work for 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 had in sight, at
a future time, by another passage.
Near the point at which we turned, at the village
.of Tseen Twe, we found the lorcha Ationyma,
wbich 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 Infiexible'd paddle-box after a junk that tried
to 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 alt the
prizes. The Chinese having returned to one of
the junks below, she was recaptured by Mr. Molloy,
second master, with the Starling's and Hong Kong's
bows. Lieut. Dent brought to my notice the con-
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 wounded.
The day was exce=sively 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 with 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 had already
the previous day, stationed the Trit tune off Sawsheo
Channel, and I now moored the Inflexible abreast
of the Second Bar Creek, down which her guns
could then range. From the knowledge I now pos-
sessed respecting the various creeks, from Escape
Creek downwards, I considered it possible to guard
all the outlets to the river, and with a force of boats
to soQur the Inland Creek and compel any junks
the Tither to meet that force or retire towards the
main river. Commander Forsyth with his division
took up his station in Escape Creek in the evening.
At daylight on the 27th I proceeded up Saw-hee
Channel as previously arranged, the boats being
towed by the steamers for ten or twelve miles.p I
then sent the Bustard to strengthen Commander
Forsyth's division, and desired Lieutenant Dent,
in the Hong-Kong, to take with him the In-
flexible's pinnace, and go a short distance up the
Second Bar Creek. He succeede lin passing com-
pletely through into Escape Creek, and met Com-
mander Forsyth. Casting off from the steamers,
the boats pulled up the Sawahee Channel, and we
soon heard from the natives (who showed us every
good feeling) that four of Su Roy's retreating
squadron had on the 25th gone up to Toung-
Konen, and that there were other mandarin junks
there. (I beg here to mention the very great as-
sistance I have received from the Rev. Samuel
Beal, chaplain of this ship, who was good enough,
at my rcque,t, to accompany me each day as
Chinese interpreter ; to his aid the successes of
the expedition are in a great degree due, as I ha
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 ',oats
now gave way with a will, and though the junks
were in sight fully two miles off, they succeeded
in taking them comple`ely by surprise ; the boats,
as they dashed in,r,firing into a small battery which
commanded the river, and into the war jutik.,
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 male to destroy them, with th-3
exception of one, the finest and heaviest 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 resistanc, and the creek being
narrow, with houses on either side, they had every
facility to pick off our Lmien. As we first passed up
only a few gingalls and matchlocks opened ; these
increaming in number, presently gave 'consi-
deranle annoyance, and it was necessary to keep up
a continued fire with some of the boats' guns, from
musketry, and from the Tribune's rocket-boat,
which did good servic-, while other parties were
employed de,troying the junks, which occupied
some time, and it was necessary to burn those at
the upper end of the town first, and-so on in suc-
cession, to enable our boats to get back.
Tae chid attacks from the shore took plac3
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.
It.M., charged some two hundred well.
armed men, and drove them beyond the embauk-
merits.

Au attempt was made to tow down the fine war
junk already no'iced, but she accidentally caught
.tire, aud 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 greateit
spirit. I beg to report to you the able assistanc:l I
rtceived from Captain Edgell, and from Com-
manders Forsyth, Corbett, and Tumour, during
the two days' operations. Their zeal and activity
the last d.ly (as before) was emulated by tlie officers
of all ranks under them, from Lieutenant Nares,
the senior lieutenant, to the junior cadet.
Captain Edgell brings to my notice the active
share taken by Lieutenant kStaniforth in the
Tribune's barge ; and the services of Mr. Hudson,
acting mate of the ship, I beg particularly to,
notice.

Lieutenant Richard Cod, of the 38th Regimental
Madras Rifles, accompanied the expedition each
day 14 a volunteer, and made himself Very useful.
kSigned) C. ELLIOT, Commodore.

RETURN OF Tux
..........—..
25ru EAT, AT
WAR VPSSELS.
Steam tender Hong Ko
boat Bustard, Lieutenantn
FORCE &NGAGED IN THE ESCAPE CREEK OX THE
Forbes. Lieutenant Viseougen,°tl:niGel;
Lieutenant Villiers
Sybille.—Launch, Lieut.
3er. Price, midshipman.
Tus CAPTURE AND DESTRUCTION OF CHINESE
Lieutenant E. T. bent ; gun-
steam tender, Sir C.
; gunboat
stannilcford gunboat Starling,
_.
arehs . Lieutenant. Wildman.
, actingrairnozkleht:ie ; Lieut.
BarEgo,Nwir. I.L.i.eull. Blake, R.M. ;
midship-
man. Pinnace, Mr. T. K. Hudson,
Swale, R.M. Cutter, Mr. W. H. De Burgh,
Raleigh.--Cuttor, Commander Turiour ; Mr. JohPuinFaonri•es
assistant-surgeon"; Mr. Filkington, midshipmah, Latau'el),
,

Lieut. Goodenough ; Lord Charles Scott, midshipman. Pin.
nace, Lieutenant Graham ; Mr. Dnpries, midshipman.
Tribune.—Gig, Capt. Edgell ; Mr. F. Elwyn, naval cadet ;
Mr. Childers, midshipman. Barge, Lieutenant Staniforth •
Lieutenant A. Ozzard, R.M. ; volunteer, Lieutenant R.
Cox, 38th Regiment M.N.I. Pinnace, Lieut. Norman; Mr.
Barker, midshipman ; Mr. Rowe, assistant paymaster ; Mr.
Hawkins, naval cadet. Cutter, r. Yeatman, midshipman ;
Mr. R. Perry, gunner.
_

Hornet.---Gig, Commander Forsyth. Pinnace, Mr. R. A.
Brown, acting mato. Cutter, Lieutenant Brock, Hon. A.
Denison, acting mate.

Inflexible.—Commander Corbett. Starboard paddle-box
boat, Lieut. Hanson ; Mr. C. Buckle, midshipman. Port
paddle-box boat, Mr. J. Stokes, midshipman ; Mr. Magrath,
assistant-surgeon. Pinnace, Lieut. Bacon; Mr. Trefusis,
midshipman.

Furl.—Paddle-boa 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 THE 27TH MAY AT THE
DESTRUCTION OF CHINESE WAR BOATS AT TOUNG-HOUAN.
Sybille.—Lieutenant Nares: Mr. Brook, midshipman,
Lieutenant Biake, R.M. Pinnace, Mr. Hudson, actin; mate;
Lieutenant Swale, RM. Cutter, Mr. De Burgh, midshipman.
Raleigh. -Cutter, Commander Tumour ; Mr. Forbes, as-
sistant-surgeon; Mr. Pilkington, midshipman. Pinnace,
Lieutenant Graham : Mr. Dupries, midshipman.
Tribune.—Gig, Captain Edgell ; Mr. W. Elwyn, naval
cadet ; Mr. J. Phillipps, acting second master; Barge,"Lieu.
tenant Staniforth ; Lieutenant Ozzard, R.M. ; Mr. Burnett,
acting as.istant-surgeon ; Lieutenant Cox, volunteer, 38th
Regiment 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 CorbAt ; Mr. W. Burney.
Starb and paddle-box brat, Lieutenant Bacon; Mr. Buckle,
midshipman ; Mr. M3grath, assistant-surgeon. Port paddle-
box boat, Mr. J. E. Stokes, midshipman; Mr. B. A. Teuton,
midshipman.

Fury.—Paddle-box boat, Lieutenant Smith; Mr. Moysey,
assistant-surgeon ; Mr. Haynes, midshipman. Pinnace,
Mr. §ra th, acting mate.

Total force ofboats with guns ;—Nine cutters and five
gigs.

RETURN OF CASUALTIES IN THE FORCE ENGAGED IN THE CAPTURE
AND DESTRUCTION OP CHINESE WAR. BOATS IN ESCAPE CREEE,
ON THE 25TH OF MAY.
The Hornet's Pinnace.—Richard Warren, A. 8., severely;
Edward Roche, A. 8., slightly.
CASUALTIES ON THE 2TH OF MAT AT TOEING-EWAN.
The Sybille's Boats.—Henry Matthews, private, R.M.,
seriously; Thomas M`Donald, A. 8., severely; Richard Han-
naford, private, R.M., slightly.
Raleigh's Boats.—Mr. A. Dap' les, midshipman, severely ;
Mr. Pilkington, midshipman, slightly : William Trewin, A. 8.,
dangerously ; James Mansell, leading seaman, severely ;
Edward Pepper, A. 8., severely; William Drew, leading sea-
man, severely ; Luke Sharp, private, R.M., severely : .
Fog well, A. 8., ,lightly.

Tribune's Boats. --Lieut. Norman, bullet through right
cheek; William Lanpidge, A. 8., bullet lodged in left cheek,
dangerous ; William Nelson, leading seaman, bullet wound,
right shoulder; Benfield Howe, private, bullet wound, right
hand; Edward Strickland, private, bullet wound, upper lip ;
Robert Groves, sail mate, bullet wounds, left hand and leg ;
Thomas Clack, private, bullet wound, spine, dangerous; and
Henry Halfyer, private, bullet wound, left thigh.
Inflexible's Boats.—Lieut. Bacon, slightly ; Mr. Magrath,
Assist nt-Sargeon, slightly; William Yeo, boatswain's mate,
severely ; Colin Grant, A. 8,, severely ; Thomas Farmer,
A. 8., slightly.

Fury's- Boats.—James Carry, gunner's-mate, slightly ;
George Grogan, corporal, R.M., severely ; Chas. O'Donn 11,
private, severely • William Keechee, A.B. severely; and
James Gibson, leading seaman, severely.
Total wounded, 31.

A RETURN OF CASUALTIES ON BOARD HSR MAJESTY'S GUNBOATS
AND BOATS OF THE SQUADRON DURING THE OPERATIONS IN THE
FATS/ AN CREEK ON MONDAY, THE IST JUNE :-
KILLED.
Raleigh.—Commodore's Galley.—Peter Tolhnrst, captain
of the forecastle. Launch.—Thomas Coleman, A. 8., mor-
tally wounded, since dead. Pinnace.—John, Dart, A. 8.,
Simeon Bone private, Royal Marines.
Nankin.—John Smith, private, Royal Marines, killed on
board the Hongkong.
Tribune.—Barge..---Richard Harper, A.B. Pinnace.—Mr.
H. Barker, midshipman, mortally wounded, since dead.
Highflyor.—Pinnace. --W. E. C. Bryan, master's assistant.
Niger.—lst Gig. - George GriMn, A. 8., mortally wounded,
since dead ; Thomas Christian, sergeant, Royal Marine Ar-
tillery, killed on board the Plover gunboat.
Hornet.—Cutter.—Thomas Cronin, ord.
Fary.—Gig.—Major Kearney, Deputy-Assistant-Quarter-
master-Gentral, who, being on duty is the Canton river,
gallantly volunteered his services in the boats.
Plover Gunboat.—Charles Moad, mortally wounded, since
dead.

Naval and Military lntelligence.

On Saturday morning orders arrived for the re-
inforcements for the 64-h and 86th (Royal County
Down) Regimen's t) leave the Provisi .nal Battalion
Chatham, and embark at Gravesend on board the
Genghis khan for Bombay. The detachments con-
sis'ed of 105 non-commissioned officers and men of
the 86th, and 21. of the 64th Regiment, under the
command of Lieut. T. R. Hamilton and Lieut.
Valentine G. Coates, 86th Regiment. Reinforce-
ments for the 10th and 84th (York and Lancaster)
Regiments are also under orders to proceed from
Chatham and embark on la_mrd the Est India
Company's ship Agamemnon for Calcutta. The
64th and 86th will embark to-morrow.
Six officers and two companies of the 38th Regi-
ment, numbering 100• non-commissioned officers
and privw es, left Kingstown on Saturday by the
transport Louisiana. The second division of the
79th Highlander; consisting of 15 officers and 392
rank and file, also embarked in the same vessel.
The third division of the Ist battalion of the First
Royals are expected to sail by the Defiance to-day.
The following officers will embark with them
Lieutenant Colonel Daveny, Brevet-Major Maine,
Captains RlWtree and Coles, Lieutenants Hassell,
Mansell, Browne, arid Dean., Ensigns Thompson,
Stanfield, Bloomfield, and Logan, and Surgeon
Hearn. The same vessel will take out a company
of the 60th Rifles to make up the full number of
troops which she is chartered to carry. The head-
quarters of the 38th Regiment, under the c ,mmand
of Colonel Sparks, C.P., will embark on Tuesday
in the John Bell screw steamer. The 51st Regi-
ment is held in readiness to move from the Curragh
to Dublin, to relieve the 79th Highlanders.
On Friday afternoon the officers and men of the
R ayal Engineers at present at head-quarters,
Chatham, with the troops of the East India
Company's Engineers, assembled in review order
in the square of Brompton Barracks for the purpose
of witnessing the presentation by General Sir John
F. Burgoyne, G. C. 8., Inspector-General of Forti-
fications, of a number of medals to officers and
men of the Royal Engineers awarded by his Ma-
jesty the King of Sardinia for me:itorious conduct
during the Crimean campaign. Shoisly. before 3
o'clock General Sir J. F. Burgoyne arrived on the
pa-ade, accomt ani.d by Col. H. Sandham and the
staff at head-quarters and was received with a
general salute, the Sardinian flag being hoisted at
the saluting post. The troops having been formed
into line Sir J. Burgoyne presented the medals to
the following officers and non-commissioned officers
of the Royal Engineers, viz.:—Col. J. W. Gordon,
C. 8., Deputy-Adjut int-General, and Aid-de-Camp
to the Queen ; Col. F. E. Chapman, C. 8., Lieut.-
Cols E. Stanton, C. 8., Major F. C. ela.ssard,
Major H. W. Montague, Major C. B. Evart,
Corporal. W. Baker,Altd Corporal W. Trimble.
The medals having presented, the band
played the Sardinian national anthem, after
wisich General Sir John Burgoyne addressed' the
troops, expressed the high satisfaction he • felt
at being delegated to present the medals to those
officers and non-commissioned officers who had so
highly distinguished themselves, and said that,
should au opportunity ever arise, he was sure the
officers and men before him would show that they
then
ne
brokedese irvinnogtof similar honours. The troops
companies and marched past in
slow and quick time.
First-Lieutenant and Quartermaster P. Harris,
of the Cba ham Division of Royal Marines, has been
promoted to be Captain, and appointed to the
Woolwich division, vice Capt. T. B. V. Fitzgerald,
retired on half-pay.
The letters of our Malta correspondent reach to
the 27th of July, but only report the departure of
one ship of war, the Desperate steam sloop, on the
23d, for Alexandria, there to remain, to receive on
board, for conveyance to Europe, the Princes of
Siam, and thus leave free the Caradoc fir convey-
ing to Cagliari any important intelligence that may
arrive at Alexandria from the East Indies and
China, in order to telegraph it to London. The
Colombo, Peninsular an 1 Orient al Company's
steam-packet, arrived at 5 p.m., and the Vectia,
belonging to the same company, at 11.30 p.m., on
the 2tit h, both from Alexandria, bringing the India
mails, and full of passengers. The former left for
Marseilles at 5 a.m. on the 27th. His Excellency
Major-General Sir Wm. Reid, Governor of Malta,
accompanied by his family, took passage by the
Colombo, on two months' sick leave. Deut.-Gen:
Sir John Pennefather, as senior m'litary officer, affr
stained the Government ad interim.
A numberof non-commissioned officers of various
regiments have arrived at Uhatamgarrison for the
purpose of being organised into a corps and pro-
ceeding to the Falkland Islands. Each man will
be accompanied by his wife and children, and on
arriving at his destination will be granted a certain
quantity of land. Lieut. C. C. Abbott, 75th Regi-
ment, has been appointed to the command of the
troops.
The steamship Scotland,l,loo tons burden, Capt.
Millman, belonging to W. S. Lindsay and Co.,
which embarked the T and F troops of Royal
Horse Artillery on Friday at Woolwich, wal de-
tained at the Arsenal pier-head until yesterday to
complete necessary arrangements. She saile 1 down
the river under steam, starting at 7.30 for Dart-
mouth, on her voyage to India. According to the
conditions of the contract entered into between the
owner and the India-house, she is to, perform the
voyage in 70 days. Mr. Lindsay, accompanied by
Capt. Wilson, visited the Scotland on Saturday,
when the officers in command of the troops were
assured that strict injunctions had been given to
render the voyage a speedy and comfortable one
to all on board. The Deputy-Assistant-Quarter-
master-General and a medical officer of artillery in-
spected the ship, and expressed their approval of the
arrangements. The Warrior Queen, Victoria, and
Sydney, are expected to embark the six bat-
talion companies, under orders for India to-mor-
row (Tuesday) ; and the Marine companies, who
are to be armed with the Enfield rifle, either to-
morrow or Wednesday. Her Majesty's ship Gor-
gon, recently returned from Asia Minor, was on
Saturday paid off on board, in Woolwich basin.
The following officers of her Majesty's 37th Re-
giment, whose leave has been cancelled, have left
per overland mail for Calcutta, to join the portion
of that regiment which has arrived there from Cey-
lon on _the way to Delhi—viz., Colonel Millman,
Captain Bedford, Lieutenantps,iify., D. Cora and
G.
urWto.nSaarevatgoejoin Captainsthe head-quarters of the corps in
Ceylon.
A review of a portion of the Volunteer Brigade
will take place to-day upon Nazing-mead, close to
the Broxbourne station of the Elstern Counties
Railway, at 1 o'clock p.m. The brigade will con-
sist of the Ili n. the Artillery Company of London,
of which his Royal Highness the Prince Consort is
the colonel ; the South Herts Regiment of Yeo-
manry Cavalry, Colonel-Commandant the Right
Hon. the Earl of Verulam ; and the Essex Corps
of Yeomanry, Artillery and Cavalry, under the
command of Major Palmer.
The Pylade', 31, Capt. M. De Conway, arrived
at Spithead from Sheerness on Saturday.
The Lords of the Admiralty arrived at Ports-
mouth on Saturday night by mail train, embarked
immediately on board the Admiralty yacht Osborne,
end sailed at once for the Channel Islands to make
their annual inspection. Their lordships will go
thence to Ireland, calling at Plymouth on their re-
turn to Spithead.
The Imperial Royal French steam yacht Refine
Hortense left Osborne on Thursday ats 'midnight
With his Highness Prince Napoleon for Cherbourg.
The paddlewheel steam frigate ValorOus made a
successful trial trip outside Plythouth Sound on
Wednesday.
The stsamvessel Zephyr, 3, was placed in dock at
Devonport on Thursday. The paddlewheel steam
sloop Buzzard, 6, was removed out of dock on Fri-
day preparatory to her being put into commission.

Names of
Companies.

A shtn &01d11,
Birmingham
Coventry.. • •
Derby •• •
Grand.' ninth
Uo., 6 kir.Ct.
Grand
Kennt & Avi
Leeds &Liv:i
Leicester ..• •
Leicstr
Loughborogli
Macclesfield.
Neath
0xf0rd......