The Sun.
London, England, 1842-11-23 00:00:00

SECRET DEPARTMENT.
SIMLA, SEPT. 23.
GENERAL ORDERS BY THE RIGHT HON. THE GOVERNOR-
GENERAL OF INDIA.
The Right Honourable the Governor-General of India
has directed the publication of a dispatch this day re-
ceived from Vice-Admiral Sir W. Parker, K.C.8., Naval
Commander-in-Chief on the coast of China, inclosing
copies of his Excellency's reports to the Admiralty of
the successful operations of the combined forces in China,
in the capture of Woosung, Paoushan, and Shanghtte.
By order of the Right Hon. the Governor-General of
India.
T. M. MADDOCK, Secretary to the Governor-Gene-
ral of India, with the Governor-General.

FROM HIS EXCELLENCY VICE-ADMIRAL SIR W. PARKER,
K.C.D., NAVAL COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF, CHINA, TO THE

RIGHT HON. LORD ELLENBOROUGH, GOVERNOR-GENE-
RAL OF INDIA.

CORNWALLIS, AT WOOSUNG; JUNE 26.
My Lord,—l have the honour to enclose, for your
Lordship's information, copies of my dispatches to the
Secretary of the Admiralty, reporting the capture of
Woosung, Paoushan, and Shanghae, on the 16th ktul
19th instant, with a total of not less than 400 guns, and
arms
a large quantity- of and military stores, with corn-
paratrvely small loss I and I beg to offer my congratula7
lions to your Lordship, on these events.
Sir 11. Pottinger returned to the expedition on the
20th instant, and nearly the whole of the expected rein-
forcements or troops and ships of war have arrived in
this quarter, with ample supplies of provisioas and stores.
As I believe his Excellency Sir Hugh Gough sends
your Lordship the copies of cur late correspondence with
Elepoo, I do not trouble you with another set, and have
only to add, that no time will be lost in advancing the
expedition up the Yang-tse-Kiang in prosecution of fur-
ther operations.—l have, &c. _ .

W. PARKER, Vice-Admiral.

FROM HIS EXCELLENCY VICE-ADMIRAL SIR W. PARKER,
R.C.D., NAVAL COMMANDER••IN•CHIEF, CHINA, TO THE

SECRETARY OF THE ADMIRALTY, &C.
Sir,—l did myself the honour of apprising the Lords
Commissioners of the Admiralty on the 26th ult. from
Chapoo, that his Excellency Lieutenant-General Sir
H. Gough and myself had it in contemplation to make
our next descent at Woosung, situated at the entrance
of a large river of that name, branching from the Yang-
tse-Kiang ; and I have now the gratification of report-
ing to their Lordships, that after a severe cannonading
yesterday from her Majesty's squadron and the steam-
vessels of the Indian navy under my command, and a
spirited resistance on the part of the Chinese, the whole
of their numerous and heavy batteries, defended by se-
veral thousand men, were carried with little compara-
tive loss by the seamen and marines, and a practicable
place for disembarking the troops having been thus se-
cured, the combined forces under Sir IL Gough took
possession of Paoushan, a city of the third class, at the
northern extremity of the sea-line batteries, without fur-
ther resistance.

In detailing these operations, I beg to inform their
Lordships that, as soon as the guns, arms, and military
stores of every description taken at Chapoo were effec-
tually destroyed, not a moment was lost in re-embark-
ing the troops.
The fleet sailed thence on the 28th of May, and
on the following day reached the Rugged Islands, lying
14 leagues distant to the eastward, where Commanders
Kellett and Collinsen had recently discovered a safe and
extensive sound, conveniently situated as an anchorage
for the expedition, pending the further examination of
those officers, assisted by Lieutenant Maitland, of the
Algerine, to ascertain a safe channel for the large ships
into the Yang-tse-Kiang ; but it was not until the 4th
inst. that they were able to rejoin us with a satisfactory
report of their investigation.
The fleet proceeded to the nor'hward on the following
day ; but from the strength of the tides, calms, fogs, and
the necessity of anchoring during the nights, we did not
arrive at the appointed rendezvous off the Amherst Rocks
before the Bth, when the Modeste, with the Nemesis and
Phlegetlion steam-vessels, were immediately detached off
Woosung, to intercept any communication with that
place ; and six of the small vessels were at the same time
placed as beacons at the edge of the shoals on the north
side of the channel leading into the Yang-tse-Kiang ;
this highly important duty was executed most skilfully
by Commanders Kellett and Collinson, as no landmarks
are visible on the low banks of the river by which the
' dangers can be defined, and the Ariadne iron steam-
vessel very narrowly escaped foundering, by striking on
the point of a rock before unknown, near the position
taken up by the Algerine. This rock is awash at low
water, and had not more than four or five feet on it at
' the time ,• the bottom of the steam-vessel was completely
perforated, and the compartment which contains the en-
gine instantaneously' filled with water ; bet by prompt
assistance from the squadron, and a sail being got ,under
her bottom, the leak was sufficiently absorbed to enable
her, with the assistance of the Sesostris, to reach Chusan,
where I trust her damages will be made good in a few
jier t
weeks.
The weather continued too thick for the ships again to
break ground before the I 3th, when I am happy to say
thein e,Cornwallis,u Jupiter
accompanied by the squadron, viz., the Blonde. Colum-
bine,
rocoopn-dsiuliept, ishlegethon, Tenasserim; Me-
dusa, steam-vessels, and tivelveetura4sp underor sail without
a succeeded in
reaching the anchorage off Wos
a siitgle accident, though running for a distance of 30
miles in water, which only exceeded by three feet the
draught of this ship.,
wand that Commander Watson, with Mr. Forster,
the master of the Modest„, had been indefatigable since
their arrival in making observations and sounding the
narrow channel, by which alone the Woosung river can
mbeouapnptiin.og acilaie4d.guinisl,ie bebamnl.etsenatthe the
Woosung. cityof
bounded by
and a
entrance were lined
with strong batteries, the western side presenting for
three miles an uninterrupted fortified embankment,
thsi village of
sea defence,
entrance
a of
totalthe of
175 guns,
completed
creek, On the opposite bank of which a semicircular bat-
tery,This
village l
eara imicoeubnf theti river.ng ten
A
24-pounders,strong f
woarst,enrieoe:lti tong fl2aingkutnhse,
at thedfeastern ,
making
The'distance between the last-mentioned fort were
uhi
east side and the main battery
which
on
tt he the
placed in judicious positions.
d
which runs between them on the
west side in a curved direction is not more than 320 yards
wide. on the west lineis scarcely
a mile, and the channel

A close reconnaissance was made by Sir brugh Gough
and myself in the Medusa steam-vessel on the 14th ; out
we were unable to discover any spot where the troops
could be landed, except under the guns of the ships ; and
I could not entertain a doubt of soon effecting the object,
if they could be placed in good positions for cannonading
the works.

Although the weather was
unfavourable, every diffi-
culty was overcome by the zeal and perseverance of
Commanders Kellett and Collinson,
assisted by the
masters of her Majesty's ships_viz the Cornwallis,
Mr. J: Conker ; the Blonde, Mr. .'ll. Thomas ; the
Modeste, Mr. J. T. Forster ; the Columbine, Mr. B. G.
Wills, who during the nights sounded and buoyed the
channel with admirable accuracy. The Medusa
,was
then advanced as near the batteries as we could venture
to anchor her, supported by guard.
boats, to prevent the
Chinese removing the buoy; and by the vigilance of
Lieut. Hewitt, none of them were disturbed.
The Sesustris returned from Chusan on the 15th, and
the wind being adverse for the ships taking up their po-
sitions under sail, I determined on placing them against
the batteries by the aid of the steam-vessels, and the
following morning being from the state of the weather
and tide favourable for our purpose, they were lashed
o'clock the whole proceeded to the attack in the following
alongside her Msjesty's ships at dawn of day, and at six
order:—The Blonde, towed by the Tenasserim; the
Cornwallis, towed by the Sesostris; the Modeste, towed
by the Nemesis; the Columbine, towed by the Phlegethon;
the Clio, towed by the Pluto to get in as
far as possible under sail, the
; the AlgerineMedusain g reserved to
meet any unexpected contingency.
The Blonde and Cornwallis were directed to anchor
against the heaviest batteries at the entrance on the
western side, and when placed, the sloops were to pro-
ceed higher up under the cover of their fire, to attack
those adjoining the village of
WOOSting, and the flanking
battery immediately opposite to it, which it was evident
could be passed and enfiladed if the depth of water marked
on the charts in our pessession proved correct.
The Blonde was kept ahead of the Cornwallis, to be
ready
narrowness of the channel in which we were to anchor
making it t d
sloops
should they require it, the
event whether there would be
to supportoubt
f u
l the
in that
space for her to pass this ship.
Captain Bourchier led in with his accustomed gal-
lantryfi)--owed by the Cornwallis,
bearing my flag, under a heavy fire from the batteries
on both sides, which we were obliged to approach. and ability, closely
Com-
manders Kellett and Collinson handsomely volunteered
half ast 6 o'clock
assistancettlhiteirtw,)
ships
sw
earsepialnotes ;
horaenddbaybothuet
stern,
g in excellent
positions, within 500 yards of the batteries, the sloops
passing on successively to their stations,
blied to bring up
The Algerine was o
astern of the
Cornwallis, and the Sesostris, after castius
g off this ship,
in proceeding to take a station to enfilade the fort on the
eastern side, unfortunately took the ground, but in a
Position which enabled Commander Ormsby to render
very essential service, of which he ably availed himself.
Before the Tenasserim could take 11P her assigned
station the North Star was observed outside endeavouring
to enter the Channel; the former vessel therefore was
clan
disp
ceatc of Commander Kenhed to tow her illett to poshesitiowan, s
and
under the gui-
berth,
placed in a good
berth, ahead of the Blonde, in time to participate in our
operations. • The Tenasserim then attempted to'close the
eastern battery, with which the Sesostris and some of
the larboard guns of the Cornwallis were engaged, but in
doing so she likewise took the ground, although in a si-
tuation to render very effective service.
It is but justice to say, that the Chinese evinced much
firmness at their guns, and kept up a smart fire lin* It
considerable time, although it gradually slackened after
the ships opened on them.
The gun practice of the squadron, equalled the
most
sanguine expectations, and by eight clock our opponents
were all driven from their batteries, those opposite to the
ships being reduced to a ruinous state. Large, bodies of
troops, however, were still observed from our mast-
heads collected in different directions to Oppose our
landing, but they were at length dispersed t.y
which were thrown with excellent precision by
the gun-
nery officers of the Cornwallis and Blonde, with the ad-
dition of some rockets from the former ship.
During the proceedings at the entrance of the river,
the Modeste, Columbine, and Clio, led
on with great
spirit by Commander 'Watson, and skilfully conducted
by the steam-vessels respectively attached to them, gal-
lantly and con pletely achieved the service assigned
them. The Modest() pushed at once into the creek at
the village of Woosung, while the Columbine and Clio
approached the opposite flank of the semicircular bat-
tery, which eras 'immediately abandoned, and, the guns
adjoining the village being soon silenced, the three
commanders landed at the head of their men about eight j