New-York daily tribune., 1842-12-03
pes,ruction ofLiGe in China.

ation solely on the official dispatches. a aarra-
tive of the war has, however. lHst issued from the
press from the pen OF Captain Bingham, r N,
who has served with the expedition throughout,
which estimates the number of the unhappy Chi
nese who have fallen since the commencement of
operations at from fifteen to twenty thousand
Their losses says Captain Bingham, since
the commencement CT hostile operations against
them, NAV be estimated in round numbers at from
| 15 10 10000 men, and about 1900 pieces of can
non OF different calibre, with imm quantity
of the other materials OF war. Their navy, such
as it was is nearly annhiated; but still these
! losses are but drop OF water In the Chinese
nation, and, like the manv-headed hydra, 1t shoots
ou, ne armies as fast previously existing ones
are destrayed but all while we act with justice
and humanity, to be subdued, by the blessing OF
Providence, by the British Herculean arm.
Frighifu as this picture Is, the details, as given
by Captain Bingham are even more appalling
lie, US take for example his account OF the fright
| ful and savage slaughter at Ningpo:
/" About 1000 (Chincse) advanced upon the
southern and western gates the guards retiring be-
fore them. On the Chinese penetrating TO the
narhet-placc in the centge of the city, they were
received by heavy FIRE from our troops drawn up.
This sudden check so damped their ardor, that
iheir only object appeared 10 be to get ont ef tie
city as fast as they could in doing which they
we're ccrowded in dense masses in the narrow streets.
The artillery now came up, unlimbcred ,rsthln one
hundred CARDS Of The crorcded fugitires, and
poured in destructive fire of grape and cannis-
ter. So awful was the destruction of human life,
that the bodies acere obliged 10 be remoced TO the
sides Of The streets TO alow tic guns to adrance,
ard the pursuit was followed up by them (the
tillery) and the 10Th Regiment for several miles.
We almost doubted the evidence of our senses
when we first met with this pregnant illustration
of the character of this miserable war, and cannot
trust ourselves to comment OF the conduct of those
with whom the responsibility of so frightful and
fuitlcss massacre may happen to rest. Oa the
arrival of the general he put stop to the slauSht-
err or twenty thousand instead of eight or nine,
might have been massacred. The loss OH the side
of the British troops is said to have amounted to
two or three killed and some dozen wounded!-
But if q few guns employed ashore could have pro-
puced such terrific results, what must have been
the effect of the bombardment of densey popHa
ted towns by the powerful naval armanentby which
our troops were supported Let Captain Bing-
ham answer for u.s. The scene he now describes
is Annoy:
''The general had this day good opportunity
of displaying his skill in military tactics. Per-
ceying that the cacmy had 5000 men in e3
tensive encampment on the southern bank of the
river, while the city was on the northern, he de-
termined to attack the former FIRST (the troops had
been landed under of the fire Of the Cruizcr,
the Coluslbine, and the Bentinck.) Having disi-
ded his small army into three columns; the right
and left were despatched towards the fanks of
the enemy, which movement they were enabled to
execute without being perceived by their oppo-
nents, under cover of rising ground. The cen
tire column advancing at the time, the Chi.
nese body came boldly out to meet them. The
British troops advanced steadily until within good
range, though the Chinese had for some time
opened fire OF gingas and matchocks, directed
solely against this column. The order was given
to fire, when at the same mement, the flank COM
panies debouched, pouring in their vollies on the
now bcwildered Chinese. Being utterly
founded at this, to them, most wonderful increase
OF force, they gazed in stupid and motionless
amazement. A few Of them only returned fee
bic fire to the incessant peals which came from
every quarter, and then, it were in sudden
panic moved, broke up, and fled in every dIrec-
ton leaving the field thickly strewn with their
dead and dying. Our followed in close pur-
suit, and many hand to hand encounters took
place; bu, the long Chinese spear could make but
little resistance against the Britishbayonet. Many
of these men fought with desperation, apparently
resolved to conquer or die. The residue fled by
hundreds to the water, hoping by that means to
hide themselves from the vengeance OF the red
haired race The FIRE of the rifles most dead
ly; the stream shortly became tinged with their
blood, when the general, accompanied by Mr.
Thom coming up, the latter bearing flag, with
the following words in the Chinese language upon
it-.Yield and be saved; resist and pcrlsh;' many
ofthem took quarters, AID the carnage ceased.
n y; ,I,o -l,oirs sd rarp
fifteen hundred of whom mast hare persisted, our
loss amounted TO sintcen killed, and few wound-
ed. With such trcm4ndous bombardment as
had been going on for two hours in this densely
populated neighborhood, it must be expected that
pitable sic hts were to be witnessed. At one spot
pere four children struck do'en, whet the frantic
father was occasionally embracing their bodies or
making attempts to drown himself in aneghborlng
tank Numerous similar scenes Witnessed.
At Anninghoy the lombard ment appears to have
been of the most terrific description, and soon
drove the Chinese from their guns. Capt. Blng-
ham thus describes the execution done upon the
wretched fugtivcs in their fruitless endeavor TO
escape:
:. The run becoming general, many tried to es-
cape round the base of the hill, in doing which
many of them became exposed to the Benheims
sroadside, when numbers fell Finding this tire
too hot to allow them to escape along the beach,
they took to the water, crawling along on all ours.
and bobbing their heads as they saw the flash OF
the guns, but escaping Scya they fell into Cha
rybdis; for they had no sooner got clear OF the
ships than they became exposed to the rocket
boats. The discharge followed the poor wretches
into the village. Truly it was On awful day Tor
the black-haired race of Ham,"
In another part Of the book we have account
of skifu mannuyre which placed large body
of the Chinese between two fires, by which 900
were slain, with loss to the British force of only