The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1842-12-20
Miscellaneous.
DESTRUCTION OF LIFE IN CHINA.

a ,r,r has, however, just issued from the press
\ I'm ,e pen of Captain Bingham, r. NJ, who has
A with the expedition throughout, which esti-
A r,e, the number Of the unhappy Chinese who have
n Irc since the commencement Of operations at from
iseo 10 twenty thousand.
n DIhar osscs,' says Captain Bingham, "since the
4 commencement of hostile operations against them,
my be estimated in round numbers at from Is to
\ m 200 men, and about 1900 pieces Of cannon Of
different coibrc, with immense quantities of other
materials of war. Their navy, such it was, is
,,lv annihlated; but still those losses are but
lnn of water in the Chinese nation and like the
MANY headed hydra, it shoots out armies fast
previously existing ones are destroyed; but all while
40 act with justice and humanity, to be subd by
the blessing Of Providence, by the British IIerculean
.m
Fdrhful as this picture is the details, as given by
Cap!ain Bingham, even more appalling Let
p(r example his account of the frightfu and saw
4 ag|aughter at Ningpo:
G!5oat $4,000 (Chincse) advanced Upon the
southern and western gates. the guards retiring be-
fore them. On the Chinese penetrating to the mar
c.rhcc in the centre oftho city, they were
csiyed by a heavy fire from our troops drawn up
This sudden check so damped their ardor, that their
' jet appeared to be 10 get out Of HE city fast
IS they could in doing which they were crowded in
tense masses in narrow streets. The artillery now
came up, unlimbercd trihia one hundred CARDS Of
he cro3e{ fngtircs and poured in destructive fire
cr grape and canister. So awful was the destruc-
AZ L . 4,
IGNORED to the sides Of the streets 10 ao,c The guns TO
sr1nce, and the pursuit was folloA cd up by them
nhe artillery and the 49Lh Regiment for several
niles"
We almost doubted the evidence Of senses
%m first met with this pregnant illustration of
he3wactcr of this miserable war, and cnnnot trust
ourselves to comment on tho conduct Of those with
v@0 the responsibility Of so frightful and lruess
nn1ore may happen to rest On the arrival Of the
general, he pat stop to the slaughter or twenty thJu
and instead of eight or nine might have been massa-
ued The loss on the side Of the British troops is
said to have amounted to two or three killed and
some wounded! But if few guns employed ashore
could have produced such terrific results, what must
have been the effect of the bombardment Of densely
which troops supported Let Captain
Bingham answer for US. The scene he now des-
C;bes is Annoy:
"Ihe general had this day good opportunity of
Displaying his skill in military tactcts. Percevng
that the enemy had five thousand in an extensive en-
campmcnt on the southern bank Of the river, while
the city was on the northern, he determined to attack
tho /,I.. lad ,l,-
cover Of the fire Of the Cruizer, the Coumbine, and
the Dentncl) EFuviag divided his small army into,
three columns; the right and left were dispatched to-
wards the tanks of the enemy, (which movement they
were enabled to execute without being perceived by
their opponents, under cover of rising ground. The
centre column advancing at the same time, the Chi
nese body came boldly out TO meet them. The Brit
sh troops advanced steadily until within good range,
though the Chinese had for some time opened fire
gmgas and matchocks, directed solely against this
e0Nmn The order was given TO fire, the flank compan
les SeNoachcd, pouring in their voles On the now be-
"ec'd Chinese. Being utterly COMPOUNDED at this,
'0HeAmost wonderful increase Of force, they gazed
"''nPd and motionlcss amazement. few Of them
Oly returned feeble fire to the incessant peals
''oiii SNciJ lutiitoi, anu ''Sh, 10 WV"
sudden panic, moved, broke land fed in every
u'ec'on, leaving the fields completely strewed with
"o dead and dying. Our men followed in close pur-
'u" and many hand to hand encounters took place;
'u the long Chinese spear could make but little re-
issuance against the British bayonet. Many Of these
Ous0t with DESPERATION apparently resolved to con-
4''F Or de- The residue fled by hundreds to the
""'er' hoping by that means to hide themselves from
%' vengeance of the ered haired race The fire of
,'' 'lHeS was most deadly; the stream shortly be-
''"'e 'nged with their blood when their general, ac-
s'"Pahed by Mr. Thorn, co ming up, the latter bear
ny d hag' with the following words in the Chinese
suase upon it-'Yield and be saved; resist and per
a'' many ofthem took quarters, and the carnage
.1 on this day, so unhappy for tho black hair
'"'e' Wteen hundred of ac1tom must haze persisted,
A. 'OSS amounted to si1tecn kiiIed, and few woun-
~ with such tremendous bombardment had
~ e0'hg on for two hours in this densely popua-
,s eshborhood, it must be expected that pitible
,S, were TO be witnessed. 1T one spot icere four
1s" struch'do1cn, while the frantic father was
'-'''aaliy embracing their dead bodies, or making