Columbia gazette., 1853-12-24

An impromptd jctty, composed OF
bags of sand, had been thrown up for
the occasion, near the center of the
crescent shaped beach at the head of
the blight Capt. Buchanan, who had
command of the party, was the first to
leap ashore. The remaining boats
crowded rapidly in beside the jetty,
landed as many of their crews as had
been detailed for the escort on shore,
and then pulled off about fifty yards
The seamen and marines were formed
into line as soon as they were landed
and presented compact and imposing
file along the beach. The detachment
of seamen were under the command Of
Lieut.. John X. Duer, Of the Susque-
hanna; Lieut.. Charles NJ Morris, OF
the Mississippi; Lieut.. John Matthews
Of the Plymouth, and Passed Midship-
man Robert w. Scott, of the Saratoga.
Including the officers, there were up
ward of 800 persons landed, while the
japanese troops amounted, as they
themselves informed US, to five thousand.
We had ll2 marines, about 100 seamen.
so officers, and 80 or 40 musicians
About hundred yards from the beach
| stood the foremost files Of the Japanese,
in somewhat loose and struggling order.
Their front occupied the whole beach,
their right flank resting upon the village
of Gori-hama, and their left against a
steep hill, which bounded the blight on
the northern side. The greater part
were stationed behind the canvass screens,
and from the numbers crowded together
in the rear, some Of the officers est!ma-
ted their force at nearer ten tEan FIVE
thousand men. Those in the front rank
were armed with swords, spears and
matchlocks, and their uniform differed
little from the usual japanese costume.
There we're number of horses, a breed
larger and much superior to the Chinese,
and in the back ground we saw body
of cavalry. On the slope of the hill
near the village, great number of na-
tives, many of whom were women, had
collected, out of curiosity to witness the
event.
A salute was fired from the Susque-
hanna, as the Commodore left, accom-
panied by his staff, Commander Adams
and Lieut.. Contce, and the men had
scarcely been formed into line before his
barge approached the shore. The 9th
er officers commanding detachments
were Commanders Buchanan and Walk
er, and Lieuts. Gillis and Taylor. The
officers composing the Commodore's es-
cort formed a double line from the jet
ty, and as he passed between them, fell
into the proper order behind him. He
was received with the customary honors.
and the procession Immediately started
for the place of reception. A stalwart
boatswain's mate was selected to bear
the broad pennant Of the Commodore,
supported by two very tall and powerful
negro seamen, completely armed. Be-
hind these followed two sailor boys,
bearing the letter of the President and
the Commodore's letter of crcdcnce, in
their sumptuous boxes, wrapped in scar
let cloth. Then came the Commodore
himself, with his staff and escort of Off
GERS. The marine force, fine, athletic
body of men, commanded by M.j. lei
lin, with detachment from the Missis-
sippi, under Capt. Slack, led the way,
and the corps of seamcn from all the
ships brought up the rear.
The house of reception was directly
in front of the landing, but an interve-
ming screen rendered slight detour ne
cessary in order to reach the entrance
and Major Zeilin made the most of this
circumstance, in order to display our
forces to the japanese. There certain
ly was a marked contrast between the
regular, compact files of our men, and
their vigorous muscular figures, and the
struggling ranks of the mild, effeminato
featured japanese. In front of the
house were two old brass four-pounders,
apparently of Spanish manufacture, and
on each side stood company of soldiers
who belonged either to the Imperial
forces, or to the body guard of the Prince.
Those ON the left wore a uniform some-
what resembling the modern Egyptian
dress. It was of dark gray color,
having full trowsers gathered below the
knees, broad sash around the waist, and
white cloth similar to turban, bound
around the head. They were armed
with the old Tower muskcts, which arc
to be found in every part of the world,
with flint locks and bayonets. Those on
the right wore different uniform, exhi-
biting mixture Of dull brown and vel.
low in its colors, and carried matchlocks
of an antique fashion.
Yez .imon and the interpreters preced.
ded us, in order to show the way. The
distance f.om the jetty to the door ofIthe
building was 50 short, that little oppcr-
ltunity vas given me for noticing minute