Washington sentinel., 1854-06-28
Correspondence Of the New York Herald.
Important from China.
SHANGHAI. Apri


Important from China.
SHANGHAI, April 4-P. M.
Tie Attack on the Imperial Force Gallant
Conduct Of the British and american
Forcss--Flight of the Chinese-On of the
americans Killed Nv Further ne,os of the
Inperialists-Rumored Flight Of the En-
peror de-, dc.
Since my last several engagements have
taken place between the Taoutae's Imperial
army and the rebels in the city; but, as usual,
more powder has been burned than lives lost.
But for the past two weeks the army Of the
Imperial Taoutae being encamped on the limits
OF the race course, which belongs to the foreign.
ers, have been committing various depradations,
J now and then shooting at the foreigners as they
pass along.
These various outrages have been mentioned
to the Taoutae by both the British and Ameri-
can consuls; the necessity of their prevention
had been urged upon him, on the ground that
if any foreigners should be injured by his law.
less soldiers, they, the consuls, could not be
heldresponsiblefo the protection which foreign
ers might afford themselves.
Thus things passed on till last evening about
FIVE o'clock, an English lady, escorted by
gentleman, was attacked by band of Taou-
tae's men; the gentleman was wounded severely
by several sword cuts, having nothing but a
cane to defend himself while the lady escaped
with fright only, although the chair in which
she was riding was cut badly in several places.
Other Englshmen were attacked about the same
time ut different points on the course, but none
were killed. Upon this news reaching the city,
great excitement prevailed.
The consuls Of the United States and Eng
land, in consultation with Capt. Kelly, of the
United States sloop of.war Plymouth, and Capt.
O'Callagan, of 81. B. M. steamer Encounter,
and Capt Kane, Of H. B. M. brig Grecian, con.
cluded to land their forces and by shell to
destroy the fort from which the imperialists
had come who had committed the outrages
alluded to. This was done; and leaving a
without any further disturbances.
On this morning a note was addressed by
the British Consul to the general of the i'm
perial army, ordering him to evacuate the
forts which he had erected within the limits of
the ground occupied by foreigners. This was
urged from the fact that his soldiers being new
leyies, were undiscipined and ungovernable,
and had shown decided disposition to attack
and injure foreigners; that if the evacuation
of the forts did not commence at o'clock to-
day, and was not completed at four, the forces
would lombard them out with shell and can
mister.
After this communication had been sent, q
joint consultation was had with the United
States consul and Capt. John Kelly, United
States sloop-ofwar Plymouth, and they being
of the opinion that the entire settlement was
in imminent danger from the hordes of undici-
pined soldiery composing the imperial camp,
unless their quarters were removed to greater
distance, agreed to lend their aid and assis-
tance in compelling them so to do.
Accordingly, at o'clock, p. M, on the 4th
instant, the forces we're landed from the British
steamer Encounter and brig Grecian, in num-
Der one hundred and fifty men, and one field
howitzer, and they were Joined by the Shang.
hal volunteers, with fifty men, under the com
mand of Mr.. Wade, H. B. Ms vice consul,
Captain Kelly, landed seventy United States
seanen and marines, with one field howitzer,
and he was joined by thirty American volun-
teers, with two field howitzers. The forces
stood two hundred Englishmen, under the com
mand of Captain O'Callaghan, of II. B. Ms
under Captain John Kelly, United States sloop-
ofwar Plymouth.
For greater security the United States con-
sui had called upon the merchant captains in
port to send on shore all the men they could
spare from their respective ships, armed and
equipped, and placed them under the order Of
Midshipman Gray, Of the Plymouth, to be
used in defence of the settlements, while the
large force proceeded to the imperial forts.
This force was about thirty men.
1t was now three o'clock, and no answer had
bsen received from Taoutae as to whether he
would remove the soldiers who had attempted
to attack the settlement. The race course is
distant but half mile from the bank of the
river. The troops reached it in a few minutes
As soon as the camps were in sight they were
halted.
The commanding officers reconnoitered them
and found no movement on their part indicat-
ing their intention to remove; on the contrary,
they were terrifying in some places.
At FIVE minutes TO-, four 1.-THE hour fixed as
the limit) a note was received from the Tatoa.
tae that the forts could not be evacuted. The
method of attack was then determined upon.
Captain O'Callaghan with his English force,
two hundred men, was to follow the race course
to the right, and Captain Kelly, with one hun.
dred Americans, was to march to the left, and
attack separate forts.
We marched of to our respective national
airs, and after coming up within three hundred
yards Of the fort we unlimbered our three how
itzers, loaded with shell, and at precisely four
o'clock commenced firing. For thirty minutes
this firing continued doing immense destruction
to the imperalsts--but they did not return it,
as the large field piece, which was masked and
was loaded to the muzzle with nails and slugs,
would not go of. About this time we had
nearly consumed our shell, and as there were
two more forts to take, the order was given to
charge It was done, and as we were within
thirty PAGES of the breastwork shower of bull
lets from jiag gals (like musket, only they
are about nine feet long and carry a pound
ball,) killed marine from the Plymouth,
\ ,,,.r,dad Cant paoraon of the American shin
Rose Standish, in the face, and Mri Griswold
GRAY, Of New York, in both legs. Capt. Pear
sons wound Is slight, but Mr.. Gray had to suf-
fer amputaton Of bis left leg, aud is now doing
well. For fifteen minutes the balls rained
among us. We were only thirty PAGES from
&c fort with deep and broad ditch between
Ms 6llad with iron points to stick the feet Of