Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1855-10-27
BATTLE WITH PIRATES BY AMERICAN
AND ENGLISH sOLDIERS.

HtIlnb kltlpu anu MT ell OF SlAlcCH WOullutu,
some Of them it is feared, mortally. Capt
Grando and other officers were blown up in a
junk, but fortunately wero but little hurt
Ten pirate junks were taken and destroyed
the greater portion of their crews having
been killed, and seven prizes liberated, five
of which belonged TO the Eaglet's convoy
Sixteen OF the smaller pirate iunks escaped.
Last week, We mentioned that two lorchas
and five iunks under convoy of the steamer
Eaglet, had been cut Off by the pirates, who
displayed such formidable bravery and de-
termincd front, that Capt. Caldwell was una
bic to rescue them, and had to apply TO Capt.
Felowes, of her Maiesty's ship Rather, for
assistance. This was readily granted and
the Rather with Capt. Caldwell on hoard
started for kulan, near which they sighted
the pirates and followed them MS far into the
bay as the depth of the water would permit.
The pirates. quite aware of their advantage
in light draughts. and conscious OF their abil-
ity to resist successfully any attempt that
might be made on them by boats of the stea-
mer, fred a few harmless broadsdcs in de-
finncc, and stood in toward Kulan Capt
FclOwcs thereupon retarncd to Hong X on-.
and invited the cooperation OF the United
States steamer POwhatan, now in this har-
Dor under repair, wien il was determined that
the Rattler, with three boats and hundred
officers and men of the American steam frir
ate should form the expedition, Captain Cald-
well volunteering the use his steamer to tow
the boats up the bay. Accordingly the Rat
tier with the Eaglet in tow, and the powha-
tons boats astern of her, again left the har.
Dor on Friday about 3 o'clock, the first lieu
tenant (Pegram) Of the Powhatan. with lieu
tenant Jones aud his marines, taking passage
IN the Rattcr, and the blue Jackets in the
Faglet. The steamer arrived close TO Kulan
before midnight, the Eaglet anchorinn a cou
Pile Of cables lenghth in shore of the man-of
war.
a flve next morning the launches were
get along side of the RATHER beside the can
tam gig, made fast astern of the Eaglet
winch, every thing being ready, steamed slow
ly up the bay. At X ulan only ore Junk was
to be seen, and it was feared the birds had
t!own but Capt. Caldwell deserted lorcha
at anchor at the head of the bav and steered
in that direction. The lorcha got under
weigh, apparently with the intention of escap-
ing when Capt. Fellows dispatched the Rat
tiers plnnace and Powhatans cutter to inter-
cept her, and these had unfortunately got be-
Eond recall before the pirate feet, with their
prizes numbering in all some thirty-six sail,
were observed at anchor the narrow and shall
low passage from which the lorcha had star
ted. AS the steamer approached the iunks
hoiSteu their sails, but without getting under
weigh until several congreye rockets, dischar-
Eeu from the Eaglets quarterback by MIR.
line, the gunner and two marine artillery
men from the Rather, and two or three well
directed shot from thirty-two FOUNDER fred
by Mr.. Randall, her chief officer, started
them from their fancied security, for up to
tnat time the pirates HAD either not observed
me boats, or thought they would not have
.ne .eperity to attack them: In this, how
ever, they soon discovered their mistake, for
the boats, which had at first made for a mar
row neck of land, bore up for and rounded
the point and then from the deck of the
steamer was witnessed as bold an attack as
was ever made in these waters The pirate
Meet formed dense mass, the larger and hea-
Nier armed Junks bringing Up the rear, every
now and then yawning round and firing their
hroadsldes at the boats, from which, in reply.
tiny puiis OF smoke arose as the howitzers in
Their bows discharged their more deadly con-
tents-the shrapnel bursting over the iunks.
and making frightful havoc among their crews.
lie boats soon neared the pirates Lieuten-
ANS fegram and Rolando, with the launches
ol the POwhatGn, first, by volleys of musket-
ry, clearing he decks of the two largest, then
boarding and driving the pirates overheard
at the point of the bayonet. This, however,
was not done without hard struggle, for the
mlscreInts fought with the fury Of despair
out they had Of course no chance with the
marines and blue Jackets. Meanwhile the
other boats were very far from neglecting
Their advantages, and though small in compa-
rlson with the launches, performed their share
o. the work witu he utmost gallantry, officers
ana men vieing with each other for the post
oi danger and Of honor SO that five or six
more Junks were soon. secured. Mr.. Jones,
the boatswain OF the Rather, particularly dis
in ,a1 L.. - y
and a few marines, in whaleboat, dignifcd
with the title of second cutter, boarded. and
carried a junk that seemed fully a match for
either OF the launches. Lieutenant Pcgram,
in the first launch, was hastened to their as
sistance, but seeing the battle already won
would not interfere with their we'll earned
laurels, and turned his attention elsewhere
The pirate-chiefs junk, after being shelled
by the launch, was boarded almost smulta-
neOusly by her crew and that Of the Rattler's
gig and Captain Felowes was fortunate
enough to secure the chiefs flag. The chief
himself. Lee Afye principal leader of the
Whampoa patriots was shot by an English
marine who had jumped on deck from the
Powhatan's launch and four women threw
themselves overheard and were drowned The
ammunition on board the pirate fleet may be
Judged Of from the fact that this Junk alone
IS believed to have nearly one hundred kegs
o! English gunpowder, besides stinkpots, car
tndges, and loose powder. Up TO this time
only one serious casualty had happened tC
the attacking force, young American ma
rIne named Adamson having been shot will
musket- ball in the groin but two Other
fatal accidents occurred in quick succession
The Rattler's first cutter, in charge of Pay
master Brownsdon, ran alongside large Junk
Several stinkpots thrown at them missed bu
at least one hove from the raised poop of tb
pirate by woman with q child slung TO he
back, fell into the boat, and being foIlowc
by others, the crew were compelled to inm,
overheard, where two were speared and
third was wounded and drowned. One {
these, marine, who had been wounded by
spear thrust, called TO his comrade TO say
him. and the other, being an excellent swim
mer got hold of him for that purpose. IN
Chinese then threw mat over them, and II
marine still holding on by his wounded rlen
dived below and came up clear Of the mat
but as soon as he was observed, several stiul
pots were pitched at him, one of which struc
him on the head, and though not much hun
he was stunned for a second or two and lu
sight OF the man he had displayed such 1
termination to save; the brave fellows nan
is William Robinson.