The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1857-02-28

IN officer in the American squadron that
made the attack on the Chinese forts at the
mouth Of the Canton river, writes very
minute account of the action to the st. Louis
Republican. The provocation for the assault
vas the firing upon several boats belonging
o American shipping, either wantonly or un-
Ter suspicion that they were smugglers OF
pirates; they were, however, under the Ameri-
:an flag, aad if they were violating it, there :,
was a consul and fleet to punish the violators,
The day after the insult was offered, on Sun
lay, the 10th of November, the fleet consist
ing ofthe U. $. ships, Levant and Portsmouth.
we're ordered up the Canton river, to the /
Barriu forts, six miles below the city, and |
were moored within fair range OF the forts;
before they had made any hostile demonstra.
tons, the forts opened upon the Portsmouth |
and gave her six broadsides AS soon as she
could bring her guns to bear, she began to
blaze away with eight inch shells at both
forts, and kept up a constant fire from 3 =
o'clock. p. NJ, till night-iall; during all of
which time, she sustained fire from the forts,
one mounting So and the other Al guns, of the
largest calbre In this conflict, the ship was
hulled in ten places by the encmy's shots,
one Of which came through her stern and
lodged in the cabin, killing a marine. 1t is
remarkable that she should have received so
little damage, after being prominent target
during two and half hours, Tor one hundred
guns. The Chinese losses in this engagement
were unknown, but it is supposed the Ports
mouths shells did great execution. The fort
was battered at one of its angles.
During the following three days, nothing
was done except to get the ships into position
and prepare to capture the forts by an assault.
On Thursday, the 10th November, all things
being prepared, at z A. III. the two ships
opened deadly and furious fire again upon
the forts The fire continued for over two
hours, when it was turned almost exclusively
upon one, called Fiddler's Beach Fort. The
boats were then manned with two hundred
and sixty-six sailors and marines, who with
their officers made force of 2S7, carrying two
mounted howitzers. They landed upon the
Beach. and marching round to the rear Of the
fort, through inarshy rice fields, and over deep
bitches and through the narrow streets of a
small village, where they were harrassed by
the attacks of the villagers, they approached
the fort, and making an impetuous charge, the
Chinese, numbering 800, iicd from the fort and
Abandoned il to the assailants; who delivered
them tire in the rear killing and wounding a
large number. The American flag was
hoIsted upon the fort and for the frs. time
waved in victory over Chinese soil. The guns
of the captured fort were then trained upon
the other forts, which were within range
The fort was afterwards dismantled, the guns
spiked, the gun carriage burnt and the ammu-
milton destroyed.
/ While the Americans were engaged in this
work, the Chinese troops to the number Of five
thousand, began to gather in the rear to cut
of their retreat. The mariners and sailors
were formed and marched to meet them; few
ofdischarges lively sharpnel from the he Wit
GERS, created such disnay in their ranks, that
they took to their heels and fed. The Amer
leans kept possession of the fort till the next
day and thea returned to thir ships. Three
seamen were killed. The Chinese loss is sup
posed to have been five hundred in all. The
Leyant in the second bOmbardment, was hull
led five times-suiiered considerably in sparS
and riggIng--and had one man killed.
On Friday morning, it was found that the
Chinese hail again taken possession ofthe fort,
and opened three Of Its guns upon the ships,
one Of which hulled the Portsmouth. The
ships took new position and again opened a
vigorous fire upon all the forts; which. was re-
turned with equal spirit by the Chinese; at one
time the Levant was in critical position
forts upon her. The boats were again man
ned and ta,veI into shesSs ....ls. vr tlsr
ships guns, and the men landed on the beach
in front OF Fidder's fort AS they touched
the shore, one of the boats was struck with
a 90 ID shot, and three sailors instantly kill.
ed, and one severely wounded. The saiolrs
formed and rushed upon the fort, which was
precipitately abandoned by the Chinese The
guns OF The captured fort were again turned
upon the other forts, which were soon silenc-
cd; a small detachment then crossed the riv-
or aud placed tho American tag upon another
fort, While few marines captured small
battery, whose guns had annoyed the ships
The Americans remained in possession OF
the silenced forts till next morning; when
they crossed the river in full force and march
ed to the assault Of a third fort in the &c, oil
terrible discharge OF grape and round shot,
which threatened to annihIlate The small at
lacking party. The Chinese remained va
'liantly at their guns till the near approach of
the Americans, when they took to most
gnominious fight; which was quckened in
speed by few discharges lrum the liowitzers.
During the day another small battery was
taken and the Americans remained undisputed
victors of four large forts and two small bat
teries; taken by 2S0 men, from force twenty
times their numbers. The Chinese forts
numbered $50 guns, and were so placed as to
have enabled skilIul and brave defenders to
protect the river against a large fleet. The
forts each covered area OF several acres
and were substantially built. with granite
walls IL feet high and feet thick. The
! American loss was killed and % wounded.
The forts were blown up after their capture,
and remain now mass of ruins. The fire Of
the Chinese was remarkable accurate, while
the enemy was at distance; but they lacked
the gallantry to stand charge. In one Of the
forts was found remarkably piece of brass or
dnance, weighing 10 tons, 3D. feet long and 9
feet in circumference AT the breech--diameter
at the terminus SO inches-bore Sinches; its
worth as old metal would be $4,000. The con
duct Of attacking party was gallant and noble
through out. At the date of the Letter, the
English were investing the city with several
ships and a thousand men, and reinforements