Bellevue gazette. [volume] (Bellevue City, N.T. [i.e. Neb.]) 1856-1858, 1857-03-12

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prosperity of one city must react favorably
upon the groth of Junction city.
The American Right at Canton.
The following letter gives the only de-
tailed account we have yet received OF the
cause and consequence of the American
quarrel at Canton. Nothing is said of the
beheaded Americans, who were mistaken
for Englishmen, and whose heads were
placed upon the walls of the city at the
gates.
CANTON, Nov, 10, lS56.-On Satur-
day, the 18th inst, the first cutter of the
United States Ship Portsmouth, containing
Captain Foote and others, was proceeding
from Whampoa TO Canton, when she was
fired upon by the Barrier Forts. 1t was
half-past four in the afternoon when this
occurred. The American flag was in a
position that does away all chance Of a
plea Of mistaking it, while no less than two
round shot aud three charges of grape,
after the round shot were fired into the
DOul ny inc SllIucSc DluNCS'
AT ,ha first discharge of grape the boat
was turned for the ships, whe e she arri-
we'd at 8 o'clock and after an hour Com
modore Armstrong decided upon taking
possession of the two forts, and then advi-
sing the Governor of Canton of what had
occurred. The insult having been aven-
. ged, the property might have been retur-
ned to its rightful owner, or retained, ac-
cording as the reply from Governor Yeh
might indicate a wish for war or peace
with the Americans.
AT daylight On Sunday the San J%acinto's
cutter commenced sounding the riverfrom
Whampoa to the Barrier, which wa ac-
, complished after the loss of u man from a
shot while throwing the lead. AT A p. NJ.
"a hours after the Portsmouth's boat had
: been fired into, that ship and the Leyanl
were nearly in position TO open fire
n With only water enough to float the Ports
n mouth, she woS towed up to her berth by
the Willamette, in the most gallant style
on Captain Curry's part, who was for ma.
d ny minutes in the midst of a hot fire from
l. the forts, which had opened long before
the ship was near enough TO suit 'Captair
Foote.
After the steamer had been ordered t
'cast of and take care of herself Captain
" Foo,e dropped with the flood for five min
utes till within 450 yards distance from TIT
nearest fort, (the large one at the RICH
end of the barrier having then been unde.
70 heavyefre Cor some time) 'Starboard-
Let go anchor-'Haul in spring-ffire
III came in quick succession, aud TO cut shor
" my story, the ship fired 220 eight incl
a shells in the following two hours and fiji
p teen minutes.
n, All were well placed at their neares
-. neighbor and at the round Fort on III
:" left some 400 yardy distant. AT darI
'e firing ceased the forts keeping ii upul J.
a. minutes before the ship stopped, and civ
n, ing Il sample of what is in store at tn
: French Folly at this time. The twofort
are said To be filled with English guns an
iunkmen crews, aud certainly we hay
never seen anything in the way Of Chi
neSe gunnery equal to them before.
During this time the Leyant was agroun
out Of fire, and could not take part in ia
t. action. The Portsmouth was hulled tire
&c times, one marine morlaliy wounded, an
es her rigging badly cut.
Next mornig, at dawn the boats attacke
10 the Barrier Fort of IS Guns, then tn
= Fiddler's Reach Fort Of IS guns, all c
10 which were successfully captured wit
H. very little loss t, the Americans, who re
of manned in the latter fort until dawn III
to next morning, when the Square Fort, III
only remaining one, was assaulted an
carried. The Chinese fought well, an
y managed their cannon with considerabI
e. skill. All these forts with their gun
ne ammunition, &C., were destroyed as ia
IN as possible, The Chinese were maxim
great efforts for farther resistance, an
no show of giving away was percepnbl'
n ~ As an evidence of The mower {