Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1857-02-07
ANOrHER ACCOUNT OFTHE
AMERICANS AT CANTON,

A@C hER ACCOUNT OF THE
< AkEICAAS AT CANTON.
A letter llom Canton. China, to tie Len
don IlQses, dated Nov. 10, speaking of the
share taken by the Americans IN the fight,
gives mort particular account than that
hot1-vta1e published:
O. eat4.say. the 18th inst, the first
cutter OF tae United States ship Portsmouth
ooutaiu.ug Captain Eoote and others, was
proceeding lgon Whampoa to Canton, when
she vas hrcd upon BY the Barrier Forts. Il
Vas halt past h in tbs afternoon when this
occurred Tie American flag was iu a posi-
tloa that does away with all chance of plea
OF nlstaGing It, while no less than two round
shot and thfee charges Of grape. after the
roaad shot we're fired into the boat by the
Chinese braves"
AZ sbe Ertt discharge Of grape, the boat
was turned for the ships, where she arrived
al o clock, aud after an hour, Commodore
Armstrong decided upon taking possession
Of the two icrts. and then advising the Gov
ernor OF Canton OF what had occurred. The
insult having Keen avenged, the property
might have been returned to its rightful
owner, or retained, aeeorning as the reply
from Governor Yeh might indicate wish
for war or peace with the Americans.
AT daylight on Sunday the San Jacinto's
cutter commenced sounding the river from
" han,poa 10 the Barrier which was accom-
tlished after the loss Of a man from shot
while throwing the lead AT 4 2. NJ, "A
hours after the Portsmouth, boat had been
fired into, that ship and the Levant were
nearly 10 position TO open fire With only
water enough TO float the Portsmouth, she
was towe9 up to her berth by the William
cite, IN the mcst gallant style on Captain
Curry part, who was for many minutes in
the midst Of a hot fire from the forts, which
had opened long before the ship was near
enough to suit Captain Foote After the
steamer had been ordered TO cast of aud take
Care Of herself, Captain Foote dropped with
the food for five minutes till within 450
yards distance of the nearest fort (the large
one at the right end Of the barrier having
then been under heavy lire for some time.
'Starboard LET go anchor Haul in
spring Fire. came in quick succession,
and to cut my story short, the ship fred
30 eight inch shells in the following two
hours and fifteen minutes
All were well placed at their nearest
neighbor and at the Round Fort on the left
some 400 yards distant At dark firing
ceased, the forts keeping it up till fifteen
minutes before the ship stopped, and giving
Il sample Of what is in store at the Finch
Folly at this time The two forts are said
70 be Gled with English guns and iunkmen
crews, and certainly we have never seen
ANYTHING in the way Of Chinese gunnery be-
fore equal to them.
During this time the Leyant was aground
ont OF lire and could not take part in the ac-
ten. The Portsmouth was hulled three
times, one marine mortally wounded, and
her rigging badly cut
After the fire it was not deemed prudent
to send away boats from the ship, as the
latter required their whole crews to take
9aie Of thom IL the position they held, and
having no steam to move down with. On
Monday morpmg the Cpm-ta embarked the
balance 81 men tcolu Canton, for the purpose
Of manning boats and taking possession.
Il .faeosite remedy There is no medi-
cine SO extensively and fayorably known as
Perry paels's Ee3 e'atla PUN Kllier. Its
rapidly increasing sale in South America,
ln,ila and Europe is ample prq9i of its sue
cess IN those countries