The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1857-02-20

requests have been filed j. c. DOBBlE,
Secretary Of the Navy.
THE WAR in CHINA.-oPERATIoNs OF UNITED
STATES VESSELS AT CANTON.
The HongKong Register gives the following resume Of
the operations Of the United States vessels in the attack
the forts at Canton beginning with rocaptuaon of the
forts taken:
Left bank lower fort 3s guns; Howquas fort north
end of Whompoa island 40 guns Napiers fort, on island
SO guns left bank upper fort Al guns-toal l65 guns.
The gentleman who kindly furnished the above account
mentions the following officers with great praise Com
rpande Foote of the Portsmouth Commander Bell, OF the
San Jaeinto and Commando smith Of the LsvaG slsS
Carter and simpson, in charge of boats; also, Lieutenant
Belknapp WITH Adams aud Shepard masters in charge Of
the e eoes (caled In the american service howizers
and Cant. Sims and Lieuts. Kirkland and Tyler in
mand Of the marines.
The ships suffered very little damage The Levan had
her mansay shot away and of her guns damaged by
a shot striking it in the muzze
II appears that of these forts had been previously
taken by the Engsh who had satisfied themselves how
ever, with spikDg the guns and leaving them The Chi
nese subsequently, reforuhed them.
letter in the Boston Post also mentions the gallant
conduct of Lieut. Macomb of the Portsmouth, Lient CO.
Iocorcssis the Levan who led attacking party ard
Assistant Surgeons Van Zandt Of the Portsmouth, and
Daniels of the San Jacino correspondent of the New
York Times writing Of the forts by the Ports
mouth and Levaut says
was surprised TO see the terrible effect of the shot aid
shell from the ships which visit to the forts exhibit
ed The granite walls OF the first fort which
within range of 4s0 yards Of the Portsmouth on the
10th utrno shattered overhrown, and in some in
stances puyerzed to powder as fine Bour. Tho ac-
curacy OF The 6ifug too was most remarkable The en-
brasures Of tie ofs provided with doos lined with
iron which closed while the guns run in END being
loaded One Of these doors noticed pehs,tated BY shot
in three places The shell burst very perfectly and into
very small pieces. AS the forts crowded with
Chinese they must have suffered fearful loss All the
buildings inside of the walls were unrooed and torn to
pieces by the explosions The enemy could stand with
comparative the solid shot of the Leyant but the
rotten shot ofhe black DEVIL as they have styled the
Portsmouth, and also the shell and shrapnel from the e
Gent howitzars were altogether intolerabc Had the
Portsmouth been equipped with less efficient battery
than the one which she carries she could hardly nave
sustained the rapid and accurate fire. OF the four forts as
she did on Sunday the 18TH SIZE fred that day alone
no less than hundred and thirty shells; and the total
weight the iron and powder which she threw during the
several engagements WAS about eighteen tons
The total number of Chinese in and about these deences
did not amount less than 600 to $4,000 men, Their
guns well fought; they made most effective uss Of
armed rockets and during the passage of the boats from
fort to they surrounded with showers OF miss
Shells round shot grape and canister struck the us and
the oars and spashed up the water in every direction but
without striking The four forts which were OF
enormous thickness constructed OF blocks of granite and
with nearly 200 guns OF the heaviest caliber stood
the four sides Of the square the river passing between
them. .t.s,s.Mst. 81. 3s#H
The excellent and solderke behavior of the companies
of marines from the San Jacinto Portsmouth, and Levant
such call Tor Specla cOmmenuatOn. 1ner per-
feet drill and discipline and their cool bravery did much
towards insuring the storng parties such complete
success XIV.
The same writer referring the explosion of Of the
mines laid by the Americans says trs
aTwo seamen from the Portsmouth blown pieces
their and legs and mangled bodies scattered In
all directions. boatswains mate from the San Jacino
was also instantly killed. Two from the Portsmouth
and seven from the Levant were wounded-most OF
them severely though it is believed they will all
BelknapDS n
within few feet of the mine when the explosion took
place.
The excitement and exposure of the men generally sub
equen, increased the sick list to about 40 each the
Levant, Portsmouth, and San Jacinto.
Since the above was in type we learn from the Washing
ton Star that the Department have dispatches from the
United States East India squadron, embracing full partic-
ulars of the late engagements of forces in the China
They considered satisfactory Com. Armstrong
after the battle issued order to the officers and
who were engaged in it in which he says: sa
In the midst OF peace you have been called upon to re
dress assault upon the flag of your country. The
cessy Of such step y mneh to be regretted BY us all
formed Is so honorable to yourselves.
should omit act Of justice to you, to those who
bravey fallen in the performance of their duty and
to the service which belong if hesitaed to make
this official acknowledgment of the faithful and honorable
manner in which all have done their part
The following is the list of the killed and wounded OF
the crews Of the United States steam frigae San Jacino
and the United States soops Portsmouth and Levant du
ring the capture and destruction of the Barrier forts
Canton river, China:
San yac;nto--Kiled-E Edward Mullen, coxswan; James
Hosgland, carpenters mate VIM. Mackin Seaman Al
fred Turner, coxswain; JOS Gibson, boaswan's mate
Wounded-Smth Benjamin, ordinary seaman James
McGreevy seaman; John Brow seaman; VIM johnson,
coxswain; Thomas Robinson, ordinary seaman; F. B.
Petro landsman John MITCHELL ordinary seaman John
Stanton ordinary seaman; VIM VanhouteD, apprentice
hoy Thomas Pan'ony coal HEAVIER Nicholas Dillon, coal
heav a.
Portsmouth.- Killed-Lews Hefzel apprentice boy
Thomas Grouse apprentice boy Charles Beam, seaman
Edward Hughes, Wounded-Patrck Melvine,
private marne Thomas Gaynor, ordinary seaman; John
Lake boatswains mate James Lines, corporal marines
Richard Crosby ordinary seaman James Corace ordina-
ny seaman John Thompson; private marine.
--Killed--Edward Riley, ordinary seaman.
Wounded--Earl English, lieutenant, severe confusion
Jonathan Murray, boatswans mate severely; John Rus
sell, ordinary seaman, do; William Boyce, marine do
Patrick Mohan, do. do. Joseph ONeill, do slightly.
The BRITIsH REvEsUE.--The London Times contains a
statement of the receipts Of under the several