The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1858-03-19
Bombardnlent of Canton.

Bombarlment Of Canton.
The bombardmcnt was commenced on the
2sth of December a, o'clock In the morn
ing, and at noon tho assault BY the allied
forces began on the eastern fort. The over
land mail Of December 30 says-
1t was generally understood, up till the mo.
inent the order for the advance was given,
that the firing would be continued during the
day, and that the assault would take place on
the morrow, but tho naval and military lead.
ers had kept their counsel, and the frightful
hayo, that must have been made amongst
the Chinese by the incessant discharge OF
shot and shell from guns and mortars Of inn
mense calibre, may well have justified an i'm.
mediate attack; consequently early in the
forenoon, the land forces consisting OF the
60th, the artillery. French marines and sea.
men, ard II il said, some Sepoys, numbering
in all about 1000 men, landed and advanced
by the eastward. against the lung Psutoi,
while the naval brigade was to pass round BY
the westward and assault the Paukin and
Kung. Fling forts. These tasks, Il 70 believed,
would be accomplished on the 28th, and on
the Goth yesterday the square fort would
be assailed, and the whole OF the heights
commanding the city would then be in our
possession.
A note, dated the morning Of tho 2Sth, az
ter the bombardment had commenced, says
..rhe arrangements for the bombardment are
now complete, and as soon as the city Is ours
will endeavor to give you an account OF its
capture. To give you some idea OF the lire
which has been opened. just fancy % gun
boats, mounting In all about so guns. throw.
ing shot and shell Of the largest and most
deadly description, together with six l3-inch
mortars, weighing each about six tons, be-
sides the broadsides Of the largest men.of-
WIZ; the destruction must be terrific"
Canton Correspondence Of the London Times.
Slow and continuous, with sombre mo-
notony, like the firing of minuts guns, the
cannonade continues. No broadside. no
quick firing, no excitement. Every gun ID
accurately pointed, alter many minutes care,
to strike or sweep the appointed wall, and to
avoid the habitations. The shells are not %
obedient as the round shot. What the OPP
posing guns are doing we cannot see. for the
smoke gathers thick below us, and the big
guns seem to have brought down the wind.
Vainly do the mortar shells strive to reach
those hill forts, which seem to be sleeping
in tranquil security against the cold grey sky.
They all fall short. That red 6ve.storied
barn, which 10 called the fve.storied pagods,
and which 10 said to be the barrack OF i've
hundred Tartars, was nearly touched. A
shell burst half way up the hill. But Cough
Fort has never yet been approached. Some
who must have keener sight than have say
that the Chinese are endeavoring TO bring
their monster guns to bear this way.
Hulf.past twelve-No signs Of surrender.
The embarkatiCn Of the land force continues,
and the bombardment gees on.
The following is q description Of the scene
upon the night Of the 29th:-
"Then came the night. The ships almost
ceased from their firing, but the city soon be-.
came like our own Shropshire iron countries
at night-a plain Of fire. At first It appeared
as though the besiegers were bent upon re-.
ducing the place to ashes but little BY lit.
tie, as l gained, by q change OF position,
some idea of tho scene as a whole. the de-
slruction was not without plan. There was
q great blaze at the northwest angle Of the
city. The gate there Is surmounted by q
Chinese guard house, with tho usual gro
tesque upward pointed roof. Shells and
rockets were poured in volleys upon this
structure, and It soon became q sheet OF flame,
through which the root, the raiters and the
walls stood out in dark outline. by constant
showers Of rockets the fame was led up and
down the city wall, and in an incredibly short
time the long, thin line OF ffe shot high In.
to the heavens, and then subsidized into =
smouldering smoke. -. -,
While this was still raging, those vengeful
rockets came hurting through the moonlight
along the line of the eastern wall. They
sought ought the three spots which have
been marked as the object OF the triple assault
Of the English and French troops tomorrow.
As those dreadful 2i.pound rockets flew
flames arose. They seemed TO lead the lire
about As q tame element, precisely a. they
willed and, strange to say, It never seemed
to spread inwards or to stray from the line Of
the city walls. Iexpect shall lind that all
the CONGREGATIONS We have been watching to-
night have destroyed only that line OF old
houses which leant against the inner side Of
the wall, and afforded cover to those jingslls
whence all our great losses In Affairs with the
Chinese have arisen.
Tuesday, Dec. 30.-All night the city was
girt by . line OF fame. The approach Of
morning was indicated by . suspension OF the
rocket practice, and by the re-opening OF the
mortar battery with redoub,ed energy. As
the day broke the flames sank down and the
sun rose upon perfectly smokelsss city. The
houses that lean upon the inner walls are, in
most cities that I have seen, divided from the
rest BY mound or ditch; they are en-.
observation-disclosures made BY squatters-
wood and thstch. that blaze and vsnish.
The charges Of powder must have been
increased In the mortar batteries, for the shells
now dew high up 10 the hill forts. One OF
them at day break burst upon an embrssure
of Fort Cough. and another wen, right over
Il. The ships that had been snalsdins the
eastern wall now ceased hiring. IL was the
moment for the assault. In the neighbour.
hood Of the east fort the three divisions form.
ed and the rush was made. Por two hours
nothing 10 visible but the smoke nothing 10
heard but the rattle Of muskstry and loud
cheering.