Daily Iowa State Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1859, 1858-03-13
Later from CHINA.
Graphic Description OF the Bombardment
of Canton.
THE ASSAULT AND VICTORY.
Special CORES ondence Of the London Times

CAYrN RIVER, Dec. 1877
1t is 5 O'Clock this morning, and the north
wind whistles through the shrouds and it il
thick darkness us we climb the rigging to
the main-top OF her Majcsty's ship -.
ieh know what must happen at dav-
break IL has been told throughout the
fleet. it has be Intentionally allowed to be
known to the bumboat, and all who have
communication with the opposite shore,
that the bombardm.nt will commence at
daybreak. the frequent Reconnaissance
| on the eastern side have also told them that
the attack will be on that side, and We
know that they have taken the hint, for
F., two new embrasures have broken out YES
teriay ard gus mounted
Before the first streak of daylight every
glass Is directed upon the berth of the greer
pa sage boat We call it Howquas boat
moor.d on the other side Of the river and
used TO carry messages to and fro, and al
ways having white flag flying The boat
and the flag are still there ut she does no,
move. No, she does not move | must use
the seamens more practical eyes to tell me
go, for | can OF yet distinguish objects
surely, surely, these men will yield while
there is yet time. There seems to he no
thought Of such thing. Had there been.
it is now too late. A cheer tells me that,
not IN the dawn, but in the less thick dark
LESS, mp goes the white ensign 10 the main
OF the Aciapn. aud at the same moment a
yellow flag flies on the main Of the Phlege-
tho. ] expected at that moment to hear q
conclusion that should taye shaken the
earth. Not 50. a dropping fire, gun BY
a fa | h.,
Cru-iz-r, which La. the guns from the fas-
tion in front Of Ieh- yamun pointed down
upon Ter deck, fires broad.ide TO aptici-
pate them, but may be mistaken, for am
some way off. and the puffs OF smoke are
already wreathiLg about Some minutes
elapse, and tho light strengthens Then off
goes one Of the mortnrs upon Dutch Folly
II ls fired upon Cough Fort The whistling
shell speeds high over the city Just "a have
often seen them and teard Their plaintive
whistle over the heights Of Tehernaya. or
from the earthworks on the north of Sebas.
topol harb"r IL does not reach its object
AT lta highest eevation-far, far await
puffs forth in thin, white cloud / can
now see the dark fragments falling, and in
the cold clouiless morning sky that Little
cloudet hangs
as though an angel in his upward flight
BAD left his mantle floating in MD air.
Strange fancies seize Us in these highly
wrought moments-the angel of mercy has
fled from the doomed city.
Slow and continuous, with sombre
momnotony. like the cannonade continues.
No b. oadsides, no quick firing, no excite.
ment. Every gun Is accurately pointed, af.
ter many minutes care to strike or sweep
the appointed wall. and to avoid the habi.
tations TIE shells are not so obedient as
the round sho-. What the opposing guns
are doing we cannot see for he SIN Ike gath
srs 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. gray sky. They
all iaii short That red tive-storied barn,
which Is called t. five stored pagoda, and
which Is said to be the barrack of 500 Tar
tars, was nearly touched a shell burst half
way up the hill. But Cough Fort has new
er 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. The strength
of the armament of those forts was placed
to bear upon the eastern face, when we re-
connoitel ed them on Wednesday last. But
il is useless. even if practicabe e, to change
the bearing If those guns. five cannot
reach them at this, nearly 1000 yards
range with ou~ mortars. they will never
reach us The mornin. wears on, and the
smoke thickens, and still this dull, monoton-
GUS minute gun sound continues Still no
sign of surrender. These strange Chinese
actually seem to be getting used to it San
pans. and even cargo boats, are moving
down the river like London ligLtermen in
the ordinary exercise Of their calling; peo-
pie are coming down to the bank, and watch
the shot and she'll fly over their hea s.
Even the great kites which hover about
here oil day have returned, and are circling
above the smoke.
Now, the gunboats leave their stations.
embark the troops. and hurry down the
river to the landing place at Kupar Creek
also change my POSITION. and dot down
these hasty memoranda as I fly. A strong
body has already landed, and through my
glass distinctly see the General end his
stan, protected by party of blueiackets
and redcosts-either Mariners or 53th, l
can't distinguish which, for they are crouch
ed on the ground-pushing close reconois-
ence to Fort Lin.
So near did the accommodating marty ad.
vance without any appearance of defe,d-
srs, that We imagined the Fort must be de-
serted. Ieuppose, however, the General
had yeasen = think otherwise, for the seth