Woodville Republican. (Woodville, Miss.) 185?-current, 1858-08-25

1HB ATTACK on THE CHINESE FORTs.-
Thrilling account By an A,naican.-A cor
respondent Ofthe Philadelphia Ledger, writing
from China, gives thrilling account Of the
capture Of the Pi-Ho Forts by the English and
French. After stating that the English steam
er OOmOrant Capt. saumarez, was ordered 10
open the battle, the writer proceeds:
As soon as the Cormorans steamed M
against the hawser, il parted like length Of
pack thread, and gave the signal Of battle 70
the forts. Their earlhen sides at once beched
forth iron and fame, tearing the water in
scores Of places and huling the advancing
steamer upon her portside
Flat down Al your guns" cried the intfe-
pid Saunarez. And az lbe command every
man cast himself fiat upon the steamers deck
and allowed the iron shower to pass on its
way. BE, himself, however strobe impatientIy
the elevated poop like the brave man he is.
directed the men at the guns, examined the
forts through his glass, aud listened for any
hail from his sailing-masler, who also walked
along the forecaslle. The iron shower was
succeeded BY second and third-fnaIIy
the discharge was almost continuous. Still
the steamer moved steadily ahead, dark, 81.
lent, mutilaled-but threatening as a sleeping
Volcano At length we see her arrive abreast
OF the fitth fort, and at the same instant we
notice signal floating from The masthead Of
the gun-boat of the two admirals. Il is the
parting Of the hawser' Of the allies; the en-
blem Of war; the longed-fcr signal for the
bursting Of the volcano. Successive and dense
volumes Of smoke now burst from the sides Of
the arrested steamer, envelope herin surging
cloud. aud hide from view the furious working
Of the guns which succeed. The rapid and
heavy discharges, preceded BY lurid flashes Of
fame, and followed by clouds Of dust and
sigus of disorder in the fort tell plainly
enough, however, oflhe work Of death that is
under way.
The bombardment Is now general, and has
lasted for an hour or more. Still, the Chinese
hang brayely BY their guns, urged TO courage
BY their mandarins, who, strange to saw, are
not, in this case, first to run. Some bold ma
noeuvFe must therefore beresorted to, for many
Of the steamers have been badly hulIed, and
many valuable lives already lost. There il
boat OF the aunifiai. mat sfgnal mfeaHs=
away there, storners, and scale the forts !'-
One would think that it was written in large
letters, instead of beEg indicated by flags, SO
quickly is il obeyed. A hundred boats are
suddenly urged towards the rivers sides, and
eighteen hundred men leap in the mud and
Chamber up the broken banks Then, with e-
yelled bayonets and heavy tramp they pressed
forward their solid masses upon, into, and
through the yawning embrasuresl The foe
can stand no longer. Even the Mantehoo
Tartar shrinks before such q threatening front
Of advancing steel, aud deserts his guns for q
tumultuous fight. So long as the allies we're
in the middle Of the river, he could brave the
danger Of the exploding shells; but as soon as
they neared him SO steadily with their brist-
ling froHt-being naturally a ticklish man--
hetakesnp 3 hurried fight The whole 10000
who had garrisoned the forts were now in full
retreat 10 vain the brave old Mandarins
(something that they have never done before)
throw themselves 10 their way; blows, curses,
entrealies, are no longer Of any avail. Fear
has overcome authority, discipline is at an end,
and victory declares for the allies, after strug-
gle of 2 hours so minutes"
The writer adds that on the very day Of the
battle, Mr. Reed, the American Minister, was
to have gone on shore to have signed a treaty
which granted as everything zoe have asked
for. and which had all been arranged previ-
ously. Thus we may say that 'Ihe battle of
the Pi-Ho" has resulted inanything but bene-
fit to US.