New-York daily tribune., 1859-09-27


Bruce and the Msndsrns the purport OF which VII
never be known until they are published in the En-
elish papers, but the question AZ Issue seemed 10 the
snd 10 have resolved ,seli into this: Ths Msndafins
SAID that Mr.. Bruce would be received ct Pskin By
oo;ro some roundabout way. but tha. the river Vas
blocked up by bariers. and no msn-o'.wa would b
allowed 10 pas Mr.. Bruce, on the other band, was
ds,srmined that be you'd 90 by the river and force
,bs nasssoe II necessary. OF course the mater now
fen into the Admifsls hands, and @aiike operations
INN edi.ely oomnerced On the 2ith the whole OF the
Naval and Marine Brigsdes, with the tfench ingae
Du Chayls were towed in over the bar ana put oa
hoard some iurks which had been detained fcr the
nnrpose cut of CUR shot Of the forts. The remaandsr
of this day vas spent In making the hoal preparation
for attack on the forts vbch are very M sue. Ey
built ard have evidently had the beneh. OF EurVpeaa
xiii IN their construction did aso their guns during
the action The principal forts consist OF three oss.
tiors connected by curtains and armed WITH guns ot
f,om poupders 20 50pounders. One OF these forts
on the south bsIk of the river and another on the
noth but that on the north runs a. right angles 70 the
south batteries and thus any ships ancnorng pa'auet
TO the south FORTS. e., in the hns OF the nves-ae
exposed to rakpg or iopg1od.na nle ,so' .ie nS,.a
ors Beside these there are two or three other os-
eres which took part in the action, but withou, much
effect. Four very formidable barriers creased tne
river the outer beng 50 strs'ei that vas noe
more thsn COO yards from any gun IN the ostees and
considerably lees than that from most OF them. The
aag captain partially destroyed one Of these barriers
during the night Of the 2itb but was tired on by the
batteries, and retired.
trel. Lee, Hsughty, Pover, Starting, OpossuI Ban,
terer and Forester with the dspstch-vesses Nimroi
and Cormorant took up their positions, the inner gun
boat the Bsnterer being close to the ou.er on
the north eide of the river the line OF vesses crossS
tbe stream from that point iiagonaly or IN souhery
direction The Admiral had hoisted his nag on board
the Plover and, with the Opossum esd.ns, ne pro-
barrier The Opossum steamed at II, bu, II was TOO
strong for herr however, by hooking her anchor to one
of the piles che managed to drag one up ana so mads
room to pass through and then steamed on toward he
secord barrier. Every one now begsn 10 THINK tnas
the Chinese were going to let US pass through quietly,
but that idea was of very short DURATION for the Ad
miral, following the Opossum, had no sooner pusned
the bow of the Plover through the pareI tnan usls
went gun from the batteries into her. She immed-
ately returned and the whole OF the forts opened nrs
as il by magic this was at = ~ p MI. Atremenaous
cspuorade ensued, and i lased without ntermsslou
until between and o'clock, the Chinese nrng win
remarkable precision and causing terrible loss on
board the gun boats, the Pcver aud Opossum had to
retrace their steps and Join the rest OF the squadron
SO severe wss the fire that iB very short tine the
Pover and two other gun had to De REINFORCED
from the Naval Brigade. The Admiral was wounded
in the early part Of the action but refused to leave the
deck. His gun boats were evidently mark for tho
enemy until he shifted to the Cormoranf. The ude
falling several of the vessels grounded, and the enc
mys fire was nov cutting them to pieces below the
water line. The southern batteries, however nae
begun to slacken their fire. and being thought that
landing might be effected with good prospect OF sue
officer was sent 10 DsptCt piopVcou cpos
for the landing, and reported it practicable. Ihe
signal was Immediately made for the landing parties,
and the two brgades approached IN TWO vessels ior
some distance, aId then pulled in toward the SHORE:
Directly they commenced landing tney were assslea
by tremendous tire om all the batteries, and dread
full carnage eBsued The mud was so heavy that the
men could scarcely struggle through it, and they were
moved down by dozens. Many who were wounded
fell and were smothered in the mud others wero
actually drowned in this dreadful morass from pure
fatigue Many more coptrived 10 push on toward the
batteries but scarcely man had dry Cartridge
The two bitches we're crossed put the utter possl'
b,ty of bringing up scaling ladders or bridges through
such sea of mud bafied all attempts az storming.
The Chinese threw out tire balls, which, in the dark
ress that had co ne on, showed very dstncty inc
position Of our people, Captain saaaTs, VINO . com.
wounded and many other officers and men killed AMI
wounded, it but too evident that any iartner
attempt would only entail still greater sacnnce OK
fe and therefore the retreat was reluctantly 9deIe.
The Cbindss gave yell Of triumph when they saw
this movement, and, il possible, redoubled the. ho,
while poor fellows retr.ced their steps s tney
could many having crawl on their hands and knees To
prevent sinking into the mud altogether. By L
D. m. the wounded and the remains Of the land
ing parry were embarked. To return to the gun
boats-the duel between them and the forts
ecommenced with great fury and continued
until long after dark, when at length all the smmuni-
ton being expended and the vessels all being 10
sinking condition. the firing gradually ceased, and by
10 o'clock the action may be said to have ended. The
was fast following their example, and they with two
three other guLboats bad TO he deserted during the
night. Thus ended this most disastrous affair the only
redeemipg point in is that men, though beaten,
fought everywhere with the most desperate resolution
and had there been firm footing for the Marine and
Naval Brigades there can be no doubt that the forts
would have been carried il was, their part Of the
fighting struggle against mud. and not against
Cinnamon. Between the 10Th of June and this day
We have managed to all the vessels from under
the guns of the batteries, except the Cormorant,
Lee, and Pover; they are utterly destroyed,
but the remainder have been patched up suf-
ficenty to make them float The Kestrel hoated
out in the most extraordinary manner, and man.
aged to steam out aud join the rest OF the squadron
last evening; and the Chinese, who have kept up q
desutOry fire ~ our vessels ever since the 2jth are
now left in the quiet enjoyment of their victory. The
Americans, though they took no part in the acton,
have been extremely kind in assisting our wounded
and IN various other ways have earned the good wlshes
of the whole squadron. send you list of the killed
and wounded which you will is very heavy one,
considering that the total number Of men of Oil arms
engaged did not exceed 300. There may DO one
two omitted, but it very difficult 70 discover
amoLg so many vessels who are in the LIS Of cssua-
ties. / carnot nov ascertain the number OF seamsu
and marines 10 each vessel, but the total loss incul
ing officers and men Of all arms is 464 KILLED AM
wounded. The officers are as follows:
CASUALTIES BEFORE THE PEIHo FoErs on JrsE
25, 1852
KILLED..
Lieut.. Graves, X. N, the Assistance, killed %
shore.
Lieut. Cluttsrbuck, r. n, the Coromandel kusd
oD shore.
Lieut.. RssoD, X. ~, the Pover, killed on board.
Capt. MKenns, Royal Regiment, killed board
the Plover.
MIR. Herbert, midshipman, the Chesapeake, killed
on shore.
Lieut.. Woodbridge, Royal Marine Brigade, killedo 90
shore.
Lieut. IngGs, Royal Marine, the HghHyer, killed ia
boat
WOUNDED.