The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-10-04
THE WAR IN CHINA.
Admiral Hopes Report or the Battle OF
Taku-COmmotlOre Tatnan not Mem
ttoned--Thc Feeling In Pnris--Wnr
Preparations Of the Chinese, &c., &c..
REPORT OF ADMIRAL HOPE, II. n.
ftfr.sAr,HtxY
Griy OF PmniIl. July 5. 1859

GUiT PEsIiiu. July 5. 1859.
request you will inform the Lords Commissioners of
the Admralt, that having the nth ult arrived of
the island o Sha-ui-tien ia the Gut OF Pcch whore
reported in my letter No. Go, of the nth u. the
squadron had directed rendezvous. proceeded
the following day 10 the mouth OF the Peho river with
the object of intmang to the local authorities the in
tended arrival Of the Hon Frederick Bruce her Majesty
Plcnpoentary and Envoy Extraordinary, and Monsieur
dc Bourbouon Minister Of his Imperial Majesty the En-
peror of the French and OF accommodating the existing
state of the defences OF the river
Q These last appeared TO consist principally of the
construction earth, and in improved form of the
works DESTROYED last year strengthened by additional
bitches and abattis, well Increased number Of
booms of a very much more Formidable nature descrp
OF all OF which will BE- found the annexed plan
furnished by Major Fisher Of the Royal Engineers Very
few guns were seen. but considerable number of en-
brasrres masked With mating. evidently with
view OF concealing others.
g. Having sent an officer on shore u communicate with
the authorities, he was met by guard, apparently Of
country people who prevented him from landing inform
him that there officials than Ten-tsin
and on his acquainug them with my wish that the OBJ
strucons at the mouth o. the river hoad be removed
in order 10 enable the Ministers Ia proceed to ensn
promise given that commcnc mcnt should be made
for this purpose within the mex, forty eight hours
On the following day moved the whole of the squadron
up TO the anchorage of the mouth Of the river placing
gunboats Inside the bar On proceeding 10 examine the
entrance on the 10Th anu hnding that nothing had been
done towards removing the distractions before referred
to- addressed letter to the Tarta at Ten sn, acquant
ing him with the object of arrival requesting free
communication with the shore To this evasiye an
swer was received two days subsequently
On the Dist received letter from Mr. Bruce oc2u1iHt
ing that " dc BoarJouon and himself had 70 tie
conclusion 20 place the matter in my hands and requesting
10 take measures might deem erpiie for clearing
array the distractions in the rira 10 ollo,c them
TO proceed at once 10 7t,sin; in consequence of which
acquainted the Tantai, that the Ministers having
arrived, and the Instructions still existing at the
mouth of the river should proceed to them,
using force il necessary the responsibility of the
Quences resting with those by whom might be opposed
To this communication reply was received, and conse
queny the oath took the force inside the bar pre-
pare for operations and gave further nmaon that after
eight O'Clock the evening if received no satisfactory
| should
g. On the same nigh, the parties named in the margin
TChesapeake-Iieut j. C. Wilson, Mr.. S r Broom (gun.
nerl, and six Magicenne-Mr. f. W. Egerton
(actng ma.e) and six seanen. Cruiser-Mr. W. Hart
land bostsNan) aud six seamen under the direction Of
Capt g. o. Wiles, cut Of the cables of the boom,
marked D in the plan, and blewtwo away with powder
These last, however, were found reunited on the
following day, the supporting logs Of wood to
which they cross-ashed being probably moored
opportunity TO examine closely the const OF the
inner boom lan Fl and he found consist of large
baulks, well cross-lashed together forming mass of
timber not less than 100 feet wide and about three feet
depth The opening shown in the plan might have ali
med of the passage OF gunboa but the strength Of the
current would al any time rendered such passage
matter OF exceeding difficulty and doubt. Under these
circumstances it clear that other mode OF attack
was Ie open to me except that on the front OF the works
and subsequent endeavor to carry them by storm,
should succeed in sencing their FIRE
z The morning of the 18th was occupied in placing
Janus, Pover flag, Coromorant, Lee, Kestrel,
and Banterer being on line parallel to the
he rear of the line. with her fire bearing the
g.. North fort The Opossum, under Capt willcs, was
placed advance close the stakes and the Forester
and the Naughty IN reserve 10 rear OF the line the for ner
having directions to move up into the Powers position
should tina. vessel advance in support of the opossum
The vessels the right under the direction OF
Capt. c. F. A. Shadwel those the lernnder Capt. n.
Vansart The strength of the tide andthe narrowness
OF the channel labou 300 vards) hal rohdered ID matter
of extreme difficulty take up the position
and the BanteTer and the Starring the vessels othe
trcme right and left Of the line, had both taken the
ter In which incapacitated her from taking much
share in the action.
through the frs, barrier which beng enect bxl $50,
she moved up to the second barrier, supported bt the
Poyer, closely followed by the Lee ana Naughty, which
vessels ordered in for that purpose. ~ @sE.
On the arrival OF the Opossum atthe second barrier the
forts opened simultaneous fire Of rN Fes than b',cesn
thirty and ty guns, Of calitres frd 32:pounders %
Sinch, on which directed the siIiIN 10 engage The
Pover took up position close to te barrier the Oppose
sum- Lee, and Naughty in succession astern Of her
AT 8 p NJ cat this time Lieut. RaYon Of the Plover, was
killed. and placed Lieut. George A;pouglas, my flag
lieutenant in temporary command of 6r), finding that
the ships inside the barrier, especi3 Plover and
OpossGm, becoming disabled BIZ the enemy's fire,
they dropped out into fresh positions outside of it,
where having received assistance in men, they renewed
1be action.
In consequence of the Plovers disabled state shifted
my flag to the Cormorant, and at twenty minutes past
four severe wound had received about an hour pre-
vousy compelled to call Capt Shadwel board the
Cormorant, and intrust to him the more immediate com
mand Of the squadron.
A, forty minutes past the Kestrel sank in her posi-
ton and became to put the Lee the ground
TO avoid the like result
At thirty minutes past the fire from the north forts
ceased altogether, and half hour later chat the
south side was slenced, with the exception Of that
ceedng from gun in the south baston
me curtain on each side OF ~ and one in the HANK OF the
centre baston also the detached fort the south
a, twenty minutes past seven landing was elected
opposite the outer baston Of the south fort the portion
which appeared most injured by the fire OF the squadron
and where the attack could be best supported by the
guns of the vessels The force consisted OF detachment
oil sappers and miners, under Major Fisher royal eng
neers; abrgade of marines, under Col Thomas Lemon
division OF seaman, under Capt yansittart assisted by
Commanders John T.. Commerel and w A. j. Heath the
whole under Capt. Shadwcs direction accompanied by
a small detachment Of French seaman under tLH com
mand OF Commandant Tricault.
They were encountered by heavy fire proceeding
from those guns have already named not completely
sienced, nell as from gngals and rites but notwth-
standing these and other presented by
the character of the ground be and the nature
Of the defences one hundred and ty officers and m m
having reached the second ditch and about fifty having
arrived close under the walls had the opposition iey erpe
yseced been that usual in Cnese ,corore there is lte
doubt that the place would have been successfully carried
at the point Of the bayonet.
Captains Shadweil and vanstart and Colonel Lemon
M having been disabled in the advance the commend
in front devolved on Commander Commere who, after
consultation with Majors Fisher RE, and Richard Parke
NJ and Commandment Tricault having reported to Can
aan Shadwe that they could hold their present position
but that II was impossible 10 storm without reinforce
nents, received from that officer the order to retire
II This operation effected with dcliberation and
GOODNESS equal to the galantry Of Ae advance, under
of the night, which had Closed in, the force
being sent down to the boats by attachments carrying
abe wounded with them and eventually the whole
brought off by 80 A. N, Of the 26th Commanders Com
merel and Heath being the last on shore.
H. Ihave already stated that the Lee and Kestrel had
sunk in their positions from the effect Of the enemy fire.
.o regret to add that in proceeding down the river
ai.er the termination OF the action, the Flower was
ouhueu within range Of the forts, and the Cormoran in
70 remove, also found to have taken the
GROUND Under these circumstances desired the officers
a inen 70 oe removed from them for the time order
20 oovae ,he loss which might occur should the enemy
Dc enabled to reopen their frc - '
lam,
recovered; but Notwithstanding cvcr eyor,inn which
Was subsequently made under the direction Of can't
to a ieopsef inc three other vessels the
Plovef ana Lee proved 10 10 GO honotossI,y
aground that it was impossible to r,ovc tbo,n
whie the ,ornoant, which got aloa comparatively m
injured on the night Of the 9th was arain ~
grounded within the range OF the forts on moving 10y
and on the following day such heavy fire was oerd ~
her that although again aoat, she sank a, her nnrh
aad tue officers and men employed in removing her wer
withdrawn as she went down e
70 me r. y he erem3 hiag ,cao,lablg yell dtrete5