New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1859-10-01

of the " Blue Book; !" the eorrespoodence being BY
dit of esrbling and forgery, turned quite 70 the
reverse Of its original meaning. Such Is ne msn
now about 10 enter on . third Ghinese WAT, on tie
osten,;b,e mes of thwarting Russa's designs in
that quarter.
| OFFICIAL REPORT OF COM. TATINALL.
THE SHARE OF THE AMERICANS IN THE FIGHT
We publi,b below a moe: interesting etser from
Officer Ta..pall, commanding the United States
.ouadrop in the Ess. Ipdes to the Secretary OF the
Navy giving official report of the circumstances
which led 10 the engagement on the Peito between
The allied squsdrops Of France and England and the
Chinese, and communicating some very vauab!e
details relative TO this unexpected and momentous
eyert:
TSIrEp STATES STEAM .FRIGATE POwHATAs,)
Flagship Esst lodia Squadron, Z
OF Peho River, July 4, 1859.
SIR: The last spa.ch Which / had the honor 70
.end you reported this chip in company WIN tne char
her way to the Peiho, with our Minister 10 thioa Mr.
Ward, and suite, on board. ThAt gentleman has re-
ported to the Government the result oil his interviews
and correspondence with the Chinese Commissioners
Sbspgnae. shall only refer, therefore, to that cub
iect SO far as is necessary TO your understanding the
circumstances which placed US II very unexpected
position on our arrival s. the Peho, and produced
urexpec.ed results.
TIE Chinese Commissioners were those with whom
our late Minister Mr. Reed, concluded the treaty sst
wear at Ten tsin and with whom he subsequently az
ranged the tarin a.. ShaDghae, where they have re-
NAMED ever since In the interchange OF visits be-
tween these Commissioners and Mr.. Wsrd, the later
was escorted by number of the officers and "a ms
riners Of our squadron this being not only suited to
the dignity Of Mr.. Ward but intended as a conpi-
uent 70 the Chinese Commissioners, 10 whom Mr..
Wud wished TO extend the greatest consideration.
Mr.. Ward informed them that he was on his way to
Pekin 10 exchange the treaties, which it was
obligatory On both parties to do on or
k.f.. fho
They replied that, having signed the treaties, they
must Themselves exch ange them that they could not
reach P,kn from Shsughse in less than sixty days,
ard that by ag eepen with Lord Egin the late BRIT
ish Emhasssdor, they were expected TO remain at
SbaDghae until the arrival Of the p-esen. British Min
ister, Mr. Bruce Mr. Ward then offered to exchange
our treaty q: Shaughae, which they evaied on the
ground that the treaty vss at Pekin, and they pro
posed to Mr. Ward that he should remain at Shanghss
until the arrival Of the British Minister. MIR. Ward,
although doubling their sincerity, in spirit on cond
Grafton and forbearance accepted the proposition thus
waving the specified time of exchange.
The British Minister, on his arrival day or two
after refused to hold ica intercourse with the Com
missoners on the ground las understand ~ that Pc
kin as the place specified the British treaty for the
exchange aud that he was on his way there for that
purpose Unsuccessful in their endeavor TO detaln me
British and to reopen the negotiation a. Shanghae, the
Commissioners apparently yielded, and dispatched
coureIs who they asserted would arrive in week to
Pekn to prepare las they sao tae authorities for the
arrival and reception o. all tue ministers aud their con-
veyance to Pekin, where the treaties would be e1.
| changed by special Commissioner on the 18th of
June, the oey specified in the British treaty
The Comu ssioners notified Mr. Ward of this ar
rapgement and requested hin TO accompany the Brit
ism and French to the Peho. To this he consented,
thereby to certain extent assuming the came plat.
form with the latter. will here remark that the Elm
cerity Of the Chinese Commissioners was much doubted
at the time some of their countymen at Shanghai de-
clarpg that delay was their object they fOrt
fyipg the Peiho very strongly and had placed in com
mand Mogul prince of high military reputation, VINO
was kno En to be very hostile to the treaties
We reached the anchorage off the Peiho on the 2lst
June, where we found the British and French minis
tiers and their fleet. On my first interview with the
British Admiral James Hope, learned that the min
sters rglsh and French had announced TO the
authorities on shore tive object of their VISIT and that
they should proceed by the river to Tentsn on their
| way to Pekin conformaby with their treaties y
The Chinese had positively refused them the ascent
Of the river-the entrance TO which they found very
strongly fortified, and across which several lines OF
| berricades had been constructed.
The Chinese declared that this river, which We had
! all nsvigeted a. the PeihO year ago, was Only one
mouth of tie Ten.tsn river, ard that there was
another entrance ten miles TO the morrill, which entrance
was called the Peho, aud was the point referred to in
the treaties. They insisted that the Ministers should
remain off this northern entrance until the arrival OF
the Comm .siorers from Shapghae, (which could not
| be short of two nonths), when arrangements would
be made to convey them TO Pekn by tais route the
| British and French Ministers, considering this an
evasion with a view TO gaining time to strengthen
their defenses had referred the matter to TIER re-
| spective naval commanders, who notified the Chinese
that if the obstruction in the channel OF the rver we're
not removed by the 18th June The day for the exchange
of treaties they would themselves proceed to remove
| them.
will here remark that in the Chinese charts there
is email river emptying into the sea ten miles to the
north Of this and which, dveTglDg gradually from the
course of the Peho you ascend it. has its source fa-
in the interior; some twenty miles tron it's mouth il is
connected With the river We knew a. the Pelho by
creek, said to be dry at low, aud having but
| FIVE feet at his water.
After due delberatiop, Mr. Ward and decided 10
! enter the river We had known as the Peiho in the
steamer Toey-wau far as the barricades as though
ignorant of access having been refused the English and
French. II the forts should fire our bows to
| bring US to, we would anchor and communicate; If
into ne having guns, We would retire and act ac-
| cordiIgy. TSelve British and one French steamer,
all email, had previously concentrated within the bar
al the mouth OF the river just out of gun shot OF the
batteries.
We entered the river in execution Of plan at ii
q. H. on the cath ultmo and passing through the Brit
ish squadron, without communicating pushed up
toward the barriers. AT this time not man was TO
be seen at the foIts nor gun III an embrasure nor.
| although flag stats the parapets, was dag
| displayed There was notbirg 10 Indicate that the
forts were armed or manned. Subsequently, events
| show this to have been deception and ambuscsde
intended do not doubt in the confidence of their
strength and the small force of tue English, to invite
conflict in order TO annu the treaties Of last year.
| We had approached TO within three hundred yards
of the first barrier at which point, should not be
fred on, had proposed anchoring, when grounded
and failed in all our efforts ~ back Of. The tide was
falling fast, and situation was critical, not only
from the facility with which the batteries might de.
molsh Us, but as ~e were on the edge OF steep bank
from the probability of the steamer falling over and
| filing. AT this moment, l received from Admiral
james Hope attention and kindness which must
place me under lasting obligations to him Although
he had 20 think that she would be fired upon by
! he hi n In. a "a