, 1859-09-29

way through the outer barrier The Oppossum
STEAMED Ut it. but it was too strong for her; how
cSer, ny hookin. her anchor to one Of the piles
sac managed to drug one up, and 10 made room
nPass through, and then steamed on toward
tae second barrier Every one now bryan to
tn'nE that rhe Chinese we're going TO let Us pass
through quietly, but that idea was OF very short
duration. for the admiral, following the Oppos-
sum- had no sooner pushed tic bow Of The PIoy-
er through the barrier, thun bang went gun
returned it, and the wllo!e Of the fleet opened
IRE as 1t By magic, {this was ut . 4or T.. NJ
tremendous cannoua3e epsued, when it
lasted without infeg,nisson until, between and
| o'clock, tile Chinese firing with remaf kablc
| precision aud causing terrible loss on board
rctrace their steps and join the rest Of ttc
squadron. 50 severe was the fire that in a ycry
short time the Plorer and two other gunboats
Lad to be reinforced from the SaraI brigade.
ihe Admiral was wounded in the carly part Of
tue action, but refused 10 leave the deck. His
Ennttoats t!t were evidently a mark for the enemy
until be Suited to the Cormorant. The tide ful-
ling, several O! the vessels grounded, mud The
eneny's fire was now cutting them to pieces be-
low the water line. The southern batteries,
however, bud begun to slacken their fire, aud it
being thought that a landing might he effected
with good prospect of success, an officer ,sss
sent to inspect the proposed spot for the land
ing. and reported it practicable.
The signal was immediately nude for the
1anotns parties; una me 1~o GriGades approach
"a n t"o vessels lof some distance. and then
pulled III toward the shore Directly as they
commenced 14ndlng they were aseailed b.
Tremendous tire from all the batteries, and
aread'nl carnase eusu+ti The mud was so
heary that the men could scarcely struggle
!hrooeh y, ana shey we're moved down by
a.a aoashs. sians "no we're wounded f~ls and were
snotacteu ~ l'e Hlu" otaers were Actually
usoH"e9 ~ nus uleaa'ul tn"fass from pure II.
..sus. Aant 'ho'e eohtf1sea 10 push on toward
tae u,1.es'es: uuL sea1ce'y man had dry
% 4ne M1 a"cses were cFosse:, but
Si ins u.'er 'tnPohs'oa,'y Of of1n$'ns up sea''nE
,aa;eIs ~ =; 1s u1'oees 'nronsn tuca sea Of mud
naIneo a'' altsmpts a. storm'nE' Ihe Chinese
n"s LII" % W. ~ n'lc"' ~ tne uarsness 1nat
nau ~" co1t'e w. slo"eu very ots1lnctlS the
Puslton VI -. .H' Pe9ple.
r, Gapia'n 'onau"e"' VINO commanded Tue NaVai
ns'saus; nasns peen severely wohhaed. anu
"iaas otaeF oiltctFs ano men Ailleo and wound
gu, IL was ~ 100 es!acnt ahat any tnrther al
tempt "otla ohiT entail stu greater sacrifice
o. l'e, ana Hirte'ore Tue retreat was reluctant-
orae1ea. Ahe catnesc ease q yen o. triumph
"neh ties saw tr1s increment ahu u possible,
Teoouolea their hfe, Willie our poor fellows re.-
,9acea t'c'r stePs inc oest they could, many
having 10 crawl on their fiands and kuces to
I1e.ent sihkans INTO the mud altogether. Ny
-. d., uae "oanoeo Ino tns remains ot the lead
"'e Fa'ts were emua1keo. 20 return 10 the
Sun-poHst-iheo onel oet"een HEN and the forts
1o:on;nencSa WIN EFcaIcr Jury una continued
ut'aI 'ons HUT oalh' "heH Ut !ens1t', al Inc
;sHlnanHlon ne!h e1penoea ana tac vessels all
pelnS III sln1thE eonaH1oh. 1he nFahe gradual
y Geaseo' aisa " ~ CLOCK Tue action may be
saLd 10 have ended
The Lee and kestrel had already sunk, and
the CormOrant was fast following tllsir exam
pie, aud tiler, with two or three other Eu1 bouts