Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-09-28
How the Chinese Fight.
HER MAJESTY'S SHIP -
Orr TIE PEIMO, July ,.

Ilhc INDUSTRIES Sloulu Dc necessary, We III lIlc
squadron, however, never dreaming that the
Chinese would be so mad as to resist.
Several letters and messages passed between
Mr. Bruce and the Mandarins, the purport
of which will never be known until they are
published i'll the English papers, but the
question ut issue seemed in the end to have
resolved itself into this: The Mandarins
said that Mr. Bruce would be received at
Pckin by going some round about way, but
that the river was blocked up by barriers,
and no man IF war would be- allowed to pass
Mr. Bruce. OH the other hand, was dete mined
that he would 20 by the river, and force the
now fell into the A,lmiral's hands and war
like operations Immediately commenced.
On the 9th the whole OF the Naval and
Marine Brigades, with the French frigate Du
Chayla, were towcd IN over the bar, and put
on board some junks which had been detain-
ed for the purpose, out of gunshot of the forts.
The remainder OF this day was spentin max
ing the final preparation for an attack On the
forts, which are very substantially built, and
have evidently had the benefit of European
skill in their construction. Is did also their
guns during the action. The principal forts
consist of three ba>tions connected Ivy cur
tains and armed with guns OF from u pound
ers 10 30 Founders. One OF the,e forts is on
the south bank OF the river, and another on
the north. but that on the north runs at right
angles 10 the south batteries, and thus any
ships anchorlnS parallel to the south forts
i. e., i'll the line of the rivcr-arc exposed 10
Il raking or longitudinal fire from the north
forts. Besides these, there are two or three
other batteries which took part in the action,
but without much effect. Four very tormd-
able barriers crossed lie river the outer one
being So situated that il was not more than
GOO yards from any gun III the batteries, and
considerably less than that from most oft
The llas captain partially destroyed one Of
these barriers during the night oi the 9th,
but was fired on by The batteries, and retired.
ION Saturday. June -. the gunb,ats J;-
nus. krstrcl Lee, llanshty, Power, Start.
ling, Oppcssum, Bantcrcr, and Forester, with
the despatch vessels Nmrod and Cormo-
rant, took up their positions, the inner gun
boat, the Bantercr, being close 10 the outer
barrier on the North side of the river, the
line of vessels crossing the stream from that
point diagOnally, or in q Southcrly dlrec-
ton. The Admiral had hoistcl his flag OF
huarl the plOyer and with the Opu>slm
leading, he proceeded about >. l.. VI. u
force his way tirou. III the outer barrier. The
OposSum steamed AZ II, but 1t was too strong
for her; however by hooking her anchor u
one Of the piles, she managed 10 dras one up,
and SO made room to pass through, ana
then steamed on toward the second barrier.
Every one now began to think that the Chi
nesc were going to ct us pass through qui-
city, but that idea was of very short dura-
ton, for the Admiral following the Oppos-
sum, had no sooner pushed the bow oi the
Plover through the barrier, than bang went
u gun from the batteries into her. She I'M
mcdlateIy returned ii, and the whole Of the
fleet opened lire as if by magic (this was
at > ~ T. VI.
\ tremendous cannonadc ensuei, which
lasted without intermIsslun until, between /
and o'clock, the Chinese firing with re-
markable precision and causing terrible
loss on board the gunboats. the Plover and
OposSum had to rctrace their steps and JON
the rest of the squadron. So severe was the
fire that in very short time the Piuver and
two other gunhoals had TO be reinforced from
the Naval Brigade The Admiral was woun-
died. in the early part of the action, but re-
fused to leave the deck. His gunboats were
evidently mark for the enemy until he
shifted 10 the Cormorant. The tide falling,
several Of the vessels grounded and the enc
my'S ire was now cutting them 10 pieces be-
low the water line Tie Southern batteries,
however, had begun to Siackcn their Ere, and
it being thought that landing might b. At
tcctcd with good prospect Of success, an "l-
Ger was sent To inspect the proposed spot tor
the landing, and reported it practicable.
The signal was Immediately made for the
landing parties, and the two brigadcs mp
preached in two vessels for some distance,
and then pulled in toward the shore. Di
rcctly they commenced lunding they were
assaiied by tremendous fire from all the
batteries. and dreadful carnag" ensucd.
The mud was 50 heavy that the men could
scarcely struggle through it, and they were
moved down by dozens. Many who were
wounded fell and were Smothcrcd i'll the mud:
others were actually drowned in this dread
full morass from pure fatigue. Many more
cuntrived to push on toward the batteries,
but scarcely a man had II dry cartridge
The two bitches were crossed, but the utter
impossibility Of bringing ny sealing ladders,
or bridges, through such 4 sea OF mud. bathed
all attempts ut storming. The Chinese
threw out iircballs, which, in the darkness
that had now come on, showed very distinct
~ the position Of our people.
Captain Siadwcll. who commanded the
Naval Brigade, having been severely wound.
ed, and many other officers and men killed
and wounded IL was but too evident that
any further attempt would OIL y entail Il stIIi
greater sacrifice of life, and therefore the re-
treat was reluctantly ordered. The Chinese
gave Il yell Of triumph when they saw this
movement, and, il possible, redpabed their
fire, while our poor fellows retraced their
steps the best they could, many having to
crawl on their hands and knees to prevent
sinking into the mud altogether. By p.
NJ, the wounded and the remains OF the
leading party were embarked. To return 10
the gun-boats, the duel between them and
the forts recommended with greater fury, and
continued until long after dark. when at
length. all the ammunition being expended
and the vessels all being in Il sinking con
dition. the firing gradually ceased, and hy
10 o'clock the acton may be said TO have
ended.
The Lee and kestrel had already sunk, and
the CurnIurant was fast following their exam
pie, and they, with twoor three other gun
boats, had to be deserted during the night
Thus ended this most disastrous affair; the
only rclaeminp point in IL IL that our men,