The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-09-27

the latter the captain OF the Duchaya. tribute is also
due TO the Americans for the readiness with which they
towed the British ships out Of danger and rendered
cor TO the wounded We know not what diplomacy may
attempt effect in the interval which NIGH; eapse before
the people of England and France persuaded will
satisfied until the trcacheros and srfdons chi
nese hare been taught lesson the effect Of cich neither time
distance otliterdte.
THE ENGLISH COMMENCES THE BATrLE-AMERrcAys
FRIENDLY TO BOTH SIDES.
From the London Times, Sept Is.
Although the engagement took place the 25th is
eviden; that hostile operations part date from the
p,ious night when according TO some of the accounts.
the captain of the Aimirals attempts
remove the stakes Of the barrier, which
successful, though we cannot say how much that Ill for
tune was attributable to the tide and want OF means
10 the fire which We told opened him and his
party by the forts But that cardinal point in tho
description of the whole affair. II it be true that the
Chinese opened fire on the night of the 24h there
be no pretex for saying that officers might
have supposed the stakes and barriers to be
mere crude and 'weak inventions OF the enemy
which the forts could give no strength, and
which would not bc covered by the fire Of troops shore
Indeed IL the narratives which have reach
ed officers prepared 10 meet opposition, and
took such measures they thought sufficient overcome
it. o,d seem that they had, first their depots and hulss
he barriers and on he forts, fine latter Attempted oppose
bem; Gad, thirdly their RENDEZVOUS indicated shore,
the ft ty land The steamers Immediately engaged
the Nmrod 9; Cormorant, A. Coromandel Plover, Opos
sun. Lee Naughty Janus, Kesrel, Forester, Banterer
and Startling each armed after the fashion of their class
with two heavy guns. But officers, sailors and marines
OF the Highflyer Magicienne, Chesapeake troopship
Assistance, Cruiser, Ca,nbrian and Fury, were also
engaged. The captain (TricaulD of the French steam
soop Drchayla is especially mentioned foremost in the
attack land and out of his small party Of 60 he had Is
killed wounded. On the whole it would appear that
they had about 40 guns TO open the Chinese forts and
thai they landed about 500 900 men OF the Naval and
Marine brigades 10 attack them Another great nation
represented On he cdrs IF The Peho bat the United States
took dctire part in The conflict though state Nth ready
gratitude that The ADican reSSels rendered he utmost
odnoe 10 oar rouRded, and conredd far as they could
10 the success Of object The accounts Of the
American ana French officers wii hrow great and hope
comforting light ca this transaction, of which have yet
only official accounts, all, however, Of distressing
consistency That attack deliberate cannot be
doubted Indeed on the oath we can imagine Mr. Bruce
saying, IL am quite tired of these II only
with you, Admiral, TO take me up to Pekin." We
fancy the captain gong of at night and testing the
strength Of the stakes and boos abortivc attempt
10 heave them out of their bed OF mud the sudden flash
OF two guns sreakng the darkness the rush of the shot,
and the pleasant remark OF the captain 'fNever mind,
my lads It's no use trying any more but we will pay
OF the rascas in the morning. Then comes daylight
There Is the yellow stream Of the Peiho, with the
snake like line of bcoms and the jagged teeth of the
spikes retting its surface Right and left extend the
low fiat shores, and there. on the left, rises clmp
OF mass in another channel, siwhere Mr.. Bruce
is 10 so round mee the Pelin mandarius." II
Il true there suspicious looking forts in front both
sides of the river new and strong and so placed that
those side en1iade vessels which may attack
those forts which the other but that do 50
much mind az, according to the old maxim, that which
endlades can be itself entadedust those who make
flank movement may be attacked in flank,
In these forts guns visible. Previous
researches had only discovered few militia
shore, aud some coast officials VINO represented that
the forts were thrown up by the country people TO
protect ihem against piraes that the hooms, stakes
and spikes for the same laudable end, and that
the Ambassadors ought really 20 round by some
northern passage to meet the Imperial Commissioners,
as 'thc country people, would probably resist the pas
sage Of any armed vessel. May we ever have such
sturdy peasants the shores Of the Thames the Mersey
or the Severn, when our allies come to raify treaty
which the country people, do not approve. The early
morning possibly spent arranging the details of the
attack. Then each vessel OF the ola got up steam
the marines and sailors the uns prepared beforehand
depot and reserve ships held in readiness to
move into the boats soon they might be required
AT last steam up and the gunboats to the stakes
We must suppose the advance effected at the top
spike One on the right and on the left of the
river run aground Still the main body of the
fotia advances. Two vessels get inside the line Of
stakes, and advancing TO the second barrier
when suddenly gun Is fred from one Of the forts.
The shot rushes across the bows of the Admiral's
vessel il instant s'rnasks triced up mantc,s
dashed down all along the line Of curtains and bas
tons, and from both sides Of the river re OF numerous
guns, ranging from twenty -four to fifty Founders, Is
opened upon the exposed broadsides of little gun
boats and steam vessels "Beng all prepared, the tire
Immediately returned, and the action became gone
RAIL- That is those small narrow vessels destitute of
broadsde fire, and provided only with bow and stern
guns, Slowing round iron rails, exposed to the
very description OF Ere, only six or seven hundred
yards OIL which they were least able TO resist reply TO
silence. The men fought their guns with the courage
of British sailors, but in hour and half the gunboats
had suffered so severely from the fire that three
sunk sinking; the Admiral had been obliged
10 shit his nag twice. and from each ye2Se he bore
fresh wound and orders sent the depot vessels
for the reserves But the tide was now running down
like mill race. Minute after minute revealed banks Of
mud below the FORTS Deep Shiny and glistening sin a
very few minutes latter 130) the 0possum had several of
her killed wounded In the Piover tbs Admiral
was severely hit; her gallant commander. Rason and
Captain MKenna OF the First Royals, doing duty the
Admras staff, killed, and almost every man OF the
disabled while the Naughty Broad) Lee (Jones Kesrcl
(Bevan) and CormoraD (Wodehonse}, were SO severely
crippled that they were IN sinking state. stll they
fought on, lying well up, 10 the forts, and plying
them so sharply with their shot that they APP
pear have sienccd at least some Of their
guns 30 late FIVE o'clock in the evening the sailors and
marines previously embarked in the boats received the
signal land and carry the works by assault Aud here
begins another sad episode OF that which may be fairly
called tragedy The boats touched land but brought
up the troops bank Of mud As they struggled u gain
their legs the sticky treacherous mass the guns which
seemed TO have been senced opened from all the fort
with terrible energy on our troops stu those VINO DID no
sink down TO die horrible death in that Slough OF Des
pond advanced through mud deep that it always took
them up their knees and often swallowed them in.
e Their waists but they went on struggling through thu
as they approached the walls, masAery Niue rifles, and
arrows. They passed over a quarter OF mile Of
tins terrible gacis when they arrived at the
first Of three wet diches OF which nothing
KNOWN though they each feet broad and five feet
deep Imagine such an otns 10 men cho Ind got through
The ordeal u The mud and gs they farei IT, In they went
10 their nccks, while the is around them by
incessant showers Of grape and muskctry They emerge
with soddenned pouches and useless Ammunition but with
unlagging courage, II with diminished numbers. They
struggle across another drcary interval s corchcd by
ncessant lre Another deep wet ditch lies before them
The enemys fire il redoubled II Intensity, the second
DITCH passed bs those who have srongh o. u" ar the
task there is again another oasis Of dubious SOIL bu il
bears them third ditch lies before them close
under the walls Is it so wonderful thai OF the 900
men who landed only 100 are said 70 have reached
the last Of these deadly trenchesy Is it not all but
miraculous that fifty Of them got as Ear - the opposite
bank Of the third ditch and were there ready assaa
the fort they had scaling ladders. However, all scaling
ladders but broken the covering irc j. falling
darkness sets H. and the retreat is ordered II is effected
from ditch 20 ditch u The dark and in The mud, but s,il