The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1860-11-23
FROM EUROPE.
THE CAPTURE OF THE TAKU
FORTS.
NAPOLEON'S PREVENTION OF AN AT.
TACK ON GAETA BY SEA.

Boston, Nov. Is.
The steamship Canada, from Liverpool
the 4th inst, via Halifax, arrived at this
port at H. u o'clock this morning.
The Canada brings the following add.
tlonal intelligence via Queenstown the 4th:
The overland mail had arrived, with
Hong Kong dates of September 18th. The
Times gives full details Of the capture of the
Taku forts. ESPECIAL correspondent saws:
IL am unable to confirm the important state.
ment that it is the intention of Lord EIoin
and Baron eros to proceed to Pekin as
guests OF the Emperor, accompanied onIv
by an escort of cavalry" The correspon.
dent then expresses the hope that the news
is untrue.
The conquest of the forts is described as
dashlng little crmpaign of eight days. The
allies established themselves at Ochtang.
They had still march of twelve miles be-
tore they could arrive at the object of their
attack. The Chinese were learning the art
OF war, and, contrary to all Chinese prece.
dent, it was found that their positions upon
the road had been taken with considerable
military skill, and fortified with much care.
A Tartar camp had been formed, and the
best troops of China were placed behind the
works. 1t was thought that, if the weapons
OF the Chinese had been equal to those of
the allies, the contest might have favorablv
compared with several European battles.
The English and French acted together with
harmony and equal gallantry in the attack.
The allies had got to within half mile of
the great north fort, which appears to be
the key to the whole position, although
some difference of opinion is said to have
have occurred among the Generals on the
point.
The French commander agreed to send
his forces to the attack, leaving to Sir Hope
GRAFT the responsibility. The attack was
made on the morning of the 21st, four
English and four French gun boats drawing
the attention of the forts lower down on
the northern bank. When the batteries
opened the execution of the Armstrong
guns was found to be tremendous, as their
shells pierced and burst the walls of the fort,
and an awful explosion shook the ground,
but amid the ruins the Tartars stood to their
guns. When the field pieces advanced, and
the rl1emen got under the walls, the fire
was still hot, and many we're struck by rude
missiles. Here much of the loss to the
allies was experienced. The resistance of
these Tartars was at last overcome. The
surrender of other forts followed, not with
out some chicanery on the part of the Vice
roy. The loss was severe. Twenty-Five
officers were wounded-two dangerously,
thirteen seriously, and seven slightly. The
torty-fourth regiment had ten killed and
forty wounded-four MORALLY and thirty
eight dangerously. The seventh regiment
had six killed aud forty dangerously
wounded. Total British killed and wounded.
l61.
FRANCE AND SARDIN1A.-The Posts Paris
correspondent sends the following telegram ::
PARIS, Nov. 2d.-It is true that the
French government gave orders to the
French Admiral to prevent an attack on
Gaeta by sea it is also true that the Ad.
miral was not under the necessity of commu.
nicating these orders to the Sandman Ad.
miral, as the attack had not been ATTEMPTED.
"Napoleon's private secretary accepts
the proposal Of an excursion of English
volunteers to Paris, and assures them of a
welcome"