Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1860-11-19
THE STEAMER CAYADAs NAILS.
Tnr CnlSA WAR-Tm CAPTURE oF rus TuEU .FoR

Tax CnINA WAR-Tw CAPrURE OF THIS TUGU FoRTs-
BRiLuASr ESGAGNENr AND DESPERATE FlGHrNG.
Wei have our files by the Canada at Boston, giving full
details of the late OF the allies in China, in
capturing the Tuku forts the Peiho. About 1000
French infantry with six welve-pOunders and BOO En-
gish troops participated in the engagement From the
accounts in the London Times copy the following:
IL was arranged that the artillery fire should open
the upper Northern fort at A. NJ the 2lst OF Sep
tember, while four English aud four French gunbOats
sheed the lower Northern fort The French sent four
iron gunboas.
Hardly had the head of the English column reached
the advanced picket when the enemy opened fire, about
A. NJ FROM both Northern forts from the upper South
cru fort aud from the river batteries Milwards bat
tery OF Armstrong; Immediately replied, and one wing
of the 9th pushed up the borders Of canal Afford
ing shelter 400 yards from the ditch, wing of the
i4th rushing up to another canal on their left
The French took up position on the English right
Tneir guns at opened on the Southern fort, and
soon after six A. NJ, all the batteries had opened
fire GOyan's and DesboFoughs hoWitZsrs came into
ton, and Milwards and Barrys Armstrong; we're adj
vaneed At halEpAst six tremendous explosion took
Mace in the upper northern fort and about ten minutes
later another sill more terrific in the lower north fort
Beams of wood earth, Shells splneTs and bodies we're
hurled into the air, while the conclusion shook the
ground for miles around Still the Chinese stood to
their guns though their fire Waxed fainter aud fainter as
that Of the allies became more intense The whole Of
the English field artillery was now pushed up to 800
yards from the gateway, and kept up an incessln fire.
under cover of which the skrmishers obtained position
near the counterscarp of the outer ditch.
Ats A. NJ. the Chinese heavy guns having been ST.
lenced the ladder party ordered to advance and
throw a bridge over the outer ditch. This was diff
cult Job and in executing it officer and Is men were
wounded
Meanwhile two companies Of the 44th, one command
ed by Captain Gregory the other by Lieut. Rogers, had
rushed TO the ditch TO keep down the enemys CALLING fire
/ Of andm atehOpEa There against
the bullets spears and flying about in every d.
recou so Captain Gregory placed his men up to their
middle in and commenced fusilade against the
Chinese the parapes himself sezing rifle from a
wounded soldier and using it with excellent effect for 30
rounds Man after Of the 44th continued TO drop,
aud still there no bridge. Lieut.. Rogers rushed
through the ditch pulled out the spikes and succeeded
in reaching the bernie under the parapet wall.
About the same time the stormng companies OF the
67lh went at the bitches with will Some swan, some
struggled through and few succeeded in reaching the
bernie. There they found the French, who had already
crossed over light bamboo ladders carried by their
coolies These ladders bent when placed across the
ditch. In jumped six coolies up TO their necks The
ladders supported across their shoulders, and the
/ French quickly passed over. plank was now placed
across the ditch in front OF the main gate which
very rekety bridge many soldiers passed. one by one
The English ladder party also to the salient
gle of the fort near the spo. were the French had
crossed Here their ladders laid and the troops got
/ over.
All this time the ere of the enemy continued incessant
Cold shot, hand grenades, stnkpots and vases Of lime
were shoWertd upon the crowd Of besegers who stood
upon the bernie. The ladders placed against the wal
were pulled into the fort thrown over and in vain did
man after attempt 10 swarm through the embrasures
Il the defense desperate nothing could exceed the
gslaDtry Of the assaants Between Englsb,an French
/ there was nothing choose. A Frenchman climbed to
the top Of the parspe where for time be stood
alone One rifle after another handed to him which
/ 1 -. lnH -
vairg, and be fell back, speared through the eye An
other pekaxs in hand attempted to away the top