Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1863-10-06

U. S. STEAM SLoop WYOMING,
N.L...n,in Lnlu ODD lSh3

".
Yohapania July 23d, 1853.
Sir On the evening OF the 10Th news was re
ceived through Japanese source that an Amer
lean steamer had been fred on by barque ana
brig OF war belonging to the Priuce OF Nogato,
at the western outlet OF the inland sea, ana that
she had disappeared, and was supposed to be
sunk. A mail from Shanghai the same evening
brought authentic information thai the Amerl-
can steamer Pembroke, on her passage from tins
place to Shanghai through the inland sea, had
been fired upon by the above vessel, ana mad
made her escape through the Bunge passage.
On the l3tb we left this place for the scene
Of the outrage, and arrived of the inner en-
trance Of the western outlet Of The inland sea on
the morning Of the 10th. On the tide proving
favorable We proceeded in the Straits and dis
covered steamer, brig and barquo OF war at
anchor off the town Of Sumoslk, with the Jap
anese colors at the peak and the ll4g OF the
Prince at the fore We stood for the vessels,
and on approaching were fired on as we got In
rangd by six batteries in different positions,
mountinn from Two to four guns each Passing
between the brig and blrque on the starboard
side and the steamer on the port we received ana
returned their fire at pistol s"ot range
Rounding the bow of t1e steamer and getting
INTO position we maintained the action tor about
one hour. During the affair the steiner got I'm
der way, but two well directed shells exploded
her boilers The brig appeared to be settling by
the stern and no doubt sunk. The amount o.
damage done the barquc must have been serious
Great destruction was also made on shore.
The straits opposite the city are about threD
iourths Of a mile wide, with strong currents
which made 1t very difficult to maneuyre tht
ship properly, as had no charts and my pllOt
were co pleJely parayzed, and was appre
hensiye Of getting on shore. In fact ! did
touch once and was induced to draw out Of the
action. The ire from the shore batteries wac
extremely brisk and continued 80 as loug as We
were il range We were hit eleven times and
with considerable damage to the smoke stack
and the rigging aloit, which was attributed T.
our passing within tAe range. They were pre-
pared for Us regret To state the loss Of lJul
killa and seven wounded one Of whom ha'
since ded Enclosed is the Surgeons report
1t affords me much pleasure to stats that tn,
conduct OF the officers and crew was all eOull
desire. Llout Barton, ia command Of the frs
division, makes homo able mention Of the con
duct Of the Acting Matters Mates ). H. Sween
ey, Peter King senior captain Of tic FORWARD
pivot gu q, Thomas SAddler, captain ot the top
and Charles ] Murphy, seaman.
would also mention the Oh conduct o
Frank Wyatt, b0atswain 3 mate captain Of th
after pivot gun and Edward Jenney, captain @
the top and second captain Of the after gun.
The Prince Of Nlgata it appears, has com
mencod this war on hls own account, as he is on
OF the most powerful anl Influential Of the lrIn
ces Of the Empire, and bitterly opposed to iOr
elgnels, but the punishment Indicted and IN stor
for him will, trust, teach him Il lesson tina
will not soon be forgotten.
On the 7th inst. the French dispatch steam
er Ken Chang, passing through her way 4
Shanghae vas bred % and considerably lulure
and Jn he llth II. b VI. ship Nedus4 was ais
fired on and sustained some damage and los
Of four men and seven wounded As soon a
the outrage on tue French steamer was kn0gr
here the French Admiral Juarez left gilu III
flagship and a guuboat for Slmlua,lSi, and u
doubt will complete the punishment due for III
wlnion violation OF existing treaties.
The jamestown was at Iloobung On Tie 10Th
and would SAIL immediately for this port
Nagassatl. shall await her arrival. inclos
an Approximate plan Of the Straits, the position
OF the vessels and the shore batteries, &c, al
of which is respectfully submit ed by your ODE
dent servant, ID. MCDuGAN, Comd'g.
TO Hon. Gideon Wcllcs, Sacy Of the Navy.
Ga the oath OF July the French flag ship re
turned to Kanagawa She landed $50 men
who had taken the outer battery OF Slmoneak
aud burned a village, but left the town an
forts OF SlmOnezki uuharmed.
The japanese IN the streets OF Kanagaw.
were generally taking Of those terrible Yankees