The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1863-10-03

covered steamer, brig and barque of war at
anchor off the town of Sumossk, with the Jap
anese colors at the peak and the nag OF the
Prince at the fore. Westood for the vessels,
and on approaching we're fired on as we got In
rangd BY six batteries in different positions,
monntinn from TWO to four guns each. Passing
between the brig and barque on the starboard
side and the steamer on the port we received and
returned their FIRE at pistol SHOT range.
Rounding the bow of the steamer and getting
into position we maintained the action for about
one hour. During the affair the steiner got IN
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 OF
damage done the barque must have been serious
Great destruction was also made on shore.
The straits opposite the city are about three
fourths Of a mile wide, with strong currents
which made it very difficult to maneuVre the
ship properly, as | had no charts and my pilots
were co pletely paralyzed, and J was aPpre,
hensive of getting on shore. In TACT did
touch once and was induced to draw out OF the
action The fire from the shore batteries was
extremely brisk and continued 80 as l0ug as we
were in range. We were hit eleven times, and
with considerable damage to the smoke stack
and the rigging aloft, which was attributed to
our passing within TIE range. They were pre-
pared for u.s. | regret to state the loss OF four
kilIei and seven wounded, one of whom has
since died Enclosed is the Surgeons report.
1t affords me much pleasure to state that the
conduct of the officers and crew was all | could
desire. LJut Barton, in command Of the first
division, makes honorable mention of the con-
duct Of the Acting Masters Mates j. E. Sween-
ey Peter King, senior captain of the forward
pivot gus, Thomas Saddler, captain of the top,
aDd Charles ] Murphy, seaman.
l would also mention the cool conduct OF
Frank Wyatt, boatswain' 3 mate, captain of the
after pivot gun, and Edward Jenney, captain of
the top and second captain of the after gun.
The Prince of Nagata, it appears, has COM
menced this war on his own account, as he is one
of the most powerful and influential of the Prin-
ces of the Empire, and bitterly opposed to for
eignels, but the punishment inflicted and IN store
for him will, | trust, teach him lesson that
will not soon be forgotten.
On the 7th inst, the French dispatch steam
er KEN Chang, passing through her way to
Shanghae, was fired on and considerably injured
and on the 18th II. B NJ. ship Medusa was also
fired on and sustained some damage and loss
Of four men and seven wounded. AS soon as
the utrage on the French steamer was known
here, the French Admiral Juarez left with his
flagship and gunboat for Siminasaki and no
doubt will complete the punishment due for the
wanion violation of existing treaties
The Jamestown was at. 1oobung on the 10th,
and would sail Immediately for this port,
Nagassati | shall await her arrival. inclose
an approximate plan ofthe Straits, the position
of the vessels and the shore batteries, &C., all
of which is respectfully submitted by your ODE
dent servant D. MCDUGAN, Comd'g,
70 Hon. Gideon Welles, Secy of the Navy.
On the Oath of July the French flag ship re-
turned to Kanagawa She landed $50 men,
who had taken the outer battery Of Simonezki
aud burned village, but left the town and
forts of Simonezki unframed.
The Japanese in the streets of Kanagawa
were generally talking Of those terrible Yankees.