, 1864-12-29
NEWS FROM JAPAN.
The Expedition AsafnAt the Prince OF
Na~nlU-Esnrtfcu1nrn of the Great
Fight ut SMIxnoNosek1.


Correspondence Of the New York world.1
YOKOHAMA, JArAs, Oct ., 1864
The combined fleet returned yesterday from
EhimoDoseki, except two vessels left there
temporarily, and II has done its work admira-
bly, well. They came in sight Of Choskin's
batteries on Sunday, the 4th September. On
Monday, the 5th. at two P: M, two ships
we're ordered to steam up along side OF the
batteries, to reconnoiter, ut about four cables
length apart. They were allowed to pass
without shot from the forts, though the
men wer visible standing at Their guns. At
EuiyaluB and the signal went up from the
same for general engagement. Thcreupon
the forts opened fire, five in number, extend
ing along about d mile eastward from
the entrance of the straits. The heavy
squadron, consisting Of the two t1ag-ships
two-decker, lay off at anchor, abreast Of The
forts, ut about sixteen hundred yards dis.
tance, while the light squadron, consisting Of
sir vessels, maneuvercd abreast Of the forts
nearer the shore, keeping under way, and
lanking squadron Rns on the right Of the lat
WAS at anchor between the Qagg-ships. As the
cannonadipg became general on both sides,
Lieutenant Pearson If the Te-Eiang, could
not bear to be mere spectator Of the light,
but commenced firing with his thirtJ-tou
pound Parrot gun, and so well Eas she served,
Us to attract tie admiration Of tho feet, aud
Lieutenant Pearson subsequently received the
rice which he had done. At about half-past
i've in the afternoon the fire Of the forts began
very seneibly to slacken, and soon ceased. It
was too late in the day for landing, and the
fleet kept Up IN occasional firing through the
night. The Perseus only landed party Of
blue Jackets and spiked the fourteen guns in
one battery, without the knowledge oil the
=
next morning, when the landing parties got
ashore.
Tuesday morning, they were early astir.
with thrlr landing parties, and all the forts
were taken but two, which commenced firing,
the japanese having evidently been busy over
in about m hour all were silent, and the blue
jackeIs and marines were masters of II bat-
teries, having been deserted by their defend
eI6.
But while scngaged in removing the guns
from one of the forts, fire Of musketry Was
opened upon them BY the Japanese from the
hills and woods in the rear Of the fort. Still
concealed by their cover. This was very an
noying. The marines were sent to scour the
neighbothood, in search Of enemies, but some
how they did not discover the source from
which the musketry fire proceeded, until 4
number Of casualties had occurred among the
men on shore.
Captain Alexander, of the Euryatus, deter
| mined to put stop to this bush fighting,
| and led his men up rayine in the rear Of the
! fort, exposed all the while to CALLING fire
flom the enemy. They soon discovered a
stockade at the end Of the ravine, which i'm.
mediately opened upon the attacking party
| with four howitzcfs and muskelry. They
would hare killed larger number Of Captain
Alexander g men had they been well handled.
The stockade was, however, taken with the
loss Of eight or ten men killed aud twenty
two wounded. This was the hardest fighting
Of the day. But the stockade was taken, and
the barracks and guns were entirely de.
Japanese dead were found, for they were im.
mediately carried of by their comrades in
other cascs- During tile day Sfgnor Beate
was busJ photographing the scenes on shore
and Mr.. Ningman, spccial artist Of the Lon
don IOustroted Nt1cs, making sketches. TAest
gentlemen are likely 70 make more out Of the
battle Than the actors in it. The Tancrcd.
went up nearest to the battery at the mout1
Of the Straits Of Shimonoscki, aud WAS en-
gagged in throwing shell into It aud the tow
beyond. At a distance It appeared that th'
town beyond had been set on fire In seycra
places.
On Wednesday four vessels moved up Ia
ward the largest battery, said to hive tort,
guns in it, but there does not seem to hav
been much firing. The rest OF the feet wer
engaged in bringing off the guns from til
forts already eilenced. These trophies amour
to, some say, sixty~two, and some, seventy
two guns. A number OF wooden guns wcr
found In the forts, and several Of these wei
brought of By the fleet.
The Perseus, which fan aground on Tucs
day, was got Of at twelve o'clock on Wee
nesday night, and on Thursday, the 8th sel
tember, some Japanese officials went Q
board the Euryalns, and shortly after the fla
Of truce appeared at the Euryalus' mast hcaf
and this ended the battle Of Shimonosek
brass guns, and some Of them very heay,
One or two weighed fifty y-si1 hundred weigh
! Some were eleTen.inch guns, and fourtec
feet long.