The national Republican., 1867-08-24
HIGHLY IMPORrAHr.
oncisi Acee..t q the Dtneuisy st Fer
aosa.
Ths Navy Dspartnsnt isih receipt q ,hs fol.

U.s. FLAosurp HARrroap, (sscosp AID
~ ,,, sHasanzi, CnrsA, June y, 1851. Z
hSn, ,not.n .aeJn wass, Secretary " hs sssy, Ha'A-
Sin: Ihsys the honor to report to the Depart.
ment that, In accordance with my dispatch, No.
10, current series, under date Of Sd June last,
lsft Shanghai on the Tth instant, in the Hart
ford, accompanied BY tho wyoming Lieut. Com
mander Carpenter Commanding. Tor III. south
end Of the Isisnd Of Formosa, 70 destroy, II pos.
dbis, the nrking places Of the band Of savages
inhAbitng, the southeast end or point Of that
island, and sho murdered, In March last, As
shipvrecksd ofiesrs and crew Of the American
bark Rover On the 10th Of June, on the pas.
ags down, directed Commander Belknap Of
the Hartford, 10 have forty sailors armed with
Plymouth musksts, and forty with sharp's rides,
and all the marines, with ave howitssrmsn, and
Lieut. Commander Carpenter, Of the Wyoming
70 have forty ShArp's rides, and her marines all
properly oncsrsd, ready to land, provided with
forty rounds Of ammunition, and four days ra-
tions and water; 10 all, one hundred and eighty
one officers and privatss. The service cannot
show . better drilled body Of men than thess.
stopped on the 18th instant at Takao, on the
Island Of formosa, TO obtain IN interpreter, and
Mr.. Pickering. . Sootchman, who had seen much
Of the natives, volunteering his services, they
were sccepted-hs declining pay. / also 70.
eeived, - my guests, Mr.. Taylor, . merchant Of
that port, and II. B. N. consul, Charles Carroll,
ssq., who humanely sent out messengers TO com.
muniosts with tho savsges, with ofers Of ran.
som for all the survivors, II any remsinsd, Of the
unfortunats crew Of the Rover, and sherward
wont himself In the British gunboat Cormorant,
Commander George E. Broad, TO the bay In
question, and was fred upon whom attempting to
land there, these gentlemen having expressed =
desire to bs Of the expedition.
Next morning, June Is, at $50 O'Clock, we
J anchored within half mile Of the shore, on the
4 southsast sida af tha Iar0a onau hav indantip1
tho south end Of Formosa, . somewhat dangerous
exposure Of this season Of typhoons, though .
perfectly safe and convenient anchorage during
tho northeast monsoon, from October until May.
The landing Of one hundred and eighty .ons
officers, saiors and marines, provided with four
days rations and water, was made at $3.50
O'Clock, under the command Of Commander O.
x. Bslknap, Of the Hartford, accompanied BY
Lieutenant Commander Alex. 8. Mackenzie,
hrst lieutenant, As second In command, who
earnestly sought to 60 on the expedition.
Soon after 70 anchored, the ssvages, dressed
In olouts. and their bodies painted red, were
seen, through oar glasses, assembling In parties
Of ten or twelve on tho cleared hills, about two
miles distant, their muskots glistening In the
sun, indicating the kind Of arms they carried.
Their movements were visible to US on board
during the most Of the day.
As our men marched into the hills, the savAges,
knowing the paths. boldly descended to meet
them, and gliding through tho high grass, and
from cover to cover, displayed strategy and
courage equal to our native Indians. Deliver
ing their fire, they retreated without being seen
BY our men, who, charging upon their covers,
frequently fell into ambuscsdes. Our dstsoh.
msnts pursued them In this harassing manner
out Of sight Of the ship, until Q O'Clock, p. m,
whom, having halted to rest, the savages took
tho opportunity to creep up and nre upon the
party commanded BY Lieutenant Commander
MaekopIie, and the officer, placing himself si
the head Of the company commanded BY Lieu
ambusoado that was laid for them, and fell
mortally wounded BY Q muskst ball, and died
whilst being borne to the rear.
Tho navy could boast no Drawer spirit, and nj
man Of higher promise, than Lieutenant Com
mander Alexander s. Mackenzie. He was dis
tinguished for professional knowledge, sptitud,
and tact, and suavity Of manners which inspired
the confidence and affection OF men, while hii
impetuous courage impelled him always to seel
the post Of danger, where he was always seen in
the advance, both Q oonspicuous mark and an OF
ample, Several oficsrs and men having already
sxpsrisnesd severe sun-strokss, and the command
bsins generally sxhsustsd and worn out by thsi
sforts to set ID the enemy. during four hours
sxpsdisnf 10 regain his picket on The beach; AM
during this march Of two or three miles. man,
OF the men got into such . deplorable condition
from the killing heat Of the sun that the Com
nander determined to return with them on boart
Of ship, which he resshed about ~ m, after an
eIhausting march Of siI hours, under the sun a
% degrees
That afternoon the feet surgeon reported tn,
casualties Of the day: One killed, fourteen sun
strusk-four Of them dangerously.
No Sailors indeed no troops, unaccustomed /,
beach life, ever displayed better spirit; but q
was apparent that sailors are not adapted to tha
kind Of warfare against . skilful enemy, ant
that they could be fitted for II only by length
ened experience.
These considerations, together with tho pros
trsted condition Of many Of the men and officer
from sun.stroke, and their inability to stand an
other such day, decided me not TO land then
again, particularly as they had already done al
that was practicable for them, namely: burnt
number Of native huts, and chased their war
riors until they could chase no longer, though a
q grievOus cost Of life. Their cOvsrts Of greer
jungle and green grass being fro.proof ct thi
season, cannot be destroyed, rs I had eontsm
plated.
I observed q bamboo hut on every clearing
and several buifaloes feeding In the distance
these indicating that tho natives are not so wiit
and ignorant Of human comforts as they hay
been represented.
The only efsotual remedy against the bArbar
Gus outrages on shipwreoked men BY this tribe
authorities on the island to occupy this bay will
a settlement Of their own, protected BY mill
tary force which may be effected through th
influence Of our minister at Pekin.
Having accomplished all that was possible,
h got underway at Q p. m, and returning to Taxa
q on the l4th instant, there buried tho remains Q
. brave Mackenzie, with the prescribed honors, 4
the garden Of the British consulate, Mr.. Carroll
the British consul having kindly proposed hi
garden for the grave, there being no public bury
. ing ground at Takao. Tho consular flags, an
J. those Of four merchant ships, were worn at hall
mast, and all the foreigners present Joined In th
funeral procession.
a At $50 p. m, on the 18th instant, Weighe
!. anchor, and arrived at Shanghai to-day, expect
q ing to meet the gunboats coming out to thi
II squadron.
n Please receive herewith the detailed report {
;, Commander BelknAp, marked A, with the rs
4 ports Of commanding officers Of companies, Of th
occurrences Of the 18th Of June, marked respect
lively B, G, D, e. Also, the report Of Fleet
Surgeon Bsals, marked F, as to casualties.
lam, very respectfully,
T, II. II. BELL Rear Admiral,
70 Commanding U. s. Asiatic Squadron
I FLAa SNIP HARTFORD (sncoSD RArAJ !
y Ar SEA. June 10, 1857. (
m n :