The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1867-08-24
o.. Wan Killed and Fourteen s"n'
struck.
Tn. r,vedi,ion Returns TO Shanghai

yrw YORK, August 23.-The Navy
Denartment has received dispatches de-
failing the recent operations at For
mOsa.
Admiral Bell, under date of Shanghai,
June 10th, says he left Shanghai on the
eth of june, in the Hartford, accom-
panied by the Wyoming. On the 10Th
he directed the arming Of lol sailors
and the marines of two ships with mus
kets aud rifles and four days rations OF
provisions and water. They stopped on
the 18th at Takas, where an interpreter
was obtained and the British Consnl,
Charles Carroll, received on board. On
tb. morning of the 18th we anchored
within half mile of the shore, III open
bov. at the Southeast end Of Formosa
landing. The party was put ashore at
9.3OA NJ, under Commander Belknap,
of the Hartford, Lieutenant Mckenzie
second in command. The savages were
seen assembling on the hills,
two miles distant, armed with
muskets, visible most of the day and
displayed courage and sfrategem
equal TO our native Indians, gliding
through the high grass and from cover
10 cover, and delivering their lire they
retreated without being seen by our
men. who, charging upon their covers,
frequently fell into ambush. Onr de-
tachment pursued them in this manner
ont Of sight of the ships until = o'clock
in the afternoon, when, having halted
10 rest, the savages took the opportunity
20 creep up and fire on the party com
manded by Lieutenant Mckenzie, and
that officer placing himself at the head
of the company commanded by Lieu.
tenant Sands, daringly led the charge
into an ambuscade that was laid for
them and fell mOrtally wounded by
musket ball and died whilst being car
ried to the rear.
Several officers and men having al
ready experienced severe snnstrokes,
and the command being generally ex-
hausted and worn out by their efforts to
get at the enemy during fonr hours
marching, Commander Belknap thought
it expedient to rejoin this picket on the
beach, and during this march of two or
three miles many Of the men got into
such a deplorable condition from the
killing heat of the sun that the com
mander determined to return with them
on board the ship, which he reached
about four u. NJ. after an exhansting
march of six hours under the sun ut ~
degrees. That afternoon the Fleet Sur.
geon reported the casualties of the day
at one killed and fourteen sunstrnck,
four of them dangerously.
No sailors, indeed no troops unaCcus.
toned to sueh life, ever displayed better
spirits, but il was apparent that the
sailors are not adapted TO that kind OF
warfare against a skillful enemy, but
could be fitted for it Ivy heightened
experience. These considerations, to-
gether with the Frustrating condition
of many men and officers from sun
stroke and inability TO stand another
such day, we decided not to land them
again, particularly as they had already
done all that was practicable for them,
namely, burnt number Of native huts
and chased their warriors until they
could chase no longer.
The only effectual remedy against
barbarous outrages on ship wrecked
men by this tribe, who are not
numerous. will be for the Chi
nese kau:hOrities on the island
to occupy this bay with q settlement
of their own, protected by Il military
force, which may be effected through
our minister ut PckiD. | have accom-
plished all that was possible. IgOt I'M
der way at 9 o'clock in the evening. and
returning TO Takas on the l4th, there
buried the remains OF brave Mckenzie
with the prescribed honors, in the gar
den of the British Consulate. The ves-
sells then returned to Shanghai.
Commander Belknap's report to the
Admiral is quite long and interesting
giving minute details of the operations
against the savages, but adds little to
the information given by the Admiral.
Captain FOrney, of the marines, and
Brownell, mate of the Wyoming, were
among those Frustrated by sunstroke.
The reports from the ether officers are
appended, but contain nothing addition
al.