Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-08-24
LATEST TELEGRAMS.
MIDNIGHT DISPATCHES.
Dispatch from Admiral Bell, Detailing
Events at FOrmOSa.


WASHINGTON, August 23-The Navy
Department has received dispatch, de-
failing the recent events at Formosa, from
Admiral Bell, under date of Shanghai,
June 10. He says he left Shanghai on the
18th of June in the Hartford, accompanied
BY the Wyoming. On the 10th he directed
the arming Of one hundred and eighty-one
sailors aud marines of two shsps with
muskets and rifles and rations of provisions
and water stopped on the 18th at Tokas.
where weObtained an Interpreter, and re-.
ceived on board the British Consul, Chas.
Carroll on the 18th we anchored within
halfa mile of the shore in open bay, south
east end Of Formosa. The landing party
was put ashore at $50 A. NJ, under Com
maader Belknap, of the Hartford, and
Lieut.. Mckenzie, second in command.
The savages were seen assembling
on hills. two miles distant, armed with
muskets. They were visible most of the
day, and displayed courage and stratagem
equal to our native Indians. Gliding
through high grass, from cover to cover,
and delivering their fire, they retreated
without being seen by our men, who,
charging upon their covers, frequently fell
into ambush. Our detachments pursued
them in this manner out of sight of the
ships until 2 P. NJ, when, having halted to
rest, the savages took the opportunity to
creep up and fred upon the party COM
manded by Lieutenant Mckenzie, and that
officer, placing himself at the company COM
manded by Lieutenant Sands, daringly led
the charge into an ambuscada that was laid
for them and fell MORALLY wounded BY a
nusket ball, and died whilst being carried
to the rear.
Several officers and men having already
experienced severe sun strokes, and the
command being generally exhausted and
worn out by their efforts to get at the enc
my during four hours marching, com
mander Belknap thought it expedient to
regain his pickets on the beach During
this march of two or three miles many
of the men got into such deplorable con-
dition from the killing hest of the sun,
that the commander determined to return
with them on board the ship, which he
reached about 4, P. NJ, after an exhausting
march of six hours under the sun at go
degrees. That evening the feet surgeon
reported the casualties of the day at one
killed, fourteen sun struck, four of them
dangerously. No sailors-indeed, no troops
unaccustomed to such life-ever display
ed better spirit, but it was apparent that
sailors are not adapted to that kind of
warfare, against a skillful enemy, and
could be fitted for it only by heightened
experience.
These considerations, together with the
PROSTATE condition of so many men aud
officers from sun stroke, and our inability
to stand such another day, decided me not
to land them again, particularly as they
had already done all that was practicable
for them, viz: burned a number of natives
huts and chased their warriors until they
could chase no longer. The only effectual
remedy against the barbarous outrages on
ship wrecked men by this tribe who, are
not numerous, will be for the Chinese au-
thorities on the island to occupy this bay
with settlement of their own, protected
by military force, which may be effected
through our Minister at Pekin.
Having accomplished all that was pos
sible, | got under weigh at nine in the
evening, and returning to Tokas on the
l4th, there we buried the remains of the
brave Mckenzie, with the prescribed
honors in the garden of the British Consul,
the vessels then returned to Shanghai.
Commander Belknap's report to the Adj
miral is quite lengthy and interesting,
giving minute details and operations
against the savages, but adds little to the
information given by the Admiral. Capt.
Finely, OF the Marines, and Nat. Bron-
well, of the Wyoming, were among those
Frustrated with sun-stroke. Reports from
other officers are appended but contains
nothing additional