New-York tribune., 1867-08-24
THE FORMOSA MASSACRE.

BELL-LIEUT COM. MACKENZIE KILLED.
WASHINGTON, Aug 23-The following dispatches
detailing the events connected with the recent en-
gagement of the United States naval forces with
savages at the Island of Formosa have been received
at the Navy Department:
dispatch Nc. 5l-Series Of 1851
UNITED STATES FLAGSHIP HARTFORD tsecond rate),
SHANGHAI, China June 1e, 1867
The Hon. GIDEON wELLEs Secretary of the Nary Wash
ingt0pl, p. O.
SIR have the honor TO report the Department that
accordance with my instructions No &C. series,
under date of sd last left shanghai the 7th nst
in the Hartford, accompanied by tho Wyoming, Lieut.
Com Carpenter commanding for the south end OF the
Island OF FormOsa TO destroy if possible, the lurking
O the band OF savages nhabtng the southeast end
point Of that Island and who murdered in March last
The shpWreoked officers and OF the American bark
Rover On the 10th OF June, on the passage
down | directed Commander BelknaD OF the Hartford
10 have sailors armed with Plymouth mlskes ana 40
with Sharps rifles and all the marines, with nye hewitt
zermen and Lient Commander Safpeer, or IN tne Wy
oning have 40 Sharps rifles and her marines al prop
ammunition and four days Taons and water In all lS
officers and pryates The service cannot snow better
Takao OH The Island of Formosa to obtain an interpreter
and MI Pickering, scotchman, who had seen much o
the natives volunteered his services they accepted
he declining pay. also received as my guests ME- Tay-
lor merchant at that port, and H. IS NJ Consul Charles
Carroll esq who humaney sent out messengers to com
municate with the savages with offers OF ransom for all
the survivors If any remained OF the un3rt1hate crew
gunb0at Cormorant, Commander George u. Broad, TO
atempng siH I to land there These gentlemen having
pressed desire TO be OF the expedition next morning,
June 49, at ~ o'clock, anchored within nall nllc OF
the shore the southeast side OF the large open bay III
dentng the south end Of FOrmoS somewhat dangerous
exposure at this of typhoOns though perfectly
safe and convenient anchorage during the northeast
moonsoOn. from October until May The landing OF lS
ratons ard water was made at % O'Clock under the com
mand of Commander G.. L. Belbnap Of the Hartford ac-
cOmpanied By Lieut. Commander Alexander y Macken'
zie fleet lieutenant second in command, who earnestly
sought to 20 the expedition Soon after we anchored,
the sayages dressed in cOus and their bodies painted
red were seen through glasses assembling in parties
OF twelve the cleared hills about two miles ds-
tant. Their muskets Gistened IN the sun indicating
the kind OF they carried; their movements were
visible to on board during the most OF the day AS our
men marched INTO me hlls me sav1Ses, knoWng ule
paths boldly decided 20 meet thcm and ghdlng through
the nigh grass and irom cover TO coyei dI1Pa{eu l
strtagem and courage equal 20 our halye naive m lluht, W.
Delivering their fire they rcreated without being seen R
our men, who, charging upon their covers frequently fe
into ambush Ourdctacments pursued them IN tis haI
raising manner Of sight Ot the ships, until O'CLOCK
D. m when having halted 10 rest, the sayages took the
opportunity to creep MP ana hLed upon the parry com
mandcd by Lieut. COMMANDER Mackenzie, and that 0h-
Ger placing hmsef at The head OF the company com
mandcd hy Lieut. sands darlngy lead chatge INTO tno
ambuscadc that WAS laid for them, ana feil mortaly
10 the rear The navy could boast Drawer spirit and
no alan Of higher promise tnan Lieut. Commander Alex
s!uual knowledge aptitude aud TACT and suaviy OF man
uers which inspired the confidence aud affection OF the
the post OF danger where lac was always seen In the
advance, both conspicuous mark aud an example Sew
sun sun % n gct ~ e eneiy during fonr
hur' ,norchip Com Bclknap now Thought Il ex
pedent 10 reoin his picket on the beaci ana, during
ihs march o two or three miles many Of the got
into snch deploablo condition from the killing heat 81
the sun that the Commander determined 10 return with
them on board Of the ship, which he reached about p
m after an exhausug rch ~ six hours under the sun
at " That afternoon the neetsurgeon reported the
casualties of the day killed, Il sunstruck, OF them
dangerously. No sailors indeed troops unaceustoned
to blf life, displayed better spirit but 10 was ap
parent that sailors are not adapted 10 that KIND oi war
ue against slfu enemy, and that they could be tted
for L. Dny Lgthcned experience. These consdcra
lions chcr with the pr0ratod condition Of many OF
tie men aud officers from sunsrOke and their inability
to another such day decided nc not 10 land them
again particularly ~ they bad already done all that was
practicable fOr them namely burnt number OF native
huts and chased their warriors until they could chase
them no longer though at grievons cost OF e Their
of green jungle and green grass being fire proof
plated. observed bamboo hut every clearing and
several buaocs feeding IN the distance, these indicating
comforts they have been represented The only oec
remedy against the h'rbarous outrages on ship
wrecked by this tribe, who not numerous viii he
for Chinese authorities on the island 10 occupy TINS
bay with settlement Of their own, protected by mill
tay force which may be effected through our
was fs,ssible / got under way at 0 D. In. and
rctnrring TO Takao ON the Iih Inst there buried the
remains OF the brave Mackenzie with the prescribed
honors in the garden OF British Consulate. Mr.. Car
Io the British Consul having kindly prohered his gar,
den FOR the grave there being no public Durynggronnd
at TakaO The Consular flags and those of four merchant
ships worn at halimast. and ali the foreigners
present joined IN the funeral procession. AT $50 p m on
the I4th inst weighed anchor and arrived at shanghai
today, expecting 10 meet the gunboats coming out To
fls ,uuaaun Please receive herewith the detailed re-
port Of COMMANDER Btlkuap, marked - WIN thc re-
ports o commanding officers ot companies Of the occur
Of the 18th OF june marked respectively "A, B G.
ID, E., also the report OF Fleetscrgeon Beale marked
-" as to casualties l am Sir very respec't1,iy ,,
II. H. BELL, Rear-Admlfal,
Commanding United states Aslatic squadron.
COMMANDER BELKNAPs REPORT.
L, 5. FLAGSHIP HARTFORD SECOND RATE
Al SEA, June 10, 1861.
Rear-Adniral II. II. BELL e. S. ", Commanding U. S.
Asiatie Squadron.
SIR In obedience 10 your instructions delivered on the
18th inst concerning an attack upon the savage tribes
living the southern extremity OF the Island OF For
mosa proceeded immediately to carry them into eNecu
on far the character Of the country the nature OF
is Inhabitants, and the extreme heat OF the climate
would permit On leaving this ship on the morning OF
the date referred TO- directed Lieut. Commander j. H.
Read with a company Of musketeers, squad of scouts
armed with sharp's rifles, commanded by Master n NJ
Folger and portion OF the wyoming's detachment,
der the command Of Lieut. q. d. b. Glcdden to land IN
the bays about three.0uarters mile 10 the eastward
Of the place at which proposed landing and pushing
forward through the jungle, 10 make Tor the ns DearB
eastward In order Ia flank the enemy aud unlte WIN te
main body tho summit OF the hill. then pulled into
the bay to the nOrhward of the ships anchorfe ana
effected landing without opposition or dluouly Lieut.
Commander A. Mackenzie oI your stan pehS 9s s nrs,
Jump ashore. The marines were lnlledatey thrown
out ns skTmiscrs along the edge OF the jungle "nich
skirts the coast and reaches down 10 WIN
IN hundred yards OF INC Oeacn, "na t aief ef
scainta ana marines, provided Win Hght hoWltLcT 10
protect the Faux AL under tho c0mlhhu 0l Gunner
Cross of tins ship. and Gunner staples Oh tt e.
moved on through the Jungle toward the nils, 10 the
right Of the large black rock Indicated III Tue accompany!
ing plan This belt jungle seems TO be ABOUT thfu OF
mile In width and the march through was very sO", t,
paths or trails would be entered but they soon lost
In thick underground Of prickly plants ANA runners,