The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1867-08-24

LATEST NEW 3
BY TELEGRAPH TO THE
PORTLAND DAILY PRESS.
Saturday Morning. August "a, 1857.
WASHINGTON. t.<
Official Account of the Affair at
the Island of FOrmOsa.
DEATH OF LIEUT.. MACKENZIE.
The Instructions TO Gen. SichrJes.
WASHINGTON.
DEATH OF LIEUT.. MACKENZIE.
The Instructions TO GEN. sick1es.

WASHINGTON, Aug %.
The Turkish Minister was introduced to-day
to the President by Secretary Seward, and pre-
sented his credentials.
There was an accident on the Annapolis
Railroad last night, caused by the washing
away of culyert, whereby the engineer and
fireman were killed and Conductor Hammond
seriously injured. Several of his ribs have
been broken . =
The Navy Department has received dis
patches from Rear Admiral Bell, commanding
the Asiatic Squadron, detailing the operations
OF the flagship Hartford and the Wyoming,
against the inhabitants of the south end of the
island OF Formosa in punishment for the muir
DER OF the captain and crew of the wrecked
American bark Rover. The dispatches are
dated Shanghae, June 10Th. After detailing
the preparations which were made for the land
ing of the forces, Admiral Bell reports the az
rival of the expedition and its anchorage on the
south east side of a large open bay, indenting
the south end of the island of FormOsa, on the
morning ct June 13, he says: "The landing OF
III officers, sailors and marines, provided with
four days rations and water, was made aG $50
o'clock, under the command of Capt G. e.
Belknap, of the Hartford, accompanied by Lit
Commander Alex. s. Mackenzie, Fleet Lieut.
enant, as second in command. The savages,
dressed in clouts and their bodies painted red,
were seen through our glasses assembled in
parties of ten or twelve, on the cleared hills
about two miles distant. Their muskets gilt
tering in the sun indicated what 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 decided to meet
them, and gliding through the high grass, ard
from cover to cover, displayed stratagem 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 ambush Our detachment
pursued them in this harassing manner out of
sight Of the ships until O'Clock, VIXEN having
matted TO rest, the savages took the opportunity
to creep up and fred upon the party command
ed by Lieut.. Commander Mackenzie, and that
officer placing himself at the head of the
company comma ded by Lieutenant Sands
daringly led 2 a charge into the ambus
cade that was laid for them and fell mortally
wounded by musket balls, and died whilst be-
ing carried to the rear. Several officers and
men having already experienced severe sum
strokes, and the command being generally eX-
hausted and worn out by their efforts to get at
the enemy during four hours marching, Com
mander Belknap now thought it expedient to
regain their picket on the beach, and during
this march of two or three miles, many of the
men got into such depiorable condition from
the killing heat of the sun, that the Comman-
der determined to return them on board ship,
which he reached about A p. NJ, after an ex-
hausting march Of six hours, under sun at
81 degrees. That afternoon the feet surgeon
reported the casualties of the day as one killed
and fourteen sun-struck, one of them danger
ously. In consideration of the unfitness of
sailors and marines for bush fighting, and the
PROSTATE condition of the men, Admiral Bell
determined not to land the men again. partic-
ularly as they had already done all that was
practicable for them, namely, burned num-
Der of native huts and chased their warriors
until they could chase no longer, though at a
grievous cost of life. Their coverts of green
jungles and green grass being fire-proof at this
season, could not be DESTROYED as was conteml-
plated. Bamboo huts were observed on every
clearing, and buffaloes feeding in the distance,
these indicating that the natives are not SO
wild and ignorant of human comforts as they
have been represented. The only effectual
remedy against barbarous outrages on ship
wrecked men by this tribe, who are not nu-
merous, will be for the Chinese authorities on
the island to occupy this bay with settlement
of their own, protected by a military force,
which may be effected through our minister at
Pekin. The Admiral concludes by saying:-
Having accomplished all that was possible. j
got dnderweigh at 9 A. NJ, and returning to
Takao on the 14th inst, there burying the re-
mains of the brave Mackenzie. On the 18th
inst the Hartford proceeded to Shanghai,
where she arrived on the 10th of June
Accompanying the AdmiraPs reports, are re-
ports from Lieut.. Commander Belknap and
other subordinate officers, infinitely detailing
the operations and casualties, but the main
facts are embodied in the Admiral's report.
Several clerks of the Freemen's Bureau in
the District of Columbia have been relieved
ana ordered TO the department OF the Missis-
sippi. Further reductions will soon be made
in the Bureau. ..f .f45
The following statement in response to an
inquiry, has been obtained from gentleman
who is in position with knowledge of all
the facts upon the subject: On the 14th inst
instructions to Gen. Sickles excepting United
States Courts from the operation Of his militia
~ orders were suspended until on the 18th.
The Attorney General had instructed the Mar
shall of North Carolina to proceed to enfore the
executions of the United States Courts, threat
preventing him. Instructions were issued to
Col. Frank by Gen. Sckles not to permit the
order of any Court to be enforced in violation
of existing military orders, and to report fully
upon the cases pending. These occurrences
having been reported to the War Department,
the instructions originally sent to Gen. Sicl1les
have been withdrawn,