The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1867-08-24

WASHINGTON, Aug. 23.-The Navy
Department have received dispatches
stating the recent events at For
mosa, from Admiral Bell, under date
of Shanghai, June 10Th, saying that he
left Shanghai on the 18th Of June,
in the Hartford. accompanied by the
Wyoming. TN the 10th he directed
the arming of 181 sailors and marines
of two ships with muskets and rifles,
and four days rations of provisions
and water. He stopped on the 18th
at Takas, where he obtained an inter-
prefer, and received on board the
British Consul, Charles Carroll On
the morning of the 18th we anchored
within half a mile of shore, in the
open bay at the southeast end of For
mosa. The landing party was put
ashore at $50, A. NJ, under Com
mander Belknap of the Hartford,
Lieutenant Mckensie second in COM
mand. The savages were seen as
sembling on the hills. two miles dis
tant, armed with muskets. They were
visible most of the day, and displayed
courage and stratagem equal to our
native Indians, gliding through the
high grass and from cover to cover,
and delivering their fire, then re-
treated without being seen by our
men, who charging upon their covers,
frequently fell into ambush.
Our detachment pursued them in
this manner out of sight of the ships,
until 2 p. NJ, when. having halted to
rest, the savages took opportunity to
creep up and fired on the party COM
manded by Lieutenant Mckenzie, and
that officer placing himself at
the head of the company commanded
by Lieutenant Sands, daringly led a
charge into the ambuscade that was
laid for them, and fell mortally
wounded by musket balls, and died
whilst being carried to the rear. Sew
eral officers and men having already
experienced severe sun strokes, aud
the command being worn out by their
efforts to get at the enemy during four
hours marching, Commander Belknap
thought it expedient to regain his
picket on the beach, and during this
march of two or three miles many Of
his men got into such deplorable
condition from the killing heat of the
sun that the Commander determined
to return with them on board the
ship, which he reached about P. NJ,
after an exhausting march of six
hours under the sun at 92 degrees.
That afternoon the feet surgeon re-
ported the casualties of the day, one
killed and fourteen sun struck, four
of them dangerously. No sailors, in
deed no troops, unaccustomed to bush
life, ever displayed better spirit, but
it was apparent that sailors are not
adapted to that kind of warfare
against skilfull enemy, and could
not be fitted for it by heightened ex-
perience. These considerations to-
gether with the prostrated condition
of many of the men and officers from
sun-stroke, and their inability to
stand another such day, decided me
not to land them again, particularly
as they had already done all that was
practical for them, namely, burnt
number of native huts, 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 Chinese
government on the island to occupy
this bay with settlement of their
own, protected by military force,
which may be effected through our
Minister at sPekin- .fsvzsxz
Having accomplished all that was
possible, l got under way at 9 PM,
and returning to Takoon on the 14th.
there buried the remains of the brave
Mckenzie with prescribed honors in
the garden of the British consulate.
The vessels then returned to Shang-
hal. :.
Commander Belknap's report to
the Admiral is quite long and inter