The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1871-07-20


The fleet arrived at Jerome Gulf, May 90, and
reported ten days surveying of the channels
between the various islands, finally coming to
anchor at point designated in French charts
as The Isle of BoisSe for three days. The sur
VrymS party away during that time met some
natives, who sent off Il communication asking
where we were from and hoping we We're we'll.
CoEEANs VISITING THE FLAGSHIP.
GA Monday of this week number of Cor
cans of the third and fifth rank came aboard the
Colorado, where they We're received by Gov
ernor Louis interpreters and shown about the
Colorado, and distinctly told that we meant to
sent surveying party up the river and that
our mission was peaceful. and that we should
not attack or modest them in any way unless
they first assaulted us. They expressed them
selves non-committal, and we've glad to know
that our mission was peaceful, and appeared
to he satisfied.
THE START
ON Thursday the Monoeary and PaloS. with
four steam launches, two from the Colorado
and others from the Alaska and Benicia, left
about hali-past ten in the morning TO 90 up and
pass kanghoacen Island at the mouth of the
river Ealee. The survey party from the Mono
| cacy, under Captain McCrea, numbered 10,
and that from the l'aloS, under Commodore
Rockwell, numbered 30. The launches We're
| manned by / men each. Captain Homer c.
Blake was on the l'alos. Accompying the ex-
petition were Mr.Jawlr, private secretary of
Minister Low. on the Palos: Il. j. McCaslin
and Edward IL. Julspurg. Paymaster Spauld-
ing OF the Palos was with Lieutenant Totten,
and Captain b. Oswell and Mr.. Slassen of the
Colorado. were with Lieutenant Marsh. The
boat parties We're armed with cutlaSses, pistols
and Remington rifles The Bcnica launch car
red a tWCniy -lour FOUNDER in the bow and the
others twelve FOUNDERS they all having Il good
supply of she'll, canister and shrapnel. Avail
ing themselves of the flood tide, the launches
Went ahead up the ronghora River, sounding
As they proceeded. the PaloS and Monocacy fol-
lowing ii convenient distances. The boats,
which were unmoesled for some time, prose-
cuted their work regularly on the river which
Is here quite Il mile wide. The day wa, bright
and pleasant, and all went we'll until they APP
preached a narrow portion of the river about
ten miles from the Colorado.
PREPARATIONS To DISPUTE THE ADVANCE.
Here Il great turnout of white-coated Cor
cans was noticed on "A hulf of the west bank,
with flags lying and presenting quite mar
tial array. A nearer view indicated their
number to be about 1000 men, clothed in the
costume of the country, which is white coat,
not unlike the present European overcOat.
white paiamos tied al the ankle, with white
socks, aud light summer shoes such AS are worn
by the Chinese There are two red stone forts
visible, one on each bank, apparently armed
with upward of 80 cghnen- Founders, guard
ing a narrow passage or bend OF the river. The
one ON the right bank was smaller of the two,
and was not noticed ut all during the engage
mcnt, except by Shell or two sent to find if
ANYBODY was stirring therein; but the main
fort, built upon the bank and rising nearly 100
feet from the waters edge WAS evidently the
stand point of the CorcanS, and from which
they expected to intmidatc or drive away in
dismay the foreigners. The launches kept
steadily ut their business, without needing the
spectacle presented on the bank. The Benicia'S
launch in the while dropped astern, owing
10 her lead line iouling her screw, so that when
the surveying party came opposite the fort She
was nearly two miles OH. Mr.. Cowlc took Il
good observation OF the CoreanS, and counted
more than So guns in position, and noticed
countless numbers of gingnlls carried by two
men each. These last with the hammered men,
helped to swell the array, which was formed
upon the side and top Of the hill, behind a stone
wall.
The turning-point of the river was now al
most reached, and when ut the distance of
about l1o yards from the shore a stream of fire
was poured from the large fort, followed in IL
few moments by discharge of guns from the
fort on the right bank.
THE SHOTS EETtrHNED-A QUICK VICTORY
The launches at once turned their bows on
the main fort, and their guns quickly replied,
while the Palos and Monoracy, coming up on
five knot tide. ratified away over the heads of
the ilotilla with their eight-inch riiled guns.
Lieutenant Commander Rockwell, with the
Palos, made splendid practice with the bow
guns, while Captain McCrea, who followed in
the Monocacy. gave the enemy the full benefit
of his broadside battery at close quartcrs-so
close that the vessel grazed some hidden rocks,
which formed Il reef above the bend in the rv-
er. Notwithstanding this accident, which dis
placed an iron plate and caused Il leak. the
Monocacy kept up Il steady and we-(irected
fire until the forts We're silcnced. During the
action there was little or no breeze and the
thick smoke from the shore and river almost
hn A inf hn,xa