Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-08-24
A Desperate Battle.


HANOI, August 23.-The French were di-
vided into three columus OF 500 men each as
far as Santoy. The right column then ad-
vAnced along the river banks, supported by
five gunboats; after going five miles the
enemy were found in'reucned. The gun.
boats fred among them and the intrench-
ments were carried. The troops then ad-
vaLced TO carry the fortified village with the
bsyonet, but the defense was 30 vigorous that
they we're thrice repulsed. Toward evening,
the French finding their efforts were useless,
decided TO renew tue altsck in the morning.
The center column met with faint Resistance,
snd occupied Hanoi. There they waited the
turning movement 10 be Effected by the left
column. The latter advanced along the
ro,d which the late Capt. Rivers took. -Four
hundred Chimes accompanied the Coiuan,
which reached Wong, and there found the
road barred by a strong inirsnchment. the
s%rtillery then fred into the works. The COL
umn advanced with difficulty, owing 10 floods.
The horses were unused TO harness and re-
fused to drag the guns, and men took
their places in dragging up the artil-
lery. When within 300 yards of The
enemy's intrenchmeuts the French opened
FIRE. For q time there was no
return made by the enemy, but after some
delay they opened with a tremendous fusi-
lade, which resulted in checking the advance
Of The column. 1t was now manifest Ina the
position could not be carried by a direct at
tack, aud a flank movement was Impossible,
30 the French column retreated. The enc.
my, shouting in triumph, issued frsm the
intrenchments and begsn the puis1i'. They
pressed around the TANKS OF the retreating
column. The French then opened with
artillery, firing shell into the ranks OF the
pursuing forces, but the enemy continued to
follow their retreat. Tint French preserved
excellent order and carried everything of
the field, including their killed and wound
ed. At 4 O'Clock in the afternoon the enemy
suddenly drew off. The French column
reached Hanoi at 7 O'Clock IN the evening,
completely exhausted. Their center column
also returned to Hanoi, the right column
occupying the position which the enemy
evacuated during the night. The Frenc
loss is two officers and ten men killed, and
fifty four seriously injured. Thirty Chinese
allies we're killed. The French plan was to
strike simultaneously at Santoy, Hue, Bacnulh
and Hsiduopg. So far only the last nam ed
place hiss been taken. The entire Red Silver
Delta is flooded. Many villages have been
destroyed and thousands of lives lost.
WHAT ENGLIsH CORRESPONDENTS SAY.
LONDON, August 23.-The Iimes's cores
pondent at Hong Kong, referring 10 The
movement of the French in Tonquin, say.:
"The enemy are mainly composed Of Chi
nese, armed with Remington rifles. Gen.
Bouet commanded the left column of the
French troops. 1t is believed the enemy's
loss was email. French doctors complain of
want of medicine and stores. The opera
ions of the French have been stopped for
the present, the number of troops being iu-
sufficient 10 attack Santoy and Backnuth,
which are the strongest positions in the delta.
The repulse of the French disheariened them
and encouraged the enemy. Fonr thousand
native Christians are being armed"
The Standards correspondent at Hanoi
sdds: "1t is generally admitted that the
French will require a force of 10000 men to
be able to cope with the enemy successfully.
The number of gunboats is also insdt guste.
FIVE hundred coolies who accompanied the
French column az carriers fed at the ffst
shot. Il is stated that the enemy has in
trenchments, one behind The other, over the
whole twenty-five miles between Hanoi and
Santoy, but it is thought the hood4 have de-
stroyed many of them. The blacks have
been strongly reinforced from Yun-nsn. No
Anamese participated in the fighting"
The Times says The capture of Hsiduoug
is OF some importance, as it gives the French
complete command of the Songchi canal,
which is the most convenient approach to
Hanoi.
THE GOVERNMENT INDoRsED.
Ferry, Prime Minister, in opening the
Vosges Council-General, declared that the
result OF the recent elections was a strong ap-
proval OF the government and a national
demonstration in favor of the republic.