The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1915-06-10
PASSING or THE WAR
SCARED PORTSMOUTH
How the Sloop-of War. Now Sold for
res Thousands, Took the Forts Of

Canton.
Washington. June THE sloop Of
War Portsmouth which took posses
sion Of San Francisco Bay for the
United States in 1876, destroyed the
Chinese fortihcations at Canton in
1856, and later fought with Admiral
Farragut. was sold to-day for $3.662
10 John H. Gregory Of Perth Amboy
N, J. The old ship lies sunk at her
berth in the Norfolk Navy Yard, and
is good only for the material in her
hull. Since the Civil War she has been
used as training ship.
In 1856 our East India squadron was
composed Of the sloops -ofwar Ports
mouth and Leyant, and the steam
frigate San Jacinto, under the flag
officer Commodore James Armstrong.
Britain was having trouble with the
Cantonese America fell heir in part
to the III will provoked by the hostile
activities Of the English naval forces
and fired on our flag.
Toward the latter part Of October,
1856, il became necessary TO detail
marines and blue jackets TO protect
our consul and the American citizens
present in that city Accordingly,
Captain Andrew H. Foote, command /
ing the Portsmouth, led force of so |
men and howitzer, 10 the relief Of
the consul. Two days later Captain |
William Smith Of the Levant took an
additional force Of 69 up the river to
assist in the protection Of the AmeriA /
can Consulate.
Captain Smith had been in command
but four days when the British naval
authorities landed an assaulting party
to attack the Chinese defences imme
diately guarding the city. Unfortun-
ately, this attacking force was supple
mented by a few overzealous Ameri-
can citizens who unwisely insisted up
on planting our flag upon the very
walls of Canton.
About this time the American mer-
chant steamer Kun Fa, while going
through the Macao Passage, was fired
upon by one Of the Chinese forts, and
this, Commissioner Yeh excused on the
ground of the participation of Ameri-
cans in the British attack upon Can
ton. There was more deliberate
show Of enmity when one of the Bar
rier Forts fired upon an American
naval cutter.
On Nov. Is Captain Foote was sew
eral times fred upon. The Barrier ,
Forts, then located about five miles
below the city, formed the main de-
fence Of the town. They were consid- /,
cred imprcgnable and were built of !,
granite with wells nom to feet
thick. They mounted 17G guns, and
were manned by 5000 soldiers. Some
Of the Chinese ordnance were pieces of :
s and 1915 inches in calibre, the latter
being far more powerful than any of
the guns ahoat in the American squad
ron. The Portsmouth and the Levant .
carried smooth-bore weapons, ranging :,
from 32-pounders to those of S-inch
calibre. !.
At the point where the forts were :
located the channel Of the river was
both narrow and tortuous, and the =
bottom was rocky and the currents y
swift 1t was quite impossible for the
American sailing ships TO navigate I'M l.
Ter canvas in those waters, and, the
screw frigate San Jacinto was of too
lcep draft TO steam up the river above C
he Whampoa anchorage. It was
therefore necessary to place -" brant
If the assault upon the Portsmouth
md the Levant and to find light draft OF
steamers that could tow th4 ships TO W
point from which they could prop ra
'rly attack lu
Royals and topgallant masts were IN
ient down, and everything made snug "a
loft. Howitzers were hosted into the $,
ore and main tops and sheltered be- Ii
lind bulwarks Of piled hammocks. The III
magazines were opened. The Ports +
mouth had battery Of p guns; the ST
Of the Levant consisted Of ca
% pieces The compliment OF the s,
Portsmouth was something like 220 50
,ficers and crew and that Of the Le-
ant about 100. This force was aug tn
rented BY the presence Of officers and IN
nlisted men from the San Jacinto. ar
'he American steamers Willamette ke
nd the Bum ia took tho ships in tow
the old Portsmouth leading, with an
he Willamette and the Lcyant. The Sc
.eyant before coming into range went "a
ground. The Portsmouth and the in
willamette kept steadily on until ar
With 500 yards Of the nearest forti- bu
cation. when they anchored, Tbs bc
'hinesc opened with a brisk and well III
irected fire, to which the Portsmouth aa
or nearly three hours replied with sn
rapid and continuous shcllfre, cdec. in