635
Journal of Occurrences.
·
Nov.
dawn got under weigh, took a fisherman out of his boat, and made him pilot us to a harbor, in which, from the hill, the captain had perceived a fortification; about 7.30 a. M., we entered an extremely narrow passage, which was commanded by a battery of several guns, but the tide took us in so rapidly that in a few moments we passed their line of fire; we were as much surprised as the cnemy, the weather being thick and misty, and in about 5 minutes obtained sight, or rather practical information of the presence of another fort; bang, bang went the guns from the shore, and bang, bang went the ship's barkers; the captain moored her head and stern to the large junks, and then commenced in earnest, and in 10 minutes we drove them out of the fort with our destructive fire of grape and cannister, almost at pistol shot;-about 50 men were then landed, headed by their gallant captain, who planted the British union on the walls of the enemy's fort; three cheers were given, and three times reëchoed from the Goddess of revenge; 4 guns were spiked, two of which were brass, but too heavy to be removed, the men then returned, and commenced searching among the numerous junks for wood of which we procured about 40 tons, which materially assisted us in getting to our place of destination. At 11.39 a. M., unmoored and steamed down the harbor, when we observed arge body of soldiers drawn out to attack us if we landed; the guns wer cued with grape and cannister, but when within range a panic was evident among them; saure que peut, and away they went helter skelter, but not before they had received our two doses and third in the shape of a 32 lb. shot. Returned, and burnt three large war-junks, mounting altogether 9 guns; anchored and went to dinner. After dinner weighed and steamed to our friend at the entrance of the harbor; but, after giving hin a few shot, which were not returned, landed and took possession, the fort having been just deserted. Here I believe 14 guns were destroyed, beside several tents, and at 5 P. M., we left the harbor of Sheipoo, bending our course to the place of rendezvous, arriving at Buffalo's nose at noon on the 18th Sept., and found only Sesostris at anchor. On the 19th, the Cruizer and Rustomjee Cowasjce arrived; three days after several transports arrived, and we were ordered to go on to Kito point, where we found the Phlegethon, and Ann and Lyra; the Phlegethons, supported by the crew of the two vessels, had been on shore and burnt the village in which poor captain Stead was murdered, and another, where a few days previously the chief mate and one of the crew of the Lyra were murdered while buying stock--several Chinese soldiers were killed. We have heard, per Ariel, which vessel had just arrived from Sheipoo, that the killed among the soldiers were 100, and five officers; a very creditable little affair for one vessel and a few men.
6. A few notices of things at Amoy we here throw together, chiefly collected from reminiscences published in the Canton Press. Among the wounded, on the part of the Chinese, was a corporal, who was brought off by the soldiers and put on board of a man-of-war. He had his arm taken off with stoical apathy,' and beginning to recover, was set at liberty on shore. While a prisoner, he appeared quite indifferent to everything about him, and gave direct and appa- rently faithful answers to all questions that were put to him. Among the defenses, besides the cannon and matchlocks, there were found great quantities of bows and arrows, which with the Chinese seem to be in universal use both on sea and on land. The buildings, at Amoy called 'Haehong,' forming the establishment of the sub-pre- fect, were so spacious as to furnish quarters for the whole 55th regi- ment. In one of the attached building was a quantity of treasure, packed up in wooden cylinders that opened like a box, each of which had a lock, and a label over it, signifying from whence the silver had been obtained.' The commandant's office, near the south- ern gate, was occupied by the sappers and miners, and there also was found some treasure, which had been forwarded from Fuhchow