No. 28.
GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.
The following Despatch from His Excellency Rear Admiral SIR MICHAEL SEYMOUR, K.C.B., covering Captain COLVILE'S Report of a most successful Expedition against Pirates in the neighbourhood of Koolan, is published for general information.
By Order,
Colonial Secretary's Office, Victoria, Hongkong, 17th March, 1859.
W. T. MERCER, Colonial Secretary.
Calcutta, AT HONGKONG, 17th March, 1859.
SIR,
Having received information that a number of Pirate Vessels had assembled near their old haunt at Coolan, I despatched Her Majesty's Ship Niger, and the Gun-boats Janus and Clown, on the 11th instant, in search of them, accompanied by Mr Caldwell, Registrar General, who, as usual, kindly volunteered his services.
The Squadron returned last night, and I do myself the honour of forwarding your Excellency Acting Captain Colvile's report of his proceedings, which will show the essential service rendered to the community at large, and the gallant manner in which Captain Colvile and the Officers and Men engaged, have succeeded in destroying a formidable force of Pirates.
I beg to draw your Excellency's notice to the good service rendered by Mr Caldwell—an additional claim to the many already possessed by that zealous Officer.
As this is the last opportunity I shall have of addressing your Excellency on the subject of Piracy, I beg your Excellency will express to Mr Caldwell my high sense of the important services rendered by him on the numerous occasions he has volunteered to accompany Her Majesty's Ships on expeditions against Pirates, in which he has volunteered to share all the danger, without the inducements which animate Naval Officers to distinguish themselves.
I have the honour to be, Sir, your Excellency's most obedient, humble Servant,
M. SEYMOUR, Rear-Admiral and Commander-in-Chief.
His Excellency SIR JOHN BOWRING, LL.D., &c., &c., &c., Hongkong.
H.M.S. Niger, HONGKONG, 16th March, 1859.
SIR,
I have the honour to lay before you the results of my late cruise after Pirates, and to congratulate your Excellency on the success of the undertaking.
Acting on information received at Macao, the whole of the 12th instant was spent in searching for a Fleet of Piratical Vessels cruising in the vicinity of the Tang Rocks, but failing to discover them, I weighed towards evening, and anchored late off Koolan, with the intention of visiting Tsoo-chong, under whose batteries a formidable Fleet of Piratical junks were known to be lying—the depredators of several valuable cargoes: an Owner and Master of two of the captured Junks acting as Pilots, under the able and effective assistance of Mr Caldwell, Registrar General.
Accordingly, at 7 on the morning of the 13th, I proceeded with the Boats (as per margin*) in tow of the Gunboats Clown and Janus, and after a run of 14 miles came within sight of a large flotilla of heavily-armed Junks and Row-boats, hauled under the protection of what we subsequently discovered to be regular defences, consisting of a water Stockade, with a double ditch and high stockaded embankment, armed with 36 Guns, protecting the whole sea face and flanks of Tsoo Chong.
Directing Lieutenant Wells in the 10-oared Cutter to examine a suspicious Junk to windward, whilst the Janus overhauled two others to leeward, I took the remaining Boats directly in towards the central force of Junks, leaving the Clown to cover our movements, but with peremptory orders to fire only in case the Shore Batteries opened on the Boats.
However, it soon became evident that the Enemy were prepared for a determined resistance, the Crews of the Junks joined the Villagers, who, with violent ejaculations and waving white Flags, on which the characters "Hoong-kin-wong," (Triad King,) was prominent, invited us on, at the same time a heavy fire of Round and Grape opened on our advance.
Forming behind a knoll of land, insulated by 500 yards of shallow water from the left extreme of the Stockade, leaving the Pinnace to cover the landing, and much assisted by the very excellent shell practice of the Gunboats, the storming party dashed waist-deep into the Stockade, and receiving a fire of Grape entered the embrasures of an 8-gun Battery, bayonetting the defenders, who crowded the inner ditch and appeared paralysed by the vigour of our proceedings.
After a short hand-to-hand encounter, they retired precipitately, and now was seen the extraordinary sight of 60 Blue Jackets and Marines chasing fully 500 armed Men, through brakes and narrow acclivities for nearly two miles in the rear of the works.
In this movement great numbers of the Enemy were killed, and it had the effect of turning the Sea-defences, thus rendered comparatively harmless.
The storming party were now joined by the men under Lieutenants Blake and Wells, who, by a judicious detour to the right, had materially assisted in the discomfiture of the Pirates.
Every House in the Town was a Magazine, in which large quantities of Arms and Munitions were stored. I consequently directed the Village to be burnt. Eight large piratical fighting Junks and eleven Fast-boats shared a similar fate, their Guns having previously been sunk in deep Water. The 36 Guns of the Land-defences were also destroyed. Considerable resistance was offered by two of the Junks; the Boats were repeatedly hulled.
When I bring to your Excellency's notice the very large force of Men, consisting of at least Thirteen Hundred effectively armed, with a necessary perfect knowledge of locale, and the determination they evinced in opposing our landing, I cannot but feel astonished at our good fortune: not a casualty occurred, whereas the loss of the Enemy could not have been under a Hundred and Eighty Men.
After communicating with a Mandarin Junk force just arrived from Macao, with the information that 7 Pirate Junks were at anchor off Lie-wan-moon, opposite Moto, the Boats returned to the Ship at Koolan.
March 14. Having despatched the Niger to await my arrival at Macao, I proceeded with the whole Boat Force to examine the numerous creeks to the west of Broadway en route to Lie-wan-moon.
In Ly-kee, a Bay opposite Koo-lan, four piratical Junks, with Guns, numerically formidable, were driven on Shore and burnt by Lieutenant Villiers. In the largest, an English red Ensign was found.
In a deep inlet to the North of Louchow, three others were captured and destroyed.
*Galley—Acting-Captain Colvile.
Pinnace, Lieutenant Blake, Mr Laurenson, Mr Pearce, Mr Markham, and Mr Buck.
1st Cutter,—Mr Price, Midshipman.
2d Cutter, Mr Smyth,
do.
3d Cutter, Mr Wells, Mr Potter, and Mr Wesley; subsequently to the destruction of Tsoo-Choong, Lieutenant Villiers...
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No. 28.
GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.
The following Despatch from His Excellency Rear Admiral STR MICHAEL SEYMOUR, K.C.B., covering Captain COLVILE'S Report of a most successful Expedition against Pirates in the neighbourhood of Koolan, is published for general information.
By Order,
Colonial Secretary's Office, Victoria, Hongkong, 17th March, 1859.
W. T. MERCER, Colonial Secretary.
Calcutta, AT HONGKONG, 17th March, 1859.
SIR, Having received information that a number of Pirate Vessels had assembled near their old haunt at Coolan, I despatched Her Ma- jesty's Ship Niger, and the Gun-boats Janus and Clown, on the 11th instant, in search of them, accompanied by Mr Caldwell, Registrar General, who, as usual, kindly volunteered his services.
The Squadron returned last night, and I do myself the honour of forwarding your Excellency Acting Captain Colvile's report of his proceedings, which will hew the essential service rendered to the community at large, and the gallant manner in which Captain Colvile and the Officers and Men engaged, have succeeded in destroying a formidable force of Pirates.
I beg to draw your Excellency's notice to the good service rendered by Mr Caldwell-an additional claim to the many already possessed by that zealous Officer. As this is the last opportunity I shall have of addressing your Excellency on the subject of Piracy, I beg your Excel- lency will express to Mr Caldwell my high sense of the important services rendered by him on the numerous occasions he has volunteered to accompany Her Majesty's Ships on expeditions against Pirates, in which he has volunteered to share all the danger, without the inducements which animate Naval Officers to distinguish themselves.I have the honour to be, Sir, your Excellency's most obedient, humble Servant,
His Excellency SIR JOHN BOWRING, LL.D., &c., &c., &c.,
Hongkong.
M. SEYMOUR, Rear-Admiral and Commander-in-Chief.
H.M.S. Niger, HONGKONG, 16th March, 1859.
SIR, I have the honour to lay before you the results of my late cruise after Pirates, and to congratulate your Excellency on the success of the undertaking.
Acting on information received at Macao, the whole of the 12th instant was spent in searching for a Fleet of Piratical Vessels cruising in the vicinity of the Tang Rocks, but failing to discover them, I weighed towards evening, and anchored late off Koolan, with the intention of visiting Tsoo-chong, under whose batteries a formidable Fleet of Piratical funks were known to be lying the depredators of several valuable cargoes: an Owner and Master of two of the captured Junks acting as Pilots, under the able and effective assistance of Mr Caldwell, Registrar
General.
Accordingly, at 7 on the morning of the 13th, I proceeded with the Boats (as per margin*) in tow of the Gunboats Clown and Janus, and after a run of 14 miles came within sight of a large flotilla of heavily-armed Junks and Row-boats, hauled under the protection of what we subsequently discovered to be regular defences, consisting of a water Stockade, with a double ditch and high stockaded embankment, armed with 36 Guns, protecting the whole sea face and flanks of Tsoo Chong.
Directing Lieutenant Wells in the 10-oared Cutter to examine a suspicious Junk to windward, whilst the Janus overhauled two others to leeward, I took the remaining Boats directly in towards the central force of Junks, leaving the Clown to cover our movements, but with peremptory orders to fire only in case the Shore Batteries opened on the Boats.
However, it soon became evident that the Enemy were prepared for a determined resistance, the Crews of the Junks joined the Villagers, who, with violent ejaculations and waving white Flags, on which the characters Hoong-kin-wong, (Triad King,) was prominent, invited us on, at the same time a heavy fire of Round and Grape opened on our advance.
Forming behind a knoll of land, insulated by 500 yards of shallow water from the left extrerne of the Stockade, leaving the Pinnace to cover the landing, and much assisted by the very excellent shell practice of the Gunboats, the storming party dashed waist deep at the Stockade, and receiving a fire of Grape entered the embrasures of an 8-gun Battery, bayonetting the defenders, who crowded the inner ditch and appeared paralysed by the vigour of our proceedings. After a short hand to hand encounter, they retired precipitately, and now was seen the extra- ordinary sight of 60 Blue Jackets and Marines chasing fully 500 armed Men, through brakes and narrow acclivities for nearly two miles in the rear of the works.
In this movement great numbers of the Enemy were killed, and it had the effect of turning the Sea-defences, thus rendered comparatively harmless.
The storming party were now joined by the men under Lieutenants Blake and Wells, who, by a judicious detour to the right, had materially assisted to the discomfiture of the Pirates.
Every House in the Town was a Magazine, in which large quantities of Arms and Munitions were stored. I consequently directed the Village to be burnt. Eight large piratical fighting Junks and eleven Fast-boats shared a similar fate, their Guns having previously been sunk in deep Water. The 36 Guns of the Land-defences were also destroyed. Considerable resistance was offered by two of the Junks; the Boats were repeatedly hulled.
When I bring to your Excellency's notice the very large force of Men, consisting of at least Thirteen Hundred effectively armed, with a necessary perfect knowledge of locale, and the determination they evinced in opposing our landing, I cannot but feel astonished at our good fortune: not a casualty occurred, whereas the loss of the Enemy could not have been under a Hundred and Eighty Men.
After communicating with a Mandarin Junk force just arrived from Macao, with the information that 7 Pirate Junks were at anchor off Lie-wan-moon, opposite Moto, the Boats returned to the Ship at Koolan.
March 14.Having despatched the Niger to await my arrival at Macao, I proceeded with the whole Boat Force to examine the numerous cranies to the west of Broadway en route to Lie-wan-inoon.
In Ly-kee, a Bay opposite Koo-lan, four piratical Junks, with Guns, numerically formidable, were driven on Shore and burnt by Lieutenant Villiers. In the largest, an English red Ensign was found.
In a deep inlet to the North of Louchow, three others were captured and destroyed.
*Galley-Acting-Captain Colvile.
Pinnace, Lieutenant Blake, Mr Laurenson, Mr Pearce, Mr Markham, and Mr Buck.
1st Cutter,-Mr Price, Midshipman.
2d Cutter, Mr Smyth,
do.
3d Cutter, Mr Wells, Mr Potter, and Mr Wesley; subsequently to the destruction of Tsoa-Choong, Lieutenant Villiera
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