from an interview with the
flag-officer at Whampoa, several shots of grape and canister were
fired from the forts upon his boat, although it displayed the American
flag. The next day the "Portsmouth" and the "Levant," which had come
up the river to lend her aid, proceeded to the Canton barrier forts to
avenge the insult. The "Levant" grounded before coming in range of the
forts; but the "Portsmouth," under a sharp fire, sailed on until
within about 500 yards of the nearest fort; then she opened fire.
After she had thrown about 200 shells, the Chinese ceased firing. Then
followed four days of unsatisfactory parley with Yeh, the Governor of
Canton, after which Commander Foote renewed the attack. The "Levant"
now joined the "Portsmouth," and the vessels began a cannonade, which
was returned with spirit for an hour. Then 208 men, in ten boats, were
landed, and stormed the nearest fort, which was taken. Five thousand
pigtail-wearing soldiers afterward attempted to recapture it, but were
repulsed. In like manner, on the following morning, the next fort was
taken, with an American loss of but three men. During the afternoon
the defenders of the third fort fled. The next morning, in the face of
a heavy fire, the fourth and last fort was carried by a rapid assault.
The little company of Americans was now in possession of four modern
forts constructed by European engineers, which had been defended,
moreover, by thousands of men. The insult had been avenged, and the
affair resulted in a treaty of friendship and commerce with China.

There was little love between Americans and Chinese, however, and
three years afterward Captain Josiah Tatnall rendered valuable aid to
the English and French gunboats when fired upon by the Chinese forts.
The boats, under the command of Sir James Hope, were attempting to
remove obstructions in the Peiho River when the forts suddenly opened
a destructive fire. A desperate conflict followed, in which several
hundred of the English were killed. Captain Tatnall commanded the
chartered steamer "Toey-Wan," which was in the harbor. He forgot his
neutrality as he watched the scene. With the exclamation, "Blood is
thicker than water!" he jumped into his launch and steamed for the
British flagship. The boat was struck with a ball, and before its trip
was ended sunk, the coxswain being killed and Lieutenant Trenchart
severely wounded. The others who had manned her were rescued, and they
helped the English at the