under command of Captain Foote, afterwards distinguished in the Civil War, to attack the forts from which the firing on the boats had occurred, and they were soon silenced.
On the next day the commodore addressed a note to Commissioner Yeh, demanding an explanation and a suitable apology within twenty-four hours. Before the time had expired, however, seeing active work progressing towards the restoration of the damaged forts, the commodore ordered another attack, and the forts were taken by assault and destroyed. Seven Americans were killed and twenty-two wounded, while the loss of the Chinese was reported at three hundred. A communication from Yeh was received before the second attack was made, but it proved to be of an unsatisfactory nature; and further correspondence followed. Yeh claimed that, in view of the hostilities conducted by the British at and in the vicinity of Canton, boats of other nationalities ought to keep away from the scene of war, and that mistakes as to flags would not then occur. But the severe punishment which had been inflicted upon the Chinese forts did not seem to have given him much offense, for he finally wrote the commodore, "There is no matter of strife between our two nations. Henceforth let the fashion of the flag which American ships employ be clearly defined, and inform me what it is beforehand. This will be a verification of the friendly relations between our countries." Of such little importance was the affair in the mind of this oriental dignitary.
Yen's letter ended the correspondence, and the attack of the American navy on the Barrier forts was a
