The Sham Fight on Monday afternoon was even more interesting than the Battle of the Bubbling Well, fought between the same parties last January. On that_oceait will be remembered, the Sailors and Marines from H. M. ships Jww and Curlew advanced on the Settlement fron the direction of Sicawei and Fahwah, and were driven back by the Volunteers on the Bubbling Well. This time the case was reversed. Landing from boats near the Upper S.R. C. boathouse, the Blue Jackets drove back the Volunteers on "The Hovel."
Both parties started from the Bund about the same time—the Blue Jackets, in boats for the Soochow Creek, the Volunteers headed by their Band, up the Baloo, for the neighborhood of Sinza, where they expected to find the Enemy. The latter had already landed when the Volunteers reached the junction of the Sinza and Cross Roads; and the Miliolongs were suddenly thrown out as skirt mishers, to answer the fire that was opened from the broken ground below the Canto: Cemetery. No. 3 Rifle Ca. was also extended, on their left, Nos. 1 and 2 forming the support and reserve, while the Artillery opened on the Enemy's position, from the road. As the Blue Jackets advanced, the Volunteers, admirably handied, swung round behind the Canton tery, and took up a position, protected in front by the well known narrow Creek, behind the graves which cover the fields in that neighborhood. They had suffered somewhat in reaching this position; but, once there, were under splendid cover; and now came the real tug of war. The Volunteer Artillery pitched in shell from the rear; the Miholoongs, from behind a long grave, which covered the whole company, poured volley after volley upon the bridge by ich the Blue Jackets sought to advance, while the latter, extended jong the ban! of creek, Kept up a rattling fire on obstacle and on the Riflemen who vere firing from behind every possible and impossible cover, their howitzer at the same time pouring in a deadly fire. Your correspondent exchanged at least ten shots innocuously with one persevering Jack but the man got excited at last, and exposed himself in an effort to make's deadly and final pot, enabling me to silence him, and look around for new opportunities.
Tt was just time; for the Enemy had discovered a low dyke, less exposed than the bridge, by which they were able to throw over an attacking force. This was the turning point of the fight. The Volunteers retired, skirmishing by companies, at every conveni tion; while the Artillery retreated on to the Sinza Road, and fired from long range on the advancing troops. All however wae in vain. The Blue Jackets came on in column, with adiiratle steadiness, firing volleys as they advanced, in spite of all the efforts of our skirmishers, and in the face of repeated volleys from the Reserve, fired at 200 yds. distance, into their solid masses. On they came with fixed swords, in spite of everything—and met the Volunteers draw n up to welcome them, on the open field near Trefancha, in the neighborhood of ssu dry casks of beer and tables covered with bread and cheese and sandwiches.
Around these, the fight was resumed with almost as' great vigour as before some three hundred thirsty men, all strug: gling simultaneously to hold a glass under a taj); excited Rangers begging civilian to hold their ponies while they joined in the sirantic effort; and ing mani uily to excited ponies dances to the stirring strains of the Band, in cin cles of admiring spectators. Eventually every one was satisfied, or at any rate the casks were emptied; and the order was given to fall in for the return march—the men-of-war's men in front, the Band heading the Volunteers in the rear. The Bund was reached about 5 p.at,: and after firing a few volleys, alternately kneeling and sanding, the nien were dismissed. The "out" was, in every sense of the word, Volunteers and Sailors alike enjoyed it, and each got some good drill practice." The ground was a little soft for lying down on, after the late rain, and the roads were not altogether of, the nature of asphalt te; but these were minor nuisances, incide aral to campaigning, and caused more fun than distress, One brilliant feat has been o1 this otherwise accurate narvativ. your correspondent did not exactly know into w hat part of the battle to introduce it. He suspects it must have occurred about the tinae the naval howitzerfell into a ditch, or the feat would have been impossible, However, itis affirmed that the Rangers perforiaed the desperate four of capturing three in number (besides a led pony), hi The enemy's boats. Cavalry being a monted are not often called on to perform of this nature; but today's expe> nonce shows of how great and varied services the Rangers a1 It is ime possible to predict the effect on the result of the fight, had their exploit been diseovered earlier in the day.
'We must not omit to mention the successful exertions that have been anode to get togutler a brass band, in councetio with the Volunteers, It' made a fra public appearance at this parade and added much to the enjoyment of the march, and of the halt. Most of the members com: posing it belong to the Wind Instrument Society, and it will number about a dozen instrunients. he drum and fife band will remain, however, the regular band of Corps. The desire forthe enlivening atraina ofa Band, whether atpromenade or parade, is perhaps not peculiar to, but certainly in an eminent degree a characteristic of Shanghai; and in one way or another the demand is fairly met,—generally by the public spirited exertions ut amateurs, sometimes by the happy advent of a war-vessel carrying mu We have heard, indeed, that a gallant naval oticer of a continental power, who had spent some years cruising in China waters, when asked to take a command und return, declined to accept the appointment. unless his ship were provided with oband. To visit China rts without that, was more than he dared.
the request however could not be conceded, but a grant of instruments was allowed, and ere the noble frigate reached her cruising yround, a band had been formed to which Shangiai has many times been indebted for music en public occasions. We have had marked evidence, this winter, that British officers are not. Incking in their desire to earn the goodwill of the community with whom they may temporarily be connected, or tude what they can for its enjoyment; se we must presume that the want of a baad on board some of the larger of H. M.'s vessels visiting here, is because the Liberal Home Goverament cares not to countenancesuch vanities, particularly for place so little worthy consideration as the distant settlement of Shanghai.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.