While the affair we have just described was going on on the east side
of the river, Captain Scott, in the 'Samarang,' gallantly led his
division against Tycocktow on the west side, which commenced its fire
at about 20 minutes past 10 o'clock, but he did not reply till 10
minutes afterwards, when he had anchored abreast of it, about 200
yards off, as near as the depth of water would allow the ship to
approach. The 'Modeste,' 'Druid,' and 'Columbine' anchored in
succession, and in a few minutes so destructive and well directed was
the fire of the ships, that with the exception of one or two
occasionally, all the guns of the enemy were silenced. At 20 minutes
after 11, a practicable breach having been made in the southern end
of the fort, the boats were manned and armed, and proceeded to storm
it. Lieutenant Bower, First Lieutenant of the 'Samarang,'
immediately landed, supported by the boats of the 'Modeste,' while
those of the 'Druid' and 'Columbine,' under the command of Lieutenant
Goldsmith, senior of the 'Druid,' proceeded to the north end.
The Chinese attempted to defend the breach, and Lieutenant Bower was
severely wounded by a sabre-cut on the knee, but they were speedily
driven back by the gallant and determined rush onwards of the seamen;
and so appalled were the Chinese, that they made a hasty retreat over
the hill wall, leaving the British masters of the fort. Mr. Luard,
on this occasion, behaved most gallantly in the breach.
From the number of wounded lying in every direction the loss of the
enemy must have been very severe. Their wounded having been carried
away clear of the fort, the whole of the buildings and magazines were
blown up, and the guns, amounting to 25 longs of different calibre,
were spiked, the trunnions knocked off, a shot wrapped round with wet
canvas driven hard home in each, were then thrown into the sea, their
carriages being burnt.