January 7th, 1841.
* Particulars from "The Nemesis in China."
The day on which the forts of Chuenpee and Tycocktow were captured,
the 'Nemesis' took a most distinguished part in the total destruction
of the Chinese squadron of war-junks, under the command of Admiral
Kwan., which completed the discomfiture of the Chinese by sea and by
land. Some of the boats of the 'Calliope,' 'Hyacinth,' 'Larne,'
'Sulphur,' and 'Starling' co-operated with her in the action, in
which Lieutenants Watson and Harrison, and other officers of the
'Calliope' and 'Larne' deservedly won their laurels.
At the bottom of Anson's Bay was the entrance of a small river,
unknown until now, having a small island at its mouth, somewhat on
the Chuenpee side. Within this, and in a measure protected by a
sand-bar, which ran out from it, lay the Chinese fleet of about 15
war-junks, moored in a good position in shallow water, so as to
prevent the near approach of the British ships. Directions had been
given to Captain Herbert, of the 'Calliope,' to make arrangements for
the attack of these war-junks as soon as the defences on Chuenpee
should have fallen; the moment, therefore, that it was perceived on
board the 'Nemesis,' as she ran up towards the lower battery, and
poured in her grape and canister, that the upper fort had fallen, so
that the lower one would not longer hold out, she hastened, without a
moment's delay, to the attack of the enemy's squadron. Full steam
was set on, without waiting to see what other measures might be taken
elsewhere to effect the object. In her anxiety to secure the post of
honour, the 'Nemesis' rounded the point of Chuenpee a little too
close, and struck rather heavily upon a rocky reef running out some
distance from it, but upon which it was thought that there was still
water enough to enable her to float safely. She did indeed pass over
it, but not without striking; but her iron frame did not hang upon it
as a wooden one would probably have done, and she proceeded, without
even stopping her engines. The force of the blow, however, was
considerable enough to break the outer paddle-ring of one of her
wheels, together with two of the long arms attached to it, and would
probably have more seriously damaged a wooden vessel. About this
time, Captain Belcher, of the 'Sulphur,' joined her, with two of his
ship's boats, anxious to partake of the honour of the affair. A few
of the 'Sulphur's' seamen also came on board. As she pushed along,
she was also reinforced by Lieutenant Kellett, of the 'Starling,' who
brought his gig or whaleboat, and subsequently did good service by
occasionally pointing the foremost gun of the 'Nemesis,' at his own
request, with great precision.
On approaching the position in which the Chinese junks were drawn up,
it was perceived to be well chosen, with scarcely more than five feet
water round the vessels, so that, in fact, they could not be attacked
in front except by boats; however, the 'Nemesis,' having the great
advantage of drawing less than six feet water, was able to approach
near enough to bring her two 32-pounder pivot-guns to bear within
good range. Just at this moment, also a large boat or pinnace of the
'Larne,' under the command of Lieutenant Harrison, was observed
making its way round the outside of the little island, with a view to
cut off the junks in the rear; a bold manœuvre, which, as on many
similar occasions during the war, took the Chinese by surprise, and
struck them with a wholesome terror, even before they came to close
quarters. The first Congreve rocket fired from the 'Nemesis' was
seen to enter the large junk against which it was directed, near the
Admiral, and almost the instant afterwards it blew up, with a
terrific explosion, launching into eternity every soul on board, and
pouring forth its blaze like the mighty rush of fire from a volcano.
There was a momentary pause in the contest, both sides seeming
appalled by the sudden catastrophe. The rocket had penetrated into
the magazine of the junk, or had ignited some of the loose powder so
often scattered carelessly about the decks by the Chinese gunners.
They naturally felt that the same fate might readily befall any of
the other junks; and after some discharges of round shot had been
thrown into the nearest junks (four of them were afterwards found
lodged in the Admiral's junk), their crews were observed endeavouring
to escape on shore, some on the little island and others upon
Chuanpee; while, at the same time, the cables of the junks were cut
away by those remaining on board, in order that they might drift on
shore, and enable the rest to escape.
The Chinese hauled down their colours on board their junks at about
half-past 11 o'clock, but continued firing afterwards. At about 12
o'clock the boats of the 'Nemesis,' in company with the others which
were present, put off to board the junks. Only two of the smaller
ones succeeded in getting away up a small branch of the river, while
two more escaped, for the moment, up another principal branch to a
large town, but were subsequently captured. Some of the junks
drifted on shore; and as there could be no use in saving them, they
were all successively set on fire, by order of Captain Belcher, and
ultimately blew up. Altogether, 11 junks were destroyed on the spot.
Scarcely had this duty been completed by the different boats engaged,
when the 'Nemesis' hastened on up the river, and at the distance of
about three miles came upon a large town, where she found two
war-junks moored close to the shore, but abandoned by their crews.
The consternation of the people was extreme, and they were running
away from the town in all directions. The tide was now beginning to
fall; and as the water was not deep, and the bar would soon become
impassable, and the day was already far advanced, it was thought
better to return, without exploring the river higher up. Taking the
two junks in tow, the 'Nemesis' again descended the river; but one of
the junks, getting aground on the bar at the entrance, was obliged to
be left behind, while the other was taken safely down; and soon after
5 P.M. the 'Nemesis' joined the squadron off Chuenpee, and received
the thanks of the Commodore for the services she had rendered during
the day. She had received no important damage, the paddle-box only
having been injured by a well-directed shot from one of the junks.
The burning of the junks was a service attended with some danger to
those employed in it, for the guns on board, many of them being still
loaded, went off as soon as the fire reached them, threatening to do
serious damage to the 'Nemesis' as she passed near. On the following
day the principal part of the guns were recovered, altogether upwards
of 80 in number, of which 8 or 10 were handsome brass Portuguese
guns, 6, 9, and 12 pounders.
In the two affairs, 2 military officers and 28 soldiers and 1 naval
officer and 8 seamen were wounded; 173 guns were captured.
The following day, as the fleet were about to attack the fort of
Anunghoy, a little boat, with a flag of truce from Admiral Kwan, came
off, in which were the somewhat curious envoys, an old man and a
woman, bearing proposals for a cessation of hostilities.
Captain Elliot, ever anxious to save life, entered at once into terms
with Commissioner Keshen. They were to the effect that the island of
Hong Kong, situated off the peninsula of Cowloon, within the island
of Lama, should be ceded to the British, and that in return the forts
of Chuenpee and Tycocktow should be given up; and that on Captain
Anstruther, Mrs. Noble, &c., being set at liberty, Chusan should be
evacuated. Formal possession was accordingly taken of Hong Kong on
the 26th of January, and the 'Columbine' was sent to Chusan to
withdraw the troops and ship them.
The Emperor, however, rejecting the conditions agreed to by Keshen,
who had been superseded, hostilities were once more resumed against
China on the 23rd February. The troops and ships left at liberty by
the evacuation of Chusan were moved south, and preparations were made
to capture the remaining forts on the river Canton, an account of
which events we will now give.