Partly surrounding the old fort of Anunghoy, and in advance of it to
high-water mark, was a new and well-built battery of granite, forming
a segment of about two-thirds of a circle. On it were mounted 42
guns, some of them of immense weight and large calibre; several
strong entrenchments extended to the southward of this battery, and
the ridges of the hills were crowned with guns, up to a camp
calculated for about 1,200 men. At the north side was a straight
work of modern erection, mounting 60 heavy guns. About 150 yards of
rocky beach intervenes between the end of this battery and the
northern circular battery, on which 40 guns were mounted. All the
works were protected in the rear by a high wall extending up to the
hill, on which were steps or platforms for firing musketry, and in
the interior were magazines, barracks, &c.
On the east end of the island of North Wantong is a battery, with a
double tier of guns defending the passage on that side, and also
partly flanking a number of rafts constructed of large masses of
timber moored across the river (about twelve feet apart), with two
anchors each, connected by and supporting four parts of a chain
cable, the ends of which were secured under masonry works, one on the
South Wantong, and the other on Anunghoy. On the western end of
North Wantong was a strong battery of 40 guns, flanked by a
field-work of 17 guns, indeed the whole island was one continued
battery. On the extreme western side of the channel was a battery of
22 heavy guns, and a field-work of 17 protecting an entrenched camp
containing 1,500 or 2,000 men. South Wantong was not occupied by the
Chinese, and therefore, as it was an excellent position, a party of
the British landed on the night of the 25th, and threw up a work
mounting two 8-inch iron, and one 24-pounder brass howitzer,
notwithstanding a heavy fire which was kept up on them by the Chinese
during the greater part of the time they were at work. At day-break
of the 26th, Captain Knowles, Royal Artillery, opened this battery
with admirable effect, throwing shells and rockets into North
Wantong, and occasionally into Anunghoy, which fire the Chinese
returned with considerable spirit from an opposite battery.
At eleven o'clock a breeze springing up, the signal was made, and the
fleet stood in. Captain Sir H. Le Fleming Senhouse, of the
'Blenheim,' 74, with the 'Melville,' 74, and 'Queen' steamer, and
four rocket-boats, proceeded to attack Anunghoy, while the
'Wellesley,' 'Calliope,' 'Samarang,' 'Druid,' 'Herald,' 'Alligator,'
and 'Modeste,' were opposed to the batteries on the south,
south-west, and north-west of Wantong, and the forts on the western
side of the channel.
The 'Madagascar' and 'Nemesis' steamers were employed in landing the
troops.
The hill of Anunghoy was crowned with Chinese troops, and their guns
began firing as the ships approached, though still beyond range. The
'Blenheim' leading, and followed by the 'Melville,' slowly glided on
without returning a shot till they took up their positions opposite
the great battery, when they opened their broadsides with terrific
effect, while the 'Queen' and rocket-boats did their full share in
the work of destruction. In a short time the batteries being
silenced, Sir Le Fleming Senhouse perceiving that the enemy were
shaken, landed at the head of the marines and blue-jackets on the
southern battery, and speedily drove them, in succession from that
and the two other batteries. During the heat of the action, one of
the boats of the 'Melville' got adrift, and was being carried by the
tide close under the batteries. Commander Sullivan, supernumerary
commander on board, perceiving this, instantly jumped into his gig,
and pulled off to recover the boat, in doing which, he was exposed to
the close fire of the batteries, but he fortunately escaped unhurt,
and brought the boat back safely to the ship.
In less than an hour the other division had silenced the batteries on
Wantong, and the troops and marines having landed in a few minutes,
were masters of the island without any loss, 1,300 Chinese
surrendering themselves prisoners.
Thus, by one o'clock, the British colours were flying on the whole
chain of those celebrated works.
The British had five men wounded slightly in the whole force. The
main top-mast and fore-yard of the 'Blenheim' were shot through, one
32-pounder gun rendered unserviceable, several shot in the hull, and
the rigging much cut up. The 'Melville' had her main top-mast
wounded, and rigging considerably injured. The 'Calliope' was struck
in several places, and the other ships had merely a few ropes cut.
The Chinese loss was computed at 500, in killed and wounded, and 339
guns were taken. Many of the Chinese officers bravely met their
death, and even courted it. Among others was the gallant old Admiral
Kwan, who fell by a bayonet wound in the breast as he attempted to
defend the gate of Anunghoy, refusing even when summoned to
surrender. His body was recognized and claimed by his family the
following day, when a salute of minute-guns was fired to his honour
by the 'Blenheim.'
About four o'clock a party of the 'Wellesley's' marines, under Lieut.
Maitland, in her boats, with the boats of the 'Nemesis,' under
Captain Hall and Lieut. Pedder, were sent across to capture a fort
called Little Tycocktow. The Chinese fired on them, and then fled in
disorder, the guns were spiked, the magazines, &c. set fire to, and
their encampment blazing up, threw a lurid glare over the scene of
slaughter and confusion of the day.