27th February.
On the morning of the 27th, the light squadron, consisting of
'Calliope,' 'Herald,' 'Alligator,' 'Sulphur,' 'Modeste,'
'Madagascar,' and 'Nemesis,' steamers, under Captain Herbert, were
sent up the river to destroy any fortifications they might meet with.
Piloted by Captain Elliot, who, from constantly going up and down,
had a perfect knowledge of the shoals, they effected the passage
without difficulty, passing Tiger Island and the second bar, and
reaching the first bar at noon. From this position the enemy were
observed strongly fortified on the left bank of the river close to
Whampoa Roads. A large mud fort mounted on the river front
forty-seven guns, on the left flank, three, and a field-work four.
Extending across the river was a line of rafts secured to sunken
junks, on the other side of which appeared 40 large junks and an old
East Indiaman called the 'Cambridge,' of 900 tons, armed with
thirty-four guns, and which carried an Admiral's flag at the main.
On approaching within three miles, Captain Herbert, accompanied by
Captain Elliot and Commander Belcher, proceeded with the steamers to
reconnoitre, and endeavour to find out a clear passage. On
advancing, a heavy fire was opened on the steamers, which was
immediately returned with great effect. The ships were now brought
up, the 'Sulphur' leading, and immediately, from a well-chosen
position, they opened a heavy fire on the junks, the 'Cambridge,' and
the batteries. In about an hour the fires of their batteries and
fleet were nearly silenced, when the marines and small-arm men were
landed, and stormed the works, driving before them upwards of 2,000
of the Chinese troops, and killing nearly 300. In about half an hour
after landing, all the defences were carried, though in some places
the Chinese behaved with unusual bravery and obstinacy, the officers
showing much courage, one particularly, discharging four arrows at
Mr. Hall, before he was shot by a marine. In the mean time, the
boats of the 'Calliope,' 'Nemesis,' and 'Modeste,' were sent to
attack the 'Cambridge,' but as she was protected by the rafts, they
could not approach her. Lieut. Watson, First of the 'Calliope,'
however, having gallantly succeeded in dragging one of the boats
across the rafts, launched her on the other side. Meantime the
seamen had kept up a hot fire on a body of Chinese collected on the
deck of the 'Cambridge.' As soon as the boat was in the water, she
took on board Lieut. Watson, Mr. Brown, master of the 'Calliope,' Mr.
Hall and Mr. Galbraith of the 'Nemesis' and Mr. St. Leger, with nine
or ten men, and pulled away for the 'Cambridge.' So confused were
the Chinese, that as the boarding party climbed up on the port side,
they jumped overboard on the other, and many were drowned in
attempting to swim on shore. Mr. St. Leger, mate of the 'Calliope,'
had the honour of hauling down the Admiral's flag. A number of dead
and wounded were found on her decks, a proof of the good practice of
the ships. The Chinese had put her in good order for action,
fire-buckets were placed in readiness on her decks, and everything
was clean and well arranged. As she was an old ship she was devoted
to destruction; and the wounded being carried on shore, and every
part searched to ascertain that no Chinese remained concealed on
board, at five o'clock she was set on fire. In a little more than an
hour, the flames reaching the magazine, she blew up with a terrific
explosion, the sound of which must have reached the walls of Canton,
and struck terror into the hearts of the inhabitants. The junks,
meantime, had escaped up the river, and the rafts prevented the ships
from pursuing them.
Lieut. Stransham, commanding Royal Marines of 'Calliope,' directed
and arranged the marines of the squadron, supported by Lieut. C. C.
Hewett, R.M. of 'Herald,' and Lieut. Hayes Marriott, R.M. of
'Alligator,' and used his best endeavours to repress the destruction
of life after resistance had ceased.
In the whole affair one seamen was killed, and six seamen and two
marines were wounded. The great raft across the river, which had
cost the Chinese a large sum of money extracted from the Hong
merchants, was with much labour cleared away on the following day,
and a passage was thus opened for the squadron to proceed up to
Whampoa. As soon as intelligence of this affair reached Sir Gordon
Bremer, he set off to join the advanced squadron, taking with him the
marines of the 'Wellesley,' and a hundred seamen under Captain
Maitland. The marines of the 'Blenheim,' 'Melville,' and 'Druid,'
followed with a number of boats well armed.
The 'Queen' steamer also towed up the 'Eagle' transport, and the
'Madagascar' towed up the 'Sophia' transport.
CAPTURE OF MASKED BATTERY BY LIEUT. SYMONDS, R.N.,
COMMANDER BELCHER, H.M.S. 'SULPHUR,' COMMANDING,
March 1st.
The 'Nemesis' having been sent to explore a branch of the Canton
River, called the Jurak, a large body of Chinese were observed
collecting near a fort named Howqua's Folly, and it was also
discovered that a line of stakes was driven across the stream. The
Commodore despatched the 'Sulphur,' Commander Belcher, with three
boats of the 'Wellesley,' under the command of Lieutenant Symonds,
the First-lieutenant of that ship, on the following morning, to
proceed with the examination.
On rounding a point on the right bank, they came in front of a low
battery of 25 guns, masked by thick branches of trees, which opened a
heavy fire on them. Lieutenant Symonds instantly ordered the boats
to pull towards the shore, and gallantly dashing into the battery,
drove the enemy before him and killed several of their number.
The 'Sulphur' anchored, and a few shot from her compelled a body of
the enemy who had taken shelter in some thick underwood in the
vicinity to fly. The guns were destroyed, and the magazine and other
consumable materials were set on fire. The number of troops, who
were of the chosen Tartars, was about 250, and their loss was from 15
to 20 killed. The British lost one seaman of the 'Wellesley' killed,
and the boats were repeatedly struck by grape-shot.
FURTHER ADVANCE OF SQUADRON, AND CAPTURE OF
HOWQUA'S FORT,
March 5th.
As soon as a cursory survey of the river was made, the 'Herald,'
'Alligator,' 'Modeste,' and 'Eagle,' and 'Sophia' transports were
pushed forward within gun-shot of Howqua's fort, and thus, for the
first time, were British ships seen from the walls of Canton.
On the 2nd of March, the 'Cruiser' arrived, having on board
Major-General Sir Hugh Gough, who took command of the land forces.
About this time, the 'Pylades,' 'Blonde,' 'Conway,' and 'Nimrod,'
with transports conveying troops from Chusan, arrived in the Canton
River, much increasing the British force.
Howqua's fort, on the right bank of the river, had a large number of
guns mounted on it, and it was further protected by stakes with junks
sunk between them, and a strong raft placed across the stream. The
most conspicuous object on it was a joss-house projecting into the
stream. On the 5th, Sir Hugh Gough, leading the marines and a
detachment of the 20th, landed at the joss-house, to attack it, while
the ships weighed and dropped up with the tide. On the approach of
the first ship, the enemy fired all their guns and fled across the
rafts and in boats.
The British colours were then hoisted.
At noon, the Kwang-Chow-Foo or Prefect of Canton, accompanied by the
Hong merchants, came down entreating for a cessation of hostilities,
and saying, that as Keshen was degraded, and no one had arrived to
supply his place, there was no government authority to treat for
peace. On this, Sir Hugh Gough and Sir G. Bremer, at the request of
Capt. Elliot, agreed not to advance further; but, in a short time
information was received that the Chinese were more busy than ever
constructing fire-rafts, in raising fortifications, and in carrying
their valuables out of the city, while the people were prohibited
from taking supplies to the squadron.
While such was the state of things, two affairs took place which we
must recount.