May 21st, 1841.
Notwithstanding the truce, the Chinese were endeavouring to rebuild
their fortifications, three Tartar Generals arrived at Canton with
orders to exterminate the British, and junks were fitting out and
fire-rafts were forming to carry their plans into effect; indeed it
became certain that some plan of treachery was in contemplation. On
this, Captain Elliot, and a party of marines with him, withdrew from
the British Factory, followed by all British subjects, and the flag
of England was again lowered at Canton.
An advanced squadron under Captain Herbert was lying off Canton,
consisting of the 'Modeste,' 'Pylades,' 'Nemesis,' 'Louisa,' and
'Aurora,' and a little lower down were the 'Herald' and 'Calliope.'
The evening of the 21st was very gloomy and the night unusually dark.
Every one was impressed with a feeling that something was about to
happen. Double sentries were placed onboard the ships, the men were
ordered to lie down equipped ready for service, the officers
themselves in their cloaks on deck, and the 'Nemesis' kept her fires
lighted, so that her steam might be got up in a few minutes. The
'Modeste,' being a little in advance, one of her sentries observed
several large dark-looking masses dropping down with the stream. On
his hailing, they were immediately set on fire by the Chinese on
board, and the flames bursting forth, pointed out the danger to the
other vessels. In nine minutes the 'Nemesis' had her steam up, and
was running towards the fire-rafts, to assist the boats of the
squadron engaged in towing them away. Fortunately the plans of the
Chinese were disconcerted by this premature discovery. Out of a
hundred not more than a dozen were ignited and sent against the
ships, and numbers of these drifted on shore, some of which set the
suburbs of the city on fire. While the burning rafts were drifting
about, lighting up the ships and the town and the troops on shore
with their Tartar officers encouraging them to fight, their own crews
were endeavouring to make their escape from the blazing machines.
These rafts were formed of boats chained together, so that, drifting
down with the stream, they might hang across the bows of a ship, and
would with much difficulty have been cleared had they once got there.
Meantime the Chinese batteries opened on the squadron, which did not
fail to return their fire with much effect, while the small-arm men
picked off the people on the fire-rafts. The Chinese brought down a
gun and planted it within good range of the 'Louisa' and 'Aurora,'
and might have blown them out of the water had not their crews, by
veering and hauling on their cables, baulked the Chinese gunners, and
they thus escaped with little damage. In the morning the Shameen
battery was taken, and 43 war-junks and 32 fire-rafts were destroyed,
besides which, a desirable landing-place was discovered, by which the
troops might disembark, and advance towards the heights of Canton.
During these operations Mr. Hall performed a gallant act, which
probably saved the lives of Captains Elliot and Herbert, and all
standing near. A Congreve rocket had been placed in a tube, and
ignited when it hung within it, instead of flying out. In another
moment it would have burst, scattering destruction around, when Mr.
Hall thrust his arm into the tube and forced it out from behind. The
rush of fire, however, severely burnt his hand, and caused him much
suffering. It was long indeed before he recovered the use of his
hand. We mention it as a worthy act of presence of mind and courage.
While the advanced squadron was attacked with fire-rafts off Canton,
a similar attempt was made on the same night, to destroy the
'Alligator,' Captain Kuper, anchored off Howqua's Folly. The rafts
were floating up with the flood-tide, from a point not expected, when
they were discovered. The 'Alligator' was anchored in a confined
position, with a line of Nankin junks and stakes astern, so that she
could not slip; but by steering the ship some of them were avoided;
while her First Lieutenant, Stewart, and Messrs. Woolcombe and Baker,
mates, by their activity in the boats, towed the others clear. Some
passed within ten yards of the bows, while a number of Chinese were
collected on shore, probably to destroy any of the crew escaping from
the ship, had she been burnt.
Three nights afterwards the 'Wellesley,' anchored at the Bogue, was
attacked by 20 fire-vessels, chained in twos and threes, with
gunpowder and a variety of combustibles on board. A large number of
her crew and officers were absent with the advanced squadron, under
Captain Maitland, and it was not without great exertion that
Commander Fletcher, having only three boats left behind, was able to
tow them clear of the ship.