May 23rd to 30th.
In consequence of the hostile proceedings we have described of the
Chinese, Sir Hugh Gough, in conjunction with Sir Le Fleming Senhouse
and Captain Elliot, Her Majesty's Plenipotentiary, resolved forthwith
to attack Canton. An expedition to Amoy, which had been in
contemplation, was consequently given up. One of the first steps
taken was to secure a sufficient number of boats to land the troops
at once, and this object was speedily effected by Commanders Belcher,
of the 'Sulphur,' and Barlow, of the 'Nimrod,' an ample supply of
boats of all shapes, rigs, and sizes, being collected. The 24th was
fixed on for the attack, as it was the birthday of Her Majesty. On
the 23rd Sir Le Fleming Senhouse and Sir Hugh Gough, having made a
reconnoissance, everything was ready. The British force consisted of
the following ships and vessels:--'Wellesley,' at Boca Tigris, sent
up her marines and 100 seamen. Macao first division, 'Blenheim,'
'Blonde,' 'Sulphur,' 'Hyacinth,' 'Nimrod,' 'Modeste,' 'Pylades,'
'Cruiser, 'Columbine,' 'Algerine,' 'Starling,' and 'Atalanta,' and
'Nemesis' steamers.
In the Whampoa division, under Captain Herbert, were 'Calliope,'
'Conway,' 'Herald,' 'Alligator.' In the above ships and vessels
were, including officers, seamen, and marines, about 3,200 men; of
whom, about 1,000, including marines, landed to serve with the army.
The land force under Sir Hugh Gough, numbered about 2,223.
The troops were embarked in two columns. The right column under the
command of Major Pratt, was ordered to hold the factories, and was
taken up by the 'Atalanta' steamer. The left, which comprised the
main body of the army, and which was directed to carry the heights
above the city, was divided into four brigades. It was embarked in
the strange collection of native craft collected by Commander
Belcher. This primitive-looking fleet of transports, towed by the
'Nemesis,' reached the landing-place of T-sing-poo about dark,
without having experienced the slightest obstruction on the way from
the Chinese. Commander Belcher had already got the 'Sulphur' there,
and had taken possession of a number of temples for the accommodation
of the troops.
This landing-place of T-sing-poo is on the banks of a creek which
circles round the west of the city, and is so situated that the
troops could march up directly to the heights it was intended they
should occupy above the city.
The city and its suburbs occupy the entire space between the hills
and the river. The city is surrounded by a high wall about six miles
in circumference, and is again divided by a wall into two unequal
parts called the old and new town, of which the latter is the
smallest. The suburbs are as extensive as the city itself, and on
the south extend to the water's edge. In the west corner are
situated the foreign factories. The walls extend to the brow of the
hills, and indeed there is a hill of some height within them. Four
strong forts, mounting altogether 42 guns, and a great number of
gingals and wall-pieces, crowned the heights above the city.
Opposite the city was the naval arsenal: to the east the French fort,
and to the west, opposite the factories, the Dutch fort.
Considerably to the west, at the bend of the river, is the Shameen
fort.
We must now describe the proceedings of the attacking force. The
land force was commanded by Sir Hugh Gough in person, and he was
accompanied by Sir Le Fleming Senhouse, to whom Commander Belcher
acted as aid-de-camp. The naval brigade, consisting of 430 officers
and men, was directed to act with the troops. It was under the
orders of Captain Bourchier, and was divided into two battalions
commanded by Captain Maitland and Commander Barlow. The troops
advanced towards the heights over very difficult and broken ground,
up which they had to drag their guns with much labour; the heat also
was excessive, and many suffered from it. As the troops advanced,
the Chinese receded before them, though the forts kept up a spirited
fire on their columns; but without a moment's delay they were stormed
by the troops and seamen, and then in little more than half an hour
after the advance had been sounded, the British flag waved on all the
heights which overlooked the city. While the troops were attacking
the forts assigned to them, the blue-jackets carried the two western
batteries, called by the Chinese the fortresses of Perpetual Bliss
and Everlasting Security. They were much exposed, in their advance;
and unfortunately Lieutenant Fox and Mr. Kendal, mate, both of the
'Nlmrod,' each lost a leg, the former of whom died the same evening
under amputation. Several seamen were also wounded. An intrenched
camp outside the north-east gate was next attacked and carried in
gallant style.
While these affairs were taking place on the height, the Chinese in
great force attacked the joss-house at the landing-place, where a
small body only of troops had been stationed to protect the stores,
guns, &c. The moment the attack was perceived, the 'Nemesis' and
'Starling' opened their fire, under cover of which, Mr. Hall, from
the 'Nemesis,' and Mr. Gross, from the 'Sulphur,' landed with a party
of officers and seamen, and boldly attacked the Chinese in front.
The blue-jackets quickly drove them back into the town with the loss
of three field-pieces and 30 men killed, while several houses under
which they had attempted to rally were set on fire.
While these affairs were taking place on shore, the advanced squadron
before the river front of the city, were not idle.
We will first describe the operations of Commander Warren's division.
The 'Hyacinth' and 'Nimrod' first attacked the Shameen battery, in
order to cover the landing of the 26th regiment from the 'Atalanta'
at the factories, while the 'Modeste,' 'Cruiser,' and 'Columbine,'
took up a position to bombard the Dutch Folly fort, and to enfilade
the line of batteries lately thrown up in front of the city, to the
eastward of that fort.
As soon as the ships had taken up their position, the Chinese set
three fire-vessels adrift; but though a strong tide brought them
rapidly down towards the fleet, the boats, by pushing off instantly,
were able to tow them clear of the ships and to carry them on shore,
when they set fire to the suburbs. The factories being deserted, the
troops were landed without obstruction. That service being
accomplished, the 'Algerine,' Lieutenant Mason, proceeded to attack a
fort to the eastward; which instantly opening a hot fire on the brig,
the boats of the 'Hyacinth,' under Lieut. Stewart and Mr. Barclay,
mate, with the 'Modeste's,' Mr. Fitzgerald, mate; 'Cruiser's,'
Lieutenant Haskell, and Mr. Drake, mate; 'Pylades',' Lieutenant Hay,
and 'Columbine's,' Lieutenants Hamilton and Helpman, and Mr. Mills,
mate, were sent to her support. They at once pushed for the shore
under a heavy fire from 11 guns, musketry, and gingals, and stormed
the fort, which the Chinese defended with much gallantry. Mr.
Fitzgerald fell mortally wounded, and several seamen were killed and
wounded, but the fort was captured and all the guns spiked.
Lieutenant Moorshead, First of the 'Hyacinth,' whose gallantry was
highly praised by Commander Warren, was wounded in a personal
engagement with a mandarin. Mr. Dolby, mate, and Mr. Higgs, second
master of the 'Algerine,' also behaved with great courage and
steadiness.
Captain Herbert, accompanied by Captain Bethune, meantime, was
proceeding up the river with the boats and marines of the 'Calliope,'
'Conway,' and 'Herald,' when, on passing the French fort, they were
assailed by so hot a fire, one shot passing through Captain Herbert's
boat, that they were compelled to remain under cover till dark. At 2
A.M., by a preconcerted signal with Captain Bethune, who had one
division of the boats, they pulled up together to the arsenal, which
they attacked and carried. The next morning Captain Eyres, by great
exertions, got the 'Modeste' over the bar, and no other vessel being
able to join her, with the exception of the 'Algerine,' the
'Atalanta' having grounded, Captain Herbert fitted three of the
captured junks with shell-guns, and placed them under the command of
Lieuts. Haskell and Hay, seniors of the 'Cruiser' and 'Pylades.'
This force opened a hot fire on the French fort, which the enemy
returned with some courage, but being speedily silenced, and a few
well-directed broadsides clearing the beach, the signal was given to
advance. On this, Captain Bethune landed with the storming party,
and the fort was carried in the most gallant style. The whole line
of defence, extending about two miles from the factory, which, with
the exception of the French fort, had lately been constructed in the
strongest manner, was destroyed, and a free communication was opened
with the ships at Napier's fort.
Twenty-four large war-junks were captured in the arsenal, and the
same number of row-boats of large size, besides a quantity of timber,
gun-carriages, and stores, while 64 guns were destroyed.
Captain Herbert speaks highly of Captain Bethune, Commanders Warren,
Giffard, and Eyres; Lieuts. Mason, Shute, Haskell, Hay, Watson,
Beadon, Coryton, Collinson, Morshead, Hayes, and Hamilton, and of Mr.
Dolling, mate, and Mr. Brown, master; also of Lieut. Hayes, Bombay
marine, and Lieut. Somerville, Adjutant of transports; of Lieuts.
Urquhart and Marriott, Royal Marines. Major Pratt offered his
services, and Lieut. Grabbot, of the Madras Artillery, threw his
shells from one of the junks with great effect.
Thus in the course of three days, every portion of the fortifications
of Canton fell into the power of the British, including its entire
line-of-water frontage and its numerous out-works. On the land side
every preparation was made by Sir Hugh Gough and Sir Le Fleming
Senhouse to storm the city, which held an immense army of Tartar
troops, when flags-of-truce were waved from the walls, and it
appeared that the Tartar generals, who had come to exterminate the
British, were now alongside the ships-of-war, humbly suing for peace,
and offering immense sums for the ransom of the city. Six millions
of dollars were ultimately accepted, and sent on board the
ships-of-war. While the terms of the arrangement were still
unconcluded, large bodies of irregular troops and armed peasantry
continued to threaten the British forces, and a regiment of Sepoys
having been sent to disperse some of the bands, a company, during a
tremendous storm which took place, lost its way. It was feared that
it had been cut off by the Chinese, when, immediately Sir Hugh Gough
ordered up two companies of Marines, who, being still fresh, marched
quickly in search of the missing party. A few shots were heard in
the distance, when the brave Sepoys were seen, drawn up in a square,
where they had stood all night, pecked at by whole hosts of Chinese.
The gallant marines fired a couple of volleys, and giving a loud
hurra, charged the celestials, who fled in all directions before
them. The Sepoys were now brought back in triumph, but one officer
and several men were wounded, and one was killed. On the 31st of May
part of the ransom was paid, 18,000 Tartars marched out of Canton;
and on the 1st of June the British troops re-embarked at Tsingpoo,
under the superintendence of Captains Bourchier and Maitland, and
were towed down by the 'Nemesis' to their respective ships. The
whole squadron then got under weigh, and returned to Hong Kong. Many
officers and men suffered much from the fatigues they had undergone;
and the seeds of disease were then sown, which, in a short time,
carried numbers to their graves. The navy had to deplore the loss of
Sir Le Fleming Senhouse, who, in a few days, sunk under the mental
and bodily exertion to which he had been exposed. He was buried,
according to his will, at Macao.