MILITARY-
(Contd.)
As it fortunately happened, there were only two men wounded."
The writer then goes on to describe the fall of Lieut. Hacket, and the capture of Fort Lin.
"An hour before daylight, on the following morning, the 29th of December - a day which will be well remembered by the Celestials for on that day the barbarian first planted his foot in the sacred precincts of Canton within the walls - the whole of the force engaged were under arms. With the British a strict order was given that no bugle should be sounded, and the men fell in at the word of command. The French, however, did not act up to this order, and we heard their bugles going and their calls sounding while the British troops were wrapped in profound silence. Daylight broke, and the men immediately fell in by companies.
"The order from the General given the day before, that the 59th should proceed to the point in skirmishing order, and cover the approach of the remaining force, was instantly carried out. Captain Bushe's company was the first to advance; Captain Kean's followed, and the whole regiment, in a few minutes, were within 150 yards from the wall. The Chinese kept up a constant and, at times, well-directed fire; but they were unusually deficient in tactics, or they would not have allowed us the possession of such covering places as we became possessed of. Within 150 yards of the walls of Canton, the rifles of the 59th could pick off every man who showed his head or any part of his person at an embrasure, and be so well under cover that nothing but a well-directed rocket could possibly touch them.
"The French now advanced to the extreme front, and placed their ladders on the walls, and with a loud cheer English and French rushed to the attack. The first up the ladder was Colonel Graham, but on reaching the top the ladder was found to be rather too short, and the gallant Colonel was forced to give way, and Major Luard passed him, and was the first to set his foot on the walls of Canton. A Frenchman was the next who succeeded by climbing like a squirrel up the angle of the wall and then with a desperate exertion Colonel Graham became the third. The hearts of the 59th beat more quickly than they had yet done, when they saw their gallant Colonel on the wall, and almost unsupported. But he was quickly followed, and the whole regiment then advanced under Major Burmester, who was now in command of the regiment, since Colonel Graham had been given the command of the brigade.
"As the first part of the regiment gained the walls, the Chinese made a halt in considerable force on their left, and thus continued to fire on the small force of British, but did not advance. The Colonel now drew his sword, and heading his men charged with the bayonet on the enemy. For a moment they made a stand, but the bayonet was too much for them: and after the first brush, they retired precipitately over the wall, and vanished in the labyrinth of streets and houses in the City. At the east gate the Colonel stopped, evidently 'blown' with his exertions, and the chase was continued along the east and south-east walls under Captain Kean and Adjutant Lieut. Shepard - the enemy frequently making a stand, but invariably retiring when charged with the bayonet, and still continuing a desultory fire from the distance. At the south-east gate another stand was made by the Chinese, and two masked guns were about to be opened by them
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