Dr. DIE.
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had continued to play upon the enemy as long as it was possible to do without injury to our advancing Cavalry.
About this time Stirling's half-battery, which being unable to follow the movements of Cavalry in such heavy ground, had been left with an escort of 30 of Fane's Horse, under Lieutenant Macgregor, was charged by a body of Tartar Cavalry of very superior numbers. Lieutenant Macgregor gallantly led his small party against the enemy and defeated them, many Tartars being killed, and Lieutenant Macgregor and many of his men being severely wounded.
Whilst this was going on, my attention had been diverted from my right front to a large party of Tartars, who were steadily approaching the Buffs, on the left front, apparently regardless of the fire of two of Milward's guns under Lieutenant Harvey, of the Rifles, of the advanced guard, and of Rolton's rockets. They advanced to within 450 yards, and bore unflinchingly for a considerable time such a fire as would have tried any troops in the world. The 4th Brigade, under Brigadier Reeves, being similarly attacked at the same time, replied with a steady fire, which did considerable execution.
At length the courageous endurance of the enemy began to give way, and they fled from the field with precipitation.
I then advanced my force towards the western end of the village of Sin-ho, and joined the Allied columns.
At no time throughout the day had we opportunity of coming into contact with the enemy's Infantry.
Trusting that the objects intended by his Excellency have been carried out by the force under my command, I beg to bring to his notice the excellent conduct and discipline of the troops of all arms, during a very trying day.
I am much indebted to the Brigadiers commanding the several brigades of Cavalry and of Infantry, and to the Officer commanding the Field Artillery, all of whom performed the duties intrusted to them to my entire satisfaction.
I received the most valuable assistance from my divisional and personal staff, whose labours were unremitting.
I beg to subjoin a list of officers whom I desire to earnestly recommend to his Excellency's favourable consideration.
To Captain Biddulph,
SIR,
Military Secretary.
I have, &c.
(Signed) R. NAPIER, Major-General,
Commanding 2d Division China Force.
DESPATCH from Major-General MICHEL to Sir J. HOPE GRANT.
Head Quarters, 1st Division, Camp, near Sun-ho, August 24, 1860.
I HAVE the honour to report that, in obedience to the orders of his Excellency the Commander-in-Chief, the 1st Division, under my command, marched from Pehtang about half-past 10 A.M. on the 12th instant.
On reaching the enemy's second picket-house, which is about 900 yards from their entrenched position, skirmishers of the 1st Royals were sent to the left, and some of the 31st to the right, and shortly afterwards Colonel Barry's Battery of Armstrong's guns, and Captain Martin's Battery of 9-pounders (the whole under the command of Captain Desborough), opened fire on the enemy's entrenchment at a distance of about 800 yards; after a cannonade of twenty-five minutes, the enemy's Cavalry were seen moving to their left from the entrenchments.
The guns then advanced to within 500 yards, and played on the enemy's position, as also on the Cavalry who were moving to their right; the fire of two Armstrong guns quickly dispersed their Cavalry, and in a few minutes the advance was sounded, and the enemy's position found to be abandoned.
The enemy now retired to the entrenched village of Sin-ho, but Sir Robert Napier's Division having turned their left, the Cavalry of the enemy, in large numbers, escaped behind this village towards the Peiho Forts.
The Armstrong guns, at a range of from 2,000 to 2,500 yards, made good practice on the fugitives.
This engagement having been entirely that of Artillery, only one man of the Division was wounded,
I have, &c.
(Signed)
J. MICHEL, Maj.-Gen.,
Commanding 1st Division.
7
Capture of the Ta-ku Forts.
DESPATCH from Sir J. HOPE GRANT to Mr. Secretary HERBERT,
(No. 38.)
SIR,
Head Quarters, Tang-ku,
August 24, 1860. I HAVE the honour to report that after the capture of Tang-ku on the 14th instant, I commenced bringing up siege-guns and ammunition from Pehtang with a view to the reduction of the Uppermost Fort on the left bank of the Peiho, distant about two miles from Tang-ku.
The ground upon which it was necessary to advance was mostly of a very difficult nature, and intersected with broad and deep canals used in the manufacture of salt.
I placed Major-General Sir R. Napier in charge of the advance, his Division being quartered in Tang-ku. Under his superintendence, bridges were thrown over these ditches and canals by Lieutenant-Colonel Mann, commanding Royal Engineers; and heavy guns, as per margin,* with a good supply of ammunition having been brought into Tang-ku, the 67th Regiment and an Armstrong Battery were pushed forward on the evening of the 19th, to within 2,000 yards, to cover the working parties making roads, bridges, &c. On the 20th the road was made practicable to within 800 yards of the Fort, batteries were traced, and the heavy guns were brought out ready to place in position by daybreak of the following day. The Chinese opened fire during the day, and were replied to by Captain Milward's Armstrong guns, at 2,000 yards range, with good effect, and the firing gradually ceased.
During the night batteries were constructed for the heavy guns and mortars, and for one field battery, also for two 8-inch guns, which were brought up by great exertions from Pehtang during the night; and the whole were placed in position by daybreak of the 21st August.
It had been arranged with the Admirals that the gunboats should cross the bar that morning, and should engage the outer North Fort, and the flank of the outer South Fort, at the same time that the attack on the inner North Fort was commenced by the land forces.
At 5 A.M., however, the Chinese opened fire upon the troops from all their forts within range, and we were thus forced to reply an hour earlier than had been intended.
The Artillery was disposed as follows:-A French 24-pounder battery of 6 pieces, one English 8-inch gun, and two Armstrongs, played on the inner South Fort to keep down the fire they might otherwise have poured on our right flank. Two Armstrong guns and two 9-pounders fired from Tang-ku across the river at an entrenchment which flanked the French right; three 8-inch mortars were in the centre at 600 yards range, and to their left rear an Armstrong battery, two 32-pounder guns, and two 8-inch howitzers, all of which played on the Fort we were attacking. In addition to this, two 9-pounder guns, four 24-pounder howitzers, the remaining two Armstrong guns, and a rocket battery, were placed in the open ground about 800 yards in front of the Fort.
The storming party of Infantry consisted of a wing of the 44th, under Lieut.-Colonel MacMahon, and a wing of the 67th, under Lieut.-Colonel Thomas, supported by the other wings of those two regiments, and the Royal Marines under Lieut.-Colonel Gascoigne. A detachment of Royal Marines under Lieut.-Colonel Travers carried a pontoon bridge for crossing the wet ditches, and Major Graham, R.E., conducted the assault. The whole were commanded by Brigadier Reeves.
The fire of the Artillery was most effective, the guns of the Fort (of which many were of very large calibre), were speedily silenced, and at about 7 A.M. the magazine blew up with a terrific explosion. A few minutes later the magazine in the outer North Fort was also exploded by a shell from the gunboats.
The field guns were all advanced to within 500 yards of the fort, and redoubled their efforts.
The fire of the Forts having almost entirely ceased, a breach was commenced near the gate, and a portion of the storming party was advanced to within 30 yards to open a musketry fire, the French Infantry being on the right, the English on the left.
The fire of our Artillery being thus partially compelled to slacken, the enemy emerged from their cover, and opened a heavy fire of musketry on our troops.
The French, under General Collineau, immediately pushed on to the salient next the river, crossed the wet ditches in the most gallant manner, and established themselves on the berm, from whence they endeavoured to escalade the walls; this, however, they were unable to effect, from the vigorous resistance of the Chinese.
* Two 32-pounder guns, two 8-inch howitzers, three 8-inch mortars, three 5-inch mortars.
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