lady was found stowed in it, hoping probably by this
device to escape detection . The poor thing was almost
frightened to death ; but she remained perfectly quiet
until she was covered up again, when the men were
allowed to trot away with her as fast as they could.
Shortly afterwards a gay-looking sedan chair was
seen passing near a village, probably belonging to some
of the mandarins, but no sooner did the party run up
to examine it, than its occupier jumped out and ran
away for his life.
But the best thing of this kind was finding a Chinese
lady stowed away in the locker of a boat, as if she
were dead. Orders had been issued by the Admiral
to examine all junks leaving the city, in order to pre
vent them from carrying away plunder. One of these
A SHAM CORPSE . 255
had just been examined , without finding any thing of
value on board, when it occurred that something might
still be concealed in the after-locker, a sort of cup
board of moderate size. On opening this sanctum , it
appeared to contain what looked like the dead body of
a female, recently put into it, well dressed, and , judg
ing from her handsome shoes and small feet, a person
of some importance. This looked a very strange affair,
but as no one could speak a word of the language, it
was impossible to inquire into it. However, as it
appeared to be a capital opportunity to examine the
nature of a Chinese lady's foot, the men were ordered
to lift the body out ; and this appeared likely to be no
easy matter, so closely did it seem to be jammed in.
But the moment the Jacks laid hold of the shoulders, a
tremendous scream issued forth, as if a ghost had
suddenly been endowed with some unearthly voice,
and tried to frighten them out of all propriety. The
poor thing had only shammed being dead , in order, as
she thought, to escape detection. She was now very
gently lifted out, and not without some difficulty, being
literally half dead with the fright and confinement. In
the bottom of the locker beneath her was found a bag
of money, with which she had evidently attempted to
escape . She was of course allowed to go away without
further molestation , boat and all. But this little event
afforded infinite amusement afterwards, when told with
a little pardonable embellishment.
The question of infanticide has been already alluded
to in a previous chapter. According to Barrow , it was
considered part of the duty of the police at Pekin to
256 INFANTICIDE .
collect every morning, in a cart sent round for the
purpose, the dead bodies of infants which were thrown
into the streets during the night. Sometimes they were
found still alive, and these were commonly rescued by
the Roman Catholic Missionaries, who attended for the
purpose, and subsequently brought them up in the
Roman Catholic faith . Mr. Gutzlaff also alludes to this
horrible practice, as being far from uncommon , and as
being perpetrated without any feelings of remorse, but
almost exclusively upon females. Among the immense
population which live in boats, and upon the rivers of
China, it is impossible to calculate how many are dis
posed of by being drowned. But, in Pekin , Barrow
gives the average number destroyed at twenty -four every
day. Some allowance must, however, be made for those
which die of disease during the earliest period of life,
in a country where medical science is at so low an
ebb.
With the exception of some of the Tartar towns,
such as Chapoo and Chinkeang -foo, where wholesale
murder was committed by the men upon their wives
and children immediately the places were captured ,
little evidence was obtained of the existence of the
revolting practice of infanticide. We have seen that
at Amoy the bodies of several infants were found
sewed up in sacks ; and it was also said that a cave
was found at Chinhae, in which were a number of bodies
of female infants, also tied up in bags. But it was an
extremely rare thing to find an infant abandoned in the
streets, alive or dead. An instance, however, occurred
at Ningpo, one evening, when a party from the Ne
INFANTICIDE. 257
mesis were returning towards their boats. They were
just passing a joss-house, or temple, when something
attracted attention, lying upon the steps leading to the
entrance. On examination, it proved to be a female
infant (always females) recently abandoned , and, thongh
extremely cold, still living. The little thing was car
ried down to the boat, by a marine, who was the orderly.
Every attempt was made, as soon as it was brought on
board, to revive it. The doctor tried his skill, and on
receiving a little warm goat's milk, and being placed
in a warm bath, it began to move, and show symp
toms of reanimation. All the care that could be taken
of it, however, was ineffectual; and it died on the fol
lowing day, and was taken ashore and buried close to a
Chinese tomb.
Infanticide undoubtedly does exist in China, but it is
to be hoped that the statements of its prevalence have
been exaggerated, and that it is confined to the lowest
classes, among whom the means of subsistence press very
heavily, and that they are driven to it by extreme poverty
rather than indifference. The Chinese are generally re
markably fond of their children . A Chinaman's three
great wishes and most cherished hopes are, length of
days, plenty of male offspring, and literary honours.
To be the patriarch of a long line of descendants is
generally the aim of his proudest ambition.
After a delay of two or three days at Chinhae, the
Nemesis was sent over to Chusan , at the end of Novem
ber, whither the Admiral and Sir Henry Pottinger had
already preceded her. Great changes and improve
ments were found to have taken place, even in this
VOL. II . S
258 CHUSAN .
short space of time. The shops were now all open, and
the streets filled with people, who were pursuing their
ordinary avocations without any appearance of alarm ,
or fear of interruption. In fact, they were settling
down very quietly under our rule ; much more so than
on the former occasion when the town was in our
occupation.
On the 1st of December, Sir Henry Pottinger and
the Admiral, attended by several other officers, took
their departure from Chusan, on board the Nemesis,
and crossed over once more to Chinhae ; and the same
evening the Nemesis anchored off the walls of Ningpo.
There was at this time no appearance of immediate
active operations, and, indeed, Sir Henry Pottinger
talked of going down to spend the remainder of the
winter at Hong Kong.
1
NINGPO . 259
CHAPTER XXXI.
Expedition to Yuyow - Capture of the City - Treachery - Close of
-
1841 - Alarm spreads to Hang -chow -foo — People quitting the City
Expedition of boats of the Nemesis towards Fungwah - Character of
the country described — The Cornwallis at Chusan — Reinforcements
begin to arrive - Expedition to the island of Tai-shan—The Nemesis
Gallant affair — Rumours of a combined attack by the Chinese
Ningpo in danger - AA surprise -— Night attack — Gallant defence of
the City - Repulse of the Chinese - Pursuit and slaughter—Chinese
attack Chinhae — All their plans are frustrated.
The eventful year of 1841 was now drawing fast to
a close. The troops at Ningpo had been moved into
more convenient quarters for the winter, the close of
which was anxiously looked for, in the hope that suffi
cient reinforcements would arrive to be able to com
mence the next campaign with vigour. The weather
set in intensely cold in the middle of December. On
the 14th of that month, the hills were all covered with
snow, which soon began to fall heavily in the town as
well, and proved that, although the summers are very
warm in China, the winters are intensely cold and try
ing. The health of the troops continued good , supplies
were tolerably abundant, and the officers managed to
beguile the time by shooting-parties in the neighbour
S 2
260 EXPEDITION TO YUYOW .
hood, where plenty of game, woodcocks, snipes, phea
sants, &c., were to be found.
For some time, as was before stated , reports had been
brought in, of the assembling of large bodies of Chi
nese troops in some of the neighbouring towns, with
the object, it was supposed, of preventing the people
from holding friendly communications with us, and
perhaps also to threaten us with an attempt to re
cover the city. The continuance of frosty weather,,
which rendered their soft paddy -fields firm and fit for
operations, determined the General to make a military
expedition as far as Yuyow, in order to ascertain how
far these reports were correct, and to dislodge the Chi
nese troops, if any of them should be found collected
there.
On the 27th of December the three steamers, Ne
mesis, Sesostris, and Phlegethon, having a number of
boats in tow, and carrying altogether about seven hun
dred men, including the marines and seamen , proceeded
up the north-western branch of the river. The Nemesis
conveyed Sir Hugh Gough, Sir William Parker, and
a detachment of the 18th Royal Irish , together with a
small detachment of artillery. The Sesostris, owing to
her greater draught of water, was compelled to bring
up below the intended point of debarkation . A few
miles below the town a party of Chinese soldiers
were dispersed, who had evidently been employed to
stake the river across, which they had already com
menced .
In the evening the Nemesis and Phlegethon anchored
close off the town of Yuyow , when crowds of Chinese
A RUSE . 261
were observed running down to their boats, and try
ing to make their escape up the river. The troops
were disembarked without delay, and took possession
of a small undefended battery of four guns, recently
erected, and then marched up the hill overlooking the
city, without opposition, and took up their quarters for
the night in the joss-house, or temple, upon the top of
it, from which a good view of the country had been
obtained on a former occasion .
The city was said to be occupied by upwards of a
thousand troops, and preparations were made for esca
lading the walls on the following morning, when the
seamen and marines were landed with that object, under
the Admiral in person. The morning was bitterly cold ,
and the fields were all covered with snow, so that the
>
capture of the town was looked forward to as a very
agreeable relief.
Just at the critical moment some of the respectable
inhabitants came out, and stated that the garrison had
withdrawn during the night, and that the gates were
open for us. It was little expected that treachery was
intended, and the troops, with the marines and seamen ,
entered the town in two divisions ; and, having got
upon the ramparts, they followed them in opposite
directions, in order to go round the town and meet at
the opposite side. At the same time, the Nemesis
weighed and moved a little higher up the river ; and
from the mast-head it was distinctly seen that a body
of Chinese troops were drawn up outside the town , close
to a bridge leading over a canal. The boats were,
therefore, sent further up the river , manned and armed ,
262 A SKIRMISH .
in case the Chinese should attempt to escape in that
direction .
Just at this time the Chinese opened a fire of ginjals
and matchlocks upon the naval division, as they were ad
vancing along the wall of the town ; but our troops,
after some little delay, having found their way out of the
town by the northern gate, closely pursued the enemy,
who had already taken flight. The Nemesis, and sub
sequently the Phlegethon, opened fire on them the
moment they were perceived.
The pursuit was a toilsome one, owing to the peculiar
character of the frozen paddy -fields, covered with snow,
which the Chinese could scramble over faster than our
own men ; but some of the Chinese were killed, and
some were taken prisoners. Most of them threw
off their thick wadded jackets, and Aung away their
arms, and , having a good knowledge of the country, and
of the direction of the causeways, which were com
pletely covered with snow, were able to make good
their escape. The pursuit was discontinued, after
following them seven or eight miles ; but a military
station, which was passed in the way, was set fire to
and destroyed .
In the mean time, the boats of the Nemesis, having
pushed on some way up the river, had overtaken two
mandarin boats, which were trying to escape . A quan
tity of official papers were found in them , together with
some Sycee silver, which was handed over to the prize
agents ; some valuable fur-cloaks were also taken, and
the boats were then burned, the people belonging to
them being first sent ashore.. Several farmhouses on
A MANDARIN'S LADY. 263
shore were then searched for troops, but none were
found. At some distance, however, some men were
seen carrying a handsome mandarin chair in great haste
across the country. Chase was given, and it was soon
overtaken ; but, instead of a mandarin, it was found to
contain a very good -looking young mandarin's lady,
with an infant in her arms, and a quantity of trinket
boxes. The poor thing was much frightened, but was
allowed to be carried on without molestation. On
returning to the boats, they were pushed up further, in
the direction in which our troops had followed the
enemy. The Admiral and Captain Bourchier came back
in the boats, but the General preferred returning on
foot all the way.
At Yuyow an extensive depôt was discovered outside
the town, containing ammunition, arms, and clothing,
and was totally destroyed. Four guns, which were
discovered concealed near the landing-place, were em
barked on board the steamer . It was now evident
that the reports which had been brought to us con
cerning the preparations of the Chinese were perfectly
correct.
In the town itself there was nothing particularly
worthy of attention ; and on the 30th our force was
re- embarked, and the steamers returned down the river,
and came to anchor for the night, as near as they could
to the town of Tszekee, which lies, as before stated,
about four miles from its banks. On marching up to
it the following day, it was found unoccupied ; and
even the authorities of the town , alarmed by the in
telligence from Yuyow, had fled from the place. The
264 PANIC OF THE PEOPLE .
inhabitants appeared peaceably inclined ; and, in order
the better to conciliate them , and to show that our
measures were solely directed against their government,
the large public stores of rice were distributed to the
poor people of the place. The same evening our force
returned to Ningpo, having, during these five days,
succeeded in spreading the alarm throughout all the ad
jacent country, and in destroying all the reliance of the
people in the power of their own troops to protect them.
The year 1841 had now closed, and it had been the
most eventful one since the commencement of our diffi
culties with the Chinese. Our measures had assumed
a new character of vigour ; while treaties had been made
and unmade by the Chinese with almost equal facility.
But deep and lasting humiliation had been inflicted
upon them ; the lionour of the English flag had been
vindicated , and the strength of her arms had been tried,
and proved to be irresistible to the Chinese.
It was soon discovered that the effect of our descent
upon Yuyow, and our visit to Tszekee, had been to
spread the utmost consternation through all the dis
trict, and to alarm even the high officers at the
provincial capital, Hang-chow-foo. The Imperial Com
missioner and many of the wealthy inhabitants now
fled out of that city, and sought refuge in Soo
chow-foo, nearly one hundred miles further to the
northward . In fact, there was a general dread of our
immediate advance upon the former city ; and there is
little doubt that the General would have gladly under
taken the expedition , had he possessed sufficient force
to do so without giving up Ningpo.
EXPEDITION TO FUNGWAH . 265
Some encouragement was given to this flattering
expectation, by the fact of the Phlegethon steamer and
the Bentinck surveying vessel being sent, early in Jan
uary, to examine the great bay of Hang -chow -foo, and
the port of Chapoo, which, as it were, commands the
approach to the city, and is the centre of its commerce.
This hoped -for movement in advance, however, never
took place. But, with a view to keep up in the minds
of the Chinese the impression which had been produced
by our movement upon Yuyow by the north -western
branch of the river, a similar attack was projected upon
Fungwah, which lies nearly at the same distance up the
south-western branch . No authorised expedition had
yet been made to explore this branch ; but, on two
occasions, Captain Hall and some of his officers and
men had proceeded a considerable way up, partly moved
by curiosity, and partly with a view to examine the
river. On one occasion, they must have nearly reached
the city of Fungwah itself.
In both these excursions the Chinese seemed very
much astonished and alarmed at the boldness of the
attempt. The first excursion was merely a walking
and shooting-party, but enough was seen of the country
to distinguish it as a rich, well-cultivated, and pic
turesque tract. The small cotton-plant was cultivated
in great abundance, and the women (at least the elder
ones) sat quietly at their doors, busy at the spinning
wheel, without appearing to be much alarmed . Several
canals were observed close to the river side, but not
flowing into or communicating directly with it. They
were separated from it by rather a steep inclined plane,
266 EXCURSION UP THE RIVER .
made of stone-work, intended as a substitute for locks,
with strong windlasses for the purpose of hauling the
boats up on one side, and letting them down on the
other ; certainly an original and curious contrivance.
A halt was made for refreshment in a temple not far
from the river, about six miles from Ningpo. The priest
was very officious in his attentions ; and, although there
was a dense crowd of people curiously pressing forward
to catch their first glimpse of the foreigners, there was
no attempt at rudeness or violence, and they were easily
kept at bay by a single sentry at the door.
The second excursion was much more extensive, and
was made in one of the steamer's cutters up the river. On
passing through the first village, four shots were heard,
but it was difficult to say whether they were fired at the
boat, as the shots were not seen to fall. The river was
found to be remarkably tortuous, so as to appear some
times, when viewed from a distance, as if it ran in con
trary directions. Numerous pretty -looking villages were
passed without any appearance of hostility ; and, at the
distance of about eighteen miles, the river was found to
divide into two branches, one of which continued in a
westerly direction, and the other ran about south-east.
Following the latter a short distance farther, a well-built
stone bridge was discovered, with five arches, the centre
one about twenty feet above the water, which was here
from five to six fathoms deep ; the span of the principal
arch was thirty-five feet, and upon the top of the bridge
was a sort of sentry -box, or small look-out place, secured
with a padlock.
Near at hand, upon the left bank of the river, was a
CHINESE CURIOSITY . 267
very pretty village, in which there was one large house,
distinguished from the others by having Chinese charac
ters carved upon it, the meaning of which of course
could not be ascertained. About a quarter of a mile
above the bridge, the banks of the river were studded
with well-built houses, surrounded by groves of trees,
among which the tallow-tree was the most striking, by
the peculiar reddish tint of its foliage at that time of
year. The course of the river was now about south
east, and it was still nearly one hundred yards broad,
with three fathoms water.
Three miles above the first bridge a second one was
discovered, and the river now turned due south. A
little beyond this point the party landed, as it was now
getting late, and ascended a hill upon the left bank of
the river, from which there was a beautiful view of the
surrounding country and the hills in the distance. A
high pagoda could be distinguished some way off to the
westward, and a round, white watch-tower, or look-out
house, upon a hill to the eastward, covered with fir-trees,
about aa mile distant. At first the villagers seemed ter
ribly frightened, but, soon perceiving that no mischief
was intended, they approached with the most eager cu
riosity, anxious to examine every thing, particularly the
boat and the men's clothes. Their manner was respect
ful and orderly, which is generally the case with the
Chinese, if properly treated.
It was now time to descend the river, although the
flood -tide was still making. On approaching the prin
cipal stone bridge, it was found crowded with people,
so that it was necessary to arrange some plan of defence,
268 CHINESE CURIOSITY .
in case their purpose should prove to be one of hostility
rather than of curiosity. If necessary,, it was resolved
that all the party should hastily land at the extremity
of the bridge, except two men, who were as quickly as
possible to push the boat through the nearest arch , and
then pull it across to the opposite side ; while those who
had landed were to force their way across the bridge,
and re -embark in the confusion on the opposite side.
On coming up to the bridge, however, no opposition
was offered , and indeed it was noticed that there were
a number of women among the lookers-on, and that
many others were hobbling out of their houses, led by
irresistible curiosity to get a first look at the strangers,
of whom they had probably already heard so much .
Abundance of wild fowl were seen along the banks of
the river, several of which were shot ; and, late in the
evening, the party again reached their vessel at Ningpo,
well rewarded for the day's excursion. The small walled
town of Fungwah is situated less than thirty miles up
this same branch of the river.
On the 10th of January, the General started from Ning
po, with the object of making a descent upon Fungwah , in
the expectation that some military stores, and probably
a small body of Chinese soldiers, would be discovered .
The Nemesis and Phlegethon were both employed on
this service ; the former vessel carrying detachments of
the 49th, 18th, and 55th regiments, with artillery, sap
pers and miners, and followers, and having also on board
Sir Hugh Gough and Sir William Parker, with their
suites . Several boats were also taken in tow. As the
steamers could not pass beyond the first bridge, the
DESCENT OF FUNGWAH . 269
troops were all landed at that point, with Sir Hugh
Gough at their head, intending to march direct upon
Fungwah, while the Admiral continued to advance up
the river, with the boats carrying the seamen and ma
rines. No opposition was met with, and both divisions
arrived simultaneously at the city walls. It was found
that the Chinese soldiers had abandoned the place, and
the authorities had also fled . The inhabitants and the
neighbouring peasantry all seemed peaceably inclined,
though apparently overcome with astonishment and cu
riosity. The prospect from the hills at the back of
Fungwah was very striking, and abundance of rice and
other grain crops appeared to be cultivated.
On the following morning, nothing remained to be
done but to destroy the government buildings, and to
distribute the contents of the public granaries to the
people, as had been the case in other places. In the
afternoon, the whole force rejoined the steamers, and
next day returned to Ningpo.
The effect of these various movements must be viewed,
not as involving matters of military skill or courage, but
as calculated to have the most salutary effect upon the
people and upon the government, not only by the alarm
which they created, but by the good feeling and forbear
ance which was uniformly shown towards the inhabi
tants, when in our power, and abandoned by their own
authorities.
The result of the examination , by the Phlegethon and
the Bentinck, of the character of Hang -chow -foo Bay,
appears at this time to have rather discouraged the idea
of advancing upon the capital by the river which leads
270 THE CHINESE RIVERS .
up to it. The tides were found to be so strong at the
mouth of the river, that it was impossible to attempt to
push even a steamer up, with any degree of safety.
The Phlegethon made the attempt to enter the river's
mouth, but became perfectly unmanageable, and was
very nearly carried upon a sandbank, where she would
probably have been lost. She was, however, got out of
danger with some difficulty when the tide slackened,
which it does very suddenly in that part. But no
power of steam and sails combined was sufficient to
stem the current, which seemed to hold the vessel com
pletely at its mercy for some minutes.
A reconnoissance of the position of Chapoo, however,
sufficed to show that it was accessible to our ships, and
could be reduced without much difficulty ; in which
case, the road to Hang -chow -foo, by the hills, would be
open to us, with a good causeway the whole distance of
about fifty miles to the capital.
We may judge of the size and volume of water in
most of the Chinese rivers, by the fact, that, even at
Hang -chow -foo, the river is not less than four miles broad ,
opposite the city, at high water ; while the rapidity of
the current may be judged of by the fact of its dimi
nishing to about two miles in breadth, at low water ;
leaving aa fine level strand as far down as the eye can
reach towards the sea. This was noticed during the
short visit paid to it by Lord Macartney's embassy.
Rumours now continued to be brought, of the arrival
of reinforcements at Hang -chow -foo and other parts of
the province ; and, before the end of February, Sir
Hugh Gough also received reinforcements, by the ar
PROJECTS OF THE BRITISH . 271
rival of part of the 26th regiment, in the Jupiter troop
ship. The Cornwallis arrived at Chusan in January, for
the flag of Sir William Parker, having succeeded in
beating up the whole way from Hong Kong, against the
north-east monsoon, contrary to the anticipations of
many, who doubted whether so heavy a ship would be
able to accomplish it. The movement upon Hang
chow -foo, however, if at any time seriously thought of,
seems now to have been quite abandoned ; and, as we
shall presently see, Chapoo was destined to be the grand
point of attack for opening the next campaign .
Much was said about dictating terms at Pekin , by a
proposed movement on Tientsin, by the Peiho river, but,
as this was never put into execution , we may fairly
presume that the project was not seriously entertained
by Sir Henry Pottinger and the military and naval com
manders -in -chief. It was altogether another question ,
as to what steps might ultimately have to be taken,
should we fail in exacting adequate terms from the Chi
nese, by a movement upon Nankin . That question will
be considered in its proper place. But it was generally
understood that some treaty of peace or other was to
be imposed upon the Emperor, before the close of the
present year, and therefore we may presume that it was
resolved to act with vigour, as well as judgment, when
once the operations should begin. To effect this object,
however, considerable reinforcements would be requi
site, and these were certainly expected very shortly to
arrive.
In January, Sir Henry Pottinger and Sir William
Parker went over to spend some time at Chusan, in the
272 CHINESE ARTIFICERS .
Nemesis, which vessel now required considerable repairs,
and was ordered to undergo a thorough refit. It is
astonishing how easily an iron vessel can be repaired .
At Amoy, a large hole had been knocked in her bottom ;
and from being so continually employed in exploring
rivers, running along coasts, and landing troops, it is
not surprising that some repair was required ; but it is
worthy of remark that she had been able to do her duty
so long and so well without it. She was now hauled
on shore upon a sandy beach, at Chusan : a new plate
of iron was riveted into her bottom, and a number of
Chinese carpenters were put in requisition, to assist in
repairing the boats and other matters ; and they generally
proved themselves, when properly directed , very expert
and industrious workmen . At the end of February, the
Nemesis was again fit for active service, and then con
veyed the 26th regiment over to Chinbae, and thence
up to Ningpo.
On the 3rd of March the Admiral and General left
Ningpo (Sir Henry Pottinger having in the mean time
gone down to Hong Kong), and paid another visit to
Chusan in the Nemesis. The Cornwallis was henceforth
the flag -ship.
In the evening of the 5th of March , the arrival of the
Clio, Captain Troubridge, was announced (fourteen days
only from Hong Kong), bringing the mails, and the
joyful news of the promotions in the service, consequent
upon the taking of Canton , and the exploits in the
Canton River.
Reports were at this time brought in, concerning a
grand attack by the Chinese, intended to be made simul
RECONNOITRING . 273
taneously upon Ningpo, Chinhae, and Chusan ; but they
were little heeded, owing to their being so constantly
deferred, without any particular object . Amongst
others, it was said that a considerable body of troops
were being assembled on an island a little to the north
ward of Chusan, called Tai-shan , with the object of
making a descent upon Chusan itself.
On the 7th of March the Nemesis was sent to recon
noitre that island , having Captain Collinson also on
board, for the purpose of making surveying observa
tions during the trip. They passed round the western
and northern sides of Chusan, and having reached Tai
shan, which is about six or seven miles distant from it,
they steamed all round that island, looking into the
different bays, and spying into the villages, to see if
they could discover a camp, or any signs of the presence
of any troops. The navigation round the island is dan
gerous, for there are several rocks, at different points ,
barely covered with water .
At length they anchored off a small town in a bay on
the south -eastern side of the island , where several junks
were seen at anchor. To the north - east of the town
stood a remarkable hill, from which it was expected
that a view of the whole island could be obtained . Here
the officers landed, with Captain Collinson's boat's crew,
and part of that of the steamer, together with eight ar
tillery men . There was no appearance of hostility, and
they all marched on to a second village, in which, as
well as in the first one, it was asserted by the people that
there were no soldiers left in the island, as they had all
gone away to another island in the neighbourhood . The
VOL . II . T
274 RECONNOITRING .
party then returned on board, and the steamer moved
up towards a creek , at which the water was too shallow
for her to enter.
In the evening Captain Collinson again landed in his
gig, with a view to ascend to the top of the hill ; and
so confident was he that there were no armed men upon
the island , that he declined taking an escort with him ,
and was with some difficulty persuaded to allow two
armed artillerymen to follow him , and was himself quite
unarmed . Lieutenant Bates accompanied him. Scarcely
had they reached the top of the bill, and were beginning
to take their observations, when a large body of armed
Chinese were observed, emerging from their hiding places
in the creek in which they had landed, which was at a
point about two and a half miles from the steamer.
Evidently their intention was to cut off their retreat,
and make them prisoners. Flight was therefore the
only resource, and had it not been for the assistance of
the two artillerymen , they would have stood little chance
of effecting their retreat to the boat. These two men ,
however, by coolly retreating alternately, the one firing,
while the other reloaded as he withdrew towards the
landing - place, managed to keep the Chinese in check,
so that Captain Collinson reached the boat in safety.
It was now a question what steps were best to be
taken on the following day ; for there could be little
doubt that if the steamer left the island without landing
a body of men to attack the Chinese soldiers, who evi
dently were in force, a report would be sent to the Em
peror of a great victory having been gained, in which the
barbarians were, of course, driven into the sea, and their
RECONNOITRING . 275
vessels sent away from the coast . It was therefore re
solved to make an impression upon them ; and accord
ingly at five o'clock in the morning, the four boats of the
steamer, manned and armed , under Captain Collinson
and Captain Hall, with Lieutenant Bates, Mr. Freeze,
and other officers of the ship, pushed off from the ves
sel, and proceeded up the creek. They had also eight
artillerymen with them ; and the two engineers likewise
volunteered their services. The party numbered alto
gether sixty-six, including officers.
About two miles and a half up the creek they disco
vered a number of transport junks, crowded with Chi
nese soldiers, with their banners flying. A little dis
tance from the banks of the creek, which gradually
sloped up towards some detached houses above, were
posted another body of the enemy ; altogether there
were probably five or six hundred men .
Gradually, as the boats advanced , the soldiers who
had not before landed joined the other body on shore,
and commenced a distant fire of ginjals and match
locks, without doing any mischief. It was, however,
returned by the boats as they neared them, and their
crews were just about to land, when a thick smoke was
observed to issue from one of the nearest troop-boats.
It immediately occurred that this might arise from a
train having been laid to blow up the boats if they
should be taken possession of. It was therefore thought
prudent to land a little lower down .
The moment the boats began to descend, the Chinese,
thinking they were retreating, set up a loud shout, and
advanced upon them, brandishing their spears in defi
T 2
276 GALLANT AFFAIR .
ance, thinking that the victory was already won. In
this they were soon to be undeceived. Our men all
landed as quickly as possible, and were formed into two
columns; the right, or advanced one, led by Captain
Hall himself, and the left by Mr. Freeze (mate R. N.),
the chief officer of the Nemesis. Immediately they
were ordered to advance, the Chinese began to waver
at their bold front, and the first volley poured into
them , within pistol shot, completely put them to flight.
They were now so closely pursued , that their military
chest was captured, in charge of a mandarin and two
soldiers, who were killed . The prize was found to con
sist of only two thousand dollars, but even that was a
pleasant addition to the prize fund . The Chinese were
pursued for some distance, about fifty of them being
left upon the field, and eight taken prisoners. The
houses on the rising ground above, in which some of the
soldiers had been quartered , and also several of the trans
port junks in the creek , were immediately set on fire.
After collecting some of the scattered arms as tro
phies of victory, the little party again returned to the
steamer , the Chinese having been totally dispersed .
She rejoined the Admiral, at Chusan, the same evening ;
but not without first striking upon a sunken rock, as
she proceeded at full speed, from which accident she
sustained no injury.
So far this little gallant affair had been perfectly suc
cessful, in discovering the rendezvous of theChinese ; but
it was believed that many of their soldiers had already
crossed over to Chusan, disguised as peasants, in readi
ness to act in concert with other parties, whenever the
PROJECTED ATTACKS . 277
attack should be made on the island. Captain Collin
son was, therefore, sent back again in the Bentinck ,
with orders to prevent the escape of the soldiers from
the island of Tai-shan, and the Nemesis was directed to
follow as soon as she could get in her fuel .
It was now discovered that the Chinese had managed
to extinguish the flames in their boats before they were
seriously injured, and had by this means made their
escape over to Chapoo. But the Admiral afterwards
made a personal examination of the island, with a party
of seamen and marines of the Cornwallis. No military
depôt was discovered , but two government stations were
completely destroyed. The effect of this spirited dis
comfiture of the Chinese, at Tai - shan, was to secure
Chusan from future hostile attacks.
The assembling of these troops so close to Chusan
was, doubtless, connected with the grand scheme of at
tack upon all our positions, which was attempted at
this very time, more particularly against Ningpo and
Chinhae. It was probably also well known to the Chi
nese that Sir Hugh Gough was absent at Chusan, whither
he had proceeded, in consequence of the rumours afloat
concerning the projected attack on that place.
The Chinese seem to have planned their attacks re
markably well ; but so many reports had been before
brought in, of some projected operations by the Chinese,
that at length very little attention came to be paid to
them ; and when it was positively asserted by Mr. Gutz
laff, the interpreter, on the evening of the 9th, that,
from certain information which he had received, there
could be no doubt of a grand attack being resolved on
278 A SURPRISE .
that very night, no one really believed that any thing
of a serious nature would occur. It was doubted
whether the Chinese, after their recent defeats, would
have the moral courage to become themselves the ag
gressors. There were no external indications of any
preparations for an attack , although some of the inha
bitants were seen leaving the town on that day ; and
many of the tradesmen, with whom our men were in the
habit of dealing, plainly told them that they would have
hot work that night. All this was treated merely as a
specimen of Chinese bravado .
It is remarkable that we should have had no certain
tidings of the collection and preparation of such a vast
number of fire -rafts and vessels, higher up the river, as soon
proved to have been the case, for the iron -steamers might
at all times have been sent up, to ascertain how far any
such reports were well grounded . The fact is, the
Chinese did take us a little by surprise, and that is
often the result of holding an enemy too cheap, and
having too great a confidence in one's own resources.
Circumstances favoured them to a certain extent ; the
smallness of our force rendered it impossible to keep a
line of sentries along the whole circuit of the walls,
which were nearly five miles round ; the extent and
nearness of the suburbs beyond the gates gave the
enemy an easy approach without being observed, and
the darkness of the night favoured the attempt. The
patroles continued to go their rounds as usual, but
were not strengthened, though the officers were or
dered to go their rounds three times during that
night.
A SURPRISE . 279
There is reason to believe, that a good number of
the Chinese soldiers must have previously come into
the town in disguise ; for the gates were attacked
simultaneously both from within and from without.
The movements of the Chinese were so well concerted ,
that their approach was not discovered until they 'ac
tually attacked the gates, and gallantly succeeded in
scaling the walls. Had not the alarm been given by
the firing of the ships in the river, and had the Chinese
been well officered, it would have caused us heavy fight
ing to have ultimately dislodged them from the town ,
a part of which was for aa few minutes in their possession .
But even their successes, such as they were, only served
to embarrass them, for they did not know how to turn
them to account. It should be remarked, however, that
Sir Hugh Gough had skilfully disposed his troops long
before this event, by concentrating them in one part of
the town, where their quarters were close to each other,
and where they could be mutually supported in case of
attack.
It was afterwards discovered that the attacking party
were a new body of picked men, from a distant pro
vince, who had never yet come into contact with our
troops. Money was also found upon the persons of
those who were killed , four or five dollars upon each,
which had probably been given to them either as arrears
of pay, or as a sort of bribe or extra allowance to
induce them to fight. But other incentives were also
employed, for some of the wounded prisoners were evi
dently under the excitement of opium . Many of them
280 FIRE - RAFTS .
were remarkably athletic, fine looking men , and every
thing tended to prove that this was a grand and despe
rate effort.
The first intimation of the attack was by the firing
of two guns, which the Chinese had brought down to the
river's bank, against H.M.S. Columbine, which, together
with the Modeste, was anchored before the town , as
were also the H.C. steamers, Queen and Sesostris.
This was at half -past twelve, p.m. But the firing was
not repeated, ( it having probably been only meant for a
signal,) and nothing further occurred until about three
o'clock ; but, by this time, the garrison were under arms.
Four fire -rafts were now discovered dropping down
the river from its south- western branch (leading to
Fungwah) towards the Sesostris ; and, but for the quick
ness with which one of her cables was slipped, and the
assistance of her own boats, aided by two other boats
from the Modeste, in towing them clear towards the
shore, they would have been across the hawse of the
Sesostris. Fortunately the rafts took the ground clear
of the steamer, and exploded without doing any mis
chief.
All this time, the Chinese kept up a fire of small
arms from the banks of the river, but without effect.
But the Modeste, which was a little lower down the
river, below the Sesostris, opened her broadside upon
the eastern suburb, with the object of stopping the
advance of the Chinese in that direction, and on the
following morning it was discovered that her fire bad
demolished the walls of one or two houses, which fell in ,
NIGHT ATTACK . 281
and disabled the gun which had been brought down on
purpose to attack the Modeste.
So far then the attempt upon the river side proved a
total failure ; but it served as a signal for the general
attack upon the town, which began simultaneously at
the southern and western gates . The extreme darkness
of the night rendered it at first impossible for those
who were at a distance to ascertain the precise points
of attack. The principal assault , in the first instance,
seems to have been upon the South gate, from within
and without at the same time. The alarm was given,
the bugles sounded throughout the town, and word was
brought to Colonel Morris, who commanded the gar
rison, that the guard at the South gate had been driven
in , and the same intelligence was also brought to Co
lonel Montgomerie, commanding the Madras artillery,
who were already under arms upon the ramparts.
A company of the 49th, under Captain M‘Andrew ,
was immediately ordered up by Colonel Morris, towards
the South gate, which they were to retake, if it was
found to have been carried by the enemy. At the same
time, Colonel Montgomerie, with two howitzers, and a
party of artillerymen armed with fusils, commanded by
Captain Moore, and reinforced by a strong patrol of the
18th under Lieutenant Murray, proceeded also towards
the South gate, which he now found in the possession of
Captain M'Andrew and his company, who had gallantly
retaken the gate, after charging down the street which
led to it, driving the Chinese before him with the bayo
net, and killing a great many of them . The Chinese
had penetrated as far as the market- place ; many of them
282 NIGHT ATTACK .
had scaled the walls, and were seen upon the ramparts;
but upon being challenged, and seeing the troops ad
vancing, most of them jumped back again over the
ramparts, and in this way many were killed, or were shot
at random as they were seen running away. Thus the
South gate was completely cleared .
Daylight was beginning to dawn, and the West gate
was at this time found to be the principal scene of ac
tion ; indeed it was in that direction that the main body
of the Chinese seem to have advanced. Orders had been
sent to reinforce the guard at the West gate, with the
grenadiers of the 49th , and Colonel Morris also hurried
up to it in person , with another company of the 49th ;
while Colonel Montgomerie with the artillery, having
been joined by Colonel Mountain with a party of the
26th, proceeded on in the same direction.
On arriving at the West gate, it was found to have
been gallantly and successfully defended by Lieutenant
Armstrong, who commanded the guard of the 18th,
assisted by a small detachment of the 49th under Lieu
tenant Grant. The enemy had attacked it in great force,
rushing boldly up to the very gate, which they attempted
to force, while others were endeavouring to scale the wall.
The grenadiers of the 49th arrived just in time to assist
in completing the repulse of the Chinese.
Colonel Montgomerie, having now come up with his
reinforcement, dashed at once through the gateway in
pursuit, the enemy having been driven across a small
bridge into the suburbs. Numerous dead bodies of
Chinese were found close to the gate, but they appeared
to be in great force in the suburbs, froin which a smart
STREET FIGHTING . 283
but ineffectual fire of matchlocks was kept up . A few
shells were thrown into the suburbs from the two how
itzers ; but it was evidently necessary to continue the
pursuit through the suburbs, for the Chinese appeared to
be in full retreat across a bridge at some distance down,
which seemed to be the principal thoroughfare.
Our force on the spot was extremely small, amounting,
when they had all fallen in , including artillerymen , to
not more than one hundred and twenty -six rank and file
and ten officers. But with this small force Colonel Mont
gomerie determined to dash on, being assisted throughout
by Colonel Mountain , C.B., Deputy -Adjutant-Gene
ral ; and accordingly they immediately advanced up the
principal narrow street of the suburbs. Having fol
lowed it for about half aa mile they came upon the main
body of the enemy, who crowded the whole length of
the street in a dense column, but without appearing to
be at all wavering or inclined to give way. On the
contrary, a high officer on horseback was seen to encou
rage the men, who set up a great shouting, and bran
dished their swords and spears in defiance. But in a
narrow street, the dense mass was necessarily incom
moded by its own numbers, and the steady fire of the
head of our column as they advanced upon them , one
section delivering its fire, and the next taking its place
for the first to reload, brought down all their foremost
and boldest men , every shot telling with unerring cer
tainty. They could neither advance to charge our
column, nor could they retreat, as long as the rear of
their column chose to hold their ground.
On coming up within about fifty paces of them , the
981 FRIGHTFUL SLAUGHTER .
two howitzers were ordered up to the front, while a
party of the 18th, under Lieutenant Murray and Lieu
tenant Molesworth of the artillery, were ordered round
by a side lane, to act upon the enemy's flank ; Colonel
Mountain and Colonel Montgomerie also went round,
(having first waded across a canal,) and witnessed the
terrific effect of the fire of three rounds of grape in
quick succession from the howitzers, which dealt ter
rible havoc among them . At the same time the detach
ment of the 18th fired upon them down the lane as
they fled, and a more complete scene of discomfiture
and slaughter could not be imagined .
The Chinese were soon in full flight in all directions
across the country , the main body of them retreating
along the banks of a canal, in a continued line not less
than a mile long, while numerous smaller parties broke
off from the main body, and tried to escape the best way
they could. Many were supposed to have been drowned