at Pekin ; and when the result at length proved how
well founded they were, the failures and disasters were
laid to the account of treason and bribery.
KESHEN . 319
CHAPTER XVI.
Keshen's description of the " outer -waters ” and of the Bogue Forts
His report to the Emperor of the inefficiency of the defences, and
doubtful character of the people - No hope of victory - Begs the
Emperor to grant Captain Elliot's requests — Is degraded – Advanced
squadron at the Bogue - Captain Elliot waits there one hour in the
Nemesis—No communication - Junks captured — First hostile act on
our side-- Chinese fired first shot - Nemesis and boats under Captain
Herbert destroy a masked battery at the bottom of Anson's Bay—
Proceed up the river to the back of Anunghoy – Fort and rafts
destroyed — The Commodore joins at the Bogue with three line -of
battle ships — Description of the Bogue Forts — Chain and rafts—
-
Preparations for the attack - Howitzer- battery, erected in the night on
South Wantung, covered by the Nemesis —Disposition of our forces
26th February, 1841 – Capture of the Bogue - Simultaneous attack
on Anunghoy and North Wantung --- Dead calm —Wantung shelled
by howitzers Troops land on Wantung — Marines under Sir Le Fle
ming Senhouse take possession of Anunghoy- Chinese refuse quarter
-Attempts to save them — Capture of Little Tycocktow under Lieu
tenant Maitland - Number of Chinese prisoners killed and wounded
Admiral Kwan killed by bayonet -wound in his breast — Total number
of guns captured - Blockade of river raised .
Keshen, who had spent all his life either in large pro
vincial capitals or in the imperial city itself, could have
had little opportunity of learning any thing, either re
lating to foreign trade or foreign ships ; still less was
he acquainted with the majesty of the " outer-waters”
-
320 KESHEN'S REPORT.
along the coast of the empire. His description of what
he saw, during his short excursion to the Bogue, is very
curious, and shows clearly how much he must have been
surprised at the sight of the barbarian ships. “ Even
there ,” says he, (that is, outside the Bogue ) “ the sea is
vast and wide , with boisterous waves and foaming bil
lows , lashed up into fury by fierce winds , majestically
grand ! How widely different the outer seas are from
our inland river- waters ! ” Having thus given his ma
jesty a dash of the sublime , to show what a perilous
place it was, he proceeds to say, " that, having changed
his boat for a sea-going vessel, he stood out for the
Bocca Tigris ; and, as soon as he arrived there, made
a most careful inspection of every fort and battery .”
What follows is extremely remarkable ; and, while it
points out the real ability and good sense of Keshen ,
must have appeared no less incredible than it was
alarming to the emperor and his ministers . Keshen
was really a bold and sincere as well as an observant
man, or else he would not have dared to write the fol
lowing account of the Bogue : “ Such forts,” says he,
“ as do not stand completely isolated in the midst of
the sea are yet found to have channels, affording ready
water -communication behind the hills on which they
are situated , so that it were easy to go round and strictly
blockade them ;' nor would it, in that case, be easy to
introduce provisions for the garrison .” He then states,
that he carefully examined the depth of water in all
| This is precisely what has been already stated as a thing unknown to
us, until the discovery was made by some of our own boats, particularly
by those of the Nemesis.
KESHEN'S REPORT. 321
parts ; and that the soundings, even at high water, were
less than he expected. And he boldly ventures his opi
nion, that the “ reputation of the fortifications of the
Bocca Tigris, as a place of defence, has been acquired,
first, by the circumstance, that large merchant-vessels
require a somewhat greater depth of water than is to be
found in most parts of the passage (meaning, that the
channel they can pass through is narrow] ; and, secondly,
because that, in ordinary times [and here is the remark
able part of it] , when the foreigners observe our laws
and restraints, they naturally do not venture to avoid
the forts by passing through circuitous courses. But,
when they bring troops to resist and oppose, rather
than to obey, they may sneak in at every hole and cor
ner, and are under no necessity of passing by the forts.
As soon as they have in any way got beyond the Bocca
«Tigris, there are communications open to them in every
direction . It is, then, clear, ” he goes on, " that we
have no defences worthy to be called such. It is, in
truth, the local character of the country, that there is
no important point of defence by which the whole may
be maintained .”
No wonder that such a declaration from a man who
was also the third member of the imperial cabinet, taken,
as it was, from personal observation, should have sounded
unpalatable and even traitorous to the Emperor's ear.
But this was not all. Indeed one might almost imagine
that some European must have pointed out to him de
fects which his own unpractised and unaided eye could
never have detected . Lin, on the other hand, had never
dared to report to his master the full extent of the in
VOL . I. Y
322 KESHEN'S REPORT.
formation which was given to hiin, though he was fully
prepared to adopt every advice which tended to obstruct
the commerce of England, and impede an amicable set
tlement of the difficulties. Not so, however, the more
upright and clear-sighted Keshen. He calls in question
the very quality of the guns. He tells his master, “ that
their number at that time (that is, before the additional
preparations were made] scarcely exceeded two hundred,
which were barely sufficient to fortify thefronts, while
the flanks of the works were left altogether unprotected .
Of these,” he added, “ few were in good order and ready
for use ; the original model was not good , the body of
the gun being very large, while the bore was very small;
and, therefore, the sea being at that place wide [only
three-quarters of a mile], the shot will not carry above
half -way. Again,” says he, “ the embrasures in which
they are placed are as large as doors, wide enough al
most to allow people to pass in and out ; they would
afford no shelter at all to our people from a sustained
fire of the enemy. They may, therefore, be said to be
very defective ."
>
How this must have startled the imperial advisers !
Such truths are always hard to bear, and harder to be
lieve, nd were consequently not believed , because they
were true . But Keshen did his best to improve his
weapons ; he sent for a founder of cannon, who gave
him a new model, and undertook to make some experi
mental pieces. Yet it did not escape Keshen that,
even if he succeeded in casting good cannon , he could
only do so as a preparation for the future . 66 They
could not be ready, ” says he, “ for the business we
KESHEN'S REPORT . 323
have now in hand. These are the proofs,” he adds, “ of
the inefficiency of our military armament, which is such
that no reliance can be placed upon it. ”
We may venture the assertion that it must have
been indeed a man of strong mind, who could have
dared, (in China of all countries) to beg the “ Emperor's
sacred glance to light upon such statements.” Having
finished his view of the defences, Keshen next actually
dared to impugn even the defenders .
He proceeded to say that it would be necessary to
employ a naval as well as a land force to defend
the Bogue ; but then threw out a suspicion that the
seamen were not to be depended on ; for that “ he had
heard a report that after the battle of Chuenpee these
men all went to their commander or Tetuh, and de
manded money of him, threatening that they would
otherwise disperse ; and he had, therefore, personally
made inquiry into the matter, and found that the report
was perfectly true, and, moreover, that, the Tetuh,
having no other remedy, (evidently the pay was in ar
rear) was obliged to pawn his own clothes and other
things, by which means he was enabled to give each of
them a bonus of two dollars, and thus only could he
91
get them to remain for a time at their posts.
Moreover, he added, “ our ships of war are not large and
strong, and it is difficult to mount heavy guns upon
them . Hence it is evident that our force here (he was
1 This was on more than one occasion the case during the war. Sol
diers were often found among the killed and wounded, each having two
dollars on their persons, and on one occasion even six dollars .
Y 2
324 KESHEN'S REPORT.
writing at the Bogue) as a guard and defence against
the foreigners is insufficient.”
Keshen next remarked upon the character of the
people of the province. “ Your slave has found them
ungrateful and avaricious. Of those who are actual
traitors it is unnecessary to say any thing. But the
rest are accustomed to see the foreigners day by day,
and intimacy has grown up between them .” And he
proceeds to contrast them very unfavourably with the
people of Chusan, who “ felt at once that the foreigners
were of another race."
Keshen then appealed to the history of the past, and
made particular allusion to the difficulty which had for
merly been experienced , in overcoming even the pirates
upon the coast, who were at length only reduced to sub
mission by a promise of security, upon condition of laying
down their arms.2 Finally he expressed great fear that
if he gave battle he would be unable to command a vic
tory, and in that case the dignity of the empire would
be sullied, and the lives of the people sacrificed.
To understand the full importance of these remarks,
it is necessary to bear in mind that they were written
before the action at the Bogue took place, and as a
ground for asking for the Emperor's consent to the
terms proposed by Captain Elliot. Others, however,
were called to aid in his councils at this time, and,
1
This, probably, alludes to the maxim of the Chinese moral code,
66
which says that it should be remembered that a foreigner, though he
be a good man, and on terms of intimacy with you, is still of a different
race ."
2 This alludes to the famous pirate Kochinga, who was bought off
and made an admiral.
A CHINESE REFORMER. 325
among the high officers of Canton, Lin himself was
consulted. They appeared to concur with Keshen ; at
all events, they knew that upon his head would rest all
the responsibility.
The memorial containing Captain Elliot's demands
was sent up to Pekin, together with this report, which
was founded upon personal observation ; and Keshen
implored the Emperor to look with pity upon “ his
black-haired flock, the people, and that he would be
graciously pleased to accede to the requests made by
the foreigners, and to grant them favours beyond mea
sure. Thus,” he added, “ shall we lay the foundation for
victory hereafter, by binding and curbing the foreigners
now, while we prepare the means of cutting them off
at some future period .”
Keshen was a true Chinaman of the new school ( for
there are new schools even in antique China ) and, in
most respects, the very opposite of Lin . Sensible of
the weakness of his country when matched with Eng
land, conscious of his inability to fight his enemy with
success, he, nevertheless, hazarded the chance, when
the commands of the Emperor compelled him to aim the
blow. He, however, did his utmost to gain time, and
even endeavoured to impose upon Captain Elliot, and to
hope against hope itself. After all that Keshen had
said, the defence of the Bogue was conducted, as we
shall now perceive, with more energy than might have
been expected, and, indeed, with considerable spirit.
We may now turn from this not uninteresting digres
sion, to the proceedings of the advanced squadron at the
Bogue, under Captain (now Sir Thomas) Herbert. Or
ders had been already given by the commodore to seize
326 ELLIOT'S LAST HOPE.
and detain five very large trading -junks, apparently
bound to Batavia, which had been seen by the Nemesis
on her way down to Macao from the Bogue, standing
out of the river, either unconscious of impending hosti
lities, or hastening to get out before they commenced .
These were all captured by the advanced squadron the
same evening.
On the following morning at dawn the Nemesis took
Captain Elliot once more up to the Bogue, where he
remained about an hour, as if in anxious expectation of
some communication from the shore. But this last lin
gering hope was again deceived. On her way up, the
steamer took possession of one very large trading -junk,
which was detained and anchored in-shore. Captain
Elliot, being now fully satisfied that no peaceable com
munication from the Chinese was any longer to be ex
pected, finally left the Bogue ; and, finding H. M. S.
Herald at anchor off Lankeet, just below Chuenpee, he
went on board that vessel, leaving the Nemesis to pursue
her way down to Hong Kong, taking in tow one of the
large junks detained by the boats of the Samarang.
The detention of the junks was the first direct act of
hostility on our part, since the period of the truce had
expired . But the Chinese had previously fired at the
boat of the Nemesis, as before noticed . On the 22nd ,
Captain Herbert, with the light squadron, took up his
position at the anchorage off South Wantung ; where
Captain Elliot announced to him that Keshen had failed
to conclude the treaty, and that he was therefore to
consider himself moved , to prevent the continuance of
defensive preparations. The Nemesis having joined him
from Hong Kong on the 23rd , Captain Herbert em
HOSTILITIES RECOMMENCED . 327
barked on board that vessel, and, taking with him the
pinnaces of the Calliope, Samarang, Herald, and Alliga
tor, commanded by Lieutenants Watson, Bower, Dewes,
and Woolcomb, proceeded up Anson's Bay, to explore the
river before described as opening at the bottom of it.
It was reported that the Chinese were staking it
across ; and, from the bustle which had been previously
observed there, when the boat of the Nemesis ventured
into it, there was reason to believe that hostile
preparations were being made. Moreover, it was
thought advisable, if possible, to examine the channel
which had been found to lead round in the rear of
Anunghoy ; for upon this fortress, as the most extensive
of the defences of the Bogue, it was thought the prin
cipal attack of the squadron would be made . Suspicion
was also excited by the contents of the intercepted
despatch of Keshen to Admiral Kwan.
On entering the river, it was no longer to be doubted
that preparations for defence had been commenced. A
great number of boats were observed busily employed
in driving stakes or piles into the bed of the river, across
which others were trying to moor a strong raft. No
sooner was the steamer discovered approaching, than
the boats all pulled away, and the Chinese were seen
scampering off as fast as possible. However, when it
came to the point of pulling up the stakes, in order to
make a passage between them for the boats, which were
in tow, all on a sudden a heavy discharge from aa masked
battery, close abreast of the spot, was poured upon
them, and at once betrayed the cause of the secret pre
parations before observed .
328 TAKING A MASKED BATTERY .
The steamer immediately poured in a volley of grape
and canister from her bow and stern guns,, while the
boats pulled away towards the shore, to carry the works
by storm , opening their fire from their bow-guns as they
advanced. The Chinese fled, after some resistance ; and
the battery, which was of very recent construction, was
at once taken possession of by the crews of the boats,
the colours being taken by Lieutenant Bowers, First
Lieutenant of H.M.S. Samarang. It was found to
mount twenty guns of various calibre, which were im
mediately destroyed. There were also lying on the
ground a vast number of guns dismounted, probably not
less than sixty, which appeared to have been landed out
of their junks, or recovered after the destruction of
their fleet in the bay. These were all rendered useless,
with the exception of a few brass ones, which were car
ried away as trophies. Their magazines and buildings
were also totally destroyed . The number of killed among
the Chinese were about thirty, but no wounded were
found, as they had probably been carried off by their
companions in arms. On our side no casualties hap
pened .
Content, for the present, with this successful feat,
Captain Herbert returned in the Nemesis, and rejoined
the squadron, at its anchorage, a little to the south
ward of South Wantung. On the following morning
they all returned to the scene of the previous exploit,
and set about pulling up the piles to clear a passage.
This time likewise they were fired at, but from a
different quarter. The Chinese troops, posted on the
hills above, commenced firing at the working party, but
THE BOGUE FORTS . 329
it was soon returned from the 32 -pounders, by which
they were speedily dispersed. A passage having at
length been cleared, the Nemesis steamed up the river
for some distance, until she had nearly reached the large
town at the back of Anunghoy ; but, as there appeared
to be no further hostile preparations going on, Captain
Herbert thought it better to return and complete the
destruction of the fort, raft, &c., which had been only
partially done the day before; after which they returned
to the squadron , which the commodore himself had now
joined , with the three line-of-battle ships and the Druid .
The next day, the 25th of February, was the great
day of preparation for the combined and resolute
attack of all the Bogue forts. The batteries which
were to be reduced were as follows: the geogra
phical positions of the Bogue have already been
described. Beginning from the south end of the pro
montory of Anunghoy, which of course you ap
proach first, there were several strong works along
the shore, the ridges on the hill's side above being also
armed with guns wherever they could be conveniently
placed ; and upon the top, which was pretty steep, an
entrenched camp had been formed, calculated for about
twelve hundred men. On this side were two consider
able sand-batteries, not long erected, mounting, as was
afterwards found, thirty guns of small calibre.
Proceeding on along the front was the old battery of
Anunghoy, which, in a manner, seemed to have given
place to a new and extremely well- built one, partly of
granite and partly of chunam , and reaching down almost
to high -water mark. The rear of this battery, running
330 ISLAND OF WANTUNG .
up the steep hill-side, was enclosed by a high wall, on
which were steps or platforms for firing musketry.
Continuing our survey of the walls parallel with
the passage through the Bogue, and passing out of the
southern fort by its northern gate, you found a line of
steep rocky beach, about two to three hundred yards
long, and unprotected, which led to the northern Anung
hoy fort. Upon this beach was erected a sort of plat
form , made of wood , serving merely as a line of cum
munication between the forts, for the passage of troops.
Having traversed this causeway, you arrive at the
northern fort. This was a less formidable one than its
fellow lower down, but still it presented an extensive
line of works. The whole together completely defended
the river front of the promontory of Anunghoy. The
number of guns mounted upon all these works was
afterwards found to be very great, and the long line of
embrazures certainly looked very formidable.
The island of North Wantung, which is opposite to
these forts, was thickly studded with cannon all over.
Its eastern side presented a formidable line of guns, and
was considered by the Chinese to be its most important
side of defence, for it fronted Anunghoy, commanding
the passage between them ; here they had planted some
of their largest guns. An object upon which they had
placed great reliance was the large chain cable, which
they had carried across the passage from Anunghoy to
a rock close to Wantung, and which they had secured
into the solid rock on either side, something after the
manner of the chains of a suspension bridge. The rafts
which supported it were strongly moored, and the
SOUTH WANTUNG . 331
Chinese had adopted a curious contrivance for raising or
lowering the chain, for the purpose of letting their own
junks pass through, by means of a kind of windlass.
A passage was not forced through this chain and rafts
until after the forts were taken ; and theChinese appeared
to forget that there was another channel round the west
side of Wantung, and that even had that been impassable,
we could have sent our light steamers, rocket -boats, and
gun -boats, round the back of Anunghoy itself. They,
moreover, made little calculation of the great power of
the rising and falling of the tide, the weight and strength
of a line -of- battle ship, or the terrific power of her
broadside.
The little island of South Wantung had been almost
unaccountably left unoccupied by the Chinese ; but, in
reality, it was within range, and well commanded by the
strong batteries and Hill Fort upon North Wantung.
The oversight rendered their positions much less tenable,
and soon decided the plan of attack which was adopted
by Sir Gordon Bremer. It was as follows : a battery
of two 8 -inch iron and one 24-pounder brass howitzers
was to be erected during the night, in a hollow , upon the
top of this little island of South Wantung, which was
very favourably situated for the object required . This
battery would not only greatly annoy the Chinese in the
northern island, and probably shell them out, but also
distract their attention from the attack upon Anunghoy.
The commodore reserved to himself (with the Wel
lesley, 74, and Druid, 42) the attack on the south-west
batteries of Wantung, that is, on the side not fronting
Anunghoy ; while Sir Le Fleming Senhouse, in the Blen
332 PLAN OF ATTACK .
heim, 74, with the Melville, 74, and The Queen Steamer,
together with the rocket-boats of the two ships, was to
attack the batteries of Anunghoy, using his own dis
cretion as to the best mode of placing them for that
purpose. The light division under Captain Herbert,
consisting of the Calliope, Samarang, Herald, Alligator,
Sulphur, and Modeste, were to direct their attention to
the batteries on the northern and north-western side of
Wantung, and also those facing Anunghoy, and either to
anchor or keep under weigh, according as it might appear
most likely to ensure the object in view. The Mada
gascar and Nemesis steamers were to land the troops,
but the latter was more particularly employed to cover
the working party, who were to raise the battery on
South Wantung, and also the troops on shore.
It was not likely that the land forces would have
much to do ; but it was directed that detachments of
the 26th and 49th regiments, with the 37th M. N. I. and
Bengal volunteers, under the command of Major Pratt,
of the 26th, should be placed on board the steamers and
the transport-boats, together with a few Chinese boats
collected for the purpose, and they were to remain off the
southern end of South Wantung, protected from the fire of
the enemy's guns, until the Chinese should be driven out
of the batteries, when their subsequent movements were
to be directed by signal. The royal marines also, under
Captain Ellis, were to be held in readiness to land with
the troops, and were to be accompanied by the two
6 - pounder field -pieces of the Wellesley and Druid, with
seamen to work and drag them ; scaling-ladders were
also to be carried with the force .
PLAN OF ATTACK . 333
Soon after mid-day, on the 25th, the Nemesis took
on board a detachment of one hundred and thirty of the
Madras Native Infantry, for the purpose of assisting the
royal artillery, under Captain Knowles and Lieutenant
Spencer, in the erection of the mortar battery upon
the top of South Wantung ; and they were accompanied
by Lieutenant Johnson and Lieutenant Rundall, of the
Madras Engineers, with the same object. On her way
across,, the guns of the large Anunghoy Fort opened
upon her, and were fired with tolerable precision, many of
them passing quite near her, but fortunately without
doing any damage. On arriving at the southern end of
South Wantung, it was found that Sir Le Fleming Sen
house had already arrived in his own boat, together with
a detachment of the Royal and Madras Artillery. The
Anunghoy Battery continued firing, but without effect,
and it was not returned for some time, by the orders of
the commodore. However, as soon as the detachments
were landed , Sir Le Fleming Senhouse himself gave per
mission to return the fire. No time was lost in landing
ammunition and warlike implements upon the island,
and parties were busily employed filling sand-bags pre
paratory to the erection of the battery above, the whole
working party being perfectly protected from the fire
of the Chinese.
In the mean time, the batteries on North Wantung
began to open on the Nemesis ; and, in order that she
might get completely under cover of the island of South
Wantung, she was run full in upon the shore, which was
somewhat steep in that part ; and thus she lay literally
with her head out of water, and her stern deep in it, with
334 ATTACK ON WANTUNG .
out receiving any injury ; her light draught ofwater ena
bled her to approach closer than any other vessel could
have done. In this manner, all the shot of the batteries
passed over her, without doing any mischief. The fire
was not returned , both owing to the position in which she
was, and because it could only have served to point
out, in the darkness of the night, the situation of the
working parties upon the island..
At daylight the battery was quite completed, and the
Nemesis was ordered to withdraw ; not long after which,
the new battery opened fire in beautiful style, against
North Wantung, under the direction of Captain Knowles.
The rockets were thrown into it with great effect, and,
together with the shells, could be seen to fall directly
within the forts ; this was shortly followed by a blaze of
fire, from the burning of the Custom House and other
buildings ; soon after which, the outworks and sand
batteries were abandoned, and the Chinese took refuge
principally in the upper fort. Their loss must have been
considerable at all points ; and the panic created by the
bursting of the shells and rockets, which were quite new
to them , evidently threw them into great disorder. It
was reported , and there is reason to believe with truth,
that the Chinese officers abandoned the place at the first
commencement of the firing, and ran down to their boats,
having locked the gates behind them, to prevent their
own troops from following their example.
The grand combined attack was to have commenced
early in the morning, and the troops were ordered to be
in readiness at seven o'clock. The morning, however,
was perfectly calm ; the sun shone brilliantly, and lighted
BRITISH BROADSIDES . 335
up the scene of impending destruction and slaughter, as
if it were to be a scene of rejoicing.
Until ten o'clock there was not å breath of air ; when ,
a light breeze springing up, the Melville and Blenheim,
accompanied by The Queen steamer, got under weigh,
attended by three rocket-boats, the Blenheim being the
leading ship. They stood in for the Southern Anunghoy
Fort, running along towards the Anson's Bay side of it,
in order to be out of range of its guns in front, so that
they could throw in shot and shell upon its flank, with
out any risk of receiving injury themselves. The hill
of Anunghoy was crowned with Chinese troops, their
numerous silken banners floating gaily to the now reviving
breeze. Some of their guns were discharged at a great
distance ; but the fire was kept up with spirit, though
frequently out of range.
Not so, however, our own majestic ships, which slowly
glided up to their positions without wasting a single
shot, until , having anchored with springs on their cables,
they could bring their broadsides to bear. The Blen
heim, although the leading ship, was either carried by
the tide, or else slightly touched the ground, and was
soon overtaken by the Melville , which succeeded in
taking up a more advantageous position in very gallant
style. In the mean time, The Queen had commenced
throwing shell into the sand -batteries and other works
upon the hill's side ; and, at the same time, the terrific
broadsides of the Melville and the Blenheim opened
upon the great battery ; the rocket-boats also did their
full share in the work of destruction . The Chinese
could not long withstand these simultaneous attacks.
336 ATTACK ON WANTUNG .
At about the same time with the attack on Anunghoy,
began also that upon the batteries on the western and
north -western side of Wantung, partly under the commo
dore in person, and partly under Captain Herbert. The
ships ' waited to receive the fire oftheforts pretty close,
and then at once poured in their iron shower upon the
devoted batteries, with destructive effect. It would have
been impossible for any troops to have long defended the
island of Wantung, bristling though it then was with
cannon, against the powerful force arrayed against it .
Our battery of howitzers had been playing upon it for
several hours ; and now six or seven men -of-war, including
one line-of-battle ship, the Wellesley, were battering it
at the same time. But the defenders could not run away,
being shut in on every side by the river ; and it was per
haps fortunate for them that the Nemesis, which had
already been engaged with the different batteries, was
sent down to fetch the troop-boats from the southern
island, under which they had been sheltered .
The land force was under the command of Major Pratt,
of the Cameronians, who was already well known to the
Chinese at Chuenpee. The detachments of the 26th
and 49th were under Major Johnson, the marines under
Captain Ellis, the 37th M. N. I. under Captain Duff, and
the Bengal Volunteers under Captain Mee.
The scene on all sides at this moment was extremely
imposing. The light breeze, which had barely served
to bring the ships into position, had quite died away
when the thunder of artillery commenced, as if it were
1
Consisting of the Wellesley and Druid, with the Calliope, Sam arang,
Herald, Alligator, Modeste, and Sulphur.
PANIC OF THE CHINESE. 337
unwilling to take them back again until their work was
fully done. The heavy, curling smoke, scarcely broken
by an occasional flash, hung gloomily on every side, as
if to veil from sight the scene of destruction which was
going on. For a time the firing ceased, in order to
allow the smoke to rise ; and, just at that moment, the
troops were hastening towards Wantung, to take posses
sion of the works, the firing of which had also ceased.
At the same time, Sir Le Fleming Senhouse, with the
marines and a party of blue-jackets, landed, to the
attack of Anunghoy.
At half- past one the troops were landed on Wantung
by the Nemesis and Madagascar, assisted by boats.
The object was of course to reach the hill fort as quickly
as possible, and had the Chinese been better acquainted
with the rules of European warfare, they would pro
bably have at once surrendered themselves, seeing the
utter hopelessness of resistance. Probably the fear of
being put to death as prisoners prevented this timely
sparing of blood. Our gallant troops and seamen
pushed rapidly up the ascent over the ruined outworks,
and might have suffered severe loss before they could
have taken possession of the upper fort, had not the
Chinese been almost panic-struck, or had they possessed
weapons better calculated for the purpose of defence.
But, instead of surrendering or accepting quarter, they
again ran out of the fort and down the hill, and many
of the poor fellows were shot in their vain attempts
to fly, without any possible means of escape. The
greater part of these took refuge in the lower Custom
House Fort, where many of them were killed and
VOL. I. Z
338 SURRENDER OF THE BOGUE FORTS .
wounded before the rest surrendered, which , however,
they at length did, to the number of about one thousand .
>
The prisoners were soon afterwards taken to the main
land, and set at liberty, equally astonished as they were
rejoiced at our leniency.
The Nemesis, in the mean time, had gone over to
Anunghoy, to render assistance, if required, and there
observed the marines and seamen of the Blenheim and
Melville, under Sir Le F. Senhouse, in the act of taking
possession of the forts. It appears that they landed
without much opposition, though they were only three
hundred in number ; and not only passed through the
southern fort, driving the Chinese up the hill above, but
also proceeded along the beach towards the northern
fort, of which they also made themselves masters after
some resistance .
Whatever doubts Keshen himself had entertained
concerning the defensibility of the Bogue, he had too
much discretion to communicate them either to his
officers or troops. They had little anticipation of the
total defeat which they were soon to sustain, for they
had made rude sketches delineating the entire destruc
tion of our ships by the terrible fire of their artillery.
Nevertheless, their resistance was of little avail, although
instances of personal bravery occurred .
The British flag had by this time supplanted that of
China upon all the defences of the Bogue. It was little
past two o'clock, and ample time yet remained to turn
the victory to the greatest possible advantage before the
close of the day. The Nemesis once more crossed over
to Wantuug, and as she drew so little water, was enabled
BRITISH CLEMENCY . 339
to run close in, and make fast to the lower fort itself.
Nothing, however, of aa hostile character remained to be
done in this quarter, but there was yet ample room to
perform the more humane duty of assisting the unfor
tunate Chinese. Many of these poor fellows were float
ing about in the water, clinging in despair to any small
piece of wood or bamboo they might have the good
fortune to find. Many were drowned , as had before
been the case at Chuenpee, but many yet remained to
be saved . Boats were sent out for this purpose, but
the Chinese notions of warfare were of such a barbarous
nature, that they seemed to think the only object of
any attempt to save them was, to reserve them for slow
1
torture, mutilation , or death . The poor fellows dived
their heads under water as the boats approached them ,
attempting to drown themselves, and thus escape falling
into our hands. Many were, nevertheless, dragged out,
and carried on board the steamer, where they appeared
bewildered by astonishment more than by fear, when
they found that they were kindly treated. All of them
were soon afterwards liberated without any conditions,
and they then appeared thankful for their escape.
The day was now far advanced, but there still re
mained a fort and encampment to be taken possession of
on the opposite side of the river, usually called Little
Tycocktow , facing the western side of Wantung. There
1 The Chinese rarely make any effort to save even their own country
men from being drowned . Indeed, should a common boatman tumble
overboard accidentally, his own companions in the boat will often give
him no assistance, particularly if he is really in danger of being drowned
without it.
Z 2
340 AN ENCAMPMENT FIRED.
was every probability that these would be carried with
out resistance, for the Wellesley had already seriously
damaged the fort, by her beautiful firing of shells, in
the morning, and the Modeste had also contributed to
silence it .A party of the Wellesley's marines were
embarked in her own boats, about four o'clock, under
Lieutenant Maitland, and proceeded across, in company
with the Nemesis, in order to complete the day's work .
A few shots were fired by her as she approached the
fort, but, finding they were not returned, the boats
pushed off to land , including the boats of the Nemesis,
with Captain Hall and Lieutenant Pedder. The fort
was found abandoned ; and having taken possession of
it, they advanced up the hill in the rear with all speed,
as they observed a body of Chinese in disorder close
to an encampment upon the top of it. However, on
the approach of the little party, they fled into the
interior, abandoning their lines, magazines, &c. These
were all set fire to and destroyed, and the effect
of the blaze, which lasted for a considerable time,
becoming more vivid as the night closed in, spread far
and wide among the distant inhabitants of the country
the general panic which had already seized their troops.
The conflagration extended itself on all sides, much
beyond the original site of the encampment , and threw
its lurid glare over the scene of slaughter and confusion
of the day. Having spiked the guns in the fort, the
boats returned with their crews to their respective ships.
Thus closed the eventful day of the capture of the
famous Bogue forts, and the total dispersion of their
unfortunate defenders. Had the Chinese been better
SMALL LOSS OF THE BRITISH . 341
armed , and more experienced in the important science
of gunnery , the capture of the forts would have cost us
a much greater sacrifice of human life. On this occasion,
so trifling was the latter, that at 3 p.m., when Cap
tain Elliot issued his circular announcing the fall of the
batteries of the Bocca Tigris to her Majesty's forces, he
added , that " no loss on our side had been reported up
to that hour.” Sir Gordon Bremer had only subse
quently to report, that “five men were slightly wounded,
>
throughout the whole force.” Much surprise, however,
was created by this announcement, for the firing was
for some time kept up with spirit from the forts. It
66
was also recorded with the utmost minuteness, that
the main-topmast and fore-yard of the Blenheim were
shot through, one gun was rendered unserviceable, and
there were several shots in the hull ; that the Melville
had also a shot in one of her topmasts ; that the Cal
liope was actually struck ; and that other ships had just
7
a rope cut here and there.” No one could dispute
the triumphant declaration of the commander-in - chief,
that he was “ convinced that almost any number of
men the Chinese could collect would not be able to
stand against the animated gallantry of his men for an
>
instant."
It is to be regretted that the loss on their side, in
killed and wounded, should have been so considerable.
Thirteen hundred prisoners were taken, but were set at
liberty soon afterwards ;: and altogether upwards of five
hundred were killed and wounded during the day.
Many of the Chinese officers boldly and nobly met their
death, some even courted it ; they dreaded their mas
342 DEATH OF ADMIRAL KWAN.
ter's wrath, and their own degradation more, than the
loss of life at the hands of their country's foe. Among
these , the most distinguished and most lamented was
poor old Admiral Kwan, whose death excited much
sympathy throughout the force ; he fell by a bayonet
wound in his breast, as he was meeting his enemy at
the gate of Anunghoy, yielding up his brave spirit wil
lingly to a soldier's death, when his life could only be
preserved with the certainty of degradation. He was
altogether aa fine specimen of a gallant soldier, unwilling
to yield when summoned to surrender, because to yield
would imply treason. It recalls to mind the fate of the
admiral at Chusan, who fell in the preceding year on
board his own war -junk, even after he had admitted that
he knew that resistance would be useless.
Kwan's body was claimed and recognised by his own
family the following day, and was of course readily
given up to them . A salute of minute-guns was fired
to his honour from the Blenheim, as a brave but fallen
enemy. It will be remembered that he was the same
distinguished personage who lost his red button or ball
during the engagement with the war-junks in Anson's
Bay, and obtained it back again, at his own request,
through Captain Elliot's intercession.
The resistance which the Chinese might have offered
to our forces will be seen from the following account of
the ordnance captured during the day. On the southern
Anunghoy fort were 107 guns, of various calibre ; one
being a 68 -pounder, one a 42, and a good many of 32 , 24,
and 18. Four of them were very large brass guns, made
by the Portuguese in 1627, two of these being upwards
CANNON TAKEN . 343
of eleven feet long, and ten inches and three- quarters -
in diameter of the bore ; three of the iron ones were
of English manufacture, and the remainder were heavy
Chinese guns . On the northern Anunghoy fort were
40 guns, about half of them varying from 18 to 42
pounders. All of these were Chinese. At the two sand
bag batteries, erected to the eastward of the southern
fort, were about thirty guns of small calibre ; so that
there were altogether on that side of the river one hun
dred and seventy -seven guns. Again, upon the little
fortified island of North Wantung, were planted upwards
of one hundred and sixty guns, of which , however, one
third were very small, and of little service; and another
third of them varied only from six to twelve pounders.
The remainder were mostly very good, and some very
heavy guns ; one being a 68-pounder, and another a 42
pounder. Several of these bore a curious inscription,
similar to some others subsequently taken on Lord
Napier's fort near Canton.
On the fort and works, on the mainland, on the
western side of the river, facing Wantung, were also
mounted about forty guns. Thus the whole number
captured in this day's operations amounted to three
hundred and eighty pieces of cannon ; to which, if we
add eighty pieces more captured on the preceding
day by the Nemesis and boats, under Captain Herbert,
at the masked battery and stockades in the river, at the
bottom of Anson's Bay, we shall find the whole number
taken and destroyed in these two days alone, at the first
resumption of hostilities, to have amounted to four hun
dred and sixty pieces.
344 THE BLOCKADE RAISED .
Immediately after the British flag was planted trium
phantly upon the forts of the Bogue, or at any rate be
fore the close of the day, a notice was issued by Com
modore Sir Gordon Bremer, by which the blockade of
the river of Canton was raised . British and foreign mer
chant-ships were now permitted to proceed as far as the
Bogue, and were to be allowed to go further up the
river, as soon as the obstructions to the navigation could
be removed .
FALL OF THE BOGUE FORTS . 345
CHAPTER XVII.
General alarm caused by the fall of the Bogue forts - Removal of the
great chain — The light squadron under Captain Herbert proceed up
the river - Remarks on the latter-
Whampoa — Junk Island — Chan
nels of the river unknown — Policy of the Chinese Nemesis leads up,
giving the soundings - Approach to the first bar - Description of the
fort and raft-- English ship, the Cambridge, purchased by the Chinese
-War junks — Nemesis begins the action at the first bar - Madagascar
follows - Sulphur and the rest of the squadron arrive - Marines and
seamen land under Captain Herbert - Fort taken - Attack upon the
Cambridge — Lieutenant Watson drags a boat across the raft - And
with Captain Hall and others boards the Cambridge — Description of
the vessel - Ordered to be blown up — Captain Elliot's coolness and
courage - Nemesis and boats proceed up to Junk river - Boats of the
Wellesley and Sulphur - Fort captured — Sir Gordon Bremer joins
from the Bogue - Howqua's folly - Prefect of Canton arrives — Truce
for three days — Arrival of Sir Hugh Gough from India, 2nd of
March - Force arrives from Chusan - Nemesis discovers a passage into
the Broadway river - Captain Elliot's reward for a pilot - Truce ex
pires - Panic at Canton - Captain Elliot's proclamation to the Chinese.
The great event which has now been described, the
capture of the Bogue forts, though purchased at a very
small sacrifice on the part of the victors, derived an
immense importance from the greatness of the sacrifice
in reference to the Chinese.. Although the cautious
discernment of a few men like Keshen might have appre
346 NATIONAL PANIC .
ciated the strength of their enemy, and the compara
tive weakness of their own defences, the fact of the fall
of the Bogue forts, which were considered by the Chi
nese throughout the empire, as well as by the govern
ment, to be impregnable, created a degree of alarm in
the public mind without parallel since the Tartar con
quest. Whatever reliance the authorities on the spot,
and the overweening arrogance of a population accus
tomed only to the " submission ” of foreigners, may
have placed in the efficiency of other recent prepara
tions of a different description higher up the river, these
could never inspire confidence in the mass of the nation,
or even in the government, to whom the nature of them
could be little known.
The fall of the Bocca Tigris at once destroyed the
charm of its supposed strength, and the loss of a feudal
tower of old could hardly have spread more consterna
tion among a host of vassals than did the fall of the
Bogue forts among the Chinese nation. Totally inex
perienced in the horrors of war, they retained a sort of
hereditary pride in the Bogue, as their great bulwark
against the inroads of the foreigner. The whole nation
was at that time unprepared for war, and the govern
ment without any organized system of defence. Hence
it is not difficult to perceive, that advantage might have
been taken of their momentary state of alarm , to have
urged them at once to the conclusion of some kind of
peaceable settlement. The whole difficulty, however,
at that time seems to have turned upon the question of
the supply of tea . The Chinese saw clearly the anxiety
which we showed to obtain the year's crop, and they
BLOWING UP THE FORTS . 347
quickly boasted that “ their tea and their rhubarb were
as necessary to the foreigner as air itself.” However,
it was resolved at length that we should dictate the
terms of peace at Canton, rather than at the Bogue,
and accordingly the fleet prepared to proceed immedi
ately up the river.
It will be remembered that a large chain cable had
been thrown across the river, supported by rafts, between
Anunghoy and aa little islet close to South Wantung. It
served them no good purpose whatever ; and after the
forts were taken possession of, nothing was easier than
to remove this impediment to the navigation. The
forts were next blown up, or damaged as much as they
could be, though not without great labour and diffi
culty, arising from the heavy masses of stone and chu
nam of which they were constructed. Chinese powder
was moreover used for the purpose , which, being less
strong, though made as nearly as possible with the
same proportions and of the same materials as our
own , but with less care, added somewhat to the diffi
culty of the task. Several days were occupied by the
engineers, sappers, and miners, assisted by seamen, in
this laborious operation. It was, however, effectually
done at last, scarcely one stone being left standing
upon another.
On the morning following the action, the light squa
dron under Captain Herbert was ordered to proceed
without delay up the river, in order to follow up the
advantages already gained by the panic created by
the capture of the Bogue. It consisted of the Calliope,
Alligator, Herald, Sulphur, and Modeste, with the
348 THE CANTON RIVER.
Nemesis and Madagascar steamers. The principal
objects and the general aspect of the river, as far as
the second bar, (which is below the first one) have
been already described, in connexion with the account of
the grand conference between Keshen and Captain Elliot.
It will facilitate the understanding of future ope
rations if we notice briefly, as we proceed, the principal
objects worthy of observation, above the second bar, as
far as the city of Canton itself, or even a little beyond
it ; for the operations extended even higher up. It
should be remembered that by the first and second bar
are merely meant sandbanks or flats, which impede the
navigation of the river, of course contracting to a
certain extent the channel for large ships. The second
bar is a large shoal on the left side of the river, ascend
ing (or geographically on its right bank) upwards of
ten miles above Tiger Island . The Pagoda near which