1841.
"Progress of the War.
177
the hill, towards the upper custom-house fort.* The whole defenses of North Wangtong were very strong, and exceedingly well covered and protected by Band-bag battaries, most regularly and neatly made, and had they been brave- ly served, would have cost a severe struggle, and the blood of many a gallant fellow, before them.
"It was arranged that a combined and simultaneous attack should be made on all the Bogue forts, shortly after daylight on the morning of the 26th, but owing to its falling calm, with a strong ebb-tide, it was found im- practicable, some of the ships that weighed being obliged to bring to again, and wait for the flood-tide to serve. About 11 o'clock a. m. the Blenheim was seen under weigh, bearing down for the great Anunghoy fort, accompanied by the Queen steamer, with three rocket boats, keeping a little away into Anson's bay, and followed by the Melville about one mile distant. The ships for the attack of Wangtong were also on the move. It was nearly calin, and the ships dropped down very slowly the suspense became oppressive; it was with breathless interest we watched the majestic gliding of the ships slowly to their work of destruction; not a sound breaking the ominous stillness that hung over the waters. The hills above Anunghoy, and stretching far away inland, were covered with large bodies of the enemy, posted at commanding points, covered by sand-bag batterics. On the opposite side of the river, along the ridge of the Tanan hills, the enemy also were seen in great strength. "The Queen steainer commenced the action, firing the first shot. The Chinese replied promptly from the strong sand-batteries lately raised towards Anson's bay, and the lower Anunghoy fort. The Blenheim coolly dropped down, without returning a shot to the brisk fire opened on her, till within 600 yards of Anunghoy, when she brought to, clewed all up, and opened her broadside. The Melville followed about 10 minutes later in the same gallant style, and took up an admirable position about 400 yards off the fort, a short way ahead of the Blenheim. Like the Blenheim she did not fire a shot till she had brought to, then she gave her starboard broadside in quick succes, sion. Her firing was splendid, and did considerable damage to the fort. The Blenheim's fire was directed more against the sand batteries than against · the people at the guns in the fort. The practice of the Queen and the rocket-boats deserves the greatest praise. During the heat of the action, a boat broke adrift from the Melville, and drifted close in under the guns of Anunghoy. A boat was dispatched to bring her back, which was effected in cool and gallant style without loss. After a few broadsides, the dragon hearted Tartars were seen flying out of the fort in great numbers, up the hill at the back of it, and around its base towards Anson's bay. Sir Le F. Senhouse then landed with about 300 men, consisting of the Blenheim and Melville's marines and blue jackets, and carried the forts, sweeping them clean from one end to the other. The British jack was hoisted, and the famed Anunghoy forts were in our possession at half-past one o'clock. The loss of the Chinese at this point was not so severe as one would have thought from the heavy broadsides of the 74s. They only lost about 20 killed, amongst whom were two officers, one of whom was a fine stout elderly man, lying near the officer-house, situated in the centre of the lower Anunghoy fort, with a bayonet wound in the right breast. By some he was supposed to be Kwan; one or two low officers were taken prisoners, but, after being taken
* To render clear what is here meant, it should be observed that North Wang- tong was strongly protected by a double fortification on the eastern side, near which was the custom-house, by a good and new battery, à fleur d'eau on the west side, commanded by a little old crumbling hill fort, and by recently erected batteries of earth and sand, on the northern and southern sides. In the centre of all these was the encampment referred to,
VOL. X. NO, III,
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