1841;
Capture of the Heights above Canton.
393
lodge the enemy from the two forts to the south; and the 3d bri- gade (the gallant jacks) those to the west of the city. In the 1st brigade, the 49th took the lead at starting, the 37th M. N. I. and Bengal Volunteers following close on their heels. The 37th were, I believe, the first to reach the summit. Little opposition was offered to their advance. The enemy had all evacuated the forts, and were', seen running down the hills in every direction, letting off myriads of barbed rockets, which did no further injury, than most effectually to prevent the course of their flight being observed.
1
In one of the two forts to the west, the sailors had hard work of it, the enemy not leaving their stronghold, till, by means of escalad- ing ladders, our fellows effected an entrance, and there hand to hand cut them to pieces. In effecting this, our men were much cut up, chiefly, however, by the flanking fire from the wall of the city.
The reserve was now directed to take possession of an entrenched camp, where the enemy had rallied. This encampment was well covered by the guns from the city wall, and removed more than a mile from the forts now occupied by the first brigade. The enemy was evidently in great force there; and as usual, till our men came too close to be pleasant, waved their banners and encouraged us to come on. Their officers were seen riding on poneys in front of the ranks. Well did the Royal Irish do their work that day, advancing all the way at double quick step, regardless both of the shot from the city walls, and of the showers of grape from the entrenched camp in a few brief moments, everything was in their possession, and after setting fire to all that could be laid hold of, they took their departure. In this advance there were four officers and several men wounded. The rockets worked splendidly, astonishing poor foke not a little.
t
A fire was kept up from the city wall nearly all night. During the afternoon, the general had a narrow escape, having been at one time completely covered with dust from a shot that struck the ground close by his side. The total amount of our killed and wounded this day was about 70; on the side of the enemy, the actual loss was never ascertained.
The troops bivouacked as they best could during the night. Our worthy chief was the first on the move in the morning of the 26th, when we all eagerly looked forward to a little escalading practice. In this however we were disappointed; sufficient materials had not yet come up for effecting the object contemplated, viz., setting fire to the city. About noon, the animunition, &c., arrived; but, unfortu
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VOL. X. NO. VII.