1942.
Repulse of the Chinese at Tsz'kı.
497.
50 sappers, flanked by the Sesostris steamer, which moved up the river parallel with our route, having on board three companies of the 26th, and a sinall body of scamen and marines. Until I reached the village Litso, about 7 miles from hence, where I understood the enemy had been posted on the 12th, I could obtain no satisfactory information of his movements; but I had the mortification to find on my arrival, that the Chinese had retreated over the hills the preceding night, apparently moving on Shauhing.
Having thus got rid of this column, although not in the way I could have wished, and being joined by sir William Parker, who on his arrival from Táshán, with the zeal for which he is so conspicuous, at once followed me up the river with the two small steamers, bringing with him 250 marines and a party of seamen, 1 determined upon moving on Tsz'kí, where I was informed, that the Chinese wors in considerable force under generals Twan Yung, Yang and Choo. It was reported that they had two intrenched camps on the Segaon hills, about half a mile north of Tsz'kí; that several guns had been placed on the walls and at the gateways, and large stores of provisions laid up for the army in the city, and that 7 miles northeast of these encampments, another force from 5 to 6,000 men, under com. inissioner Wun, with the military chest, was posted in a fortified camp in the hills at the Chángki pass.
Madras artillery with 4
eight-pounder guns, 84 18th Royal Irish,. 201 26th Cameronians..... 156 49th Regiment, 305 Rifles, 36th N. I..... 54 Sappers.
66
•
· ...
865
The necessary arrangements havings been made with rear.admiral sir William Parker, the troops named in the margin were all embarked by 8 o'clock on the morning of the 15th, on board the steamers Queen, Nemesis, and Phlegethon. Sir Wm. Parker placed at my disposal 350 seamen and marines, mak- ing up about 1,200 bayonets. At 12 o'clock, this force was landed about 4 miles from Tsz’kí, from whence we had a perfect view of the enemy's
encampments, and I immediately pushed forward on the city. I feel it right here to observe, that sir Williaın Parker accompanied me throughout the operations I am about to detail, and from his sound judgment and excellent arrangements, I received the most valuable assistance.
Upon our approaching Tsz'kí, and occupying a hill which commands the southern face of the walls, and the south gate, the Chinese fired all the guns and ginjals they had for the defence of this gate, but with so little effect, and at so great a distance, that it led me to believe that they (most unaccountably) did not pro. pose to defend the city, and I was confirmed in this conclusion by observing that the ramparts nearest us were unoccupied, while the Segaon hills, at the opposite side of the town, on which were their encampments, appeared crowded with troops. Lieutenant-colonel Montgomerie having, with his usual promptitude, brought up his guns, I determined at once to take the city by storm, pass through to the north gate, there reunite my force, and carry the enemy's encampments. I was led to this line of operation by the conclusion before mentioned, that the Chinese did not mean to defend the city, as well as with a view to expedite the attack on the heights, as it would otherwise have been necessary (to provide for the possible case of the enemy's being in force within the walls) to make a detour out of range through the paddy fields; but my principal object was, to prevent the enemy from falling back on the city when driven from the hills.
VOL. XI. NO. IX.
63