361
Yen-ho.
Sand hard and fit to walk on.
R." Pei-ho"
Obstacles, &c.
18 yards, even at high tide. Found the place called the "Yen-ho," it is merely a portion of the beach about 200 yards wide, which is lower than that on either side, and through this passage the water flows at high tides, flooding to a depth of a few inches the country inside.
There appears to be a beach dry at all times the whole way from the "Che-kaon-ho" to the "Pei-ho" Forts. There may be occasional places like this "Yen-ho" to cross, but nothing of any consequence.
The sand appears hard and quite fit to land men on, should it be desirable to throw a force on shore here; it would be quite practicable at high tide; the men might have to wade half a mile, but on a hard bottom. Flat bottomed boats (paddle-box) should be used, however, and these convey 100 men each.
Field Artillery might be floated to within range at high tide upon rafts, and on the tide falling they might be dragged up high and dry.
August 30.-A gale of wind from the N.E. prevented our work,
31st. Went into the "Pei-ho," to see the state of the forts, &c. The gun-boats anchored about 1 mile from the forts, and we pulled in, in boats.
The river was much crowded with junks. The position of the iron stakes appeared to be rather changed, and the booms temporarily partly opened.
On arriving abreast of the Centre South Fort we were met by a Mandarin Chinese inquiries in a boat who asked us what we wanted? We said we had heard that they had English Prisoners at "Tien-tsin," and were come to ask if it was the case. They answered, they had had one, but had given him up to the Americans, as he belonged to that country, and they had no more. They asked what we were doing, and we said, making a map of the ocean, as was the English custom. They hoped we should go, as, by visiting their coasts, in the way we did from one end to the other, we caused them to "Eat Misery."
Forts unchanged.
Wrecks unmoved.
R. "Peh-tang-ho."
Observed no change in the Forts except that they were all repaired and in good order. It is possible they may have put an outer coating to the wall between the embrasures, just to thicken the old wall, but no material difference exists.
We saw the wrecks of the vessels. The tide being high, we saw but little, only the top of the "Cormorant's" funnel, and some of the upper timbers of the others. They appear to have small floats attached to the "Lee," and a large stake appeared to have been driven on either side of her, as if to keep her in position. Many large junks were lying all around them, and one junk of war. Counted about 172 junks near the mouth of the river.
September 1st.-Shifted berth, and anchored off the "Peh-tang-ho," the river where the Americans landed to commence their overland journey to "Pekin."
2nd. Attempted to get into the river in a gun-boat, but could not find more that 8 feet of water.
3rd. Sent boats in to sound the channel out from the deep water under the forts, whilst I proceeded in a gun-boat, and surveyed the coast for about 9 miles to the N.E.
19
4th. Completed the work at the "Peh-tang-ho." I attempted to land with the interpreter at a village about 3 miles N.E. of the river, in order to see the nature of the country.
Our boat was observed by the "Tartars," and 25 men, armed, came down to the beach. Landing opposed.
Being unable to get the boat within 300 yards of the shore, we got out to wade, taking two men with a sack to cut grass for the sheep on board, as an excuse for landing. However, the "Tartars" were not to be taken in, and made ready to fire on us. Expressing great surprise at their want of courtesy and strange objections to so harmless an employment, we were forced to return to the boats.
I, then, with Commander Bythesea, pulled into the river, and got up above the southern forts, and managed to sketch them without opposition; but just as we left, a large number of mounted men came down on both sides of the river, but too late to prevent the object being attained.
The bar at the mouth of the river has at least 4 feet over it at low water, Bar and channel. The rise and fall is about 10 feet; and after crossing the bar, the channel, which is easy, has 12 feet at low water up to the forts.
Accounts appear to agree to the effect that the river is not navigated very far. So far as one could see, the course of the river appears to be north-easterly, River apparently and I do not think it runs into the "Pei-ho," as pretended by the Chinese,
does not join the
"Pei-ho.
forts.
There is a fort on either bank of the river, both firing down the channel, Description of the and at the same time partially supporting each other.
The southern fort consists of two earthen mounds, similar to those of the South. "Pei-ho" forts, about 30 feet high, and having 3 embrasures each, all in the front face. They are connected by an earthen curtain about 18 feet high, and containing 4 embrasures.
On the proper right of the southern bastion, a curtain containing two embrasures runs up to the houses of the town.
On the proper left of the southern bastion, there is a similar short curtain containing 1 embrasure, and at its extremity the wall is returned apparently by a thin battlemented mud wall for musketry, which appears to close on the houses at this end, and in this manner form an enceinte for the work
The whole length of the fort is not more than about 200 yards. Each embrasure is closed by shutters. The parapet on the top of the mound does not appear above 4 feet thick, and the embrasures are without genouillières,
The northern point of the battery is not more than 40 yards from the river, but the line of the work runs obliquely from it, so as to enfilade the approach up the river.
There is a ditch of some sort in front of the southern part of the fort, as I saw a junk there.
The usual landing-place appears to be close to the northern part of the Landing place. fort. This ditch or creek, in front of the southern part, is sure to be very muddy, and a great obstacle.
Above the fort there is a good deal of broken ground on the southern bank, which would form admirable cover for an enemy's infantry.
It would be possible to land troops on the spit, at a long range from the forts, even by laying a vessel alongside, the water being so deep; but I should fear the nature of the ground, and the mud on the banks of the ditch. Should...
361
Yen-ho.
Sand hard and fit to walk on.
R." Pei-ho"
Obstacles, &c.
18
yards, even at high tide. Found the place called the "Yen-ho," it is merely a portion of the beach about 200 yards wide, which is lower than that on either side, and through this passage the water flows at high tides, flooding to a depth of a few inches the country inside.
There appears to be a beach dry at all times the whole way from the "Che-kaon-ho" to the "Pei-ho" Forts. There may be occasional places like this "Yen-ho❞ to cross, but nothing of any consequence.
The sand appears hard and quite fit to land men on, should it be desirable to throw a force on shore here; it would be quite practicable at high tide; the men might have to wade half a mile, but on a hard bottom. Flat bottomed boats (paddle-box) should be used, however, and these convey 100 men each.
Field Artillery might be floated to within range at high tide upon rafts, and on the tide falling they might be dragged up high and dry.
August 30.-A gale of wind from the N.E. prevented our work,
31st. Went into the "Pei-ho," to see the state of the forts, &c. The gun-boats anchored about 1 mile from the forts, and we pulled in, in boats.
The river was much crowded with junks. The position of the iron stakes appeared to be rather changed, and the booms temporarily partly opened.
On arriving abreast of the Centre South Fort we were met by a Mandarin Chinese inquiries in a boat who asked us what we wanted? We said we had heard that they had English Prisoners at " Tien-tsin," and were come to ask if it was the case. They answered, they had had one, but had given him up to the Americans, as he belonged to that country, and they had no more. They asked what we were doing, and we said, making a map of the occan, as was the English custom. They hoped we should go, as, by visiting their coasts, in the way we did from one end to the other, we caused them to "Eat Misery."
Forts unchanged.
Wrecks unmoved.
R. "Peh-tang-ho."
Observed no change in the Forts except that they were all repaired and in good order. It is possible they may have put an outer coating to the wall between the embrasures, just to thicken the old wall, but no material difference exists.
We saw the wrecks of the vessels. The tide being high, we saw but little, only the top of the "Cormorant's" funnel, and some of the upper timbers of the others. They appear to have small floats attached to the "Lee," and a large stake appeared to have been driven on either side of her, as if to keep her in position. Many large junks were lying all around them, and one junk of war. Counted about 172 junks near the mouth of the river.
September 1st.-Shifted berth, and anchored off the " 'Peh-tang-ho," the river where the Americans landed to commence their overland journey to "Pekin."
2nd. Attempted to get into the river in a gun-boat, but could not find more that 8 feet of water.
3rd. Sent boats in to sound the channel out from the deep water under the forts, whilst I proceeded in a gun-boat, and surveyed the coast for about 9 miles to the N.E.
19
4th.Completed the work at the "Peh-tang-ho." I attempted to land with the interpreter at a village about 3 miles N.E. of the river, in order to see the nature of the country.
Our boat was observed by the "Tartars," and 25 men, armed, came down Landing opposed. to the beach. Being unable to get the boat within 300 yards of the shore, we got out to wade, taking two men with a sack to cut grass for the sheep on board, as an excuse for landing. However, the "Tartars" were not to be taken in, and made ready to fire on us. Expressing great surprise at their want of courtesy and strange objections to so harmless an employment, we were forced to return to the boats.
I, then, with Commander Bythesea, pulled into the river, and got up above Sketched the forts. the southern forts, and managed to sketch them without opposition; but just as we left, a large number of mounted men came down on both sides of the river, but too late to prevent the object being attained.
The bar at the mouth of the river has at least 4 feet over it at low water, Bar and channel. The rise and fall is about 10 feet; and after crossing the bar, the channel, which is easy, has 12 feet at low water up to the forts.
Accounts appear to agree to the effect that the river is not navigated very far. So far as one could see, the course of the river appears to be north-easterly, River apparently and I do not think it runs into the "Pei-ho," as pretended by the Chinese,
does not join the
though it is very possible they may have a canal of communication between the two rivers.
"Pei-ho.
forts.
There is a fort on either bank of the river, both firing down the channel, Description of the and at the same time partially supporting each other.
The southern fort consists of two carthen mounds, similar to those of the South. "Pei-ho" forts, about 30 feet high, and having 3 embrasures each, all in the front face. They are connected by an earthen curtain about 18 feet high, and containing 4 embrasures.
On the proper right of the southern bastion, a curtain containing two embrasures runs up to the houses of the town.
On the proper left of the southern bastion, there is a similar short curtain containing 1 embrasure, and at its extremity the wall is returned apparently by a thin battlemented mud wall for musketry, which appears to close on the houses at this end, and in this manner form an enceinte for the work
The whole length of the fort is not more than about 200 yards. Each embrasure is closed by shutters. The parapet on the top of the mound does not appear above 4 feet thick, and the embrasures are without genouilliéres,
The northern point of the battery is not more than 40 yards from the river, but the line of the work runs obliquely from it, so as to enfilade the approach up the river.
There is a ditch of some sort in front of the southern part of the fort, as 1 saw a junk there.
The usual landing-place appears to be close to the northern part of the Landing place. fort. This ditch or creek, in front of the southern part, is sure to be very muddy, and a great obstacle.
Above the fort there is a good deal of broken ground on the southern bank, which would form admirable cover for an enemy's infantry.
It would be possible to land troops on the spit, at a long range from the forts, even by laying a vessel alongside, the water being so deep; but I should fear the nature of the ground, and the mud on the banks of the ditch. Should
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