CO129-079 - Public Offices - 1860 — Page 408

6

NOMINAL RETURN of Casualties in the Force under His Excellency Sir J. Hope Grant, G.C.B., Commanding the Forces in China, at the Action on the Chow-Ho, September 18, 1860.

Probyn's Horse -

Corps.

1st King's Dragoon Guards

Fane's Horse

1st Battalion Military Train

15th Punjaub Infantry

Total

Nature of Wounds.

7

Forty-three guns were taken during the action, and the loss of the Chinese was very severe. On the right and left were their heaviest losses, but all along the centre, small groups of dead showed the effect of the artillery fire, which had followed their move- ments till they finally retreated. Our loss is two killed and 29 wounded-chiefly slightly.

I should wish most particularly to bring to notice the very excellent service of the King's Dragoon Guards. The country is extremely unfavourable for cavalry at present, partly from the number of ditches, and partly on account of the crops of maize and millet having been recently cut, leaving sharp-pointed stubble, most injurious to horses, and rendering their rapid movement very difficult; their charge was, however, most effective, and they surmounted these obstacles in a most creditable manner.

I have, &c., (Signed) J. HOPE GRANT,

Dau-

Severely. Slightly.

Missing.

gerously.

1

1

1

5

1

4

1

1

2

The Right Honourable

2

5

12

1

Commander of the Forces.

The Secretary of State for War, &c. NOMINAL RETURN of the Casualties in the Force under His Excellency Sir J. Hope Grant, G.C.B., Commanding the Force in China, at the Action on September 21, 1860.

SIR,

DESPATCH from Sir J. HOPE GRANT to Mr. Secretary HERBERT.

(No. 47.)

Head Quarters, Camp near Tangchow, September 22, 1860.

I HAVE the honour to report, that after the action of the 18th inst. I remained in Chang-tsia-wan for two days, during which time the 1,500 French troops left at Hoo- seiwoo joined us, and some convoys arrived in camp, together with intelligence of a flotilla of junks coming up the Peiho with further supplies. From reconnaissances on the 19th and 20th, we had ascertained that the Chinese army was encamped in very large numbers about four miles off, on the road between Tangchow and Pekin, and on both sides of the canal which runs from the Peiho to the latter city.

At daybreak on the 21st I marched from Chang-tsia-wan, and parking the baggage in a village two miles in front, I was there joined by the French who advanced on the right. Soon after passing Tangchow the French troops got under fire of the Chinese works thrown up to protect a fine bridge crossing the canal, and on the Imperial high-road to Pekin. At this point the enemy's infantry appeared in considerable force. On the left, the Tartar cavalry showed in large masses, and advanced rapidly until within 200 yards of our guns, which, hastily unlimbering, drove them off with a fire of canister, assisted by skirmishers thrown forward from the 2nd (Queen's). The Cavalry Brigade, which I had kept échelonned away on the left to guard that flank, was now moving up, and the enemy's cavalry driven away from the right by our fire, hung in large masses on our left front, affording an excellent opportunity for our cavalry to charge, which they promptly seized, the King's Dragoon Guards, under Lieutenant-Colonel Sayers, in particular inflicting a very heavy loss on the enemy. On the left Fane's Horse charged a similar body with great gallantry, whilst the 1st Sikh Cavalry, under Major Probyn, supporting Fane's Horse, effectually turned the right of the Chinese army.

The enemy, though defeated on the spot, yet still remained in front, in clouds of horsemen, who, though constantly retiring from the advance of any party of our cavalry, however small, never allowed more than 1,000 yards to intervene between us, and showed a steady and threatening front. At this time I had with me the cavalry, the 4th infantry brigade, and three Armstrong guns; the rest of the artillery, with the 2nd brigade, having been left in the centre, with directions to feel the French left. With the three Armstrong guns, under Capt. Rowley, we fired occasional single shots on their thickest masses. These shots, fired singly, at slow intervals, served admirably to illustrate the good qualities of the Armstrong gun; not one failed to strike the thick masses of the enemy, at once dispersing them from the spot.

Thus advancing, the cavalry was brought to a check by the fire of a camp, which was taken by the 99th regiment, under Major Dowbiggin, and which proved to be the head quarters of some of the Imperial princes. This, with several others in the neighbour- hood, was burnt by our troops, and the Chinese army retired upon Pekin.

We then rejoined our right, which had kept in line with the French, who had carried the bridge, inflicting much loss on the enemy.

Corps.

Nature of Wounds.

Killed.

Dan- Severely. Slightly. gerously.

Ist King's Dragoon Guards

1

I

Ist Sikh Cavalry

Fane's Horse

2nd Queen's

15th Punjab Infantry

Total

SIR,

I a

3

5

1

13

1

1

4

2

1

6

22

Advance on Pekin.

DESPATCII from Sir J. HOPE GRANT to Mr. Secretary Herbert.

(No. 51.)

BER

Head-Quarters, Bivouac, outside Pekin, Oct. 9. 1860.

In continuation of my letter* of the 4th instant, I have the honour to report that, on the 5th of October the Allied Forces advanced from Tungchow, leaving the heavy guns, tents, and baggage stored about three miles from that place. We halted for the night about three miles cast of the north-east angle of Pekin, and the following morning resumed our march in a north-westerly direction, so as to pass along the northern face of the city, but out of gun-shot of the walls, and attack Sang-ko-lin-sin's army, which was supposed to be encamped directly in our front.

The country about here is not good for cavalry, from the great number of trees, villages, and hollow roads. I accordingly despatched the Cavalry Brigade with two 6-pounders with mounted detachments, with orders to advance on the road leading to the Emperor's Palace at Yuen-min-Yuen, with a view of cutting off the retreat of the enemy in that direction. The French were on our left, while the English force moved along the outside of an old rampart which runs parallel to the north face of the city. At this time we received information that the Chinese ariny were in full retreat, having commenced moving the night before. I therefore sent a message to General de Montauban, that I should advance at once to the Emperor's Palace. On the road, however, we came across the rear-guard apparently of the enemy, with whom a few shots were exchanged before they fled towards the city. As they appeared to be in considerable force in the suburb, I determined on halting on the northern road te prevent their moving out in that direction.

*Not received.

A 4

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