The efforts of the Sappers to lay down the pontoon bridge were unavailing; no less than fifteen of the men carrying it being knocked over in one instant, and one of the pontoons destroyed.
At this juncture, Sir R. Napier caused the two howitzers of Captain Govan's battery to be brought up to within 50 yards of the gate, in order more speedily to create a breach, and a space sufficient to admit one man had just been made when our storming party (now joined by the head-quarters' wing of 67th, under Colonel Knox) who had partly crossed by the French bridge and partly swum over, forced their way in by single file in the most gallant manner, Lieut. Rogers, 44th Regiment, and Lieut. Burslem, 67th Regiment, being the first to enter, when they assisted in planting the regimental colours of the 67th, carried by Ensign Chaplin, who first planted them on the breech (assisted by Private Lane, 67th Regiment), and subsequently on the cavalier, which he was the first to mount. At the same moment the French effected their entrance, and the garrison was driven back step by step, and hurled pell-mell through the embrasures on the opposite side.
Here the same obstacles which had impeded our advance, obstructed their retreat; in addition to two wet ditches and two belts of pointed bamboo stakes, there was swampy ground, and a third ditch and bank.
The storming parties opened a destructive fire on them from the cavalier, and this was enhanced by the cannister fire of Captain Govan's guns which had been moved to the left of the fort for this purpose.
The ground outside the fort was literally strewn with the enemy's dead and wounded: three of the Chinese were impaled on the stakes. A few fugitives reached the outer North Fort, which opened fire to cover their retreat, and was answered by the Armstrong guns with good effect.
About an hour after this the whole of the forts on both sides of the river hauled down their war banners, and hoisted flags of truce. General Montauban and I sent each an Officer to ask their meaning, and summon them to surrender, but they only received an evasive and insolent reply, and were defied to come on to the attack.
Accordingly two fresh regiments, the 3d Buffs and the 8th Punjaub Infantry, having been brought up, I advanced to attack the outer North Fort. Two 8-inch guns were placed in position against it; the other siege guns could not be brought up.* The field batteries were placed at 800 yards' range on an arc encircling the left and front, the French guns on our right. Not a shot was fired by the enemy, and the Allied Infantry pushed on, crossed the ditches, and scaled the walls, without meeting any opposition; the garrison of 2,000 men being made prisoners.
This Fort was stronger than the first. They are all constructed on the same plan, being Redoubts with a thick rampart heavily armed with guns and wall pieces, and having a high cavalier facing seawards, the guns of which were all turned in towards us; they have two unfordable wet ditches, between which and the parapet sharp bamboo stakes were thickly planted, forming two belts, each about 15 feet wide, round the fort, an abattis encircling the whole, and further covered by pieces of water, which force an advance to be made only on a narrow front.
Towards evening the garrisons of the South Forts were observed to be evacuating them, and detachments of English and French were passed over in ships' boats, and occupied them. There is not now the trace of an enemy near us, and the whole of the forts and entrenched camps are in our hands, containing about 400 guns, many of which are of very large calibre.
It is difficult to account for the confusion and uncertainty which seemed to pervade the enemy when the first fort fell; but it now appears that the general in command was killed, and the second in command was either killed or missing; and the confusion caused by this, together with the severe lesson received in the first fort, rendered them incapable or unwilling of further resistance.
I cannot conclude this Despatch without expressing my sense of the very valuable services of Major-General Sir Robert Napier, who conducted the attack, and whose assistance has been most useful.
The service of the Artillery under Brigadier-General Crofton was most excellent; its effects I have already described.
The engineering operations were conducted by Lieutenant-Colonel Mann; and, lastly, I must bring to notice the gallant conduct of the storming party, which was commanded by Brigadier Reeves, who, himself severely wounded in three places, did not quit the field until he had conducted his men into the Fort.
The wounded were removed as soon as possible into Tang-ku, where every arrangement for their temporary reception was made by Dr. Muir, the Principal Medical Officer.
*The guns of the cavalier of the captured fort were manned and turned on it.
Many others, both officers and soldiers, behaved in a manner deserving of being mentioned; but want of time does not permit me to treat of it in this despatch, and on a future occasion I shall do myself the honour of bringing their names to your notice.
I would also wish to inform Her Majesty's Government how cordially and sincerely our French Allies have co-operated with us, as well as the admiration I feel for their gallant conduct in the field.
General de Montauban has always shown every disposition to act thoroughly in concert with me, and to co-operate in every manner in his power.
The services of the gunboats will doubtless be brought to notice by the Naval Commander-in-Chief, and I beg here to record what a valuable and efficient colleague I have found in Admiral Hope, whose unwearying exertions throughout the whole campaign, and in discharging the numerous duties of transporting this large force to the seat of war have contributed greatly to the success of operations.
I have, &c. (Signed) J. HOPE GRANT, Lieut.-Gen.
Commanding Her Majesty's Forces in China.
The Right Honourable
The Secretary of State for War,
SIR,
&c
&c.
&c.
DESPATCH from Major-General Sir R. NAPIER to Sir J. Hope Grant.
Head Quarters, Tang-ku, August 24, 1860.
THE 2d Division of the China Force occupied the fortified camp and village of Tang-ku on the 14th instant, and the four succeeding days were devoted to the severe labour of bridging the numerous canals which intersect and surround the work, of making raised causeways through the broad spaces of the interior which are inundated at every tide, and of making roads to the front for heavy Artillery, in preparation for advancing on the Northern Forts of Taku.
Having received the sanction of the Commander-in-Chief to commence operations against the Fort which lay nearest to my position, I advanced on the evening of the 19th a strong picket, composed as per margin, to the border of a series of canals which surround the enemy's position. The Engineers, under the direction of Lieut.-Colonel Mann, immediately commenced passages across the broad canals to my front and left. My right was comparatively open and bounded by the Peilo. Tartar village and cantonment gave some cover on the left bank. The right bank was studded with strong batteries, which, together with the nearest of the Southern Forts, were capable of giving a severe flanking fire against our line of advance. An attempt to avoid this, by making a way through a series of salt works, consisting of deep canals and broad reservoirs, which protected the enemy's right, was unsuccessful.
The labour of the night of the 19th, during which nearly my whole picket was on the working parties, advanced us to a distance of 800 yards from the Fort.
On the morning of the 20th, the Commander-in-Chief visited the positions, and the sites of the batteries were determined on.
Up to this time the enemy had apparently taken no notice of our proceedings, but about 11 A.M. they opened from both of the Northern Forts, from the South Forts, and from the battery on the right bank, thus developing their whole fire. This was of material advantage in guiding my subsequent proceedings.
The fire from the Fort under attack was immediately replied to most effectively by a few rounds of Milward's Armstrong guns, at a range of 2,000 yards, and after a time the firing gradually died away, without loss on our side.
During the night of the 20th the batteries were completed by the Engineer Department, and the remaining canals in front were bridged, so as to give access to the ground, and convert them into valuable cover.
During this day the force was strengthened as per margin.
The Artillery for the batteries was passed to the front during the night, and placed in position before daylight, with the exception of one 8-inch gun, which got so deeply embedded in the mud that it could not be extricated until morning,
An aide-de-camp from General Collinôt informed me at dusk, on the evening of the 20th, that the French force destined to share in the attack had arrived.
8
The efforts of the Sappers to lay down the pontoon bridge were unavailing; no less than fifteen of the men carrying it being knocked over in one instant, and one of the pontoons destroyed.
At this juncture, Sir R. Napier caused the two howitzers of Captain Govan's battery to be brought up to within 50 yards of the gate, in order more speedily to create a breach, and a space sufficient to admit one man had just been made when our storming party (now joined by the head-quarters' wing of 67th, under Colonel Knox) who had partly crossed by the French bridge and partly swum over, forced their way in by single file in the most gallant manner, Licut. Rogers, 44th Regiment, and Lieut. Burslemi, 67th Regiment, being the first to enter, when they assisted in the regimental colours of the 67th, carried by Ensign Chaplin, who first planted them on the breech (assisted by Private Lane, 67th Regiment), and subsequently on the cavalier, which he was the first to mount. same moment the French effected their entrance, and the garrison was driven back step At the by step, and hurled pell-mell through the embrasures on the opposite side.
Here the same obstacles which had impeded our advance, obstructed their retreat; in addition to two wet ditches and two belts of pointed bamboo stakes, there was swampy ground, and a third ditch and bank.
The storming parties opened a destructive fire on them from the cavalier, and this was enhanced by the cannister fire of Captain Goyan's guns which had been moved to the left of the fort for this purpose.
The ground outside the fort was literally strewn with the enemy's dead and wounded: three of the Chinese were impaled on the stakes. A few fugitives reached the outer North Fort, which opened fire to cover their retreat, and was answered by the Armstrong guns with good effect.
About an hour after this the whole of the forts on both sides of the river hauled down their war banners, and hoisted flags of truce. General Montauban and I sent each an Officer to ask their meaning, and summon them to surrender, but they only received an evasive and insolent reply, and were defied to come on to the attack.
Accordingly two fresh regiments, the 3d Buffs and the 8th Punjaub Infantry, having been brought up. I advanced to attack the outer North Fort. Two 8-inch guns were placed in position against it; the other siege guns could not be brought up.* The field batteries were placed at 800 yards' range on an arc encircling the left and front, the French guns on our right. Not a shot was fired by the enemy, and the Allied Infantry pushed on, crossed the ditches, and scaled the walls, without meeting any opposition; the garrison of 2,000 men being made prisoners.
This Fort was stronger than the first. They are all constructed on the same plan, being Redoubts with a thick rampart heavily armed with guns and wall pieces, and having a high cavalier facing seawards, the guns of which were all turned in towards us; they have two unfordable wet ditches, between which and the parapet sharp bamboo stakes were thickly planted, forming two belts, each about 15 feet wide, round the fort, an abattis encircling the whole, and further covered by pieces of water, which force an advance to be made only on a narrow front.
Towards evening the garrisons of the South Forts were observed to be evacuating them, and detachments of English and French were passed over in ships' boats, and occupied them. There is not now the trace of an enemy near us, and the whole of the forts and entrenched camps are in our hands, containing about 400 guns, many of which are of very large calibre.
It is difficult to account for the confusion and uncertainty which seemed to pervade the enemy when the first fort fell; but it now appears that the general in command was killed, and the second in command was either killed or missing; and the confusion caused by this, together with the severe lesson received in the first fort, rendered them incapable or unwilling of further resistance.
I cannot conclude this Despatch without expressing my sense of the very valuable services of Major-General Sir Robert Napier, who conducted the attack, and whose assistance has been most useful.
The service of the Artillery under Brigadier-General Crofton was most excellent; its effects I have already described.
The engineering operations were conducted by Lieutenant-Colonel Mann; and, lastly, I must bring to notice the gallant conduct of the storming party, which was commanded by Brigadier Reeves, who, himself severely wounded in three places, did not quit the field until he had conducted his men into the Fort.
The wounded were removed as soon as possible into Tang-ku, where every arrange- ment for their temporary reception was made by Dr. Muir, the Principal Medical Officer.
*The guns of the cavalier of the captured fort were manned and turned on it.
9
Many others, both officers and soldiers, behaved in a manner deserving of being men- tioned; but want of time does not permit me to treat of it in this despatch, and on a future occasion I shall do myself the honour of bringing their names to your notice.
I would also wish to inform Her Majesty's Government how cordially and sincerely our French Allics have co-operated with us, as well as the admiration I feel for their gallant conduct in the field.
General de Montaubau has always shown every disposition to act thoroughly in con- cert with me, and to co-operate in every manner in his power.
The services of the gunboats will doubtless be brought to notice by the Naval Com- mander-in-Chief, and I beg here to record what a valuable and efficient colleague I have found in Admiral Hope, whose unwearying exertions throughout the whole campaign, and in discharging the numerous duties of transporting this large force to the seat of war have contributed greatly to the success of operations.
I have, &c. (Signed) J. HOPE GRANT, Lieut.-Gen.
Commanding Her Majesty's Forces in China.
The Right Honourable
The Secretary of State for War,
SIR,
&c
&c.
&c.
DESPATCH from Major-General Sir R. NAPIER to Sir J. Hope Grant.
Head Quarters, Tang-ku, August 24, 1860. THE 2d Division of the China Force occupied the fortified camp and village of Tang-ku on the 14th instant, and the four succeeding days were devoted to the severe labour of bridging the numerous canals which intersect and surround the work, of making raised causeways through the broad spaces of the interior which are inundated at every tide, and of making roads to the front for heavy Artillery, in preparation for advancing on the Northern Forts of Taku.
Miners. H.M. 67th Regiment.
Having received the sanction of the Commander-in-Chief to commence operations against the Fort which lay nearest to my position, I advanced on the evening of the 19th a strong picket, composed as per margin, to the border of a series Milward's Battery, Madras Mountain Indian
of canals which surround the enemy's position. The Engineers, Battery.
under the direction of Lieut.-Colonel Mann, immediately com Company Royal Engineers.
Do.
Madras Sappers and menced passages across the broad canals to my front and left. My A right was comparatively open and bounded by the Peilo. Tartar village and cantonment gave some cover on the left bank. The right bank was studded with strong batteries, which, together with the nearest of the Southern Forts, were capable of giving a severe flanking fire against our line of advance. An attempt to avoid this, by making a way through a series of salt works, consisting of deep canals and broad reservoirs, which protected the enemy's right, was unsuccessful.
The labour of the night of the 19th, during which nearly my whole picket was on the working parties, advanced us to a distance of 800 yards from the Fort.
On the morning of the 20th, the Commander-in-Chief visited the positions, and the sites of the batteries were determined on.
Up to this time the enemy had apparently taken no notice of our proceedings, but about 11 A.M. they opened from both of the Northern Forts, from the South Forts, and from the battery on the right bank, thus developing their whole fire. This was of material advantage in guiding my subsequent proceedings.
The fire from the Fort under attack was immediately replied to most effectively by a few rounds of Milward's Armstrong guns, at a range of 2,000 yards, and after a time the firing gradually died away, without loss on our side.
During the night of the 20th the batteries were completed by the Engineer Depart- ment, and the remaining canals in front were bridged, so as to give access to the ground, and convert them into valuable cover.
Govan's Battery, R.A. Pennycuick's Battery, R.A. Bedingfield's Battery, R.A. Company Madras Sappers
and Miners.
H.M. 44th Regiment.
Royal Marines,
During this day the force was strengthened as per margin.
The Artillery for the batteries was passed to the front during the night, and placed in position before daylight, with the exception of one 8-inch gun, which got so deeply embedded in the mud that it could not be extricated until morning,
An aide-de-camp from General Collinôt informed me at dusk, on the evening of the 20th, that the French force destined to share in the attack had arrived B 3
412
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