1841.
Progress of the War.
179
nese, and destroyed and fired their encampments. The fire blazed long after dark, and formed a grand closing spectacle to this eventful day's work. The blaze must have been seen for miles off, and told the sad tale to the Chinese of the fall of the Bogue forts. It burned in a circle of nearly two miles, cast- ing a strong glare over the heavens and waters of the Bogue, forming, as it were, a vast illumination in commemoration of our triumph over the back- haired race of Han! I did not hear the number of Chinese killed in this fort
stated; they lost 30 guns. All the fortifications, those on Wangtong ex- cepted, are now being dismantled and leveled.”
On the morning of the 27th, the advanced squadron, under captain Herbert, consisting at this time of the Calliope, Herald, Alligator, Sulphur, and Modeste, (the Samarang having been sent to lie in Macao Roads, where the Hyacinth had previously remained,) pro- ceeded up the river, with the steamers Nemesis and Madagascar. In the evening was issued the following.
Circular to Her Majesty's Subjects.
A Chinese force of upwards of 2000 troops of élite (strongly intrenched on the left bank of the river at this point, and defended by upwards of 100 pieces of artillery), was entirely routed this afternoon, after an obstinate resistance, at- tended with great loss of life. The cannons were rendered unserviceable, the encampment and ammunition destroyed, and the late British ship Cambridge blown up, she having previously taken part in the action from a position close to the opposite side of a raft reaching across the river from the west of the intrench- ed camp. This signal service was achieved by an advanced squadron, consisting of the vessels named in the margin, under the command of captain Herbert of H. M.'s. ship Calliope. The casualties on the side of H. M.'s forces have been in- considerable, but are not yet accurately ascertained.
H. M.'s ship Calliope, at anchor off Brunswick Rock,
Whampoa Reach, 27th February, 1841, 9 P. M.
(Signed) CHARLES ELLIOT, H. M.'s Plenipotentiary. Vessels engaged: Calliope, Herald, Alligator, Modeste, Nemesis, Madagascar.
We have been informed, by an eye-witness, that two of the Chi- nese officers fell on the bayonet of the marines. When driven to the rear of their intrenched camp, some of the soldiers stood like men, fighting hand to hand. About 200 fell; and it was supposed that the chief officer in command was among that number, he having recently arrived from Hoonan. The steamers received a few shot, one grazing the top of the steam condenser of the Nemesis.
On Monday, 1st March, the raft that had been built across the river near the above-named fort, was taken away, and the ships pro- ceeded. The taking of the next fort was thus announced.
Circular to Her Majesty's Subjects.
Whampoa Reach, 3d March, 1841. A masked battery (situated on the N. E. end of Whampoa island) fired upon H. M.'s ship Sulphur and a division of boats yesterday morning, and was gallantly carried by the boats' crews. The advanced squadron, consisting of the ships mentioned in the margin, is at anchor off Howqua's Folly, and that place is oc- cupied by H. M.'s forces. H. M.'s plenipotentiary was this day visited by the Kwangchow foo, under a flag of truce, and there is a suspension of hostilities.
CHARLES ELLIOT, H. M.'s Plenipotentiary. Ships in advance: Herald, Alligator, Sulphur, Modeste, and two sail of trans- ports.
(Signed)
About twenty Chinese were killed here, and twenty-three guns destroyed. The Pylades from Chusan, Starling, transports, &c., joined the advanced squadron in the afternoon.
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