Directory_and_Chronicle_1841 — Page 418

1841.

Capture of the Heights above Canton,

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so that it would have been useless to have sent them in search of our missing men; an express was therefore dispatched for two com- panies of the Royal Marines armed with percussion muskets. The rear of the 26th, while retiring, had been much annoyed by the one- my. Taking advantage of the almost helpless state of our men--none of whose muskets would go off, and their bayonets becoming all but useless weapons when opposed to long spears, so that little resis- tance beyond self-protection could be offered—the enemy contrived to pull over some of our men, with an instrument resembling a shep- herd's crook attached to a long bambon, and afterwards rush on their unfortunate, victims with their swords.

Great anxiety was now entertained for the fate of the missing com- pany. The food of the sepoys had just been cooked, when the order arrived to fall in; and such was the anxiety of the men to close with the soors who had been the means of bringing them from their owir country (an expression the sepoys were often heard to make), that they preferred leaving everything untouched, saying they would have a better appetite on their return; consequently none of them had taken any food since the previous day at noon. They had been exposed too, for the whole day to very harassing duty, at one time under a broil ing sun, and at another under drenching rain. It was therefore very natural to suppose that by this time they were considerably fatigued.

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In a small force like ours-at least small compared to the numbers opposed to us-the loss of even one company of sixty men' would be severely felt. But Providence had destined it otherwise. An oc‹ casional musket shot was heard by the marines in' search; and on advancing towards the spot whence it proceeded, a distinct 'hur- rah' was heard to follow each report. The marines also fired a few shot, and returned the 'hurrah,' and before the men' were aware of it (for at this time it was quite dark and continued to rain), came suddenly upon a large body of Chinese, who scampered off as soon as they saw our men approaching, and exposed to view the lost party, drawn up in form of a aquare. A feu de joie was fired by the marines in the direction of the flying cowardly enemy, after which the whole party turned homewards, the marines carrying such as were wounded. It was about 9 o'clock P. M., when the men reached the lines, where many hearty congratulations passed on all sides.

It now appeared that this company commenced retiring about the same time with the rest of the force composing the advance; and' that after they had proceeded a few hundred yards, their rear was