Directory_and_Chronicle_1841 — Page 559

542

Bengal Governmental Notifications.

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scene of this day's contest. It gives me no ordinary gratification to say that a little after dark, they found heut. Hadfield with his gallant company in square surrounded by some thousand Chinese, who, as the 37th's firelocks would not go off, had approached close to them. The sepoys, I am proud to say, in this critical situation, nobly upheld the high character of the native army, by unshrinking dis cipline and cheerful obedience, and I feel that the expression of my best thanks is due to lieut. Hadfield and to lieut. Deverenx, and ensign Barkeley, who zealously supported him during this trying scene. The last named officer, I regret to say, was severely wounded. The marines, with captain Duff, fired a couple of vollies into this crowd, which instantly dispersed them with great loss.

36., At daylight the next morning I felt myself called, upon to send into the city and inform the Kwangchow foo, that if, under existing circumstances, a si. milar insult was offered or any demonstration made, indicative of hostile interrup. tion to the negotiations pending under a flag of truce for the evacuation of the city by the Chinese troops and a ransom of its deliverance, I would at once haul down the white flag and resume hostilities. At 12 o'clock, captain Elliot joined me, and a communication was received that the Kwangchow foo would meet us under the walls. Previous to his arrival, vast numbers of Chinese appeared on the hills, which during the early part of the morning had been clear. Guns and ginjalls were fired in all directions, various banners displayed, and large parties thrown out in advance. About 7500 Tartar troops had marched out of the city that morning, and were still moving, with their arms, but, as stipulated, without music or banners. I felt some doubt whether treachery was not contemplated, and I therefore made such a disposition of our troops, as to ensure its defeat. By 2 o'clock from 12,000 to 15,000 men, evidently the same description of force, that we had inet the preceding day, had assembled on the same heights.

37. The Kwangchow foo now arrived, and it became evident, and he was perfectly in my power, that no combination existed between the troops in the town or these marching out, and the assemblage in my rear. I therefore ordered the wing of the 26th, the other wing had been left at Tsinghae, to keep up the communication with the rear, and a wing of the 49th with the 37th M. N. I. and the royal marines to be prepared to disperse the assailants. On joining the Kwang- chow foo, and explaining my determination to put my threat in force if the enemy advanced, he assured me that this hostile movement was without the knowledge, and against the wishes, of the Chinese authorities; that there were no officers with this militia in our rear, that it had assembled to protect the villages in the plain, and that he would instantly send off a officer of rank (his own assistant) with orders for its immediate dispersion, if I would depute an officer to accompany

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38. Capt. Moore, of the 34th Bengal N. I. deputy-judge advocate general, volun- teered this hazardous duty. This afficer had accompanied me as one of my per. sonal staff throughout all the operations, and he and major Wilson, pay master to the expedition, who kindly volunteered to act in the same capacity, had by their zealous service been most useful to me in a country, where all my orders were to be conveyed by officers on foot through an intricate line of communication. Capt. Moore was quite successful, as the whole body instantly retreated and entirely dispersed as soon as he and the Chinese officer had made known to the leaders the object of their coming.