Directory_and_Chronicle_1841 — Page 58

1841.

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Battle at Chenpe

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In the meantime, the fort on Tycocktow was attacked and carried by the division under the command of captain Scott. The Samarang led the division, and pushed straight on for the centre of the battery, heedless of the fire which, on this side, the Chinese commenced and continued, until her anchor was let go within less than a cable's length of its guns. At that moment three hearty cheers were given, and then came her broadside. The Modeste soon anchored close by her, and the Druid and Columbine were not far astern. The broud sides from the long guns of the Druid were terrific, and mass after mass of the solid masonry crumbled away beneath their concentrated shot......... Though silenced, the Chinese did not quit their posts until the crews landed from the boats, and, entering through the breach that had been made, carried the fort by storm. In doing this there was some hard fighting hand to hand, and opportunity afforded for the Chinese to display their best strength. But they could not long withstand the deadly fire of the musketry, and numbers of them were shot down while climbing up the sides of the hill, vainly endeavoring to escape. The guns of the fort were spiked and thrown into the river.

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Thus, after an action of an hour and a half, fell the boasted strength of Tycocktow and Chuenpe-and the latter (fortunately for its moral effect) was carried chiefly by the land forces. The superiority of foreign ships and great guns had long been acknowledged; 'but on shore, hand to hand, the sons of Han believed themselves inferior to none. Their defenses on Chuenpe were not small; the lower and the hill fort, and the entrenchments beyond, were well constructed, containing in all probably not less than 2000 men, of whom full 500 were killed, and many more wounded.

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Among the killed was the heĕtae, or brigadier, commanding in the fort, by name Chin Leënshing, a native of Hookwang, and a veteran of about 50 years. He had risen from the ranks, and ob- tained the honorary distinction first of a blue and then of a peacock's feather, for his services in the field against various insurgents and mountain-tribes, in Hook wang, Szechuen, Shense, and Kwangtung. He remained at Leënchow, in the northwest of this province, for several years

after the suppression of the troubles there in 1833: and last year he was called from thence to expell the English from Hong- kong. He received a bullet in his breast, standing at the head of his men; his son, who, though repeatedly urged to save himself, refused to leave him, when he found his father was dead, and himself unhurt, leaped into the water, and so perished. This and other

VOL. X. NO. 1.

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