Progress of the Expedition to China.
Centre column under lieut.-colonel Morris.
Royal artillery Madras artillery Madras sappers
H. M.'s 49th regiment
and shot carriers, 40.
Total
Officers.
1
23
25
Nov.
4 Rank and file
50
40
346
440
Ordnance. Two 12 pounder howitzers; two 9 pounder field guns. Doolie bearers
Royal artillery
Right column under captain Herbert, R. N.
Madras artillery
Seamens' battalion
Royal marines
Madras sappers
1 Officers.
1
15
8
1
23 Rank and file.
12
400
276
30
741
{
Total
26
Ordnance. Two 54 inch mortars. Dooly bearers and natives to carry shot, 30. 2. Officers commanding 18th, 49th, and 55th regiments will be pleased to send to head-quarters, as soon as may be practicable after landing, the men of their respective corps whom they were requested to select for the deputy provost marshal's guard in General Order of the 6th inst.
3. The European troops will land as heretofore in light marching order, and one day's cooked provisions. The native troops will also carry one day's provision.
4. The landing will take place if possible at daylight to-morrow morning. By order.
(Signed) ARMINE S. H. MOUNTAIN, It.col. deputy adj.-general. Early on the morning of the 10th, the ships-of-war were in position, and commenced bombarding the city. The troops, about 2200 strong, landed early in the day. On reconnoitring, the general ob- served a very extensive line of encampinents on the right bank of the river. The city being on the left, he determined to make the first attack on it. To effect this object, his small army was divided into three columns, a right, a left, and centre. Detaching the two former onwards towards the enemy's flanks, he ordered the latter to ad- There were fully 5000 men in this encampment, who, on seeing our small centre column coming up, turned out to give battle, and formed in good order. They did not appear at all sensible of the near approach of the flank columns, and must indeed have thought it presumptious in the extreme, for us to attempt to drive them from their stronghold with the handful of men in the centre column. The position of the enemy here was very strong, and on it the city of Ningpo defended entirely for its preservation.
vance.
Long before our men had fired a shot, the Chinese had commenc. ed a spirited and well directed fire from their ginjalls and field pieces, reserving their small arms till our men approached nearer. Their fire was solely directed against the centre column, the remain- ing two being screened from their view by rising ground.
This day will long be remembered on the side of the Chinese by the few who survived it. Boldly and steadily did the centre advance
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