Directory_and_Chronicle_1842 — Page 168

150

Official Reports of Capture of Amoy

MARCH

9. Owing to the boisterous state of the weather, and the delay in the return of the steamers, the 55th regiment had not yet landed, but this was effected at daylight the following morning, I regret to say not without loss, a boat having been swamp- ed, and 5 men unfortunately drowned. Thus reinforced, I pushed strong parties of the 18th and 49th regiments down to the outskirts of the city, in the northeastern quarter of which, upon irregularly rising ground, and closely surrounded by n dense mass of buildings, appeared the walled town or citadel. Having carefully reconnoitered the place, I satisfied myself that, although there was a concourse of people passing and repassing at the northern gate, the walls were not manned; I therefore thought it advisable to take advantage of the prevailing panic, and having sent a sinall party with captain Cotton, the commanding engineer, to reconnoitre the approach to the eastern gate, which he promptly effected, I directed, upon his return, the 18th to advance, having the 49th in support, and the 55th in reserve. The advanced party of the 18th escaladed the wall by the aid of ladders found on the spot, and opened the castern gate, which was barred and barricaded from with- in by sacks filled with earth and stones. The remainder of the regiment passed through it and manned the other gates, the enemy having previously abandoned the place, leaving it in possession of the moḥ, which had already begun to plunder the public establishments.

10. I occupied the citadel with the 18th and Sappers, placing the 49th regi- ment in an extensive building without the public office of the intendant of circuit. from whence they could give protection to the northern suburb and command the communication to the interior by the only road on this side the island. The Artil- lery, I placed in a commanding position upon the top of the pass between the city and the outer town, with the 55th in support, occupying a range of public buildings, in which the sub-prefect of Amoy held his court.

11. Amoy is a principal third class city of China, and from its excellent harbor and situation appears to be well calculated for commerce. The outer town is divided from the chain of rocks I have mentioned, over which a paved road leads through a pass, that has a covered gateway at its summit. The outer harbor skirts the outer town, while the city is bounded in nearly its whole length by the Inner harbor and an estuary, which deeply indent the island. Including the outer town and the northeastern suburb, the city cannot be much less than ten miles in circunference; and that of the citadel, which entirely commands this subarb. and the inner town, though commanded itself by the hills within shot range, is nearly one mile. The walls are castellated, and vary with the inequality of the ground from 20 to 30 feet in height; and there are four gates, each having, in an outwork, a second or exterior gate at right angles to the inner gate. The citadel contained five arsenals, in which we found a large quantity of powder, with store of materials for making it; ginjals, wall-pieces, matchlocks, and a variety of fire. arms of singular construction; military clothing, swords of all descriptions. Shields, bows and arrows, and spears, were also in such quantity, as to lead to the conclu- sion, that these must have been the chief magazines of the province. Within the sea-defences first taken, there was a foundry, with moulds and material for casting heavy ordnance.

12. All these bave been destroyed, and this so much occupied my time, consider- ing too how much the troops were harassed by patroles to keep off. Chinese plun- derers, and by other duties incident to the peculiarity of our situation, that I aban- doned my intention of visting the interior of the island. The plunderers flocked