Directory_and_Chronicle_1842 — Page 531

1512

Journal of Occurieners.

513

reported af from fifteen hundred to three thousand men, were in a camp which was visible from hills overhanging the river, at a distance of about three miles. Against this camp the right brigade moved under major-general lord Saltoun. The centre brigade, led by major-general Bartley, was directed in the first instance, to co-operate with the right one, in cutting off the anticipated retreat of the fugitives from the camp in the direction of the city; and the lett brigade, headed by major-general Schoedde, landed on the river in face of the city opposite the fleet, where it was instructed to escalade the northern wall, which the centre brigade was likewise appointed to do on the southern side, after it had perfornied the other duty assigned to it.

The Chinese troops in the camp did not venture to stand the near ap- proach of our men, but after hiring three or four distant vollies from their ginjalls and matchlocks, broke and dispersed all over the country, which was billy and covered with thick jungle. By this time the left brigade had got on shore, when it become obvious, that the Tartar garrison intended to de- fend the city, from the walls of which they opened a heavy and incessant fire of cannon, ginjalls, wall pieces, rockets and matchlocks. As the left brigade moved up from the landing place, the Auckland steam frigate, which had been placed in position for the purpose, threw some shells amongst the enemy on the works with admirable precision, but was obliged to cease firing, owing to the rapid advance of the brigade to the bottom of the wall, which was most gallantly escaladed under a heavy fire from the Tartar troops, who behaved with great spirit, and disputed every inch of the ramparts, availing them- selves with great tact, of their knowledge of the localities to gall our, and screen their own, troops.

The centre brigade got into the city (after some delay in finding a bridge to cross the Grand Canal, which runs along the western side of Chinkiang fú, and separates the walled city from very extensive suburbs,) by blowing open one of the gates; but even after the left brigade had received this large reinforcement, besides parties of marines and seamen who were landed the moment the opposition promised to be so stubborn, the Tartars manfully pro- longed the contest for some hours, and it was late in the afternoon before they entirely disappeared, which it is surmised the survivors did by throwing away their arms and uniform, and either hiding themselves till night enabled them to escape, or else mingling with the other inhabitants. The city of Chinking is rather more than four miles in circumference, the works are in excellent repair, and the parapet, which is so thick and solid that nothing but cannon shot could have made any impression on it, is pierced with narrow embrazures and loopholes, and flanked at a variety of spots with transverse walls.

It has hitherto been impossible to obtain anything like a precise return of the strength of the garrison, but from calculations made with reference to the extent of the works, and Tartar troops seen on them at the same moment, it is thought there could not have been less than three thousand men. Of these it is said, that forty_mandarins (officers) and one thousand men, were killed and wounded. The Tartar general commanding-in-chief, retired to his house when he saw that all was lost, made his servants set it on fire, and sat in his chair till he was burned to death. His private secretary was found the day after the assault, hidden in a garden, and on being carried to the spot, re- cognized the half consumed remains of his master, who was worthy of a nobler death.

It will be readily understood, that a brilliant service, of which the preced- ing detail gives but a very feeble outline, could not be performed without loss on our side, and her majesty's plenipotentiary is sure that all her majesty's subjects in China will participate in lus feelings of sincere regret at the an- nexed or terres of casualties of killed and wounded in her majesty's combined forces

at.

འ་་ TA