MILITARY
(Contd.)
On January 1, 1858, a special correspondent for the London press sent a despatch relating to the capture of Canton and the participation of the 59th Regiment, from which the following is extracted:
"For the first time since the taking of Yeh's stronghold, which the telegraph will have communicated to you before you receive this, I am now able to sit down in quiet to commit to paper some of the proceedings of our gallant little force since the first of them landed on the 27th of December, 1857. On that day, shortly after twelve o'clock, the Dove gunboat came alongside the Lancashire Witch, when two companies of the 59th Regiment, with Captains Bushe and Clarke, were embarked, and an hour afterwards were all safely landed at a creek about two miles to the eastern end of the walls of Canton".
The writer then describes the passing the night of the 27th and continues:
"The next morning, the troops were under arms at the time appointed, and when there was just sufficient light for them to see to buckle on their knapsacks, they were marched to one of the outposts, about three hundred yards nearer to Canton than the place the detachment of the 59th vacated being occupied as they left it by the Madras troops.
"As the first rays of the morning were perceptible in the East, the dull heavy boom of a gun reached our ears, and we knew that the bombardment had begun. The outposts reached, where we were to be stationed for a time, and managing to obtain a light breakfast on the remains of the repast of the preceding evening, we ascended an eminence and watched the effect of the shells, round shot, and rockets poured into the city by the fleet at frequent intervals. Every two minutes or so, a louder report than ordinary, and a higher range of the ascending shell, told us 'Whistling Dick' was amongst them, and the 13-inch was doing its work. A little more than an hour elapsed, and we saw the city on fire in several places - grand, magnificent fires - fires that spoke of war and carnage, and such that showed us that it was reality, indeed, that we beheld. We dwelt long and with interest on this sight.
....
"About 9 a.m. on the 28th, General Straubenzee having ordered a guard to attend him, ascended to an eminence beyond the one on which we were standing to reconnoitre. He was accompanied by Mr. Pellew, his aide-de-camp, and Colonel Stephenson, the Assistant-Adjutant-General. In about fifteen minutes, he returned to the landing place, almost immediately after which the French were landed, advanced, and passed through our camp. The 59th cheered them lustily as they marched by, and the cheering was returned with equal vigour by the gallant Frenchmen. Scarce twenty minutes more had elapsed when we heard the sharp clear ring of musketry, which told us the Frenchmen had already engaged with the enemy.
Hardly had we advanced to the height in front of us, when a yell and a shower of rockets and gingall bullets told us the enemy were not far distant; and a few seconds afterwards, reaching the crest, we saw the Chinese in force on the next height, the crest between the two hills being about 600 yards. The little band of the 59th - less than two companies of the Regiment - were about to charge, but were restrained by the commanding officer, Major Burmester; and being in skirmishing order, they kept up a sharp and well-directed fire on the Chinese. But nothing daunted, the Celestials, without cessation, kept up their fire, and had we not been in a splendid position, in which every man had cover - for the side of the hill was a Chinese graveyard - the loss on the side of this small body of British must have been immense.
20657
MILITARY
(Contd.)
On January 1, 1858, a special correspondent for the London .press sent a despatch relating to the capture of Canton and the
participation of the 59th. Regiment, from which the following is extracted:
"For the first time since the taking of Yeh's stronghold, which the telegraph will have communicated to you before you receive this, I am now able to sit down in quiet to commit to paper some of the proceedings of our gallant little force since the first of them landed on the 27th of December,1857. On that day, shortly after twelve o'clock, the Dove gunboat came along- side the Lancashire Witch, when two companies of the 59th. Regiment, with Captains Bushe and Clarke, were embarked, and an hour afterwards were all safely landed at a creek about two miles to the eastern end of the walls of Canton".
The writer then describes the passing the night of the 27th and continues:
"The next morning, the troops were under arms at the time appointed, and when there was just sufficient light for them to see to buckle on their knapsacks, they were marched to one of the outposts, about three hundred yards nearer to Canton the place the detachment of the 59th. vacated being occupied as they left it by the Madras troops.
י
"As the first rays of the morning were perceptible in the East the dull heavy boom of a gun reached our ears, and we knew that the bombardment had begun · The outposts reached, where we were to be stationed for a time, and managing to obtain a light breakfast on the remains of the repast of the preceding evening, we ascended an eminence and watched the effect of the shells, round shot, and rockets poured into the city by the fleet at frequent intervals. Every two minutes or so a louder report than ordinary, and a higher range of the ascending shell, told us "Whistling Dick" was amongst them, and the 13-inch was doing its work. A little more than an hour elapsed and we saw the city on fire in several places gband, magnificent fires - fires that spoke of war and carnage, and such that showed us that it was reality, indeed, that we beheld. We dwelt long and with interest on this sight
....
"About & a.. on the 28th. General Straubenzee having ordered a guard to attend him, ascended to an eminence beyond the one on which we ware standing to reconnoitre. He was accompanied by Mr. Pellew, his aide-de-camp, and Colonel Stephenson, the Assistant-Adjutant-General. In about fifteen
minutes he returned to the landing place, almost immediately after which the French were landed, advanced and passed through our camp. The 59th. cheered them lustily as they marched by, and the cheering was returned with equal vigour by the gallant Frenchmen. Scarce twenty minutes more had elapsed when we heard the sharp clear ring of musketry which told us the French- men had already engaged with the enemy
Hardly had we advanced to the height in front of us, when a yell and a shower of rockets and gingall bullets told us the enemy were not far distant; and a few seconds afterwards, reaching the crest, we saw the Chinese in force on the next height, the crest between the two hills being about 600 yards. The little band of the 59th. less than two companies of the Regiment - were about to charge, but were restrained by the commanding officer Major Burmester; and being in skirmishing order, they kept up a sharp and well directed fire on the Chinese. But nothing daunted, the Celestials, without cessation kept up their fire, and had we not been in a splendid position, in which every man had a cover for the side of the hill was a Chinese graveyard - the loss on the side of this small body of British must have been immense.
20657
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