4160-W-ATTACK ON CANTON

EXTRACTS FROM THE DISPATCHES OF REAR-ADMIRAL SIR MICHAEL SEYMOUR, COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF

REPORTING THE CAPTURE OF CANTON

[Supplement to London Gazette, February 26th 1858]

• 1. I have already reported the positions of the ships of war in the Canton Creek. At daylight on the morning of the 28th December, the signal agreed upon was simultaneously hoisted at the mastheads of the Actaeon and Plilegeton, and a slow fire was opened upon the S.W. and S.E. angles of the old and new city walls; along the east wall and on the south wall opposite the Vice Roy's residence To impede the progress and communication of the Imperial troops along the parapets, and to breach the walls, to facilitate the entry of the allied forces, a battery of two 13- inch and two 10-inch sea service mortars, and two 24-pounder rockets, under the direction of Major Schomberg, R.M.A., placed in position by Captain Hall, Commander Dowell, of the Hornet, and Captain Mann, R.E., on the Dutch Folly (where the French ind English flags were hoisted), played on Magazine Hill, the City Heights, and Gough's Fort, with the other forts to the northward of the city outside the walls. The long range guns of the gun-boats were also at a later hour of the day pointed in the same direction.

  2. Major-General Jan Straubenzee had been indefatigable in his search for a suitable point of debarcation, and at 7 A.M. the forces named in the margin* commenced to land inside of Kuper's Island Passage. The 59th Regiment, Royal Artillery, and Royal Sappers and Miners first; then the French Naval Brigade, followed by the Brigade of Royal Marines; and later in the day by the British Naval Brigade. From the pains taken by the officers who superintended the arrangements, Captain Hall, C.B., Captain Reynaud, of the Nemesis, and Major Clifford, Assistant Quartermaster General, aided by Messrs. James J. Hill and Henry Hill, Masters of the Calcutta and Hesper, the landing was effected with ease and dispatch. Soon after landing, Lieutenant Hackett, of the 59th Regiment, was surprised by a party of Chinese, who barbarously cut off his head and made off. Two were shot and a third was taken, and hanged.

3.

Troops 800

Royal Marines 2100

Naval Brigade 1829

French Naval Brigade 950

• 1. The 59th Regiment, on scaling the wall, proceeded to the southward, and went as far as the centre of the south wall, where they sustained several casualties; amongst the rest Ensign Bowen, who was mortally wounded, and died on the 10th instant. Having overcome all opposition, they returned to the South-east Gate, which they occupied and held as the extreme left.

  2. As a diversion, and with a view to carrying the South-east Gate, Captain Hall left the river, where he had been employed on important duty, at 9 o'clock, with 100 Marines and 600 officers and seamen, volunteers from the gun-boats. Their services, however, had been anticipated by the rapid success that attended our force on other directions of the city wall; but the readiness and zeal displayed by Captain Hall and these officers and men, is not the less commendable.

In concluding his Dispatch Admiral Seymour wrote:

• 1. I have on former occasions reported the great assistance rendered by Captain William K. Hall, my Flag Captain. I can only repeat, that I am under the greatest obligations to that officer for the untiring zeal with which he has devoted his whole energies to the good of the public service.

  2. As active operations may now be considered at an end in this quarter, I also take the liberty of mentioning the valuable services of Mr. W. D. Jeans, my Secretary, and the very laborious duties he has had to perform during the whole period of the existing difficulties with the Canton Government.

I have, &c. M. SEYMOUR Rear-Admiral and Commander-in-chief.

In concluding his report the Land Commander, Major-General Van Straubenzee, wrote:

Dependent as the troops have been during this war, on the services of the Royal Navy, the indefatigable exertions of Captain Hall, C.B., have frequently elicited the Major-General's admiration, and merited his warmest thanks.

To Captains Hand, Honourable A, Cochrane, C.B., Sherard Osborne, C.B., the Commanders, Lieutenants, Officers, and Seamen of the Naval Brigade, the Major-General begs to return his heartfelt acknowledgments for their gallantry and admirable conduct, and feels confident that should circumstances again occur which may render their co-operation with Her Majesty's land forces necessary, the British Naval Brigade will add new wreaths to the laurels it has already so frequently gained.

(Signed) C. J. VAN STRAUBENZEE. Major-General. Commanding Her Britannic Majesty's Troops in India.