REPORTING THE ATTACK ON THE PEIHO FORTS
[Supplement to London Gazette, 28 July 1858]
From the arrival of the Ambassadors on the 14th April, the Chinese have used every exertion to strengthen the forts at the entrance of the Pei-Ho; earthworks, sand-bag batteries, and parapets for the heavy gingalls, have been erected on both sides for a distance of nearly a mile in length, upon which, 87 guns in position were visible, and the whole shore had been piled to oppose a landing. As the channel is only about 200 yards wide, and runs within 400 yards of the shore, these defences presented a formidable appearance. Two strong mud batteries, mounting respectively 33 and 16 guns had been also constructed about 1000 yards up the river, in a position to command our advance. In the rear, several entrenched camps were visible, defended by flanking bastions, and it was known that large bodies of troops had arrived from Pekin. All the forts and the camps were covered with the various coloured flags under, which the 'troops of the eight banners,' as the Tartar soldiers are styled, range themselves.
At 8 A.M. yesterday, the notification to the Imperial Commissioner Tan, and the summons to deliver up the forts within two hours, were delivered by Captain Hall, my Flag Captain, and Capitaine Reynaud, Flag Captain of the French Admiral, and accompanied by my gallant colleague, and attended by our respective secretaries and Flag Lieutenants, we embarked in the Slaney, to direct the movements of the squadron.
I beg to enclose a copy of the plan of attack, which was arranged in concert with Admiral Rigault.
No answer having been returned to the summons by 10 o'clock, the signal agreed upon was made, and the gun-boats advanced in the prescribed order, led by the Cormorant. The Chinese opened fire immediately, and the signal to engage was made a few minutes afterwards from the Slaney. By the time all the vessels had anchored in their respective stations, the effects of our well-directed fire had become very apparent, The first fort was entirely dismantled and abandoned, and the second partially so, whilst those on the north side had been completely subdued by the Cormorant and two French gun-boats. At the short range within which we engaged, every shot told, and many of the massive embrasures of mud were levelled by shells. At the end of an hour and a quarter, the enemy's fire ceased. The landing parties were then pushed on shore, the one for the north forts, under the orders of Captain Sir F. Nicholson and Captain Leveque, and that for the south forts, under Captains Hall and Reynaud, Flag Captains, the Royal Marines on each side being commanded by Major Robert Boyle and 1st Lieutenant McCallum.
Owing to the destructive fire from the gun boats, but little opposition was made to our landing, and the Chinese troops were observed moving off in masses, whilst our people were in the boats. The flags of the Allied Powers soon replaced those of the Chinese. On the south side 200 large gingalls were found in position near the landing place, on an embankment.
Having obtained possession, the dismantling of the works was commenced, and field pieces landed for the protection of the forces against the possible attacks of the Chinese. Shortly after the landing, our gallant allies sustained a melancholy and heavy loss of men, killed and wounded, by the accidental explosion of a magazine.
When all the vessels had taken up their positions, a bold attempt was made to send down upon them a long array of junks, filled with straw in flames, and drawn across the river; but they fortunately grounded, and though the people, guiding them down the river with ropes, made great efforts to get them off, a few shells from the Bustard drove them away, and the vessels burnt out without doing any damage. Much skill and labour had been expended in the construction of these forts. The guns were much better cast, and not so unwieldy, as those in the Canton River, and were better equipped in every respect. They had good canister shot, and the hollow 8-inch shot appeared imitations from our own. There were several English guns in the batteries.
Directions were now sent to Captain Sir F. Nicholson and Capitaine Leveque to advance and capture the two forts up the river, which had kept up a smart fire.
This movement was successfully executed, under the supporting fire from the Bustard, Staunch, and Opossum. Several entrenched camps were also destroyed. The Chinese stood well to their guns, notwithstanding the shot, shell, and rockets that were flying thickly around them. Most of the gunboats were hulled, some several times, whilst boats, spars, and rigging were cut by round shot, grape, and gingall balls. This signal success, after the Chinese had ample time to fortify their position, and were confident of their strength, may probably have a greater moral effect on the Chinese Government than if we had attacked them in the first instance, when they were less prepared. The necessary arrangements at the entrance of the river having been completed, a further advance was made to the village of Takoo, where we found a barrier of junks filled with combustible matter, moored by chains right across the river, whilst seven similar obstructions to our progress were observed within a mile higher up. Captain Hall, with my Flag Lieutenant and a party of men landed, and took possession of 18 field pieces in front of an abandoned encampment at Takoo. Whilst on shore, the residence of the High Commissioner Tan was visited, and found deserted, though a significant proof of his recent presence was found in a beheaded Chinaman near his gate. It was ascertained here that the main body of the Chinese troops had retired with Tan to a position about 8 miles up the river.
The barrier at Takoo offering good security to our vessels below, it was made our advanced position for the night, in charge of Sir F. Nicholson and Capitaine Thoyon. I enclose a list, of our casualties, amounting to 1 warrant officer and 4 men killed, and 2 officers and 15 men wounded. That of our gallant allies is, I regret to state, much heavier; amounting to 4 officers and 2 men killed, and 5 officers and 56 men wounded. Many of these wounded were taken on board the Coromandel, Flag tender, where arrangements had been made for the purpose, under the able supervision of Dr. C. A. Anderson, Staff Surgeon, whose services on this occasion, and on all former occasions where we have been employed on active service, I feel bound to bring to their Lordships' favourable notice.
It now becomes my pleasing duty to mention to their Lordships, the laudable conduct of both officers and men under my orders. From Captains Sir Frederick Nicholas, Hall, and Osborn, I have received the greatest assistance, as well as from Commanders Leckie, Saumarez, and Cresswell. Commander Saumarez excited the admiration of the whole force by the noble manner in which he led the attack, and for some time sustained the heavy fire from the north forts.
In conclusion, I have much gratification in recording the cordial co-operation of my gallant colleague, and of the forces under his command. We have been actuated by the sole desire to carry into effect the orders of our respective Governments, in a spirit of the most perfect friendship.
Arrangements are making for a further advance up the river towards Tientsin.
I have, &c. M. SEYMOUR,
Rear-Admiral and Commander-in-Chief.