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Progress of the Chinese War page 2


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The Emperor's reply: -

"On the 25th day of the first moon of the 21st year of Taon-Kwang (16th of February, 1841), the following remarks, written with the vermilion pencil, were received in reply: - ' We can on no account calmly put up with the insults and befooling of these rebellious foreigners as you have done. Blinded and unwilling to see as you are, dare you still have the hardihood to turn your back on our commands, to continue receiving the foreigners' documents, and even to beg favours in their behalf? Such proceedings pass the bounds of reason. Impotent and worthless that you are, what sort of heart is contained within your breast? Not only do you contentedly take in their insults and threats, but you even dare to hold up certain passages with intent to frighten us. But know that we have no coward fears. Beside this, we shall again announce our pleasure. Respect this.'

"At five o'clock on the 28th day of the 2nd moon, (March 20th, 1841), the Imperial commands arrived in this province, as follows: - 'The English rebelling on a former occasion, and having seized upon the fortresses of Shakow and Takok, wounding our high and subordinate officer and troops, have caused us to gnash our teeth with combined imprecation. We therefore specially deputed Yihshan, Tungwan, and Yangfang to assemble from every quarter the efficient troops, and to advance and exterminate the enemy. But now they have attacked and destroyed the fortress of Tinmun (Bocca Tigris), and even recklessly dared to approach near the confines of the city (Canton), creating vast confusion. Being destitute of all reason, contemptuously regarding our celestial dynasty, they have carried their unsubmissive rebellions to this extreme, and I, the Emperor, now swear that both powers shall not stand, (one or the other must conquer or die); let Yihshan, Tungwan, Yangfang, at the time reckoned upon for their arrival, forthwith put in order our patriotic troops, and with individual efforts seize the English barbarians, and make an entire extermination and end of the whole of them. Then will subside our wrathful indignation. If the whole number of them be not thus effectually destroyed, how shall I, the Emperor, be able to answer to the gods of heaven and the earth, and cherish the hopes of our people? Respect this.'

" On the 8th of the 3rd moon (30th of March, 1841), His Majesty orders Yihshan, Tungwan, Hoo, E. Lin, and Tang to put in readiness the troops, and most peremptorily make an entire end of the whole, not allowing even one luckless barbarian to escape back to his country; and furthermore, he (the Emperor) will summon a great arm/, that from the north they may be exterminated by destroying their nests and dens (in England and India), thus cutting them off both root and branch, and not allowing them one foot of ground, all in order to appease His Majesty's Imperial wrath! As for Keshin, who was accused of receiving bribes from the enemy, he is disposed of in a summary manner, the Emperor ordering that he forthwith be cut in sunder at the waist. His Majesty also orders all who officially attended him, whether great or small, his relations and all who appertain to him, to be decapitated indiscriminately! He disposes of another unhappy wretch, Paontsung (accused of traitorously combining with the English), by ordering him to be put to a slow and ignominious death, by having his flesh cut from his bones in small bits; and further that his native place be laid waste for one hundred le round, and his relatives be sentenced to the penalty of transportation! His Celestial Majesty concludes his bloody proclamation, as follows: - 'Let the peacock feather be plucked from the cap of Yihshan for his imbecility and tardiness in bringing forward the troops; let Tungwan be disgraced two degrees of rank; and let Yangfang be deprived of the truly brave Hoo; and let every officer in the province of Canton, whether high or subordinate, be deprived of his official button, until they make good their delinquencies by efficiency of effort. Respect this.' "

At the end of March Sir G. Bremer left Canton for Calcutta to obtain reinforcements. In the meantime, although the trade was partially re-opened, large bodies of Tartar troops were constantly arriving at Canton, and it became evident that the Chinese were acting in bad faith, and meditating hostilities. It consequence of this, it was determined to advance again upon Canton. The first movement was to take possession of the British factories, which was done by one of the columns under the command of Major Pratt; Sir H. Gough commanded the other column, which was towed by the Nemesis in a fleet of small craft till it reached a point on the line of the river five miles above the factories. The heights to the north of Canton, crowned by four strong forts, and the city walls appeared to be about three miles and a half distant; the intermediate ground undulating much, and intersected by hollows under wet paddy cultivation, enabled Sir Hugh Gough to take up successive positions until lie approached within range of the forts on-the heights and the northern face of the city walls. Having got up the rocket battery and the artillery, a heavy fire was kept upon two of the forts which had annoyed the attacking party most. A combined assault by both columns was soon made, and in little more than half an hour after the order to advance was given the British troops looked down on Canton within a hundred paces of its walls. A strongly entrenched camp of considerable extent, occupied apparently by about 4,000 men, lay to the north-east of the city upon rising ground, and from this it was evident that a formidable attack was about to be made upon the British. This encampment was assaulted in gallant style, by a column under the command of Major-General Burrell. The enemy were driven back at all points, and fled across the country; the encampment was burnt; the magazines, of which there were several, were blown up; and the permanent building, of considerable extent, set on fire. The following morning a flag of truce appeared on the walls of the city, when Sir Hugh Gough deputed Mr. Thom, the interpreter, to ascertain the cause. A mandarin stated that they wished for peace. General Gough, in reply, explained that he was compelled to adopt this course in consequence of repeated insults and breaches of faith; that he would treat with none but the general commanding the Chinese troops; that the British plenipotentiary was present, and that if he did not receive a satisfactory answer in two hours, the white flag would be struck.

Various parleys took place in consequence, and ultimately Captain Elliot agreed to the following terms: - 1st. The Imperial Commissioner and the Tartar troops to remove sixty miles from the city. 2nd. 6,000,000 dollars to be paid in one week for the use of the Crown of England, 1,000,000 before the next day at sunset. The British forces to remain in their actual position till the whole was paid. The losses occasioned by the destruction of the factories, &c., to be paid within one week. With this adjustment General Gough expressed his dissatisfaction in a despatch, saying: - "Whatever might be my sentiments, my duty was to acquiesce. The attack, which was to commence in forty- five minutes, was countermanded, and the feelings of the Chinese were spared. Of the policy of the measure I do not consider myself a competent judge; but I say, feeling as I would have been responsible that Canton should be equally spared with its defences, that not a soldier should have entered the town further than the fortified heights within its walls." That the general could have guaranteed this was evident from an interesting incident illustrating the admirable discipline of his troops. The soldiers of the 49th Regiment finding a quantity of ardent spirits called sham-shu in the village they had taken, without orders, or the previous knowledge of their officers, brought the jars containing the liquor and broke them in front of the corps.

Sir Henry Pottinger, who succeeded Captain Elliot, with orders to bring the war to a satisfactory conclusion.

issued a proclamation warning the British merchants that he would allow no commercial interests to interfere with this paramount object. The squadron with which he sailed anchored on the 25th of August in the harbour of Amoy, which contained a population of 70,000, and a garrison of 10,000, with 500 guns mounted. The fortifications were very strong, one of the batteries being built of solid granite, fifteen feet thick at the bottom, and nine at the top, and faced with mud two feet thick - a work so strong and so well built that four hours' point blank firing by our guns failed to make a single breach in it. The Chinese regarded this stronghold as impregnable. The guns from the ships, however, were brought to bear upon it. The Chinese guns were partially silenced, and, under cover of the firing, the Royal Irish, with Sir Hugh Gough at their head, effected a landing, being towed in boats to the shore. The Chinese, after discharging a few arrows and shots, fled precipitately over the hills to the city. No further resistance was made, and before dusk the fortifications were in our possession. The next morning Sir Hugh Gough, at the head of the troops, marched into the city, meeting with no opposition, the mandarins and soldiers having all fled. This success was attained without the loss of a single life on our part. The facility with which this great stronghold was captured was a terrible blow to the pride of the high officials. When the British troops landed, the mandarin who was second in command rushed into the sea and drowned himself; another was seen to cut his throat, and fall in the front of the soldiers as they advanced.

On the 30th of August the troops were withdrawn from the city, and a garrison of 500 men was left on an adjoining island. The viceroy of the provinces and a number of high officers witnessed the attack from the heights above the town, so that the moral effect of the fall of the city must have greatly facilitated further conquests.

In September the expedition sailed to Chusan, where strong fortifications had been erected; but the walls were escaladed without opposition on the 1st of October. The expedition next proceeded to Ning-po, and on the 9th of October the whole squadron was anchored off that large and opulent city, which was surrounded by a wall thirty-seven feet thick, and twenty-two feet high, with very substantial iron-plated gates at the east and west ends, two sides of it being further defended by steep rocks. But nothing that Chinese ingenuity and wealth could accomplish in the way of defensive works was able to stand before the English. Our troops were landed on the 10th from the ships under the command of Admiral Sir W. Parker, and about noon the British colours were planted on all the fortifications, the defences were reduced to a ruinous state, the Chinese abandoned their guns and fled over the heights in all directions, and in a short time the city was in complete possession of the British commanders, It is gratifying to be able to state that the conduct of the troops towards the inhabitants was such as to call forth the warmest commendation from the commander-in-chief. Sir Hugh Gough, in his despatch, remarked upon this victory, saying: - " The second city of the province of Che-Kiang, the walls of which are nearly five miles in circumference, with a population of 300,000 souls, has thus fallen into our hands. The people all appear desirous of throwing themselves under British protection, saying publicly that their mandarins had deserted them, and their own soldiers are unable to protect them. I have assembled some of the most respectable and influential of the mercantile class that have remained, and have assured them of my anxiety to afford them all the protection consistent with our instructions to press the Chinese Government. Proclamations have been issued, calling upon the people to open their shops, which I have engaged shall not be molested. This they have done to some extent, and confidence appears to be increasing."

No other event Of importance occurred during the winter. The Chinese made several attempts to drive the British out of that city, and a force of picked soldiers, fine muscular men, including 500 of the Imperial body guard, were sent to exterminate the "barbarians," but they were easily defeated. Chapou was another of the towns taken by the British. Of this place the following sketch was given by an eye-witness: - " Chapou presents many features in common with all Chinese towns: narrow, irregular, and filthy streets, stagnant canals, and crowded buildings, stores of grain, and immense temples used as public buildings as well as places of worship. There are two distinct towns, the one occupied by the original inhabitants of the country, the other by their conquerors. Both cover a space about four miles in circuit. A wall divides the Tartars and the Chinese. Both live as a separate people, obeying the same laws, however, wearing the same dress, and speaking the same language, but in their social habits differing from each other in a remarkable degree. The Tartar town is laid out like a compact encampment, and consists of lines of huts, running parallel, and only interrupted by the canals. Each hut has its own little compound, and on the bamboo fence, separating it from its neighbour, a rich vine is almost in every instance grown. The remaining space is occupied by the family well, a peach-tree, and a few beautiful evergreens, tastefully arranged, and twisted into grotesque shapes. The interior is less pleasing, in general only cold, damp clay floors, a few chairs, tables, chests, and rude bedsteads; and in the richness of their dress alone do they rival the Chinese."

On the 20th of July, 1842, the fleet, which consisted of upwards of seventy sail, proceeding up the Woosung river, reached the city Chin-Keang-Foo, which was also strongly fortified, and had besides an encampment in front, with immense lines of works to defend the entrances of two rivers that joined there. But here also our arms quickly prevailed. The city surrendered, and the high mandarins fled; but the Tartars fought desperately, and the dead bodies of their women and children were found in every house, drowned or otherwise killed by their own people, to prevent their falling into the hands of our soldiers. A vast number of Tartar fathers committed suicide after destroying their families, and our troops found the city almost entirely deserted, the place having become uninhabitable from the number of dead bodies.

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