صور الصفحة
PDF
النشر الإلكتروني
[graphic]

CAPTURE OF CHUSAN.

To face page 189.

DEFENCES OF CHUSAN.

189

one of the three fired the first gun himself, and, on the steamers rejoining the squadron, hoping, perhaps, they had run away, reported that he had sunk one and carried away the mast of the other. This was forwarded to Yukien, who forthwith wrote to Peking, describing the bravery of the troops, their complete victory, and the annihilation of the barbarian van. The emperor immediately promoted the general, and decreed him the peacock's plume; but when the reward was bestowed the aspirant was no longer in this world.

The immense earthen work with embrasures at intervals, extending along the whole sea-line in front of the town of Tinghae, was constructed on the mistaken principle, that the assailants would have the extreme complaisance to attack it right in front. The left flank was protected by "Jos-house Hill" with its fort, which had been strengthened by the British during their occupation of the island; but the right had nothing except a body of Chinese troops posted on some high ground. While, therefore, a small battery was thrown up by us on Melville Island, in front of the town,

to shell Jos-house Hill, it was determined to direct the main attack on the western or right flank of the defences, called "Sapper's Point." To the surprise of the Chinese, who were expecting the attack in front, as had been the case at Amoy, they saw the steamers debarking the whole force on the right of their position, the 55th leading the way. As fast as they could form, the different corps charged up the hill, to stop the enemy's fire, which soon became galling. After making a tolerable stand, and with some instances of individual bravery, the Chinese at length gave way and ran for it. The 18th Royal Irish, with some light artillery, took the direction of the long-shore battery, and drove the Chinese from their guns. Here at several points a sharp resistance was made, and the commander-in-chief of the garrison, named Heo, fell fighting very bravely.

Pagoda Hill, in the mean while, was cleared by the fire from Melville Island, and the force pushed on for the heights immediately above the city. Here the artillery opened a fire on the walls, while shells were thrown in from Melville Island, and from one of the light

RECAPTURE OF CHUSAN.

191

steamers close in-shore. At a point where the ridge on the west extends into the city and interrupts the ditch, the walls were scaled, and thus Chusan fell a second time into our possession, not so soon to be restored as on the first.

The previous representations of Yukien as to the temper of the inhabitants were quite belied by the reception which they now gave to the British. Many of them hailed us as friends, by whom they had largely profited on the former occasion. Instead of flying and abandoning their houses as on the first capture, they remained quietly to take care of their property; no plundering took place, and the town continued as tranquil as ever. The greatest order and discipline prevailed among the troops, and the markets were abundantly supplied with provisions.

The two remaining generals, after the death of the chief, committed suicide. The civil magistrate, seeing all was lost, took as much treasure as he could carry, transporting it to Taeshan, a small island on the north of Chusan. To make it be supposed he had committed suicide, and thereby elude pursuit, he threw

[ocr errors]

down his boots and official dress near a canal; and thus the rumour, that he had destroyed himself like his predecessor on the former capture, prevailed for a considerable time. The vicissitudes of his subsequent history were curious. For having abandoned his charge with life he was at first sentenced to die, then banished, again reprieved, next condemned to pay a heavy fine, kept for some time in a state of degradation, but, lastly, named a candidate for the same magistracy whenever the island should be recovered for which, however, he had to wait five years. During the war he was one of the most active in raising a militia, constructing fire-rafts, and procuring provisions for the army. But he at the same time declared, with more honesty than most of his countrymen, that all endeavours would be vain, and that the wisest plan was to conclude a peace. He showed, like Eleepoo, the greatest humanity to English prisoners, saved some from being sacrificed to the fury of the zealots, and having thereby earned a good name among the English, was attached to the commission for concluding the peace at Nanking.

The native plunderers on this occasion had

« السابقةمتابعة »