Battle of Taku Forts (1860)
Encyclopedia
The Third Battle of Taku Forts was an engagement of the Second Opium War
, part of the British
and French 1860 expedition
to China
. It took place at the Taku Forts (also called Peiho Forts) near Tanggu District (Wade-Giles
: Pei Tang-Ho), approximately 60 kilometers (36 mi.) southeast of Tianjin City (Wide-Giles: Tientsin).
in charge of the French. The force consisted of about 400 men : 200 British and 200 French. Hundreds of Qing Army troops garrison
ed the Taku Forts
, at least forty-five artillery
pieces were among the Chinese defenders.
force moved towards the Taku Forts for close observation, two British soldiers were wounded by bullets from a Chinese jingal
. After a few more days, on August 12, the allied force attacked the emplacement, they also built trench
es to help protect themselves from a possible Chinese counter attack. Then the major assault took place on the main Chinese forts. Heavy fighting ensued as the attackers crossed several Chinese trenches and spiked bamboo
palisade
s. The Anglo-French force first tried an unsuccessful attack on the main gate of the fortifications.
After that failed,the allied army were resulted to climbing over the walls and entering the main fortress that way. The first British officer to enter the fort was Lieutenant
Robert Montresor Rogers
, who was later awarded the Victoria Cross
for his bravery that day. He was closely followed by a private
, John McDougall
who was also awarded the Victoria Cross. During the fighting Lieutenant Rogers was severely wounded, fourteen men were killed and one drummer boy and forty-six other men were also wounded. Over 100 Qing defenders were killed, many more wounded and forty-five guns captured. After capturing the main Chinese positions, the force rested for six days then attacked again, resulting in the capture of the remaining Taku forts which were pacified by August 21. The number of French casualties is unknown.
of Peking on October 13, 1860 and the Chinese acceptance of the trading treaties.
Second Opium War
The Second Opium War, the Second Anglo-Chinese War, the Second China War, the Arrow War, or the Anglo-French expedition to China, was a war pitting the British Empire and the Second French Empire against the Qing Dynasty of China, lasting from 1856 to 1860...
, part of the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and French 1860 expedition
Expeditionary warfare
Expeditionary warfare is used to describe the organization of a state's military to fight abroad, especially when deployed to fight away from its established bases at home or abroad. Expeditionary forces were in part the antecedent of the modern concept of Rapid Deployment Forces...
to China
Qing Dynasty
The Qing Dynasty was the last dynasty of China, ruling from 1644 to 1912 with a brief, abortive restoration in 1917. It was preceded by the Ming Dynasty and followed by the Republic of China....
. It took place at the Taku Forts (also called Peiho Forts) near Tanggu District (Wade-Giles
Wade-Giles
Wade–Giles , sometimes abbreviated Wade, is a romanization system for the Mandarin Chinese language. It developed from a system produced by Thomas Wade during the mid-19th century , and was given completed form with Herbert Giles' Chinese–English dictionary of 1892.Wade–Giles was the most...
: Pei Tang-Ho), approximately 60 kilometers (36 mi.) southeast of Tianjin City (Wide-Giles: Tientsin).
Background
The aim of the allied French-British expedition was to compel the Chinese government at Peking to observe the trade treaties signed between their governments at Tiajian (Tientsin) in 1858, which included allowing the British to continue the opium trade in China. Lieutenant General Sir Hope Grant was the British commander with Charles Cousin-Montauban, Comte de PalikaoCharles Cousin-Montauban, Comte de Palikao
Charles Guillaume Marie Appollinaire Antoine Cousin Montauban, comte de Palikao was a French general and statesman.-Biography:Montauban was born in Paris. As a cavalry officer he saw much service in Algeria, but he was still only a colonel when in 1847 he effected the capture of Abdel Kadir...
in charge of the French. The force consisted of about 400 men : 200 British and 200 French. Hundreds of Qing Army troops garrison
Garrison
Garrison is the collective term for a body of troops stationed in a particular location, originally to guard it, but now often simply using it as a home base....
ed the Taku Forts
Taku Forts
The Dagu Forts , also called the Peiho Forts are forts located by the Hai River estuary, in Tanggu District, Tianjin municipality, in northeastern China. They are located 60 km southeast of the Tianjin urban center.-History:The first fort was built during the reign of the Ming Jiajing...
, at least forty-five artillery
Artillery
Originally applied to any group of infantry primarily armed with projectile weapons, artillery has over time become limited in meaning to refer only to those engines of war that operate by projection of munitions far beyond the range of effect of personal weapons...
pieces were among the Chinese defenders.
Battle
On July 30 1860 the Anglo-French army landed at Pei Tang-Ho. A few days later a reconnaissanceReconnaissance
Reconnaissance is the military term for exploring beyond the area occupied by friendly forces to gain information about enemy forces or features of the environment....
force moved towards the Taku Forts for close observation, two British soldiers were wounded by bullets from a Chinese jingal
Jingal
A jingal , or gingall, is a type of gun, usually a light piece mounted on a swivel; it sometimes takes the form of a heavy musket fired from a rest....
. After a few more days, on August 12, the allied force attacked the emplacement, they also built trench
Trench
A trench is a type of excavation or depression in the ground. Trenches are generally defined by being deeper than they are wide , and by being narrow compared to their length ....
es to help protect themselves from a possible Chinese counter attack. Then the major assault took place on the main Chinese forts. Heavy fighting ensued as the attackers crossed several Chinese trenches and spiked bamboo
Bamboo
Bamboo is a group of perennial evergreens in the true grass family Poaceae, subfamily Bambusoideae, tribe Bambuseae. Giant bamboos are the largest members of the grass family....
palisade
Palisade
A palisade is a steel or wooden fence or wall of variable height, usually used as a defensive structure.- Typical construction :Typical construction consisted of small or mid sized tree trunks aligned vertically, with no spacing in between. The trunks were sharpened or pointed at the top, and were...
s. The Anglo-French force first tried an unsuccessful attack on the main gate of the fortifications.
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
Robert Montresor Rogers
Robert Montresor Rogers
Major General Robert Montresor Rogers VC CB was an Irish recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.-Details:He was 25 years old, and a lieutenant in the 44th Regiment of...
, who was later awarded the Victoria Cross
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
for his bravery that day. He was closely followed by a private
Private (rank)
A Private is a soldier of the lowest military rank .In modern military parlance, 'Private' is shortened to 'Pte' in the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries and to 'Pvt.' in the United States.Notably both Sir Fitzroy MacLean and Enoch Powell are examples of, rare, rapid career...
, John McDougall
John McDougall (VC)
John Leishman McDougall VC was a Scottish recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.-Details:...
who was also awarded the Victoria Cross. During the fighting Lieutenant Rogers was severely wounded, fourteen men were killed and one drummer boy and forty-six other men were also wounded. Over 100 Qing defenders were killed, many more wounded and forty-five guns captured. After capturing the main Chinese positions, the force rested for six days then attacked again, resulting in the capture of the remaining Taku forts which were pacified by August 21. The number of French casualties is unknown.
Aftermath
The third battle at the Taku Forts was one of the last major engagements of the Second Opium War. The fighting ended with the allied occupationMilitary occupation
Military occupation occurs when the control and authority over a territory passes to a hostile army. The territory then becomes occupied territory.-Military occupation and the laws of war:...
of Peking on October 13, 1860 and the Chinese acceptance of the trading treaties.