Second Battle of Chuenpee
Encyclopedia
The Second Battle of Chuenpee was fought between British and Chinese forces at the Bocca Tigris
, China, on 7 January 1841 during the First Opium War
. The British captured the forts on the islands of Chuenpee and Tycocktow. The battle led to negotiations between British Plenipotentiary Charles Elliot
and Chinese Imperial Commissioner Qishan in the Convention of Chuenpee. Elliot declared, among other arrangements, the cession of Hong Kong Island
to the British Empire
.
fired Imperial Commissioner Lin Zexu
and replaced him with Qishan. British Foreign Secretary Lord Palmerston instructed Plenipotentiary
Charles Elliot
to have the ports of Canton
, Amoy
, Fuzhou
, Ningpo, and Shanghai
be opened for trade, to acquire the cession of an island or islands (or if the Chinese refused, the establishment of a secure English enclave on the mainland), and to be paid money for confiscated opium and military costs in China. On 1 December 1840, Elliot wrote to Palmerston that these demands would be secured in ten days. Three days after the deadline, Elliot wrote to Governor-General of India
Lord Auckland
that he failed to get the concessions, but still predicated success. He then conceded to Auckland that any success would be "far short of the demands of the government."
In negotiations with Qishan, Elliot wanted $7 million in six years and the surrender of Amoy and Chusan as permanent British possessions. Qishan offered $5 million over twelve years, so they agreed to $6 million. However, Qishan refused Elliot's territorial demands. Elliot offered to abandon Chusan
(which the British captured
in July 1840) for another port to be chosen later. After Qishan rejected the offer, Elliot told him, "There are very large forces collected here, and delays must breed amongst them a very great impatience." The year passed with no final settlements. An opium ship that sailed to Canton delivered a rumour that the emperor decided to wage war. On 5 January 1841, Elliot prepared for an attack on Canton. He informed Qishan that an attack would commence in two days if agreements could not be reached. He allowed Commodore James Bremer
, commander-in-chief of the British forces, to make offensive operations.
, 33 royal artillery
, 104 troops of the 26th and 49th
regiments, 607 troops of the 37th Madras Native Infantry
, 76 Bengal volunteers
, and 137 seamen from the Wellesley
, Blenheim
, and Melville
landed 2 miles (3.2 km) below the Chuenpee batteries
unopposed. An additional 30 seamen operated a 24 pound (11 kg) howitzer
and two 6 pound (2.7 kg) field gun
s. Major Thomas Simson Pratt
of the 26th regiment commanded the land force of about 1,500 men. About 2,000 Chinese men defended Chuenpee.
After advancing 1.5 miles (2.4 km), the British spotted the upper fort and an entrenchment, having a deep ditch
outside and a breastwork
around it. Upon spotting the British, the Chinese cheered, waved their flags in defiance, and opened fire from the batteries. The British cannons, which were placed on the crest of the hill, commenced firing. The Chinese returned fire for about 20 minutes. The Queen and Nemesis steamers (under Captain Edward Belcher
) fired shells into the upper fort while the Calliope, Hyacinth
, and Larne ships (under Captain Thomas Herbert
) attacked the lower fort. In less than an hour, the Chinese batteries were silenced. By 10:00 am, the upper fort was captured, and the lower fort was surrounded and stormed by royal marines. After the capture, Nemesis attacked a fleet of about 15 junks
under Admiral Kuan T'ien-p'ei
in Anson's Bay. The ship fired a Congreve rocket
that struck a junk near the admiral. A British officer gave his account of the incident:
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At about 11:30 am, the Chinese hauled down their flags on board the junks. Captain James Scott
of the Samarang commanded the attack on Tycocktow Island (west of Chuenpee). The forts began firing at the British vessels at 10:20 am. The Samarang returned fire ten minutes later after anchoring 200 yards (180 m) away. The Modeste, Druid, and Columbine later anchored in succession. Scott reported that "in a few minutes, so destructive and well directed was the fire of our ships, that that of the enemy was silenced, with the exception of an occasional gun or two." At 11:20 am, the ships proceeded to land and storm the forts. The Chinese remained in them until it was stormed by the British boat crews. The Chinese could not withstand the British musket
s during hand to hand combat. After capturing the forts, the Chinese guns were spiked and thrown into the river.
In total, 38 British were wounded. British sources put Chinese casualties and losses from 500 to 600 killed, 200 to 300 wounded, 11 junks destroyed, and 191 ordnance
s captured. 100 prisoners who laid down their arms were released the next day. According to Qing scholar Wei Yuan
, Kuan sent Rear-Admiral Li T'ing-Yü to Canton to request more troops, which the "whole official body" supported except Qishan, who spent the night writing peace proposals.
. As they approached Anunghoy Island (north of Chuenpee), a boat, which was rowed by an old woman, displayed a white flag. A man from the ship was taken on board a British vessel to deliver a request from Kuan that hostilities be suspended for three days to contact Qishan. The attack was annulled and Lieutenant John Ouchterlony wrote that it "certainly created a feeling of great disappointment throughout the fleet." Elliot addressed the meeting in a circular aboard the Wellesley: "A communication has been received from the Chinese commander-in-chief, which has led to an armistice, with the purpose to afford the high commissioner time to consider certain conditions now offered for his acceptance."
On 20 January, after the Convention of Chuenpee, Elliot announced "the conclusion of preliminary arrangements" between Qishan and himself. They involved the cession of Hong Kong Island
to the United Kingdom, a $6 million indemnity to the British government, direct and equal ties between the countries, and the trade in Canton to be opened within ten days after the Chinese new year. They also agreed to the restoration of Chuenpee and Tycocktow to the Chinese, and the evacuation of Chusan. On 26 January, the Union Flag
was raised on Hong Kong, and Bremer took formal possession of the island, under a feu de joie
from the marines and a royal salute from the men-of-war ships. On 29 January, Elliot proclaimed that Chinese natives "shall be governed according to the laws and customs of China, every description of torture excepted" and that "all British subjects and foreigners residing, or resorting to the island of Hongkong, shall enjoy full security and protection, according to the principles and practice of British law".
When the news reached the emperor, he ordered Qishan to be "degraded from his office" and to stand trial at the Board of Punishments. Qishan faced several charges including giving "the barbarians Hongkong as a dwelling place". In his response, he claimed, "I pretended to do so from the mere force of circumstances, and to put them off for a time, but had no such serious intention." The court denounced him as a traitor and sentenced him to death. He was imprisoned for several months, but by the end of 1841, he was allowed, without authority or rank, to deal with the British. On 21 April 1841, Lord Palmerston wrote a letter of reprimand to Elliot and recalled him for not securing the earlier demands. Palmerston dismissed Hong Kong as "a barren island with hardly a house upon it." Henry Pottinger was appointed to replace Elliot as plenipotentiary
in May 1841.
Queen Victoria addressed the battle and Elliot's negotiations in a letter to her uncle, King Leopold I
of Belgium, on 13 April 1841:
Bocca Tigris
The Bocca Tigris, Bogue, or Humen is a narrow strait in the Pearl River Delta, Guangdong, People's Republic of China, where the Pearl River discharges into the South China Sea. The strait is formed by the islands of Chuenpee and Anunghoy on the eastern side and Tycocktow on the western side...
, China, on 7 January 1841 during the First Opium War
First Opium War
The First Anglo-Chinese War , known popularly as the First Opium War or simply the Opium War, was fought between the United Kingdom and the Qing Dynasty of China over their conflicting viewpoints on diplomatic relations, trade, and the administration of justice...
. The British captured the forts on the islands of Chuenpee and Tycocktow. The battle led to negotiations between British Plenipotentiary Charles Elliot
Charles Elliot
Sir Charles Elliot, KCB , was a British naval officer, diplomat, and colonial administrator. He became the first administrator of Hong Kong in 1841 while serving as both Plenipotentiary and Chief Superintendent of British Trade in China...
and Chinese Imperial Commissioner Qishan in the Convention of Chuenpee. Elliot declared, among other arrangements, the cession of Hong Kong Island
Hong Kong Island
Hong Kong Island is an island in the southern part of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. It has a population of 1,289,500 and its population density is 16,390/km², as of 2008...
to the British Empire
British Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
.
Background
In October 1840, the Daoguang EmperorDaoguang Emperor
The Daoguang Emperor was the eighth emperor of the Manchurian Qing dynasty and the sixth Qing emperor to rule over China, from 1820 to 1850.-Early years:...
fired Imperial Commissioner Lin Zexu
Lin Zexu
Lín Zéxú ; 30 August 1785 – 22 November 1850) was a Chinese scholar and official during the Qing Dynasty.He is most recognized for his conduct and his constant position on the "high moral ground" in his fight, as a "shepherd" of his people, against the opium trade in Guangzhou...
and replaced him with Qishan. British Foreign Secretary Lord Palmerston instructed Plenipotentiary
Plenipotentiary
The word plenipotentiary has two meanings. As a noun, it refers to a person who has "full powers." In particular, the term commonly refers to a diplomat fully authorized to represent his government as a prerogative...
Charles Elliot
Charles Elliot
Sir Charles Elliot, KCB , was a British naval officer, diplomat, and colonial administrator. He became the first administrator of Hong Kong in 1841 while serving as both Plenipotentiary and Chief Superintendent of British Trade in China...
to have the ports of Canton
Guangzhou
Guangzhou , known historically as Canton or Kwangchow, is the capital and largest city of the Guangdong province in the People's Republic of China. Located in southern China on the Pearl River, about north-northwest of Hong Kong, Guangzhou is a key national transportation hub and trading port...
, Amoy
Amoy
Xiamen, or Amoy, is a city on the southeast coast of China.Amoy may also refer to:*Amoy dialect, a dialect of the Hokkien lects, which are part of the Southern Min group of Chinese languages...
, Fuzhou
Fuzhou
Fuzhou is the capital and one of the largest cities in Fujian Province, People's Republic of China. Along with the many counties of Ningde, those of Fuzhou are considered to constitute the Mindong linguistic and cultural area....
, Ningpo, and Shanghai
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
be opened for trade, to acquire the cession of an island or islands (or if the Chinese refused, the establishment of a secure English enclave on the mainland), and to be paid money for confiscated opium and military costs in China. On 1 December 1840, Elliot wrote to Palmerston that these demands would be secured in ten days. Three days after the deadline, Elliot wrote to Governor-General of India
Governor-General of India
The Governor-General of India was the head of the British administration in India, and later, after Indian independence, the representative of the monarch and de facto head of state. The office was created in 1773, with the title of Governor-General of the Presidency of Fort William...
Lord Auckland
George Eden, 1st Earl of Auckland
George Eden, 1st Earl of Auckland, GCB, PC was a British Whig politician and colonial administrator. He was thrice First Lord of the Admiralty and also served as Governor-General of India between 1836 and 1842....
that he failed to get the concessions, but still predicated success. He then conceded to Auckland that any success would be "far short of the demands of the government."
In negotiations with Qishan, Elliot wanted $7 million in six years and the surrender of Amoy and Chusan as permanent British possessions. Qishan offered $5 million over twelve years, so they agreed to $6 million. However, Qishan refused Elliot's territorial demands. Elliot offered to abandon Chusan
Zhoushan Island
Zhoushan Island is the principal island of the namesake archipelago Zhoushan Islands, governed by Zhoushan City, Zhejiang Province, the People's Republic of China. Its name means "Boat Mountain", because its shape. It is the province's largest island, and third largest in mainland China...
(which the British captured
Capture of Chusan
The first capture of Chusan by British forces in China occurred on 5–6 July 1840 during the First Opium War. The British captured Chusan, the largest island of an archipelago of that name.- Background :...
in July 1840) for another port to be chosen later. After Qishan rejected the offer, Elliot told him, "There are very large forces collected here, and delays must breed amongst them a very great impatience." The year passed with no final settlements. An opium ship that sailed to Canton delivered a rumour that the emperor decided to wage war. On 5 January 1841, Elliot prepared for an attack on Canton. He informed Qishan that an attack would commence in two days if agreements could not be reached. He allowed Commodore James Bremer
James Bremer
Sir James John Gordon Bremer, KCB, KCH , was a British Royal Navy officer. He served in the Napoleonic Wars, First Anglo-Burmese War, and First Anglo-Chinese War. In China, he served twice as commander-in-chief of British forces.Born in Portsea, England, Bremer joined the Royal Navy in 1794...
, commander-in-chief of the British forces, to make offensive operations.
Battle
British operations began at 8:00 am on 7 January from Sampanchow Island, 3 miles (4.8 km) below the first forts. By 9:00 am, 504 royal marinesRoyal Marines
The Corps of Her Majesty's Royal Marines, commonly just referred to as the Royal Marines , are the marine corps and amphibious infantry of the United Kingdom and, along with the Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary, form the Naval Service...
, 33 royal artillery
Royal Artillery
The Royal Regiment of Artillery, commonly referred to as the Royal Artillery , is the artillery arm of the British Army. Despite its name, it comprises a number of regiments.-History:...
, 104 troops of the 26th and 49th
49th (Princess Charlotte of Wales's) (Hertfordshire) Regiment of Foot
The 49th Regiment of Foot was a British Army line infantry regiment. During the Childers Reforms it was united with the 66th Regiment of Foot to form Princess Charlotte of Wales's Berkshire Regiment.-Service history:The 49th Regiment was formed in 1744, during the War of the Austrian Succession...
regiments, 607 troops of the 37th Madras Native Infantry
Madras Army
The Madras Army was the army of the Presidency of Madras, one of the three presidencies of the British India within the British Empire.The presidency armies, like the presidencies themselves, belonged to the East India Company until the Government of India Act 1858 transferred all three...
, 76 Bengal volunteers
Bengal Army
The Bengal Army was the army of the Presidency of Bengal, one of the three Presidencies of British India, in South Asia. Although based in Bengal in eastern India, the presidency stretched across northern India and the Himalayas all the way to the North West Frontier Province...
, and 137 seamen from the Wellesley
HMS Wellesley (1815)
HMS Wellesley was a 74-gun third rate, named for the Duke of Wellington, and launched in 1815. She captured Karachi for the British, and participated in the First Opium War, which resulted in Britain gaining control of Hong Kong...
, Blenheim
HMS Blenheim (1813)
HMS Blenheim was a 74-gun third rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched on 31 May 1813 at Deptford Dockyard.She was placed on harbour service in 1831. In 1854/5 she saw service in the Baltic as a 60-gun steam screw...
, and Melville
HMS Melville (1817)
HMS Melville was a 74-gun third rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched on 17 February 1817 at Bombay Dockyard.From 19 January 1836 until August 1837 she served in North America and the West Indies as the flagship of Vice-Admiral Peter Halkett and was commanded by Captain Peter John Douglas...
landed 2 miles (3.2 km) below the Chuenpee batteries
Artillery battery
In military organizations, an artillery battery is a unit of guns, mortars, rockets or missiles so grouped in order to facilitate better battlefield communication and command and control, as well as to provide dispersion for its constituent gunnery crews and their systems...
unopposed. An additional 30 seamen operated a 24 pound (11 kg) howitzer
Howitzer
A howitzer is a type of artillery piece characterized by a relatively short barrel and the use of comparatively small propellant charges to propel projectiles at relatively high trajectories, with a steep angle of descent...
and two 6 pound (2.7 kg) field gun
Field gun
A field gun is an artillery piece. Originally the term referred to smaller guns that could accompany a field army on the march and when in combat could be moved about the battlefield in response to changing circumstances, as to opposed guns installed in a fort, or to siege cannon or mortars which...
s. Major Thomas Simson Pratt
Thomas Simson Pratt
Sir Thomas Simson Pratt was a British Army general. He served in the First Anglo-Chinese War , in India from 1843 to 1855 where he was deputy adjutant-general at Madras, and was Commander of the British Forces in Australia from 1856 to 1861...
of the 26th regiment commanded the land force of about 1,500 men. About 2,000 Chinese men defended Chuenpee.
After advancing 1.5 miles (2.4 km), the British spotted the upper fort and an entrenchment, having a deep ditch
Ditch (fortification)
A ditch in military engineering is an obstacle, designed to slow down or break up an attacking force, while a trench is intended to provide cover to the defenders...
outside and a breastwork
Breastwork (fortification)
A breastwork is a fortification. The term is usually applied to temporary fortifications, often an earthwork thrown up to breast height to provide protection to defenders firing over it from a standing position...
around it. Upon spotting the British, the Chinese cheered, waved their flags in defiance, and opened fire from the batteries. The British cannons, which were placed on the crest of the hill, commenced firing. The Chinese returned fire for about 20 minutes. The Queen and Nemesis steamers (under Captain Edward Belcher
Edward Belcher
Admiral Sir Edward Belcher, KCB , was a British naval officer and explorer. He was the great-grandson of Governor Jonathan Belcher. His wife, Diana Jolliffe, was the stepdaughter of Captain Peter Heywood.-Early life:...
) fired shells into the upper fort while the Calliope, Hyacinth
HMS Hyacinth (1829)
|HMS Hyacinth was an 18-gun Royal Navy sixth-rate sloop. She was launched in 1829 and surveyed the north-eastern coast of Australia under Francis Price Blackwood during the mid 1830s. She took part in the First Opium War, destroying, with HMS Volage, 29 Chinese junks...
, and Larne ships (under Captain Thomas Herbert
Thomas Herbert (1793–1861)
Vice-Admiral Sir Thomas Herbert, KCB , was British officer in the Royal Navy. He served in the Napoleonic Wars, War of 1812, and First Anglo-Chinese War...
) attacked the lower fort. In less than an hour, the Chinese batteries were silenced. By 10:00 am, the upper fort was captured, and the lower fort was surrounded and stormed by royal marines. After the capture, Nemesis attacked a fleet of about 15 junks
Junk (ship)
A junk is an ancient Chinese sailing vessel design still in use today. Junks were developed during the Han Dynasty and were used as sea-going vessels as early as the 2nd century AD. They evolved in the later dynasties, and were used throughout Asia for extensive ocean voyages...
under Admiral Kuan T'ien-p'ei
Kuan T'ien-p'ei
Guan Tianpei was a Chinese admiral of the Qing Dynasty who served in the First Opium War. His Chinese title was "Commander-in-Chief of Naval Forces". In 1838, he established courteous relations with British Rear-Admiral Frederick Maitland. Guan fought in the First Battle of Chuenpee , the Second...
in Anson's Bay. The ship fired a Congreve rocket
Congreve rocket
The Congreve Rocket was a British military weapon designed and developed by Sir William Congreve in 1804.The rocket was developed by the British Royal Arsenal following the experiences of the Second, Third and Fourth Mysore Wars. The wars fought between the British East India Company and the...
that struck a junk near the admiral. A British officer gave his account of the incident:
James Scott (1790–1872)
Admiral Sir James Scott, KCB , was a British officer in the Royal Navy. He served in the Napoleonic Wars, War of 1812, and the First Opium War....
of the Samarang commanded the attack on Tycocktow Island (west of Chuenpee). The forts began firing at the British vessels at 10:20 am. The Samarang returned fire ten minutes later after anchoring 200 yards (180 m) away. The Modeste, Druid, and Columbine later anchored in succession. Scott reported that "in a few minutes, so destructive and well directed was the fire of our ships, that that of the enemy was silenced, with the exception of an occasional gun or two." At 11:20 am, the ships proceeded to land and storm the forts. The Chinese remained in them until it was stormed by the British boat crews. The Chinese could not withstand the British musket
Musket
A musket is a muzzle-loaded, smooth bore long gun, fired from the shoulder. Muskets were designed for use by infantry. A soldier armed with a musket had the designation musketman or musketeer....
s during hand to hand combat. After capturing the forts, the Chinese guns were spiked and thrown into the river.
In total, 38 British were wounded. British sources put Chinese casualties and losses from 500 to 600 killed, 200 to 300 wounded, 11 junks destroyed, and 191 ordnance
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...
s captured. 100 prisoners who laid down their arms were released the next day. According to Qing scholar Wei Yuan
Wei Yuan
Wei Yuan , born Wei Yuanda , courtesy names Moshen and Hanshi , was a Chinese scholar from Shaoyang, Hunan. He moved to Yangzhou in 1831, where he remained for the rest of his life. Wei obtained the provincial degree in the Imperial examinations and subsequently worked in the secretariat of...
, Kuan sent Rear-Admiral Li T'ing-Yü to Canton to request more troops, which the "whole official body" supported except Qishan, who spent the night writing peace proposals.
Aftermath
Elliot sent a Chinese prisoner to Kuan, with a letter explaining "the usages of civilized warfare" and that if the forts did not hoist their colours the next day, they would not be attacked. At 11:30 am on 8 January, British ships led by the Blenheim sailed up the Bocca TigrisBocca Tigris
The Bocca Tigris, Bogue, or Humen is a narrow strait in the Pearl River Delta, Guangdong, People's Republic of China, where the Pearl River discharges into the South China Sea. The strait is formed by the islands of Chuenpee and Anunghoy on the eastern side and Tycocktow on the western side...
. As they approached Anunghoy Island (north of Chuenpee), a boat, which was rowed by an old woman, displayed a white flag. A man from the ship was taken on board a British vessel to deliver a request from Kuan that hostilities be suspended for three days to contact Qishan. The attack was annulled and Lieutenant John Ouchterlony wrote that it "certainly created a feeling of great disappointment throughout the fleet." Elliot addressed the meeting in a circular aboard the Wellesley: "A communication has been received from the Chinese commander-in-chief, which has led to an armistice, with the purpose to afford the high commissioner time to consider certain conditions now offered for his acceptance."
On 20 January, after the Convention of Chuenpee, Elliot announced "the conclusion of preliminary arrangements" between Qishan and himself. They involved the cession of Hong Kong Island
Hong Kong Island
Hong Kong Island is an island in the southern part of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. It has a population of 1,289,500 and its population density is 16,390/km², as of 2008...
to the United Kingdom, a $6 million indemnity to the British government, direct and equal ties between the countries, and the trade in Canton to be opened within ten days after the Chinese new year. They also agreed to the restoration of Chuenpee and Tycocktow to the Chinese, and the evacuation of Chusan. On 26 January, the Union Flag
Union Flag
The Union Flag, also known as the Union Jack, is the flag of the United Kingdom. It retains an official or semi-official status in some Commonwealth Realms; for example, it is known as the Royal Union Flag in Canada. It is also used as an official flag in some of the smaller British overseas...
was raised on Hong Kong, and Bremer took formal possession of the island, under a feu de joie
Feu de joie
A feu de joie is a rifle salute, described as a "running fire of guns", on occasions of public rejoicing of nation and/or ruling dynasty. It can also mean a bonfire lit in a public place as a token of joy....
from the marines and a royal salute from the men-of-war ships. On 29 January, Elliot proclaimed that Chinese natives "shall be governed according to the laws and customs of China, every description of torture excepted" and that "all British subjects and foreigners residing, or resorting to the island of Hongkong, shall enjoy full security and protection, according to the principles and practice of British law".
When the news reached the emperor, he ordered Qishan to be "degraded from his office" and to stand trial at the Board of Punishments. Qishan faced several charges including giving "the barbarians Hongkong as a dwelling place". In his response, he claimed, "I pretended to do so from the mere force of circumstances, and to put them off for a time, but had no such serious intention." The court denounced him as a traitor and sentenced him to death. He was imprisoned for several months, but by the end of 1841, he was allowed, without authority or rank, to deal with the British. On 21 April 1841, Lord Palmerston wrote a letter of reprimand to Elliot and recalled him for not securing the earlier demands. Palmerston dismissed Hong Kong as "a barren island with hardly a house upon it." Henry Pottinger was appointed to replace Elliot as plenipotentiary
Plenipotentiary
The word plenipotentiary has two meanings. As a noun, it refers to a person who has "full powers." In particular, the term commonly refers to a diplomat fully authorized to represent his government as a prerogative...
in May 1841.
Queen Victoria addressed the battle and Elliot's negotiations in a letter to her uncle, King Leopold I
Leopold I of Belgium
Leopold I was from 21 July 1831 the first King of the Belgians, following Belgium's independence from the Netherlands. He was the founder of the Belgian line of the House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha...
of Belgium, on 13 April 1841: