Battle of the Bogue
Encyclopedia
The Battle of the Bogue was fought between British and Chinese forces at the Bocca Tigris
, China, on 23–26 February 1841 during the First Opium War
. The British captured the forts on the islands of Anunghoy and North Wangtong.
on 7 January 1841, British Plenipotentiary
Charles Elliot
and Chinese Imperial Commissioner Qishan negotiated a treaty in the Convention of Chuenpee on 20 January. A term of the treaty was that the port of Canton
was to be opened for trade on 2 February. By that date, the proclamation for the opening of the port did not appear. On 11–12 February, Elliot and Qishan met again at the Bocca Tigris
. Elliot acceded to a further delay (not exceeding 10 days) for the treaty to be fairly prepared. Commodore James Bremer
, commander-in-chief of the British forces, wrote in his dispatch:
Suspecting warlike intentions, Bremer sailed to Macao
Roads on 13 February to confer with Elliot. Bremer found that the treaty between Elliot and Qishan was sent by the Nemesis up the Bocca Tigris to Canton, with orders to await an answer until the night of 18 February. On the morning of 19 February, the Nemesis returned without any reply, and all doubt towards the hostile intentions of the Chinese ended when a shot from North Wangtong was fired on the ship. Bremer detached the Calliope, Samarang, Herald
, Alligator, Modeste, and Sulphur ships under Captain Thomas Herbert
to prevent further defensive preparations. In a proclamation from Lieutenant-Governor of Canton, Eleang, $30,000 was offered for the heads of Bremer or Elliot, and $50,000 for anyone who could seize them alive, among other rewards.
, who was accompanied by Charles Elliot, sailed to the back passage of Anunghoy Island on board the Nemesis, with the Calliope, Samarang, Herald, and Alligator. They unexpectedly reached a masked battery
, which immediately opened fire on the British ships. Herbert reported that 30 small Chinese junks
and boats were "making off in the greatest confusion; our return fire was rapid and so energetically followed up by landing and pushing on to the attack, that the fort ... was immediately in our possession." The Chinese fled after a slight resistance. Their magazines
, a few junks, and some boats were burned. The British captured 60 unmounted guns and 20 mounted guns, which they disabled by breaking the trunnion
s. There were no British casualties in the operations. Herbert reported 20 to 30 Chinese dead.
On the same day, former Imperial Commissioner Lin Zexu
wrote in his diary: "I hear that two small steamers belonging to the rebel English, with several small boats, sailed straight up to T'ai-p'ing-hsü [behind Anson's Bay] in the Bogue, opened fire and set alight a number of peasants' houses, and also the Customs House."
of the Blenheim
was aided by the Melville
, Queen steamer, and four rocket boats. The Blenheim approached the south Anunghoy fort, dropped its anchor 600 yards (548.6 m) from it, and fired broadside
s from starboard. The Melville approached five minutes later near the portside of the Blenheim, sailed within 400 yards (365.8 m) from the fort, and fired broadsides in quick succession. A British officer wrote, "The firing of these ships was most splendid: nothing could withstand their deadly aim ... One or two shot were sufficient for the 'dragon-hearted' defenders of the north fort, who, 'letting' off their guns, fled up the hills."
After bombarding and silencing the Anunghoy batteries
, Senhouse landed on the southern battery with about 300 marines and small-armed men to clear the few remaining defenders. Within two hours, the Anunghoy forts were seized. Chinese Admiral Kuan T'ien-p'ei
died among the estimated 250 killed or wounded in Anunghoy. After his family identified him the next day, the Blenheim fired a minute-gun salute in his honour when his body was taken away.
In the attack on North Wangtong island, the Wellesley
, Calliope, Samarang, Druid, Herald, Alligator, and Modeste targeted the batteries on the south, south-west, and north-west of the island. 2,000 Chinese defended the island. In less than an hour, the Wangtong batteries were silenced and under Major Thomas Simson Pratt
, 1,037 troops from the 26th and 49th
regiments, 37th Madras Native Infantry
, Bengal Volunteers
, and Royal Marines
landed on Wangtong. Within minutes, the British captured the island and 1,300 Chinese surrendered. An estimated 250 Chinese were killed or wounded in Wangtong. 339 ordnance
s were captured from both islands. In total, five British were wounded.
Lin wrote in his records: "I got home at the Hour of the Monkey [3 p.m.] ... and when night came heard that the Bogue forts and those on Wantung Island were being invested, preparatory to attack, by the English rebels. I at once went with Teng
to Ch'i-shan's office and at the Hour of the Rat [11 p.m.] we heard that the Wantung, Yung-an and Kung-ku forts have fallen. All night I could not sleep."
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 23–26 February 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 Anunghoy and North Wangtong.
Background
After the Second Battle of ChuenpeeSecond Battle of Chuenpee
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...
on 7 January 1841, British 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...
and Chinese Imperial Commissioner Qishan negotiated a treaty in the Convention of Chuenpee on 20 January. A term of the treaty was that the port 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...
was to be opened for trade on 2 February. By that date, the proclamation for the opening of the port did not appear. On 11–12 February, Elliot and Qishan met again at the Bocca Tigris
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...
. Elliot acceded to a further delay (not exceeding 10 days) for the treaty to be fairly prepared. 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, wrote in his dispatch:
Suspecting warlike intentions, Bremer sailed to Macao
Mação
Mação is a municipality in Portugal with a total area of 400.0 km² and a total population of 7,763 inhabitants.The municipality is composed of eight parishes, and is located in the Santarém District....
Roads on 13 February to confer with Elliot. Bremer found that the treaty between Elliot and Qishan was sent by the Nemesis up the Bocca Tigris to Canton, with orders to await an answer until the night of 18 February. On the morning of 19 February, the Nemesis returned without any reply, and all doubt towards the hostile intentions of the Chinese ended when a shot from North Wangtong was fired on the ship. Bremer detached the Calliope, Samarang, Herald
HMS Herald (1822)
HMS Herald was an Atholl-class 28-gun sixth-rate corvette of the Royal Navy. She was launched in 1821 as HMS Termagant, commissioned in 1824 as Herald and converted to a survey ship in 1845...
, Alligator, Modeste, and Sulphur 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...
to prevent further defensive preparations. In a proclamation from Lieutenant-Governor of Canton, Eleang, $30,000 was offered for the heads of Bremer or Elliot, and $50,000 for anyone who could seize them alive, among other rewards.
23 February
On 23 February, Captain Thomas HerbertThomas 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...
, who was accompanied by Charles Elliot, sailed to the back passage of Anunghoy Island on board the Nemesis, with the Calliope, Samarang, Herald, and Alligator. They unexpectedly reached a masked battery
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...
, which immediately opened fire on the British ships. Herbert reported that 30 small Chinese 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...
and boats were "making off in the greatest confusion; our return fire was rapid and so energetically followed up by landing and pushing on to the attack, that the fort ... was immediately in our possession." The Chinese fled after a slight resistance. Their magazines
Magazine (artillery)
Magazine is the name for an item or place within which ammunition is stored. It is taken from the Arabic word "makahazin" meaning "warehouse".-Ammunition storage areas:...
, a few junks, and some boats were burned. The British captured 60 unmounted guns and 20 mounted guns, which they disabled by breaking the trunnion
Trunnion
A trunnion is a cylindrical protrusion used as a mounting and/or pivoting point. In a cannon, the trunnions are two projections cast just forward of the centre of mass of the cannon and fixed to a two-wheeled movable gun carriage...
s. There were no British casualties in the operations. Herbert reported 20 to 30 Chinese dead.
On the same day, former 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...
wrote in his diary: "I hear that two small steamers belonging to the rebel English, with several small boats, sailed straight up to T'ai-p'ing-hsü [behind Anson's Bay] in the Bogue, opened fire and set alight a number of peasants' houses, and also the Customs House."
26 February
On the morning of 26 February, British forces attacked the forts in the islands of Anunghoy and North Wangtong. In the attack on Anunghoy, Captain Humphrey Fleming SenhouseHumphrey Fleming Senhouse
Captain Sir Humphrey Fleming Senhouse, KCH, CB , was a British officer in the Royal Navy. He served in the Napoleonic Wars, War of 1812, and First Anglo-Chinese War.- Early life :...
of the 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...
was aided by the 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...
, Queen steamer, and four rocket boats. The Blenheim approached the south Anunghoy fort, dropped its anchor 600 yards (548.6 m) from it, and fired broadside
Broadside
A broadside is the side of a ship; the battery of cannon on one side of a warship; or their simultaneous fire in naval warfare.-Age of Sail:...
s from starboard. The Melville approached five minutes later near the portside of the Blenheim, sailed within 400 yards (365.8 m) from the fort, and fired broadsides in quick succession. A British officer wrote, "The firing of these ships was most splendid: nothing could withstand their deadly aim ... One or two shot were sufficient for the 'dragon-hearted' defenders of the north fort, who, 'letting' off their guns, fled up the hills."
After bombarding and silencing the Anunghoy 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...
, Senhouse landed on the southern battery with about 300 marines and small-armed men to clear the few remaining defenders. Within two hours, the Anunghoy forts were seized. Chinese 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...
died among the estimated 250 killed or wounded in Anunghoy. After his family identified him the next day, the Blenheim fired a minute-gun salute in his honour when his body was taken away.
In the attack on North Wangtong island, 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...
, Calliope, Samarang, Druid, Herald, Alligator, and Modeste targeted the batteries on the south, south-west, and north-west of the island. 2,000 Chinese defended the island. In less than an hour, the Wangtong batteries were silenced and under 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...
, 1,037 troops from 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, 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...
, 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 Royal Marines
Royal 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...
landed on Wangtong. Within minutes, the British captured the island and 1,300 Chinese surrendered. An estimated 250 Chinese were killed or wounded in Wangtong. 339 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 were captured from both islands. In total, five British were wounded.
Lin wrote in his records: "I got home at the Hour of the Monkey [3 p.m.] ... and when night came heard that the Bogue forts and those on Wantung Island were being invested, preparatory to attack, by the English rebels. I at once went with Teng
Deng Tingzhen
Deng Tingzhen was the Governor-General of Liangguang from early 1836 until early 1840....
to Ch'i-shan's office and at the Hour of the Rat [11 p.m.] we heard that the Wantung, Yung-an and Kung-ku forts have fallen. All night I could not sleep."