The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1842-10-25 00:00:00

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ATTACK AND CAPTURE OF CHAPO.

The Gazette, of Tuesday night, contains a dispatch from
Sir Hugh Gough, giving an account of the attack and capture
of Chapo, in China, by her Majesty's naval and military
forces. After describing the city and its fortifications and
explaining his plan of attack, Sir Hugh proceeds to give an
account of his operations.
" The right column which I accompanied, landed first, and
occupied a commanding height, without opposition, covering
the disembarkation of the remainder of the force : when the
whole were landed and formed, I directed Colonel Schoedde
supported by the artillery under Lieut-Colonel Montgomerie
in furtherance of the views I have already announced, to
move as rapidly as possible round the base of the heights, so
as to get into the rear of the enemy, and cut off its commu-
nication with the city. which now appeared within the range
of heights already described, while the right column was di-
rected to mount the summit, successively attacking the
several works and joss houses as they proceeded. The com-
bined attack on both flanks commenced at the same moment,
the steamers shelling the breast works in the centre. It
afforded me the greatest satisfaction, as I crowned each
succeeding height, to find my most sanguine hopes
realized by the rapid but collected movements of the
left column, under Colonel Schoedde, passing between
the heights and the city, and obliging the enemy, instead of
retreating on it, to move along the heights, which were now,
one after she other, carried by the right column with the usual
spirit displayed by the corps composing it. The whole of the
enemy's troops soon became a mass of fugitives, throwing
away their arms, and flying in every direction, with the ey-
ception findingof 300, who, themselves surrounded, took
possession of a house and enclosure, which they defended
with wonderful obstinacy, and would not surrender until the
house was in flames from our rockets and breached by powder
bags, which were judiciously placed by Capt. Pears, when not
above fifty, and those mostly wounded, could be induced to
submit as prisoners. During these operations, I witnessed,
with much satisfaction, the alacrity with which Capt. Simp-
son, of the Rifle Company, Madras Native Infantry, brought
up his company, and the spirited manner in which the sepoys
pressed the enemy, keeping up the communication between the
two columns. Perceiving that the enemy had destroyed the
bridge leading to the east gate, I directed the left column to
occupy a height close to and commanding the southeast angle
of the city wall, and Lieut.-Col. Montgomerie, with his usual
good judgment and alacrity, soon brought his guns into action,
effectually covering our advance on this point. I directed
the Rifles to occupy the houses close to the wall, to cover
the grenadiers of the 55th, under Bt.-Major M`Lean, and a
body of Sappers with scaling ladders, and the walls were soon
in the possession of the left column. I deem it right here to
observe, that I was much assisted in crossing this canal by
Captain Watson, of her Majesty's ship Modesto, who joined
me at the moment with a few seamen from that ship. Having
collected the force on the wall, Sir W. Parker, with the sea-
men and marines, soon joined me, and we moved round the
city, when I bad the several gates occupied. Perceiving a
body of the enemy in retreat towards Hong-choo, I directed
the 55th to pursue, and bring them to action if possible; but
having had to make the circle of the walls (three miles), as I
did not wish to move the force into the city until the gates
were occupied, the Chinese had got so much in advance, that
Major Fawcett could only come up with the stragglers ; but
it had the good effect of obliging most of this body to throw
away their arms and disperse. It is so easy for a Chinaman
to divest himself of the appearance of a soldier, that I have
no doubt many escaped by throwing off the outward uniform
by which alone they are distinguished from the peasantry.
I found the walls not so high, or in such good order, as I an-
ticipated from the importance of the place. The Chinese had
but few guns, or even gingals, mounted on them.
" Notwithstanding, we have found several arsenals, with
all kinds of arms and ammunition, together with a foundry
and a gunpowder manufactory, which, of course, I have or-
dered to be destroyed, merely taking off the few (11) brass
guns. The Chinese appear to have placed all their reliance
on the positions on the heights, and possibly on the supposi-
tion of the impracticability of landing a large force within the
influence of such extraordinary currents.
" Chapo has this peculiarity, that about a fourth of the city
is separated from the rest by a wall, within which alone the
Tartars reside. This has much the appearance and arrange-
ment of our native cantonments, but that the houses are in-
finitely superior. Every male adult would appear to be a
soldier, as in every house two or three matchlocks, with a
quantity of swords, bows, and arrows, were found. This
would appear to be a Mantchoo privilege, as the Chinese
troops have theirs collected in arsenals. "
The strength of the Chinese force it is difficult to esti-
mate. From the best sources of information, I would say
they had about 8000 menin the city and on the heights, 1700
of whom were Mantchoo Tartars. I calculate their loss to
be about from 1200 to 1500 men."
The loss of the British troops was 9 killed and 51 wounded.