CAPTURE OF THE PEIHO, OR TAKU FORTS. May 20th, 1858.

After the capture of Canton, Lord Elgin and the French Ministers finding all their proposals treated with evasion and delay by the Chinese, resolved to transfer the scene of operations to the mouth of the Peiho river, on which stands Pekin the capital of China. They accordingly placed the conduct of affairs in the hands of the English and French Admirals (Sir M. Seymour and Admiral de Genouilly), with directions to use their efforts to bring about a satisfactory settlement. Sir Michael and his colleague, with the Ambassadors, arrived off the mouth of the Peiho at the end of April, and some time was lost in fruitless negotiations, which the Chinese employed in strengthening their forts and defences, till they considered them to be impregnable. A final demand being sent for the surrender of the forts, to be held as a surety till the conclusion of a treaty, to which no answer was returned, the Admiral determined on an immediate attack. The works were very formidable. For nearly a mile earthworks and batteries had been thrown up on both sides of the river, commanding every part of the Channel, mounting upwards of 150 heavy guns, besides gingalls; a strong boom was placed across the river in front, and the sides were staked to prevent any attempts at landing. In the rear were several camps strongly entrenched, and filled with picked troops. On the morning of May 20th., the two Admirals hoisted their flags together on the “Slaney” gunboat, and at 10 a.m. the signal was made for the attack. Captain Saumarez in the “Cormorant” led the way, and at full speed went for the boom, which was composed of five seven-inch bamboo cables. Her men were lying flat on the deck, no one being visible but her commander and an officer or two, the three forts opened upon her at once; when with a crash she shivered the boom, passed through, and directed her fire on the northern forts. The “Nimrod” followed her, and concentrated her fire on the southern defences, diverting their attention from the “Cormorant.” Four French gunboats quickly followed, and for more than an hour the contest raged, for the Chinese stood well to their guns. Some of their batteries being silenced, and the fire from all slackening, the landing parties, which the smaller gunboats had in tow, pushed ashore, and having but a few yards to traverse, were in the embrasures at once, taking the enemy entirely by surprise. On seeing the capture of the southern forts, the defenders of the northern forts fled, and the landing parties entered them without any opposition. In about two hours from the commencement of the attack, the whole of the defences at the mouth of the river were in the possession of the allies, and the Chinese army in full retreat. The forts were destroyed, the camps taken, and the road to Pekin open to the conquerors.^[100] The arrogance of the enemy was at last subdued, and convinced of the uselessness of further resistance, a treaty was signed by their Ministers at Tientsin on the 26th. of June following, in conformity with the terms proposed by the allies, containing concessions never before thought possible by a Chinese, nor proposed by a European.

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