CAPTURE OF THE TAKU FORTS. 21st. August, 1860.

This treaty the Chinese Government refused to ratify, and the British and French were resolved to obtain that result. In the first instance persuasion and diplomatic efforts were 294resorted to, but without success. Every attempt at negotiation having proved fruitless, recourse was again had to arms, Major-General Sir James Hope Grant, K.C.B., so distinguished during the Indian Mutiny, being appointed to the command, with the local rank of Lieutenant-General. On the 1st. of August the troops landed at Pehtang, which they quitted on the 12th., and on that morning Major-General Sir Robert Napier commanding the second division, encountered the enemy at Sin-ho. In this action the Armstrong guns were first used in war. The attack of the entrenched fortified camp of Tangku occurred on the 14th. of August, and on the 20th. orders were issued for the attack of the North Taku Forts, by a force composed of British and French troops, about fifteen hundred of each. The 44th., 67th., and Royal Marines, under Sir Robert Napier represented the British quota; there was however a heavy train of field artillery, comprising several eight-inch mortars and two Armstrong batteries. In the evening the gunboats took up their positions, and the troops having crossed a flat and muddy plain, the night was employed in throwing up trenches and batteries. Such alacrity was shewn by the Chinese for the fight, that early in the morning of the 21st. of August they opened fire upon the troops an hour before the time fixed upon by the Allies; this was followed by a tremendous bombardment in reply, aided by the gunboats, which pitched shell and rockets into the North Fort. The assault then took place.^[101] The place was defended with great determination, although the grand magazine had exploded from the fire of the British artillery. At length the regiments before named, in conjunction with the French, gained a footing on the walls. Even then the Tartars fought with noble intrepidity, but eventually they endeavoured to take refuge in the next fort about half a mile distant, although few succeeded in the attempt. Their loss was at least three thousand; the British casualties were seventeen killed, and one hundred and fifty-eight wounded; their allies had about thirty killed and upwards of one hundred wounded. Four hundred guns were taken, and the capture of this strong fort caused the Chinese the same afternoon to surrender the others, together with the province of Pecheli, upon a cessation of hostilities being granted.

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