Battle of Whampoa
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Whampoa was fought between British and Chinese forces at Whampoa
Island on 2 March 1841 during the First Opium War
.
, commander-in-chief of the British forces, sent Captain Edward Belcher
of the Sulphur to reconnoitre up Junk River. The ship was towed by three of the Wellesley
s boats under Lieutenant Richard Symonds. As they approached the north-east end of Whampoa Island, a Chinese battery
of about 25 guns, which were masked by thick tree branches, opened fire on the ships. Lieutenant Symonds immediately cut the tow line, the boats sailed towards the shore, and the boat crews landed. 250 Tartar
troops defended the battery. They fled for shelter in the neighbouring jungle, but were dislodged by artillery from the Sulphur. After the British captured the forts, the guns were destroyed, and the works and magazines blown up.
Bremer reported 15 or 20 Tartars killed. One British seaman from the Wellesley died from mortal wound
s after being shot through the lungs by grapeshot
s. Bremer resigned the command of the land forces to Major-General Hugh Gough
, who joined the fleet on board the Cruizer. Former Imperial Commissioner Lin Zexu
wrote in his diary entry of 2 March: "I hear that the English rebel ships have already forced their way to the fort at Lieh-te. Early in the morning I went to talk things over at the General Office in the Monastery of the Giant Buddha."
Huangpu District, Guangzhou
Huangpu District is one of the ten districts in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, People's Republic of China.-History:...
Island on 2 March 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...
.
Battle
On 2 March 1841, Commodore James BremerJames 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, sent 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:...
of the Sulphur to reconnoitre up Junk River. The ship was towed by three of 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...
s boats under Lieutenant Richard Symonds. As they approached the north-east end of Whampoa Island, a Chinese 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...
of about 25 guns, which were masked by thick tree branches, opened fire on the ships. Lieutenant Symonds immediately cut the tow line, the boats sailed towards the shore, and the boat crews landed. 250 Tartar
Tatars
Tatars are a Turkic speaking ethnic group , numbering roughly 7 million.The majority of Tatars live in the Russian Federation, with a population of around 5.5 million, about 2 million of which in the republic of Tatarstan.Significant minority populations are found in Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan,...
troops defended the battery. They fled for shelter in the neighbouring jungle, but were dislodged by artillery from the Sulphur. After the British captured the forts, the guns were destroyed, and the works and magazines blown up.
Bremer reported 15 or 20 Tartars killed. One British seaman from the Wellesley died from mortal wound
Mortal Wound
A mortal wound is a very severe and serious injury whether accidental or inflicted intentionally , which leads directly to the death of the victim. Death need not be instantaneous, but follows soon after...
s after being shot through the lungs by grapeshot
Grapeshot
In artillery, a grapeshot is a type of shot that is not a one solid element, but a mass of small metal balls or slugs packed tightly into a canvas bag. It was used both in land and naval warfare. When assembled, the balls resembled a cluster of grapes, hence the name...
s. Bremer resigned the command of the land forces to Major-General Hugh Gough
Hugh Gough, 1st Viscount Gough
Field Marshal Sir Hugh Gough, 1st Viscount Gough, KP, GCSI, KCB, PC , was an Irish British Army officer. He was said to have commanded in more general actions than any other British officer of the 19th century except the Duke of Wellington.- Early career :Born at Woodstown House, Co...
, who joined the fleet on board the Cruizer. 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 entry of 2 March: "I hear that the English rebel ships have already forced their way to the fort at Lieh-te. Early in the morning I went to talk things over at the General Office in the Monastery of the Giant Buddha."