Before the attack, the British commander, Major General Hugh Gough divided his forces into three: a column of infantry on the left (863 men) and right (969 men), with artillery in the centre. Gough accompanied the right column, which landed first on May 16. The remaining troops moved round to the rear of the enemy thereby cutting their communications with Zhapu. Meanwhile, the accompanying steamers began a bombardment of the city's defences. In Gough's own words: "The enemy were completely taken by surprise; as usual, they were unprepared for anything except a frontal attack. They gave way on all sides and took to flight, with the exception of a body of some 300 Tartar troops who seized a small joss-house, and held it with indomitable pluck and perseverance."[6]
Multiple assaults proved necessary to capture the joss-house with casualties suffered on both sides; eventually it fell and after each of the gates had been captured, the city fell to the British. Not without cost and Gough lost one of his most accomplished field commanders Lieutenant Colonel Nicholas Tomlinson who was killed personally leading a breaching party of the 18th (Royal Irish) Regiment of Foot.[7]
Aftermath
The British did not remain in Zhapu long. They captured the city's ordnance and destroyed its arsenals before moving on to attack Wusong.[8]
Hailing, the Manchu commander at Zhenjiang, received the report of Zhapu's surrender on June 18.[9] The Manchus committed mass suicide[where?] while the Han Chinese discussed the situation with the British.[4] When hostilities[which?] ceased, Chinese official Yilibu returned sixteen kidnapped British soldiers to Gough in "recognition of his courtesy in releasing the Chinese captured at Chapoo".[clarification needed]
Gallery
Engagement at the joss house
Joss House, Chapoo. Death of Col. Tomlinson
Close of the attack on Chapu
References
Citations
^Bulletins of State Intelligence 1842, pp. 918–920
^Elliott, Mark (June 1990). "Bannerman and Townsman: Ethnic Tension in Nineteenth-Century Jiangnan". Late Imperial China11 (1): 51.
Bibliography
Bulletins of State Intelligence. Westminster: F. Watts. 1842.
Rait, Robert S. (1903). The Life and Campaigns of Hugh, First Viscount Gough, Field-Marshal. Volume 1. Westminster: Archibald Constable.
March 05, 2023
battle, chapu, fought, between, british, qing, forces, chapu, present, zhapu, northern, shore, hangzhou, during, first, opium, part, first, opium, wardate18, 1842locationzhapu, zhejiang, chinacoordinates, 60611, 09611, 60611, 09611resultbritish, victorybellige. The Battle of Chapu was fought between British and Qing forces at Chapu present day Zhapu on the northern shore of Hangzhou Bay during the First Opium War Battle of ChapuPart of the First Opium WarDate18 May 1842LocationZhapu Zhejiang ChinaCoordinates 30 36 22 N 121 5 46 E 30 60611 N 121 09611 E 30 60611 121 09611ResultBritish victoryBelligerents United Kingdom British East India Company Qing dynastyCommanders and leadersHugh Gough William Parker Nicholas Tomlinson Changxi chapooStrength8 ships 1 2 220 land troops 2 8 000 10 000 3 Casualties and losses13 killed 4 52 wounded 4 5 000 6 500 4 14 junks captured 5 Battle of ChapuTraditional Chinese乍浦之戰Simplified Chinese乍浦之战TranscriptionsStandard MandarinHanyu PinyinZhapǔ zhi Zhan Contents 1 Battle 2 Aftermath 3 Gallery 4 References 4 1 Citations 4 2 BibliographyBattle Edit Map of the battle Before the attack the British commander Major General Hugh Gough divided his forces into three a column of infantry on the left 863 men and right 969 men with artillery in the centre Gough accompanied the right column which landed first on May 16 The remaining troops moved round to the rear of the enemy thereby cutting their communications with Zhapu Meanwhile the accompanying steamers began a bombardment of the city s defences In Gough s own words The enemy were completely taken by surprise as usual they were unprepared for anything except a frontal attack They gave way on all sides and took to flight with the exception of a body of some 300 Tartar troops who seized a small joss house and held it with indomitable pluck and perseverance 6 Multiple assaults proved necessary to capture the joss house with casualties suffered on both sides eventually it fell and after each of the gates had been captured the city fell to the British Not without cost and Gough lost one of his most accomplished field commanders Lieutenant Colonel Nicholas Tomlinson who was killed personally leading a breaching party of the 18th Royal Irish Regiment of Foot 7 Aftermath EditThe British did not remain in Zhapu long They captured the city s ordnance and destroyed its arsenals before moving on to attack Wusong 8 Hailing the Manchu commander at Zhenjiang received the report of Zhapu s surrender on June 18 9 The Manchus committed mass suicide where while the Han Chinese discussed the situation with the British 4 When hostilities which ceased Chinese official Yilibu returned sixteen kidnapped British soldiers to Gough in recognition of his courtesy in releasing the Chinese captured at Chapoo clarification needed Gallery Edit Engagement at the joss house Joss House Chapoo Death of Col Tomlinson Close of the attack on ChapuReferences EditCitations Edit Bulletins of State Intelligence 1842 pp 918 920 Rait 1903 p 263 Bulletins of State Intelligence 1842 p 916 a b c d Rait 1903 p 265 Bulletins of State Intelligence 1842 p 918 Rait 1903 p 264 Battle of Chapu Online Collection National Army Museum London collection nam ac uk Retrieved 14 June 2017 Rait 1903 p 266 Elliott Mark June 1990 Bannerman and Townsman Ethnic Tension in Nineteenth Century Jiangnan Late Imperial China 11 1 51 Bibliography Edit Bulletins of State Intelligence Westminster F Watts 1842 Rait Robert S 1903 The Life and Campaigns of Hugh First Viscount Gough Field Marshal Volume 1 Westminster Archibald Constable Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Battle of Chapu amp oldid 1111182630, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
