The Battle of Whampoa was fought between British and Chinese forces at Whampoa Island (modern-day Pazhou Island) on the Pearl River near the city of Canton (Guangzhou), Guangdong, China, on 2March 1841 during the First Opium War.[1]
On 2March 1841, Commodore James Bremer, commander-in-chief of British forces, sent Capt. Edward Belcher of the Sulphur to reconnoitre the Junk River.[a] The ship was towed by three of the Wellesley's boats under Lt. Richard Symonds. As they approached the northeast end of Whampoa Island, a Chinese battery of about 25 guns, which were masked by thick tree branches, opened fire on the ships.[1][3] Lt. Symonds immediately cut the tow line, the boats sailed towards the shore and the boat crews landed. The battery was defended by 250 Manchu Tartar troops. 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.[3][4]
Bremer reported 15 or 20 Tartars killed. One British seaman from the Wellesley died from wounds after being shot through the lungs with grapeshot.[3][5][6] Bremer resigned the command of the land forces to Maj. Gen. Hugh Gough, who joined the fleet on board the Cruizer.[3] Former Imperial Commissioner Lin Zexu wrote in his diary entry for 2March: "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."[7]
Notes
Footnotes
^Junk River lies between Whampoa and Junk Island, a long narrow strip of land north-east of Whampoa.[2]
Bulletins of State Intelligence. Westminster: F. Watts. 1841.
Belcher, Edward (1843). Narrative of a Voyage Round the World. Volume 2. London: Henry Colburn.
Bingham, John Elliot (1842). Narrative of the Expedition to China, from the Commencement of the War to Its Termination in 1842 (2nd ed.). Volume 2. London: Henry Colburn.
Hall, William Hutcheon; Bernard, William Dallas (1846). The Nemesis in China (3rd ed.). London: Henry Colburn.
Ouchterlony, John (1844). The Chinese War. London: Saunders and Otley.
Waley, Arthur (1958). The Opium War Through Chinese Eyes. Stanford, California: Stanford University Press. ISBN0-8047-0611-5.
February 14, 2023
battle, whampoa, this, article, relies, excessively, references, primary, sources, please, improve, this, article, adding, secondary, tertiary, sources, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, november, 2021, learn, when, remove, this, template. This article relies excessively on references to primary sources Please improve this article by adding secondary or tertiary sources Find sources Battle of Whampoa news newspapers books scholar JSTOR November 2021 Learn how and when to remove this template message The Battle of Whampoa was fought between British and Chinese forces at Whampoa Island modern day Pazhou Island on the Pearl River near the city of Canton Guangzhou Guangdong China on 2 March 1841 during the First Opium War 1 Battle of WhampoaPart of the First Opium WarView of Whampoa Island from Dane s IslandDate2 March 1841LocationWhampoa Island Guangdong ChinaCoordinates 23 5 46 N 113 23 50 E 23 09611 N 113 39722 E 23 09611 113 39722ResultBritish victoryBelligerents United Kingdom British East India CompanyQing ChinaCommanders and leadersJames BremerEdward BelcherUnknownStrength1 ship of the line2 corvettes1 bomb ketch250 troops25 gunsCasualties and losses1 killed15 20 killedBattle EditOn 2 March 1841 Commodore James Bremer commander in chief of British forces sent Capt Edward Belcher of the Sulphur to reconnoitre the Junk River a The ship was towed by three of the Wellesley s boats under Lt Richard Symonds As they approached the northeast end of Whampoa Island a Chinese battery of about 25 guns which were masked by thick tree branches opened fire on the ships 1 3 Lt Symonds immediately cut the tow line the boats sailed towards the shore and the boat crews landed The battery was defended by 250 Manchu Tartar troops 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 3 4 Bremer reported 15 or 20 Tartars killed One British seaman from the Wellesley died from wounds after being shot through the lungs with grapeshot 3 5 6 Bremer resigned the command of the land forces to Maj Gen Hugh Gough who joined the fleet on board the Cruizer 3 Former Imperial Commissioner Lin Zexu wrote in his diary entry for 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 7 Notes EditFootnotes Junk River lies between Whampoa and Junk Island a long narrow strip of land north east of Whampoa 2 Citations a b Ouchterlony 1844 p 120 Hall amp Bernard 1846 pp 123 124 a b c d Bulletins of State Intelligence 1841 p 348 Bingham 1842 pp 73 74 Hall amp Bernard 1846 p 131 Belcher 1843 p 158 Waley 1958 p 141References EditBulletins of State Intelligence Westminster F Watts 1841 Belcher Edward 1843 Narrative of a Voyage Round the World Volume 2 London Henry Colburn Bingham John Elliot 1842 Narrative of the Expedition to China from the Commencement of the War to Its Termination in 1842 2nd ed Volume 2 London Henry Colburn Hall William Hutcheon Bernard William Dallas 1846 The Nemesis in China 3rd ed London Henry Colburn Ouchterlony John 1844 The Chinese War London Saunders and Otley Waley Arthur 1958 The Opium War Through Chinese Eyes Stanford California Stanford University Press ISBN 0 8047 0611 5 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Battle of Whampoa amp oldid 1056530918, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
