CHAPTER LXVI
FATSHAN CREEK
[Sidenote: 1857. May 30.]
The time had arrived that the Admiral had arranged for the destruction of the Chinese Fleet. Prince Victor of Hohenlohe, my late aide-de-camp when I had the Naval Brigade in Crimea, was now with me as Commodore’s Flag Lieutenant. My gig only held one sitter besides self. Among my other boys I had on board the _Hong-Kong_ with Goodenough were Lord Charles Scott, Victor Montagu, and Harry Stephenson. I left Commander Turnour in the _Bittern_ to arrange my other boys. He had with him Lieutenant Stanley Graham, Dupuis, Foster, Pilkington, and A. V. Paget. In the _Sir Charles Forbes_ were Lieutenant Lord Gilford and Hardy M‘Hardy. In the Macao Fort were Lieutenant W. F. Johnson and Captain Magin, Lieutenant Owen, Royal Marines, Hon. F. G. Crofton, and H. B. Russell, Master’s Assistant. My late youngster, “Jacko Hall,” in _Childers_ brig was now Flag Captain: a strictly religious man.
[Sidenote: June 1.]
Though everything was ready he had sufficient influence with our good chief not to desecrate the Sabbath, and so deferred the attack until Monday, the 1st of June, on which day I had the honour of leading the boats of the Fleet in an attack on a strong force of the Imperialist junks posted in two divisions in well-selected positions in the Fatshan Creek. The following account is taken from a letter to my sister Mary:--
_Alligator_, CANTON RIVER, _June 20, 1857_.
The three weeks of this month have been full of excitement. We commenced on the first with as pretty a boat action as can be imagined, though it may not be appreciated because it occurred in distant China. From the heights the Fatshan Creek affair must have been a beautiful sight. My broad pennant was hoisted on board the _Hong-Kong_. The shallow water caused her to ground; she would otherwise have been in front. Took with me Prince Victor of Hohenlohe, having previously been commanded by Her Majesty, through Sir Charles Phipps, to take every care of him, and left Victor Montagu, my proper gig’s mid, on board; but the lifting tide soon put him in the midst. We took the lead. The first division of the Chinese were attacked simultaneously by about 1900 men. I had not more than a quarter of that number to attack the second division, which was three miles higher up the river in a well-selected place, evidently the _élite_ of their Fleet. The junks numbered twenty in one compact row, mounting about fourteen guns each, removed to the side next us, those in the stern and bow being heavy 32-pounders. Boarding nets were dropped on our boats, but not until our men were alongside, as it enabled them all the quicker to sever the cables connecting the junks. _Raleigh’s_ boats well up, and did not require cheering on. The Chinese fired occasional shots to ascertain exact distance, but did not open their heaviest fire till we were within 600 yards. Nearly the first poor fellow cut in two by a round shot was an amateur, Major Kearney, whom I had known many years. We cheered, and were trying to get to the front when a shot struck our boat, killing the bowman. Another was cut in two. A third shot took another’s arm off. Prince Victor leaned forward to bind up the man’s arm with his neck-cloth. While he was so doing, a shot passed through both sides of the boat, wounding two more of the crew; in short, the boat was sunk under us.
[Illustration: _Part of my Galley’s Crew._]
Our man-of-war boats do not carry iron ballast, but are steadied by “breakers” made to fit neatly under each thwart and filled with fresh water. The tide rising, boats disabled, oars shot away, it was necessary to re-form. I was collared and drawn from the water by young Michael Seymour, a mate of his uncle’s flagship, the _Calcutta_. We were all picked up except the dead bowman, whom the faithful dog “Mike” would not leave. As we retired I shook my fist at the junks, promising I would pay them off. We went to the _Hong-Kong_ and re-formed. I hailed Lieutenant Graham to get his boat ready, as I would hoist the broad pennant for next attack in his boat. I had no sooner spoken when he was down, the same shot killing and wounding four others. Graham was one mass of blood, but it was from a marine who stood next to him, part of whose skull was forced three inches into another man’s shoulder. When we reached the _Hong-Kong_ the whole of the Chinese fire appeared to be centred on her. She was hulled twelve times in a few minutes. Her deck was covered with the wounded, who had been brought on board from different boats. From the paddle-box we saw that the noise of guns was bringing up strong reinforcements. The account of our having been obliged to retire had reached them. They were pulling up like mad. The _Hong-Kong_ had floated, but grounded again. A bit of blue bunting was prepared to represent a broad pennant, and I called out, “Let’s try the row boats once more, boys,” and went over the side into our cutter (_Raleigh’s_), in which was Turnour and the faithful coxswain, Spurrier. At this moment there arose from the boats, as if every man took it up at the same instant, one of those British cheers, so full of meaning, that I knew at once it was all up with John Chinaman. They might sink twenty boats, but there were thirty others who would go ahead all the faster. It was indeed an exciting sight. A move among the junks! They were breaking ground and moving off, the outermost first! This the Chinese performed in good order, without slacking fire. Then commenced an exciting chase for seven miles. As our shot told they ran mostly on to the mud banks, and their crews forsook them. Young Cochrane in his light gig got the start of me, but, having boarded a war junk, John Chinaman did not wait to receive him properly, but preferred mud on the other side. Seventeen junks were overtaken and captured. Three only escaped. Before this last chase my poor Spurrier was shot down. I saw his bowels protruding, with my binoculars in the middle, as he lay in the bottom of the boat, holding my hand. He asked if there was any hope. I could only say, “Where there is life there is hope,” but I had none! He was removed into another boat, and sent to the hospital ship. Strange to say, the good Crawford served him up, and the Admiral’s last letter from Hong-Kong states that Spurrier hoped to return to his duty in a few days.
[Illustration: Map--Northern China, with Coast of Siberia]
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Words fail me, on looking back to this stirring day, to express my gratitude that I was allowed to take part in this action. When my ship was lost, I felt as if my day was done. But fate was kind, and Fatshan Creek gave me another chance in the service I ardently loved.
The following proclamation, by the Chinese Admiral Yeh, was found in one of the captured junks after Fatshan:--
Liang, subaltern in charge of the Tan chau[1] Station of the Kwang Tung Province, whose name is noted for the rank of captain, with authority meanwhile to wear the button of that rank, makes a communication.
[1] In Hai-nan.
“I am in receipt of a despatch from the Governor General Yeh, to the following effect:--
“‘Whereas the barbarian outlaws[2] have not as yet submitted, and the nature of these rebels is not to be fathomed, the officers and men of the different vessels stationed at P’ing-chau[3] must stand well and strictly on their guard, so as to be ready at all points, and prevent any mishap. It is my duty, therefore, to send orders at once to you, on receipt of which you will, in obedience thereto, immediately confer with the other officers associated with you on this service, and with them set an example in concerting proper measures of control and precaution on board your respective vessels. You will continue without distinction of day or night to patrol constantly, as a shuttle moves in the loom, and to make observation assiduously and with secrecy. The soldiers and braves under your command must on no account land, or leave their vessels; and if there be the slightest movement on the part of the barbarians, you must make for Sam-shan and open fire upon them, cutting off and slaying ruthlessly. If any one ruin the undertaking by venturing, be it ever so little, to be slack or indifferent, the officer commanding shall be held responsible; no mercy shall be shown him. Courage in the engagement shall be liberally rewarded. Haste in fear! Haste in earnest!’
[2] _Fi_, vagabonds, rebels, or any lawless persons.
[3] Between Sam-shan and Fat-shan.
“In obedience to the above I write to every other of the officers in charge of vessels. In addition to this it is my duty to write also to you; I accordingly write and request that you will in no particular depart from the instructions of His Excellency.
“A necessary communication addressed to the officer in charge of the Shun-on Li junk.
“Hien Fung, 7th year, 5th moon, 8th day (29th May, 1857).”
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