Conflicts at Ningpo

The victory at Ching-hai was followed by the unopposed occupation of the important city of Ningpo.

Continuing Opium War of 1840,
our selection from Short History of China by Demetrius Charles Boulger published in 1893. The selection is presented in seven easy 5 minute installments. For works benefiting from the latest research see the “More information” section at the bottom of these pages.

Previously in Opium War of 1840.

The necessity for this measure would be hard to justify, especially as the British were nominally at peace with China, for the people of Amoy had inflicted no injury on their trade, and their chastisement would not bring them any nearer to Peking. Nor was the occupation of Amoy necessary on military grounds. It was strong only for itself, and its capture had no important consequences. As the Chinese determined to resist the English, the fleet engaged the batteries, and the Chinese, standing to their guns “right manfully,” only abandoned their position when they found their rear threatened by a landing party. Then, after a faint resistance, the Chinese sought safety in flight; but some of their officers, preferring death to dishonor, committed suicide, one of them being seen to walk calmly into the sea and drown himself in face of both armies. The capture of Amoy followed.

As the authorities at Amoy refused to hold any intercourse with the English, the achievement remained barren of any useful consequence, and after leaving a small garrison on Kulangsu and three warships in the roadstead, the English expedition continued its northern course. After being scattered by a storm in the perilous Formosa Channel, the fleet reunited off Ningpo, whence it proceeded to attack Chusan for a second time. The Chinese defended Ting-hai, the capital, with great resolution. At this place General Keo, the chief naval and military commander, was killed, and all his officers, sticking to him to the last, also fell with him. Their conduct in fact was noble; nothing could have surpassed it. On the reoccupation of Chusan, which it was decided to retain until a formal treaty had been concluded with the Emperor, Sir Henry Pottinger issued a proclamation to the effect that years might elapse before that place would be restored to the Emperor’s authority, and many persons wished that it should be permanently annexed as the best base for commercial operations in China. A garrison of four hundred men was left at Ting-hai, and then the expedition proceeded to attack Ching-hai on the mainland, where the Chinese had made every preparation to offer a strenuous resistance. The Chinese suffered the most signal defeat and the greatest loss they had yet incurred during the war. The victory at Ching-hai was followed by the unopposed occupation of the important city of Ningpo, where the inhabitants shut themselves up and wrote on their doors “Submissive People.”

Ningpo was put to ransom, and the authorities informed that unless they paid the sum within a certain time their city would be handed over to pillage and destruction. As the Peking Government had made no sign of giving in, it was felt that no occasion ought to be lost of overawing the Chinese and compelling them to admit that any further prolongation of the struggle would be hopeless. The arrival of further troops and warships from Eu rope enabled the English commanders to adopt a more determined and uncompromising attitude, and the capture of Ningpo would have been followed up at once but for the disastrous events in Afghanistan, which distracted attention from the Chinese question and delayed its settlement. It was hoped, however, that the continued occupation of Amoy, Chusan, and Ningpo would cause sufficient pressure on the Peking Government to induce it to yield all that was demanded.

These anticipations were not fulfilled, for neither the swift- recurring visitation of disaster nor the waning resources of the Imperial Government in both men and treasure could shake the fixed hostility of Taoukwang or induce him to abate his proud pretensions. Minister after minister passed into disgrace and exile. Misfortune shared the same fate as incompetence, and the more the embarrassments of the State increased the heavier fell the hand of the ruler and the verdict of the Board of Punishments upon beaten generals and unsuccessful statesmen. The period of inaction which followed the occupation of Ningpo no doubt encouraged the Emperor to think that the foreigners were exhausted or that they had reached the end of their successes, and he ordered increased efforts to be made to bring up troops and to strengthen the approaches to Peking. The first proof of his returning spirit was shown in March, 1842, when the Chinese attempted to seize Ningpo by a coup de main.

Suddenly, and without warning, a force of between ten and twelve thousand men appeared at daybreak outside the south-west gates of Ningpo and many of them succeeded in making their way over the walls and gaining the center of the town; but, instead of proving the path to victory, this advance resulted in the complete overthrow of the Chinese. Attacked by artillery and foot in the market-place they were almost annihilated and the great Chinese attack on Ningpo resulted in a fiasco. Similar but less vigorous attacks were made about the same time on Ching-hai and Chusan, but they were both repulsed with heavy loss to the Chinese. In consequence of these attacks and the improved position in Afghanistan it was decided to again assume the offensive, and to break up the hostile army at Hangchow, of which the body that attacked Ningpo was the advanced guard. Sir Hugh Gough commanded the operations in person, and he had the co operation of a naval force under Sir William Parker.

The first action took place outside Tszeki, a small place ten miles from Ningpo, where the Chinese fancied they occupied an exceedingly strong position. But careful inspection showed it to be radically faulty. Their lines covered part of the Segaou Hills, but their left was commanded by some higher hills on the right of the English position, and the Chinese left again commanded their own right. It was evident, therefore, that the capture of the left wing of the Chinese encampment would entail the surrender or evacuation of the rest. The difficulties of the ground caused a greater delay in the advance than had been expected, and the assault had to be delivered along the whole line, as it was becoming obvious that the Chinese were growing more confident, and more to be feared from the delay in attacking them.

The assault was made with the impetuosity good troops always show in attacking inferior ones, no matter how great the disparity of numbers; and here the Chinese were driven out of their position —- although they stood their ground in a creditable manner —- and chased over the hills down to the rice-fields below. The Chinese loss was over a thousand killed, including many of the Imperial Guard, of whom five hundred were present, and whom Sir Hugh Gough described as “remarkably fine men,” while the English had six killed and thirty-seven wounded. For the moment it was intended to follow up this victory by an attack on the city of Hangchow, the famous Kincsay of mediaeval travelers; but the arrival of fresh instructions gave a complete turn to the whole war.

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