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.

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.

* * * * *

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).”