'History of the Indian Navy. (1613-1863).' [‎146] (165/622)

14(5
HISTORY OF THE indian navt.
harbour as soon as the troops were landed, to assist in the
reduction of Tinghae " upon which the main body, led by Sir
Hugh Gough, having carried the line of batteries, now rapidly
advanced. By two o'clock the place was in possession of the
British, who captured thirty-six new brass guns. In the report
of his proceedings, the Admiral says u The unremitting exer
tions of every officer and man of H.M.'s squadron, Royal
Marines, and Indian Navy, throughout the operations, merit
my warmest commendation," and again" The fire from the
ships and steam-vessels covering the landing party, did much
execution."
The weather did not permit further proceedings till the 7th
of October, when the troops were re-embarked and proceeded
to Chinhae. The defences of this city, situated at the entrance
and on the left bank of the Tahee, or Ningpo river, were very
extensive and had been strengthened by the Chinese in expecta
tion of an attack. The wall enclosing the city was 37 feet in
thickness and 22 feet high, and nearly two miles in circum
ference ; on a commanding position was the citadel, which was
regarded as the key of Chinhae, and of the large and opulent
city of Ningpo, fifteen miles up the river. The fortifications,
according to Sir Hugh Gough, " presented both a sea de
fence and a military position of great strength." The plan of
attack embraced the landing of two columns of troops on the
right bank of the river, while the attack on the citadel and city
on the left bank, was assigned to the ships-of-war. Early on
the morning of the 10th of October, the troops were landed, and
while the citadel was cannonaded by the ' Wellesley' and 'Blen
heim'—towed to their stations by the 6 Sesostris,' " with very
commendable activity," says the Admiral—assisted by the
'Blonde,'and 6 Modeste, ? the 'Sesostris,' 4 Queen,'and 'Phle-
gethon' shelled the citadel in flank and enfiladed such of the
harbour batteries as the gun^ could bear upon. Soon after
eleven, the citadel was breached and the defences reduced to a
ruinous state, when the Chinese abandoned the guns. The first
column of troops had already entered some of the batteries,
and, before noon, a battalion of soldiers and seamen had carried
the citadel by assault. The high wall of the city was now
escaladed, the garrison having fled, and Captain Herbert
remained in command until the evening, when Sir Hugh
Gough arrived, and a body of troops was conveyed across the
river in the Phlegethon.' The total number of ordnance cap
tured, amounted to ninety iron, and sixty-seven brass, guns.
The Admiral, in his despatch to the Governor-General, again
expressed his sense of "the gallantry and good conduct
every officer and man of H.M.'s ships and the Indian Navy,
under his command, and the pleasure he had " in bearing testi
mony to his lordship, that the same spirit of enterprise has