'History of the Indian Navy. (1613-1863).' [‎381] (400/622)

HISTORY OP THE INDIAN NAVY. 381
vancing boats with grape and canister. Lieutenant Davies
immediately ordered the second cutter and gig, under com
mand of Lieutenant Philbrick, to take possession of the junk
whilst he proceeded with the launch and first cutter to storm
the battery. The Chinese stood well to their guns while the
storming party was wading on shore, wounding Mr. Purser
Williams (a volunteer^ and three seamen. A. volley of mus
ketry, however, and an impetuous charge, drove the Chinese
from their guns, and the party took possession of the battery
and held it until the junk was observed to be underway, when
they embarked in the boats and assisted to tow her out.
During this time three other batteries kept up a heavy fire on
the junk and the two boats towing her, which was returned
with the junk's guns and with small arms. Mr. Lowis, Mid
shipman, received a severe wound in one leg by a musket-ball
whilst gallantly turning the junk's guns on the shore batteries,
and two seamen were wounded. One Mandarin, a very cor
pulent man, was observed encouraging his men by words and
example, when a round shot struck him and tore him into frag
ments. The Chinese were remarkably well armed. Several
spent shot struck the boats as they were returning to the ship,
and one struck an oar out of a seaman's hand while in the act
of pulling.
The Commander-in-chief expressed ) to Commander Drought
his sense of the service rendered on this occasion, in the follow
ing terms, under date, "1LM.S. 'Calcutta,' at Hong Kong, 3rd
of April, 1857 I have read with much pleasure your letter
of proceedings, dated the 1st instant, reporting the capture of a
Mandarin war junk in Toong-Chung Bay.
" In conveying my thanks for this service, I have to request
you will express to Lieutenant Davies and the officers and men
employed in the boats, my marked approval of their gallant
conduct, which I shall not fail to bring to the notice of his
Lordship the Governor-General of India."
H.M.S. ' Inflexible' having arrived from England to take the
place of the ' Auckland,' the latter vessel left Hong Kong on
the 6th of April, 1857, to resume her station in the Straits of
Singapore. ^ It was found necessary to leave behind, in the
hospital ship, Mr. Lowis, the gallant young officer severely
wounded in the leg in the action in Toong-Chung Bay, as it
was found that amputation of the limb would be necessary.
The following complimentary letter was addressed to Com
mander Drought by Sir Michael Seymour,* on the 3rd of April
on the 'Auckland' quitting the China station: —"As the
arrival of HM.'s steam-sloop ' Inflexible,' and the daily ex-
* Writing to us on the 19th of April, 1877, Sir Michael Seymour says" I
captamln 1 1 ServiceS of tiie ' ^- ucklan( i ' and her zealous and gallant