'History of the Indian Navy. (1613-1863).' [‎148] (167/622)

148
HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVT.
fire was kept up on the boats by the enemy from the banks of
the river. As soon as the fire-rafts were lit, it appears to have
been the signal for a general assault upon the city of Ningpo;
for immediately a heavy discharge of matchlocks and jingals
followed ; soon after an officer hailed the ship from the shore,
to say that the gates on the southern and western side had been
attacked by a strong body of Chinese troops. The boats of
H.M.'s ship 'Modeste' and the Hon. Company's steamer 4 Sesos-
tris,' under the command of Lieutenant Birch, were sent higher
up the river to fire on the advancing columns of the Chinese,
and at daylight the 4 Sesostris' and 4 Phlegethon' took up a
position to do so more effectually, whilst the 4 Queen' moved
up to cover the north gate, astern of the 4 Columbine/ Soon
after eight a.m., the firing had all ceased, the enemy having
been beaten at all points with a most severe loss. Lieutenant
Birch, with the boats of the 6 Modeste' and 4 Sesostris' under
his command, proceeded up the south-west branch of the river,
towards Foong-wa, and no traces either of fire-rafts or an
enemy being seen, returned on board. I cannot close my letter
without expressing my thanks to Commander Morshead, of
H.M.'s sloop 4 Columbine,' Commander Ormsby, of the Hon.
Company's steamer 4 Sesostris;' Lieutenant McCleverty, of the
Hon. Company's steamer 4 Phlegethon;' Mr. Warden, of the Hon.
Company's steamer 4 Queen;' and to all the officers and ships
company's employed, for their valuable assistance on this occa
sion." This eulogium was heartily endorsed by Sir William
Parker, in his despatches to the Admiralty, dated "Chusan,
March 18, 1842." ^ ^ .
The naval and military commanders-in-chief, who proceeded
to Ningpo, acknowledging the desirability of following up the
repulses at Chinhae and Ningpo, determined to make a rapid
movement on the Chinese camp at Tsekee.^ Accordingly, the
small-arm men and marines of the squadron, numbering four
hundred and ten men, were placed under the command of
Captain T. Bourchier, of the 4 Blonde,' the 'Sesostris' con
tributing a detachment, under Lieutenant J. Rennie and
Messrs. A. J. Smith and H. Broughton. On the morning ot
the 15th of March, about eight hundred and fifty troops and
four guns, in addition to the naval brigade, accompanied
by Sir Hugh Gough, embarked in the 4 Nemesis/ 4 Phle
gethon,' and 4 Queen,' which immediately proceeded up^ the
river. The combined force was landed and in full march ior
Tsekee by two p.m., the 'Phlegethon' being sent up the river
to harass the retreat of the Chinese army. About four o clocK
# Sir Hugli Grough, on March 13, made a preliminary movement as far as Litso
seven miles distant, with a force of six hundred bayonets and two ^ e ,
by the ' Sesostris,' which moved up the river parallel to his route, but his Jixce ^
lency returned on finding that the Chinese had retreated over the hills tne pre
ceding night.