The second capture of Chusan () occurred on 1October 1841 during the
First Opium War
The First Opium War (), also known as the Opium War or the Anglo-Sino War was a series of military engagements fought between Britain and the Qing dynasty of China between 1839 and 1842. The immediate issue was the Chinese enforcement of the ...
when British forces captured the city of
Dinghai
() is a district of Zhoushan City made of 128 islands in Zhejiang province, China.The total area is 1,444 square kilometres.The land area is 568.8 square kilometers, the sea area is 875.2 square kilometers, and the coastline is more than 400 kilo ...
, capital of the
Chusan (Zhoushan) islands off the east Chinese coast.
The fortified city of Dinghai, with a population of 30,000, was defended by the Chinese under the command of Keo. After a brief one-sided seaborne operation involving the
55th Foot
The 55th Regiment of Foot was a British Army infantry regiment, raised in 1755. After 1782 it had a county designation added, becoming known as the 55th (Westmorland) Regiment of Foot. Under the Childers Reforms it amalgamated with the 34th (Cum ...
, the city fell to the far superior British forces which captured 100 iron guns, 36 brass cannon, and 540 gingalls (heavy muskets or light guns mounted on swivels) for the loss of 2 British killed and 28 wounded.
[The British Empire, Army Campaigns, Tinghai, September 1841 http://www.britishempire.co.uk/forces/armycampaigns/asia/china/opiumwar.htm]
Gallery
File:Capture of Tinghai, 1841.jpg, Map of the capture
File:Attack on Chusan 1841.jpg, Attack on the heights of Chusan
Notes
References
*MacPherson, Duncan (1843).
Two Years in China' (2nd ed.). London: Saunders and Otley
Further reading
*Murray, Alexander (1843).
Doings in China'. London: Richard Bentley. pp. 23–42.
1841 in China
Chusan 2
Conflicts in 1841
Chusan 2
September 1841 events
October 1841 events
Amphibious operations involving the United Kingdom
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