Battle of the Bogue (1856)

Battle of the Bogue
Part of the Second Opium War
Attack on the North and South Wangtong Islands
Date 12–13 November 1856 Location Humen, Guangdong, China Coordinates: 22°47′20″N 113°36′59″E / 22.78889°N 113.61639°E Result British victory
Belligerents
United Kingdom	Qing China
Commanders and leaders
Michael Seymour	Ye Mingchen
Strength
6 ships[1]	500 in each fort[2]
Casualties and losses
1 killed 5 wounded	Unknown

The Battle of the Bogue was fought between British and Chinese forces at the Humen strait (Bogue), Guangdong province, China, on 12–13 November 1856 during the Second Opium War. The British captured the forts in the Wangtong Islands on 12 November and the forts in Anunghoy Island the next day.

Background

Before the battle, Rear-Admiral Michael Seymour, commander-in-chief of British forces, sent a summons to the Chinese commander of the Bogue forts:

The British Admiral wishes to spare life, and is not at war with the Chinese; and as it is necessary for him to hold possession of the Bogue Forts, until the conduct of the Viceroy Yeh can be referred to the Emperor of Pekin, one hour will be given for the purpose of clearing out; if this offer is at once accepted, boats will be permitted to pass to and from the main land and the Wantungs. In this case, the forts will remain uninjured, ready to be returned in the same state to the Chinese when these differences are over; and the rebels will neither be allowed to pass the Bogue Forts, nor to enter them whilst in our possession.^[2]

After an hour, Seymour received an answer; the Chinese commander could not give up the forts because he would "lose his head" and must therefore fight.^[2]

Battle

On 12 November, the British squadron attacked the two Wangtong Island forts, which were fully manned and had over 200 guns mounted. Stinkpots were thrown at the British who first entered the forts. The Chinese, who stood to their guns up to the moment of the British entering the embrasures, had boats ready to escape. The forts were captured after what Seymour called a "considerable, though ill-directed" resistance of about an hour.^[3] The British casualties were one killed and five wounded on board HMS Nankin.^[4] On 13 November, the British attacked and captured the Anunghoy forts, which mounted 210 guns. Seymour reported that although "some resistance" was offered, there were no British casualties.^[3]

Gallery

• 

  Map of the battle

• 

  Interior of the Anunghoy forts after their demolition by the Nankin and Calcutta

• 

  Second sketch of Anunghoy

Notes

1. Clowes 1903, p. 99.
2. Papers 1857, p. 102
3. Papers 1857, p. 100
4. Bulletins 1859, pp. 105–106

References

• Bulletins and Other State Intelligence for the Year 1857. Part 1. London: Harrison and Sons. 1859.
• Clowes, William Laird (1903). The Royal Navy: A History from the Earliest Times to the Death of Queen Victoria. Volume 7. London: Sampson Low, Marston and Company.
• Papers Relating to the Proceedings of Her Majesty's Naval Forces at Canton. London: Harrison and Sons. 1857.