[138] As Gough’s reinforcements had not yet joined, he only had with him four British regiments and a small number of gunners and engineers. The XVIIIth were 492 of all ranks.
[139] See [Appendix 2 (G)].
[140] In the MS. accounts of this engagement, the writers all mention that the regiment marched off “left in front.” The XVIIIth must have been very well drilled to be able to do this, for in those days very few regiments could move otherwise than “right in front.” This innovation is interesting in connection with the formation of the Royal Irish in the attack on the Dockyard Creek at Sebastopol on June 18, 1855, described in [chapter vii].
[141] How susceptible the Chinese soldiery are to the training of British officers was proved first by the success of Gordon’s army in 1860 (see [chapter xii].), and later, in 1900, by the good conduct of the Wai-Hai-Wai regiment.
[142] Murray tells us that these white trousers were dug up out of store in honour of this ceremonial parade. Throughout the war the XVIIIth wore blue Nankeen trousers.
[143] See [Appendix 2 (G)]. These figures, compiled from documents in the Record Office, are considerably greater than those given in the inscription on the memorial. Probably some of the deaths occurred immediately after peace was made, and were therefore not included among the losses during the war.
[144] Six officers, 6 sergeants, 6 drummers, and 118 rank and file.
[145] February 21, 1849.
[146] Some of the officers embarked in the Buckinghamshire, an ill-fated ship which was burned at sea on March 3, 1851. They escaped with their lives, but the regimental plate, and the trophies won in many campaigns by the regiment, were lost, with the exception of one piece of plate, a gold snuff-box, saved, according to tradition, by an officer who, when the fire alarm sounded, snatched it off the mess table, thrust it into his trousers’ pocket, and brought it safe to land.
[147] The Royal Navy was represented by 6 steamers, 80 guns, 818 officers and men; the Indian Navy by the same number of steamers, 30 guns, 952 officers and men; there were also 7 steamers belonging to the uncovenanted Service, carrying 33 guns, with crews amounting in all to 500. The original land force consisted of 8000 or 9000 troops; later arrivals raised General Godwin’s command to a nominal strength of nearly 20,000.