This display of British prowess was followed by negotiations; and in August the other three companies of the regiment landed on the island of Chusan, a detachment taking post at Tsin-Kong.
1841
The tardy councils of the Chinese were expedited by the activity of the British naval force, and in the early part of 1841 they agreed to give up the island of Hong-Kong, pay an indemnity of six million dollars, and open a direct intercourse for trading upon an equal footing. The detachment of the ROYAL IRISH stationed at Tsin-Kong joined the head-quarters, and on the 17th of February the regiment embarked for Hong-Kong, where it arrived in seven days, and the island was taken possession of; but the Chinese authorities appeared by their conduct to have no intention of fulfilling the other stipulations of the treaty. Hostilities were in consequence resumed, and the ROYAL IRISH regiment sailed with the expedition up the Canton river. The fleet silenced the batteries of Wantong, and a body of troops landing, the island was captured without the loss of a man, thirteen hundred Chinese soldiers surrendering prisoners of war. Continuing the voyage up the river, the fleet arrived at the bar, destroyed the enemy's war-junks, and the works were stormed and captured by the Marines, &c. As the expedition pursued its voyage up the river, the Chinese abandoned several batteries and armed rafts, and solicited terms of peace; but procrastination appeared to be their only object, and the British fleet advanced. The forts in front of Canton soon fell under the fire of British artillery, the Chinese flotilla was destroyed, and terms of peace were again solicited by the authorities of the "Celestial empire." While negotiations were pending, bodies of Tartar troops were arriving at Canton, which exposed the object of the enemy; and on the 24th of May the ROYAL IRISH regiment and other British troops landed. On the following day they advanced against the fortified heights on the north of the city, and dispositions were made for the attack, when the EIGHTEENTH, commanded by Lieut.-Colonel Adams, supported by the Royal Marines, the whole under Major-General Burrell, were directed to carry a hill in their front.
Major-General Sir Hugh Gough stated in his public despatch,—"About half past nine o'clock the advance was sounded, and it has seldom fallen to my lot to witness a more soldierlike and steady advance, or a more animated attack. Every individual, native as well as European, steadily and gallantly did his duty. The EIGHTEENTH and forty-ninth were emulous which should first reach their appointed goals; but under this impulse, they did not lose sight of that discipline which could alone ensure success."
The heights were carried by a spirited effort, the British colours waved triumphantly on the captured forts, and the soldiers looked down on Canton within a hundred paces of its walls.
A fortified Chinese camp had been established on the high ground on the north-east of the city, and from this camp bodies of the enemy advanced against the British troops. The EIGHTEENTH, forty-ninth, and a company of Marines, met and repulsed the principal attack, and, following the fugitives along a causeway, stormed and captured the entrenched camp in gallant style. Major-General Sir Hugh Gough stated in his despatch,—"I have to record my approval of the spirited conduct of Captain John Grattan, who commanded the two leading companies of the EIGHTEENTH across the causeway." The camp was burnt, and the magazines were destroyed.
On the following morning a flag of truce was seen on the walls, and hostilities were suspended; but procrastination still appearing to be the object of the Chinese, preparations were made to attack the city by storm, and the ROYAL IRISH were under arms waiting for the signal to rush forward and achieve the conquest of the celebrated city of Canton, when an agreement to terms suddenly prevented further hostilities, the Chinese paying six millions of dollars for the redemption of Canton, and opening the port for trade.
The ROYAL IRISH regiment, commanded by Lieut.-Colonel Henry William Adams, had two men killed; Captain John James Sargent, Lieutenants George Hilliard and David Edwards, and sixteen men wounded.
On the 2nd of June, the regiment embarked for the ceded island of Hong-Kong, where it arrived in a few days; and this station proving healthy and convenient, works were constructed for its protection.