Battle of Canton (1856)

Battle of Canton
Part of the Second Opium War
Ruined walls of Canton from the Dutch Folly Fort
Date 23 October – 5 November 1856 Location Canton, Guangdong, China Coordinates: 23°6′42″N 113°15′47″E / 23.11167°N 113.26306°E / 23.11167; 113.26306 Result British victory
Belligerents
United Kingdom	Qing China
Commanders and leaders
Michael Seymour	Ye Mingchen
Strength
9 ships 580 troops	Unknown
Casualties and losses
2 killed 12 wounded	18–19 killed and wounded

The Battle of Canton was fought between British and Chinese forces at the city of Canton (Guangzhou), Guangdong province, China on 23 October to 5 November 1856 during the Second Opium War.

On 23 October, British operations began with the attack on four forts known as the Barrier Forts in the Pearl River. The Coromandel and Barracouta captured the forts with slight opposition, the first shot in the war being fired from the Coromandel. Rear-Admiral Michael Seymour, commander-in-chief of British forces in China, reported no British casualties and four or five Chinese killed due to an "ill-judged resistance". Afterwards, Seymour proceeded to Canton, where he found the Encounter moored off the city near the Canton Factories. He sent the Sampson and Barracouta to secure the free navigation of Blenheim Reach along the river. Both ships took possession of the Blenheim and Macao Forts without resistance. British sailor William Kennedy described the scene at the city:

The river was alive with every kind of craft, from the little sampan, propelled by a single oar in the stern, to the heavy trading junk with her single iron-wood mast and mat sails. Numerous flower-boats belonging to wealthy mandarins were moored off the town, conspicuous by their gaudy paint, and crowded with laughing girls, who kept up an incessant chatter as they peeped out at the foreign devils!

The next morning, Seymour proceeded down Macao Reach where he met the Barracouta. The Dutch Folly Fort opposite the factories and Bird's Nest Fort were taken quiet possession of, as were afterwards the two Shameen Forts commanding the passage. The captured guns were rendered unserviceable. A detachment of Royal Marines was landed to protect the factories, later reinforced by another party and some bluejackets (sailors). Advanced posts and field guns were stationed at the most important points, and barricades placed across the streets to guard against a surprise attack. On 25 October, Chinese forces attacked the pickets but were repulsed by the Marines with a loss of 14 Chinese killed and wounded. On 26 October, operations were temporarily halted, being a "day of rest" on Sunday.

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