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Battle of Zhapu

Battle of Chapu
Part of the First Opium War
Capture of Chapoo.jpg
Map of the battle
Date 18 May 1842
Location Zhapu, Zhejiang, China
Coordinates: 30°36′22″N 121°5′46″E / 30.60611°N 121.09611°E / 30.60611; 121.09611
Result British victory
Belligerents

 United Kingdom

 Qing China
Commanders and leaders
Hugh Gough
William Parker 		Changxi
Strength
8 ships
2,220 land troops		 8,000–10,000 troops
Casualties and losses
13 killed
42 wounded		 1,200–1,500 casualties
14 junks captured
Battle of Chapu
Traditional Chinese
Simplified Chinese

 United Kingdom

The Battle of Chapu, Chapoo, or Zhapu (18 May 1842) was fought between British and Qing forces at Zhapu (then romanized as "Chapoo" or "Chapu") on the northern shore of Hangzhou Bay during the First Opium War.

Before the attack, the British commander, Major General Hugh Gough divided his forces into three: a column of infantry on the left (863 men) and right (969 men), with artillery in the centre. Gough accompanied the right column, which landed first on May 16. The remaining troops moved round to the rear of the enemy thereby cutting their communications with Zhapu. Meanwhile, the accompanying steamers began a bombardment of the city's defences. In Gough's own words: "The enemy were completely taken by surprise; as usual, they were unprepared for anything except a frontal attack. They gave way on all sides and took to flight, with the exception of a body of some 300 Tartar troops who seized a small joss-house, and held it with indomitable pluck and perseverance." Multiple assaults proved necessary to capture the joss-house with casualties suffered on both sides; eventually it fell and after each of the gates had been captured, the city fell to the British. Not without cost and Gough lost one of his most accomplished field commanders Lieutenant Colonel Nicholas Tomlinson who was killed personally leading a breaching party of the 18th (Royal Irish) Regiment of Foot.


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