Battle of the Barrier Forts

Attack on the Barrier Forts on November 21, showing Portsmouth, Levant, and the steam frigate San Jacinto

Date	November 16–24, 1856
Location	Pearl River, Guangzhou, China Coordinates: 23°6′37″N 113°19′15.5″E / 23.11028°N 113.320972°E / 23.11028; 113.320972
Result	American victory

Belligerents

United States

Qing dynasty

Commanders and leaders

Andrew Hull Foote

James Armstrong

Ye Mingchen

Strength

Land:
50 marines
237 sailors
Sea:
2 sloops-of-war
1 frigate

5,000 garrison troops
3,000 non-garrison troops

Casualties and losses

10 killed
22 wounded

250–500 killed or wounded
176 guns captured

The Battle of the Barrier Forts (also known as the Battle of the Pearl River Forts) was fought between American and Chinese forces in the Pearl River, Guangdong, China in November 1856 during the Second Opium War. The United States Navy launched an amphibious assault against a series of four forts known as the Barrier Forts near the city of Canton (modern-day Guangzhou). It was considered an important battle by the British whose interest lay in capturing Canton.

Sailing off the Chinese coast, USS Portsmouth and USS Levant had received news of the beginning of the Second Opium War. The two sloops-of-war were tasked with protecting American lives by landing a 150-man detachment of marines and sailors in Canton.

After a peaceful landing the Americans occupied the ancient city. Commanded by both Commodore James Armstrong and Captain Henry H. Bell, USS San Jacinto arrived in Canton's harbor and learned of the occupation. San Jacinto then landed a shore party of her own.

On November 15, 1856, after a brief stay and no military contact, the force withdrew from the city. During the withdrawal, Commander Andrew H. Foote of the Portsmouth rowed out to his ship. As he rowed past the Pearl River Forts, the Chinese garrison fired on the small American boat a few times but the withdrawal continued.

The next day the U.S. seamen had constructed a plan to attack Canton's citadels in retaliation for the Chinese attack on Commander Foote.

Now a force of one steam frigate and two sloops-of-war, the naval squadron under James Armstrong made their way up the Pearl River and launched an attack on Canton's coastal forts. USS Portsmouth closed in on the nearest of the four citadels and fired the initial salvo on November 16.

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