196:
185:
153:
240:
208:
166:
228:
50:
611:
694:
479:
938:
914:
664:
When taking the second position, the
Chinese launched several counterattacks with some 3,000 Qing Army soldiers from Canton. In a few more days of intense combat until the 24 November the U.S. force, with help from the blockade, pushed back the attacking Chinese army, killing and wounding dozens of
754:
After James
Armstrong's attack on the Chinese fortifications, diplomatic efforts began again and the American and Chinese governments signed an agreement for U.S. neutrality in the Second Opium War. This ended the United States' participation in the conflict until 1859, when Commodore
637:
For two hours her bombardment continued until the
Chinese batteries were silenced. After this first engagement, Chinese and American officials decided to try to settle the matter diplomatically. This failed and on
1084:
653:, received 22 cannonball shots in her sails, rigging, and hull. Under cover of their ships' fire, a storming party of 287 troops led by Foote landed unopposed. Spearheading this force were about 50
1094:
335:
856:
1079:
599:
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.
1059:
715:
500:
1011:
Charles O. Paullin, "Early
Voyages of American Naval Vessels to the Orient", "U. S. Naval Institute Proceedings", v. 37, no. 2 (Jun 1911), pp. 391–396.
948:
924:
626:), 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
816:
328:
1074:
1064:
953:
895:
321:
929:
602:
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.
668:
Chinese casualties were an estimated 250 to 500 killed or wounded. The
Americans land forces sustained seven killed and 22 wounded. USS
101:
741:
526:
853:
364:
1069:
1008:
H. A. Ellsworth, "One
Hundred Eighty Landings of U. S. Marines" (Washington: Historical Section, HQMC, 1934), pp. 24–25;
719:
504:
588:
On
November 15, 1856, after a brief stay and no military contact, the force withdrew from the city. During the withdrawal,
1089:
776:
764:
564:
409:
404:
399:
200:
704:
489:
1054:
780:
654:
369:
245:
723:
708:
508:
493:
589:
561:
813:
557:
were tasked with protecting
American lives by landing a 150-man detachment of marines and sailors in Canton.
772:
394:
389:
359:
661:. They quickly captured the first enemy fort, then used its 53 guns to attack and capture the second fort.
1049:
575:
384:
768:
540:
414:
56:
650:
379:
1026:
Typed extracts, log of the PORTSMOUTH; Foote to Armstrong, 5 Dec 1856, East India Squadron Letters.
756:
442:
255:
90:
1005:
Clyde H. Metcalf, "History of the U. S. Marine Corps" (New York: Putnam, 1939), pp. 172–173;
658:
458:
454:
233:
465:). It was considered an important battle by the British whose interest lay in capturing Canton.
17:
891:
784:
461:
against a series of four forts known as the Barrier Forts near the city of Canton (modern-day
419:
189:
62:
49:
450:
345:
41:
1002:
Foote to Armstrong, 4 Nov 1856, East India Squadron Letters, 1855–1856, National Archives;
974:
Elliott, Mark C. "The Limits of Tartary: Manchuria in Imperial and National Geographies."
864:. Washington D.C.: Historical Branch, G-3 Division, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps. p. 6.
860:
820:
642:
20, Commodore Armstrong ordered his ships to fire again on two more of the Chinese forts.
610:
592:
568:
838:
645:
This bombardment lasted until the Chinese batteries weakened slightly, after which the
1043:
1031:
944:
920:
630:
closed in on the nearest of the four citadels and fired the initial salvo on November
619:
571:
554:
251:
158:
560:
After a peaceful landing the Americans occupied the ancient city. Commanded by both
170:
775:. America's opening of Asia continued into the 1860s with conflict, such as the
693:
672:
suffered one killed and six wounded in her exchange with the Pearl River Forts.
478:
212:
1023:"Ibid.;" Simms to CMC, 7 Dec 1856, Historical File, Marines, National Archives.
547:
116:
103:
462:
446:
94:
962:
Monarchs and Ministers: The Grand Council in Mid-Ch'ing China, 1723–1820.
771:
would use Pearl River to attack Canton from water, resulting in the
665:
the attackers, capturing two more forts and spiking 176 enemy guns.
553:
had received news of the beginning of the Second Opium War. The two
313:
1032:
Fankwei; or, the San Jacinto in the Seas of India, China and Japan
609:
1014:
Typed extracts, log of SAN JACINTO, 16 Nov 1856, Archives, HQMC.
1017:
Typed extracts, log of PORTSMOUTH, 16 Nov 1856, Archives, HQMC.
964:
Berkeley and Los Angeles: University of California Press, 1991.
317:
854:
The Barrier Forts: A Battle, a Monument, and a Mythical Marine
767:, which was ultimately unsuccessful. In 1857, the British and
687:
472:
1020:
Foote to Armstrong, 26 Nov 1856, East India Squadron Letters.
814:
The Capture of the Barrier Forts in the Canton River, China
839:
Life of Andrew Hull Foote, Rear-Admiral United States Navy
581:
arrived in Canton's harbor and learned of the occupation.
1085:
United States Marine Corps in the 18th and 19th centuries
890:. Volume 1. Santa Barbara, California: ABC-CLIO. p. 782.
441:) was fought between American and Chinese forces in the
983:
Emperor and Ancestor: State and Lineage in South China.
614:
Map of the assault on the Barrier Forts, 20–22 November
657:
under Captain John D. Simms and a small detachment of
1035:. New York: Harper & Brothers. pp. 415–469.
54:
Attack on the Barrier Forts on November 21, showing
1095:Amphibious operations involving the United States
875:Treading Softly: U.S. Marines in China, 1819-1949
66:, with men and officers from the steam frigate
34:
999:(Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1948), p. 879.
680:22 times, but neither was seriously damaged.
329:
8:
949:Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships
925:Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships
808:
806:
804:
802:
800:
722:. Unsourced material may be challenged and
507:. Unsourced material may be challenged and
842:. New York: Harper & Brothers. p. 120.
812:McClellan, Edwin North (September 1920). "
336:
322:
314:
31:
1080:Punitive expeditions of the United States
742:Learn how and when to remove this message
527:Learn how and when to remove this message
943:This article incorporates text from the
919:This article incorporates text from the
877:. Westport, Connecticut: Praeger. p. 8.
796:
585:then landed a shore party of her own.
7:
888:Almanac of American Military History
720:adding citations to reliable sources
505:adding citations to reliable sources
449:, China in November 1856 during the
1060:Battles involving the United States
971:New York: Simon and Schuster, 1993.
969:Chinese Civilization: A Sourcebook.
25:
997:An Encyclopedia of World History
936:
912:
692:
477:
238:
226:
206:
194:
183:
164:
151:
48:
1075:Naval battles of the Opium Wars
1065:Battles of the Second Opium War
992:, 1944, v. 5, pp. 536–537;
539:Sailing off the Chinese coast,
439:Battle of the Pearl River Forts
18:Battle of the Pearl River Forts
1029:Wood, William Maxwell (1859).
1:
952:. The entry can be found
928:. The entry can be found
777:Battle of Shimonoseki Straits
836:Hoppin, James Mason (1874).
886:Tucker, Spencer C. (2013).
859:September 22, 2015, at the
759:in the chartered steamship
435:Battle of the Barrier Forts
35:Battle of the Barrier Forts
1111:
873:Clark, George B. (2001).
851:Bernard C. Nalty (1962).
676:was hit 18 times and the
355:
304:250–500 killed or wounded
291:
261:
218:
176:
144:
73:
47:
39:
976:Journal of Asian Studies
823:". Marine Corps Gazette
990:Encyclopædia Britannica
117:23.11028°N 113.320972°E
1070:Conflicts in Guangdong
960:Bartlett, Beatrice S.
615:
177:Commanders and leaders
613:
292:Casualties and losses
1090:November 1856 events
765:Battle of Taku Forts
763:participated in the
716:improve this section
501:improve this section
286:(non-garrison force)
122:23.11028; 113.320972
995:William L. Langer,
785:expedition to Korea
757:Josiah Tattnall III
618:Now a force of one
437:(also known as the
256:Green Standard Army
113: /
81:16–24 November 1856
978:59 (2000): 603–46.
819:2017-12-01 at the
616:
459:amphibious assault
455:United States Navy
1055:Conflicts in 1856
967:Ebrey, Patricia.
896:978-1-59884-530-3
752:
751:
744:
537:
536:
529:
428:
427:
365:French Folly Fort
312:
311:
287:
282:
272:
246:U.S. Marine Corps
190:Andrew Hull Foote
140:
139:
16:(Redirected from
1102:
940:
939:
916:
915:
899:
884:
878:
871:
865:
849:
843:
834:
828:
810:
783:, as well as an
779:and a following
773:Battle of Canton
747:
740:
736:
733:
727:
696:
688:
651:William N. Smith
641:
633:
532:
525:
521:
518:
512:
481:
473:
451:Second Opium War
350:
348:
347:Second Opium War
338:
331:
324:
315:
308:4 forts captured
301:2 sloops damaged
285:
281:(garrison force)
280:
270:
244:
242:
241:
232:
230:
229:
211:
210:
209:
199:
198:
197:
188:
187:
186:
169:
168:
167:
157:
155:
154:
136:American victory
128:
127:
125:
124:
123:
118:
114:
111:
110:
109:
106:
75:
74:
52:
42:Second Opium War
32:
21:
1110:
1109:
1105:
1104:
1103:
1101:
1100:
1099:
1040:
1039:
1038:
937:
913:
908:
903:
902:
885:
881:
872:
868:
861:Wayback Machine
850:
846:
835:
831:
821:Wayback Machine
811:
798:
793:
748:
737:
731:
728:
713:
697:
686:
649:, commanded by
639:
631:
608:
593:Andrew H. Foote
565:James Armstrong
533:
522:
516:
513:
498:
482:
471:
431:
430:
429:
424:
351:
346:
344:
342:
307:
305:
300:
298:
283:
275:
274:1 steam frigate
273:
268:
239:
237:
227:
225:
207:
205:
201:James Armstrong
195:
193:
192:
184:
182:
165:
163:
152:
150:
121:
119:
115:
112:
107:
104:
102:
100:
99:
98:
53:
28:
23:
22:
15:
12:
11:
5:
1108:
1106:
1098:
1097:
1092:
1087:
1082:
1077:
1072:
1067:
1062:
1057:
1052:
1042:
1041:
1037:
1036:
1027:
1024:
1021:
1018:
1015:
1012:
1009:
1006:
1003:
1000:
993:
986:
981:Fauré, David.
979:
972:
965:
958:
934:
909:
907:
904:
901:
900:
879:
866:
844:
829:
795:
794:
792:
789:
787:in the 1870s.
750:
749:
700:
698:
691:
685:
682:
607:
604:
535:
534:
485:
483:
476:
470:
467:
426:
425:
423:
422:
417:
412:
410:3rd Taku Forts
407:
405:2nd Taku Forts
402:
400:1st Taku Forts
397:
392:
387:
382:
377:
372:
367:
362:
356:
353:
352:
343:
341:
340:
333:
326:
318:
310:
309:
302:
294:
293:
289:
288:
277:
264:
263:
259:
258:
248:
221:
220:
219:Units involved
216:
215:
203:
179:
178:
174:
173:
161:
147:
146:
142:
141:
138:
137:
134:
130:
129:
89:
87:
83:
82:
79:
71:
70:
45:
44:
37:
36:
30:
29:
26:
24:
14:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1107:
1096:
1093:
1091:
1088:
1086:
1083:
1081:
1078:
1076:
1073:
1071:
1068:
1066:
1063:
1061:
1058:
1056:
1053:
1051:
1050:1856 in China
1048:
1047:
1045:
1034:
1033:
1028:
1025:
1022:
1019:
1016:
1013:
1010:
1007:
1004:
1001:
998:
994:
991:
987:
984:
980:
977:
973:
970:
966:
963:
959:
957:
955:
950:
947:
946:
945:public domain
935:
933:
931:
926:
923:
922:
921:public domain
911:
910:
905:
897:
893:
889:
883:
880:
876:
870:
867:
863:
862:
858:
855:
848:
845:
841:
840:
833:
830:
827:(3): 262–276.
826:
822:
818:
815:
809:
807:
805:
803:
801:
797:
790:
788:
786:
782:
778:
774:
770:
766:
762:
758:
746:
743:
735:
725:
721:
717:
711:
710:
706:
701:This section
699:
695:
690:
689:
683:
681:
679:
675:
671:
666:
662:
660:
656:
652:
648:
643:
635:
629:
625:
621:
620:steam frigate
612:
605:
603:
600:
598:
594:
591:
586:
584:
580:
579:
573:
572:Henry H. Bell
570:
566:
563:
558:
556:
555:sloops-of-war
552:
551:
545:
544:
531:
528:
520:
510:
506:
502:
496:
495:
491:
486:This section
484:
480:
475:
474:
468:
466:
464:
460:
456:
452:
448:
444:
440:
436:
421:
418:
416:
413:
411:
408:
406:
403:
401:
398:
396:
393:
391:
390:Fatshan Creek
388:
386:
383:
381:
378:
376:
375:Barrier Forts
373:
371:
368:
366:
363:
361:
358:
357:
354:
349:
339:
334:
332:
327:
325:
320:
319:
316:
306:176 guns lost
303:
296:
295:
290:
278:
266:
265:
260:
257:
254:
253:
252:Eight Banners
249:
247:
236:
235:
223:
222:
217:
214:
204:
202:
191:
181:
180:
175:
172:
162:
160:
159:United States
149:
148:
143:
135:
132:
131:
126:
108:113°19′15.5″E
96:
92:
88:
85:
84:
80:
77:
76:
72:
69:
65:
64:
59:
58:
51:
46:
43:
38:
33:
19:
1030:
996:
989:
982:
975:
968:
961:
951:
942:
927:
918:
887:
882:
874:
869:
852:
847:
837:
832:
824:
760:
753:
738:
732:October 2023
729:
714:Please help
702:
677:
673:
669:
667:
663:
646:
644:
636:
627:
623:
617:
601:
596:
587:
582:
577:
559:
549:
542:
538:
523:
517:October 2023
514:
499:Please help
487:
457:launched an
438:
434:
432:
385:Escape Creek
374:
269:237 sailors
250:
224:
145:Belligerents
67:
61:
55:
40:Part of the
27:Naval battle
781:bombardment
624:San Jacinto
583:San Jacinto
578:San Jacinto
443:Pearl River
415:Zhangjiawan
213:Ye Mingchen
120: /
91:Pearl River
68:San Jacinto
1044:Categories
906:References
674:Portsmouth
628:Portsmouth
597:Portsmouth
543:Portsmouth
469:Background
395:2nd Canton
380:Macao Fort
360:1st Canton
299:22 wounded
267:50 marines
171:Qing China
57:Portsmouth
988:"China",
761:Towey Wan
703:does not
684:Aftermath
590:Commander
576:USS
562:Commodore
548:USS
541:USS
488:does not
463:Guangzhou
447:Guangdong
297:10 killed
271:(on land)
234:U.S. Navy
105:23°6′37″N
95:Guangzhou
857:Archived
817:Archived
638:November
276:2 sloops
262:Strength
86:Location
724:removed
709:sources
659:sailors
655:marines
595:of the
569:Captain
509:removed
494:sources
420:Palikao
97:, China
941:
917:
894:
769:French
678:Levant
670:Levant
647:Levant
640:
632:
606:Battle
550:Levant
453:. The
284:3,000
279:5,000
243:
231:
156:
133:Result
63:Levant
60:, and
985:2007.
791:Notes
622:the (
370:Bogue
954:here
930:here
892:ISBN
707:any
705:cite
634:16.
567:and
546:and
492:any
490:cite
433:The
78:Date
718:by
503:by
1046::
799:^
574:,
445:,
93:,
956:.
932:.
898:.
825:5
745:)
739:(
734:)
730:(
726:.
712:.
530:)
524:(
519:)
515:(
511:.
497:.
337:e
330:t
323:v
20:)
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.