In the battle at the bridge named Palikao (Yongtongqiao), which spans the Tonghui River, the Allies scatter Senggerinchen’s elite Mongolian cavalry and entrap the infantry defending Beijing.
Scroll right to view images
of the battle.
Left: “The French Attack on the Bridge Pa-Li-Chian, Eight Miles From Pekin — Form [sic] a Sketch by our Special Artist in China”
BATTLE NEAR PEKIN.
… At daybreak on the 21st I marched from Chang-Tsin-Wan. and, parking the baggage in a village two tram to front, was there joined by the French, who advanced on the right. Soon after passing Tang-Chow the French troops got under fire of the Chinese works thrown up to protect a fine bridge over the canal, and on the Imperial high road to Pekin. At this point the enemy's infantry appeared in considerable force. On the left the Tartar calvary showed in large masses, and and advanced rapidly until within 200 yards of our guns, which, hastily unlimbering, threw them off with a fire of canister … — J. Hope Grant, Commander of the Forces. (Illustrated London News, December 22 1860, p.582)
Illustrated London News Group
[ILN_1860-12-22_582_battle_horiz_BL]
View the full page in the Image Gallery
Left: “The King's Dragoon Guards closing With the Tartar cavalry in the Engagement Near Pekin on the 21st of September — From a Sketch by our Special Artist in China”… At this time I had with me the cavalry, the 4th Infantry Brigade and three Armstrong guns … We fired occasional small single shots on their thickest masses. These shots, fired singly, at slow intervals, served admirably to illustrate the good qualities of the Armstrong gun: not one failed to strike the thick masses of the enemy, at once driving them from the spot. … — J. Hope Grant, Commander of the Forces. (Illustrated London News, December 22 1860, p.583)Illustrated London News Group
[ILN_1858-09-18_267_fire-canton_BL]
View the full page in the Image Gallery
On viewing images of a potentiallydisturbing nature: click here
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
© 2022 Visualizing Cultures
