Battle of the Bogue (1856) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Battle of the Bogue
Part of the Second Opium War
Attack on the North and South Wangtong Islands
Date 12–13 November 1856 Location Humen, Guangdong, China Result British victory
Belligerents
United Kingdom	Qing China
Commanders and leaders
Michael Seymour	Ye Mingchen
Strength
6 ships	2,000 (500 in each fort) 410 guns
Casualties and losses
1 killed 5 wounded	unknown 410 guns lost 4 forts captured

The Battle of the Bogue was fought between British and Chinese forces at the Humen strait (Bogue), Guangdong province, China, on 12–13 November 1856 during the Second Opium War. The British captured the forts in the Wangtong Islands on 12 November and the forts in Anunghoy Island the next day.

Background

After an hour, Seymour received an answer; the Chinese commander could not give up the forts because he would "lose his head" and must therefore fight.

Battle

On the 12 November, the British squadron attacked the two Wangtong Island forts, which were fully manned and had over 200 guns mounted. Stinkpots were thrown at the British who first entered the forts. The Chinese, who stood to their guns up to the moment of the British entering the embrasures, had boats ready to escape. The forts were captured after what Seymour called a "considerable, though ill-directed" resistance of about an hour. The British casualties were one killed and five wounded on board HMS Nankin. On the 13 November, the British attacked and captured the Anunghoy forts, which mounted 210 guns. Seymour reported that although "some resistance" was offered, there were no British casualties.

Gallery

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  Map of the battle

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  Interior of the Anunghoy forts after their demolition by the Nankin and Calcutta

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  Second sketch of Anunghoy