2-982-436 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Sketches at Canton - Panic at the Commissariat Stores - "Great Firing and No Execution", 1858. British forces cause havoc in China. Engraving from '...drawings which we received by the last Overland Mail from our Special Artist and Correspondent in China, indicative of the leading events in Canton during the previous fortnight. This (says our Correspondent) is as it appeared on the morning of the attack on the working party. There was much rushing, firing, and talking. On the right are the commissariat stores, French and English; on the left is a breastwork: the troops are firing at the walls of the houses opposite. In the centre...is a portion of the wall that goes round Canton: this is the way to go to head-quarters - there is a mat sentry-box on one side and a roofed-in post on the other. At this post the Braves [Chinese fighters] thrust in a bag of powder. In the corner, left side, is part of the josshouse occupied by the 65th Bengal N.I. [Native Infantry]. Under the mat shed the doctor is dressing the wounds of sepoys'. From "Illustrated London News", 1858.