3-008-734 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

The Capture of Ningpo: the city, and the British, French and Imperial encampments, 1862. 'The capture of Ningpo, in May last, by a combined force of French and English [who enforced]...a strict blockade of the city; the ships in the river were moved down below the settlement, and no boats were allowed to cross from or to the settlement; and, as all the supplies of the garrison were obtained from this source, they [the Chinese] must have felt this blow. They were also informed that a single shot on the ships or in the direction of the settlement would be deemed a casus belli. To this communication an answer was received...and stating that, though the guns could not be dismounted, the embrasures should be bricked up. They were informed that our demands were for the dismounting of the guns; however, they set to work, and filled them up with tiles and brickwork, which a single kick could have displaced... The force employed [by the British] comprised only 300 men, the landing party numbering about 160, while the strength of the enemy is underestimated at 20,000... The French loss was 2 mortally wounded (since dead), 1 dangerously (Lieutenant Kenny), and 5 more or less severely wounded; making the total casualties 34 killed and wounded'. From "Illustrated London News", 1862.