3-008-735 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

The Capture of Ningpo: storming party under Lieut. Davis holding a gateway between the Salt and East Gates: death of Lieut. Cornewall, R.N., 1862. 'An advance was then made on the Salt Gate; and the fieldpiece, being got up over the walls...was placed in position beneath the pagoda and brought into action, clearing away the rebels from the surrounding streets. A party then advanced under Lieutenant Davis to hold a gateway about two hundred yards further along the walls towards the east gate, and here the enemy made desperate efforts to drive our men back by both front and flank attacks. From the ship they were observed approaching with banners and spears, numbering about a thousand. A well-directed shot fired by Mr. Swain, Master, checked their advance, and the charge of Lieutenant Davis's party drove them back like sheep, Captain Dew shooting the leader with his revolver. By the streets a flank attack was now made, evidently with the idea of cutting off this advanced guard; and it was here, while waving on his men to the charge, that poor Cornewall fell, shot through the chest. His death was immediately avenged by a marine artilleryman named Potts, whose rifle-bullet entered the brain of the man who shot him'. From "Illustrated London News", 1862.