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Auction: 21042 - The Opium Wars Collection
Lot: 88

First Opium War
The Eastern Expedition
The Battle of Woosung
1842 (24 June) cross-written entire letter marked "Eastern Expedition" to Ceylon headed "At anchor off Woosung, China", written by Captain C. Edwards, rated "1/8" and with Calcutta Ship Letter Bearing (14.11); generally clean and fine.


The interesting eye-witness account includes, "...We entered the river Yangtsekiang on the 13th and moved up about 40 mile at daylight on the 16th; the men of war were towed into position by the steamers ... The 'Cornwallis' wounded in her mizzen mast and some of the steamers had a few of their crew wounded, a few severely. While the firing was going on, the 'North Star' arrived and took up position late in the affray. She however fired a few shots. When the Chinese ceased firing, the marines and small armed men were landed and took the batteries. .The steamers were sent for, as when all was done we landed to occupy amid the dirt and smells, the place we had not taken ... The place selected for the quarters of the 18th was a most unhealthy marsh and there we remained three days, marching for Shan-hae on the 19th. On the 18th they landed the horse artillery and our regiment with the 49th and the sappers rifles escorted them to Shan-hae whilst the remainder went in the steamers. We had an intolerably hot day and were annoyed by constant halts, the horses and ponies being quite knocked up ... Our quarters in the City of Chin-hae were tolerable but our supplies were short and it was reported that we were either to remain there for some time or move further up river ... The 'Pluto was to return immediately with the Plenipotentiary who had just returned from Hong Kong...". A fine and delightful letter

provenance:
Eddie Lawrence, September 2014


1842年6月24日英國遠征軍由中國吳淞寄鍚蘭的軍人信函, 寄件人為愛爾蘭皇家第18 兵團上尉C. Edwards, 遞送費為1s 8d. 蓋11月14日"Calcutta Ship Letter" 框型戳, 保存完好. 信函的內容重㸃如下: "….我們十三號進入了楊子江, 十六號在白天前進了四十多公里. 軍艦被拴泊於火船旁適當位置… "Cornwallis" 號的桅杆損壞了, 也有數名船員受傷, 有些嚴重受傷. 互相開火持續, 而"North Star" 號則到達了, 並在一個有利位置上開火還擊.... 第18 兵團進駐的地方是個最不衛生的沼澤地, 我們還留在此三天,...一個無法忍受的炎炎夏日, 馬匹也倒下了...., 但我獲准可在 "Pluto" 號得到補給品....因為"Pluto" 號剛要從香港載返我們的特使...." . 亦是以第一身敍述戰爭的重要目擊證詞.

Estimate
HK$25,000 to HK$40,000

Starting price
HK$20000