Capture of the French Folly Fort

The Capture of the French Folly Fort by British forces in China occurred on 6 November 1856 during the Second Opium War. The British dispersed 23 Chinese war junks and captured the French Folly fort in the Pearl River near the city of Canton (Guangzhou) in Guangdong province. The battle lasted nearly an hour. The British consul Harry Parkes described the Chinese as putting up "a very hot resistance" and the engagement as "exceeding creditable to the bravery not only of our men, but of the Chinese also."[1]

Capture of French Folly Fort
Part of the Second Opium War

Start of the action, showing the steamers Barracouta and Coromandel
Date6 November 1856
Location
Pearl River, Guangdong, China
Result British victory
Belligerents
 United Kingdom Qing China
Commanders and leaders
Michael Seymour Ye Mingchen
Strength
2 steamers
14 small boats1		 23 junks[1]
Casualties and losses
1 killed
4 wounded[2]		 unknown
1 fort captured
1 Comprising 2 launchers, 2 barges, 3 pinnaces, 6 cutters, and 1 gig[2]
  • Map of the battle
  • End of the action, showing the explosion of the junks
  • Barracouta and a pinnace from the Calcutta engaging junks
  • A battle at French Folly Fort by a Chinese painter

Citations and references

Citations

  1. Papers 1857, p. 64
  2. Bulletins 1859, pp. 99–100

References

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