1859 (10 Feb) Camp Fy-yoong, China This compelling series of
letters, dated 10–12 February 1858, offers a rare and vivid
firsthand
1859 (10 Feb) Camp Fy-yoong, China This compelling series of
letters, dated 10–12 February 1858, offers a rare and vivid
firsthand account of British military operations in the immediate
aftermath of the capture of Canton during the Second Opium War.
Written by a British officer or medical staff member, the letters
describe a field expedition to Camp Fy-yoong, a rural forward
position north of Canton, where the writer details the countryside,
local civilian curiosity, and the discipline and health of the
Allied forces. Most notably, the correspondence refers to a planned
naval expedition by gunboats, involving the deployment of 600 Royal
Marines approximately 200 miles away, potentially targeting a key
location inland or coastal within Guangdong or adjacent provinces.
The writer clearly distinguishes that no Indian native troops
(sepoys) are expected to participate, implying a British-only force
under General command, possibly accompanied by Lord Elgin. These
insights capture not only the day-to-day operations of the
occupation but also the British strategy of controlled escalation
and deliberate diplomatic-military coordination in southern China —
setting the stage for the broader enforcement of imperial demands
leading up to the Treaty of Tientsin later that year. The letter
sheets have the following description: “…… The force we have with
us at the present occupation consists of 300 Royal Marines, 100
artillery, 50 sappers, 350 of the 65th with our band, and about 120
Chinese bearing about 500 elephants’ loads of stores. Mr. Parkes,
one of the Allied Commissioners, accompanies the General. The men &
their rifles everywhere they are Christian people in this district.
We marched 15 miles yesterday from Wunchow, and came 5 miles here
to Canton. Tomorrow, I think also the Prince’s Company and a party
of the Artillery Company move out. Another expedition is talked of
— but it will be principally a naval force sent in gunboats – about
200 miles to the ancient capital of this province, 600 marines are
to go – the General and probably Lord Elgin – I suppose no native
troops will be sent (no native troops refer to Indian troops) ……”
Camp Fy-yoong was very likely a temporary British military
encampment north or northeast of Canton (Guangzhou); Near a village
or rural outpost called something like Tai Yeung / Taiyang / 大洋
(British phonetics using non-standardized romanization), located
~12–15 miles inland; Used during the British inland march in early
1858, just after the fall of Canton.
1859年2月10日，中國 Fy-yoong 軍營 — 第二次鴉片戰爭期間英軍佔領廣州後的戰地來信
此信描述駐軍行動與英軍即將展開的海軍遠征部署，並反映外交與軍事協同行動的現場觀察。寫於1859年2月10日至12日之間的戰地書信，由一名隨軍英國軍官或軍醫所撰，記錄英法聯軍佔領廣州後，在城北前哨「Fy-yoong
軍營」（位於現今廣東偏郊）的駐防與行軍行動。信中描述當地民眾對聯軍官兵頗具好奇；聯軍部隊紀律良好、身體健康；當時駐紮兵力包括：300名皇家海軍陸戰隊、100名炮兵、50名工兵、第65本地步兵團（Native
Infantry）350人、另有120名中國人搬運約500批物資（象馱）；英方聯軍專員巴夏禮（Mr. Parkes）隨軍將領同行；
提及另一支即將出發之海軍遠征隊伍，將由多艘炮艇組成，計劃遠赴約200英里外的地點（可能為廣東或鄰近省份的重要據點）；約600名皇家海軍陸戰隊將參與此行動，由總司令與外交使節額爾金勳爵（Lord
Elgin）率領；明確指出「不會派遣印度本地兵（native
troops）」參與此次行動，顯示此為純英軍行動，具高度政治與軍事象徵性。
此信歷史背景與重要性反映的是第二次鴉片戰爭中，英國在成功攻佔廣州後，於1859年初進一步擴展行動計劃的真實現場觀察： •
當時正值《天津條約》尚未完成兌現的緊張階段，英法聯軍在南方保持高度戒備，同時亦準備向內陸或海岸進一步推進，以迫使清廷履約； •
此來信揭示了英軍以外交與軍事協調並進（軍隊由 Lord Elgin
等文官參與）、同時刻意排除印度兵團以免引起地方緊張與誤解的作戰原則； •
此亦為太平天國與英軍南方軍事部署重疊期，顯示英軍對內部穩定與華南通商控制雙重考量； •
實為研究英軍華南部署、與清廷外交壓力、以及前線軍事行動日常與結構配置的珍貴一手材料。
此書信不僅記錄第二次鴉片戰爭戰後佔領區的軍事活動與外交準備階段，亦提供對英國在華南策略性「節制進逼」戰略的第一手觀察，極具文獻價值與展覽潛力。
