May 18, 1842 · East China Coast Theater
May 18, 1842
British forces assaulted the walled city of Chapu defended by approximately 3,000 Manchu bannermen — the Qing's elite hereditary soldiers. The Manchu garrison, understanding that surrender meant social disgrace, fought to near extinction. Several hundred Manchu soldiers and their families killed themselves rather than surrender — the first indication that the Qing's Manchu core would resist to the death regardless of military logic.
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