Ershawan Battery: Difference between revisions
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The fortification that exists today, however, is not at the seaside. When the [[Sino-French War]] broke out in 1884, [[Liu Ming-chuan]], who was in charge of defense of [[Keelung]], constructed a battery at the present day location with materials cannibalized from the older fortification, and used it as a major strong point in his defense plan. The battery was put out of action on 5 August 1884 during a bombardment of the Keelung forts by three French warships, and was occupied by the French during the subsequent [[Keelung Campaign]] (October 1884 to April 1885). During the French occupation of Keelung it was renamed Fort La Galissonnière by the invaders, after the French ironclad which had bombarded it in August 1884. The French built a cemetery nearby in which around 500 dead French soldiers and sailors who died during the campaign were buried (most of them victims of cholera and other diseases rather than battle casualties). The cemetery was moved from its original location in the early years of the twentieth century, and in its new location still exists today.<ref>基隆．二沙灣砲台(海門天險)．基隆失守答辯[http://www.tonyhuang39.com/tony0176.html]</ref> |
The fortification that exists today, however, is not at the seaside. When the [[Sino-French War]] broke out in 1884, [[Liu Ming-chuan]], who was in charge of defense of [[Keelung]], constructed a battery at the present day location with materials cannibalized from the older fortification, and used it as a major strong point in his defense plan. The battery was put out of action on 5 August 1884 during a bombardment of the Keelung forts by three French warships, and was occupied by the French during the subsequent [[Keelung Campaign]] (October 1884 to April 1885). During the French occupation of Keelung it was renamed Fort La Galissonnière by the invaders, after the French ironclad which had bombarded it in August 1884. The French built a cemetery nearby in which around 500 dead French soldiers and sailors who died during the campaign were buried (most of them victims of cholera and other diseases rather than battle casualties). The cemetery was moved from its original location in the early years of the twentieth century, and in its new location still exists today.<ref>基隆．二沙灣砲台(海門天險)．基隆失守答辯[http://www.tonyhuang39.com/tony0176.html]</ref> |
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The battery briefly saw action during the [[Japanese invasion of Taiwan (1895)|Japanese invasion of Taiwan]] in 1895. Along with the other coastal fortifications of Keelung, it was bombarded by five Japanese warships during the [[Battle of Keelung]] on 3 June, and was captured by the Japanese Imperial Guards Division with little difficulty. |
The battery briefly saw action during the [[Japanese invasion of Taiwan (1895)|Japanese invasion of Taiwan]] in 1895. Along with the other coastal fortifications of Keelung, it was bombarded by five Japanese warships during the [[Battle of Keelung]] on 3 June 1895, and was captured by the Japanese Imperial Guards Division with little difficulty. |
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After Taiwan was ceded to Japan in 1895, the battery lost its significance as a military base, and fell into disrepair. It was later classified as class one national historical monument by the [[Republic of China]] government, who took control of Taiwan at the conclusion of [[World War II]]. |
After Taiwan was ceded to Japan in 1895, the battery lost its significance as a military base, and fell into disrepair. It was later classified as class one national historical monument by the [[Republic of China]] government, who took control of Taiwan at the conclusion of [[World War II]]. |
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Revision as of 06:46, 5 February 2009
| Uhrshawan Battery | |
|---|---|
| Keelung, Taiwan | |
| Type | Fort |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1840 |
| Built by | Qing Empire |
| In use | 1840-1895 |
| Materials | Stone |
| Events | Sino-French War Japanese Invasion of Taiwan |
Uhrshawan Battery (Traditional Chinese: 二沙灣砲台), or better known as Tenable Gate of the Sea (Traditional Chinese: 海門天險; hai-men-tien-hsien) is a battery emplacements camp in Keelung, Taiwan. It was built during Qing Empire's rule of Taiwan, and was the site of fightings between the French and Chinese forces during Sino-French War. It was the command post of Liu Ming-chuan (Traditional Chinese: 劉銘傳), who was later appointed by Qing court as the first governor of Taiwan, when he was charged with the defense of Keelung during the war. It has lost its military value under the Japanese regime, and is currently listed as a class one national historical monument.
History
The battery was first constructed in 1840 by Yao Ying (Traditional Chinese: 姚瑩), disciplinary officer of the Qing garrison in Taiwan. It was originally located by the sea, and was used by the garrison to fend off British assaults during the Opium War.[1] It was part of the Taiwan Seventeen Fortification Plan (Traditional Chinese: 台灣十七口設防圖說狀), which Yao composed and presented to the Qing court.[2]
The fortification that exists today, however, is not at the seaside. When the Sino-French War broke out in 1884, Liu Ming-chuan, who was in charge of defense of Keelung, constructed a battery at the present day location with materials cannibalized from the older fortification, and used it as a major strong point in his defense plan. The battery was put out of action on 5 August 1884 during a bombardment of the Keelung forts by three French warships, and was occupied by the French during the subsequent Keelung Campaign (October 1884 to April 1885). During the French occupation of Keelung it was renamed Fort La Galissonnière by the invaders, after the French ironclad which had bombarded it in August 1884. The French built a cemetery nearby in which around 500 dead French soldiers and sailors who died during the campaign were buried (most of them victims of cholera and other diseases rather than battle casualties). The cemetery was moved from its original location in the early years of the twentieth century, and in its new location still exists today.[3]
The battery briefly saw action during the Japanese invasion of Taiwan in 1895. Along with the other coastal fortifications of Keelung, it was bombarded by five Japanese warships during the Battle of Keelung on 3 June 1895, and was captured by the Japanese Imperial Guards Division with little difficulty.
After Taiwan was ceded to Japan in 1895, the battery lost its significance as a military base, and fell into disrepair. It was later classified as class one national historical monument by the Republic of China government, who took control of Taiwan at the conclusion of World War II.
Layout
Function and Services
References
See also