In later years, these two units have not been in a position to play a very prominent part in the defence of the Settlement, although they were always ready if needed. In the early days, however, the artillery did play a' prominent part, account of the Battle of Muddy Flat, published in the "North-China Herald" of April 8, 1854, appears the following passage:—
'At four o'clock precisely, fire was opened. simultaneously" by' the two howitzers. of the American party and the: one gun of the British party' upon the imperial camps and defences on the creek (Defence when word Was passed {0 fall In for a charge.
Earller in the account, the "feeling of unspeakable relict" ihat was ex: perienced when Mr. E, Cunningham' small howitzer came up the Maloo 4s, mentioned, The volunteers were disbanded when the immediate danger was past, but in 1860 they were again enrolled when the Taipings renewed their activities. 'Ten years later, a wave of enthusiasm swept over Shanghai, and this marked the beginning of the artillery's continuous history, feces of brass cannon muzzle-loaders" as its initial weapon. 'These were replaced in' the early eighties by a battery of $-inch the British Government, Target practice was then carried out at the Polat, the Battery firing at @ range of between 44000 and 2,000 yards down river, The four guns were manned by Customs, hong, "bank, and policemen respec ively, and the latter always prided elves on firing last, -s0 that each of the other three guns "should bhava at least one shot at the target."
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.