Atlas of Battles

battle, nineteenth century

Battle of Escape Creek

Battle of Escape Creek was a battle fought on 27 May 1857 in what is now China. It was part of Second Opium War, which ran from 1856 to 1860. The recorded result: British victory. Recorded strength: 13 gunboats; 7 cutters & gigs against 41 war-junks.

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The War in China, the Battle of Escape Creek. Illustration for The Illustrated London News, 15 August 1857. Commodore Elliot leading gunboats to the attack of Mandarin junks in Escape Creek, May 25, 1
The War in China, the Battle of Escape Creek. Illustration for The Illustrated London News, 15 August 1857. Commodore Elliot leading gunboats to the attack of Mandarin junks in Escape Creek, May 25, 1. Not identified, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
Fought27 May 1857
WhereChina23.038N, 113.522E
OutcomeBritish victory
BelligerentsUnited Kingdom of Great Britain and IrelandagainstQing China
Casualties and losses31 killed or wounded; 1 gig destroyedand27 junks captured or destroyed
Part ofSecond Opium War1856 to 1860

Where it sits in Second Opium War

Battle of Canton, 1856Capture of the French Folly Fort, 1856Battle of the Bogue, 1856Battle of the Pearl River Forts, 1856Battle of Macao Fort, 1857Battle of Escape Creek, 1857Battle of Fatshan Creek, 1857Battle of Canton, 1857Battle of Taku Forts, 1858Battle of Taku Forts, 1859Battle of Taku Forts, 1860Battle of Zhangjiawan, 1860Battle of Palikao, 186018561860Battle of Escape Creek, 1857
13 placed engagements of Second Opium War in time order; taller ticks are more widely documented. Each tick is a link.

Record

Date27 May 1857
to 27 May 1857
PlaceChina
23.038N, 113.522E
KindBattle, nineteenth century
Strength13 gunboats; 7 cutters & gigs41 war-junks
Casualties and losses31 killed or wounded; 1 gig destroyed27 junks captured or destroyed
Commanders
  • Charles Elliot (1818–1895)
Battle of Escape CreekBattle of Escape CreekBattle of First BarBattle of WhampoaBattle of the Pearl River FortsCapture of the French Folly FortBattle of GuangzhouBattle of the Pearl River FortsShenzhenZhuhaiFoshanMacauQingyuanJiangmenZhaoqingHeyuan100 km23.038N, 113.522E
The recorded site, with the nearest other engagements in the atlas. Present-day coastlines, rivers and borders; towns from Natural Earth.

Nearest engagements

In the same war

Elsewhere in 1857

Battle of Escape Creek is one of 3,507 engagements of the 19th century in the atlas and one of 339 in present-day People's Republic of China.

Sources

Identity, coordinates, dates and the war from Wikidata Q18920214, released under CC0. Result, belligerents, commanders, strength and casualties from the infobox of the English Wikipedia article Battle of Escape Creek, revision 1370440326, read 2026-11-14, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0; the article's text is not reproduced here. Present-day country and state from Natural Earth. Dates before 1582 follow the Julian calendar as recorded.