20. The British suffered a major defeat in 1859 at the hands of the Chinese
In June 1859, a British naval force carrying the Anglo-French envoys to Beijing approached the Taku forts and demanded they be allowed to disembark the envoys and an armed escort to take them to Beijing. The Chinese refused to allow the armed escort and ordered the British to land the envoys further downstream. The British attempted to force their way past the forts on June 25, firing on the forts as they went by. Chinese cannon fire sank four British gunboats, and a US Navy steamer (chartered from China) opened fire to help cover the British retreat.
In doing so the American commander, Commodore Josiah Tattnall, violated the declared neutrality of the United States, a fact soon made known to the Qing government. It was likewise made known to the British government, and Tattnall later received a letter of thanks from British residents of Honolulu. He was not reprimanded by the US Navy for his actions, and he continued in its service until 1861, when he left the United States Navy for service in the Confederate States Navy during the American Civil War. Following the defeat at the Taku forts, the British prepared for another overland expedition to capture them and occupy Beijing.