'Interior of a Chinese Fortress at Taku', 1860

Photograph by Felice Beato (1825-1907), 2nd China War (1856-1860), with decorative mount, 1860.

The corpse-strewn interior of the one of the Taku Forts captured by an Anglo-French attack in 1860. Situated in an area of marshland and mudflats around the mouth of the Peiho River, the Taku Forts guarded the river approach to Peking (Bejing). The Chinese had developed an elaborate series of defences, including deep ditches and massed sharpened bamboo stakes, presenting formidable difficulties to any attacker.

From an album of 48 photographs compiled by Captain Henry Rowland Spencer Chatfield, 86th (Royal County Down) Regiment of Foot, 1860 (c)-1880.