On 21 September, 1860, British and French forces defeated the Chinese army at the Battle of Baliqiao, throwing open the route to Peking (Beijing). The French troops were commanded by Charles Guillaume Cousin-Montauban, who, following the battle, was named the “comte de Palikao” by Napoleon III in recognition for his deeds.
This image forms part of our close-up on: the Franco-British expedition to China, 1860.
Baliqiao bridge, evening of the battle (21 September, 1860)
