Third Battle of the Taku Forts

21 August 1860, Taku Forts, mouth of the Peiho

Anglo-French victory; the forts taken

This time the allies came with an army of some 17,000 British and French troops. Landing unopposed at Pehtang, north of the forts, they marched down the coast and attacked the northern forts from the land side while the gunboats bombarded them from the river. After the main northern fort was stormed, the rest surrendered. The allies advanced on Peking, burned the Old Summer Palace in October, and forced the Qing to sign the Convention of Peking, which also gave Britain Kowloon.