Preble's Flag-- Part 4: Encounter at Tylo Bay, China

On November 2, 1854, Lt. Preble and the Queen fired on ten Chinese pirate junks at Tulo Bay.  During twenty minutes of battle, Preble tested water depths and the range of his weapons and then left the scene to get reinforcements.

Nearby was British Admiral Sir James Stirling in the 52-gun 4th Rate Ship-of-the-Line HMS Winchester. He was accompanied by a squadron including the six-gun paddle sloops HMS Barracouta, HMS Styx and the 14-gun screw sloop HMS Encounter.

In addition, there were two more local steam boats and the Portuguese ship Amazonia.  It was quite an international fleet.

On November 3, the allies landed and set fire to two pirate ships and the pirate encampment.  Preble returned with the inscribed flag of pirate chief Luc Ming Suy Ming.  This is the recently found flag at the USNA Museum.

--Brock-Perry