Imatges de pàgina
PDF
EPUB

pings fired furiously on the exposed party, several officers were killed, and the men broke into confusion. The heavy guns stuck in the soft ground and had to be abandoned; and despite the good conduct of the contingent the Taepings achieved a decisive success (13 February). Chung Wang was able to feel that his old luck had not deserted him, and the Taepings of Kiangsu recovered all their former confidence in themselves and their leader. This disaster inflicted a rude blow on the confidence of Li and his assistants; and it was resolved that nothing should be attempted * until the English officer, at last appointed, had assumed the active command. The campaign in Kiangsu had up to this point only contributed to increase the military reputation and experience of Chung Wang, whose energy more than counterbalanced the superior resources of the Imperialists and their European allies. A force had indeed been created claiming the brave boast of endless victory; but after more than two years' campaigning it had done little to justify its title. It awaited the advent of its leader. Although something had been accomplished since the conclusion of peace at Pekin towards restoring the Emperor's authority, there was no sign that the end of this protracted and sanguinary struggle was near. The energy of Chung Wang might have even justified a belief in its indefinite prolongation.

A second attempt under Major Tapp to relieve Fushan had failed with loss. Several encounters had taken place round Ningpo, in which many officers were killed. Tso, made Viceroy or Chetai of Fuhkien and Chekiang, was besieging Fuyang and Yuhang, the outposts of Hangchow.

III.

37

CHAPTER XV.

CHINESE GORDON'S CAMPAIGNS.

Position on Gordon's Assumption of Command.-The Contingent Force. Possible Danger from it.-Major Gordon leaves Shanghai.-Arrives at Sunkiang.-A Military Disturbance.Fushan. Defeat of Rebels.-Relief of Chanzu.-Its gallant Defence. Crucified Prisoners.-The Discipline of the Force. -Return of Burgevine.-March on Quinsan.-The "Hyson." -"People and Place charmed with him."-Li baffles Burgevine.-General Brown.-Another Disaster at Taitsan.-Attack on Taitsan.-Vigorous Defence.-Taitsan captured.-Murdered Prisoners.-Gordon reaches Quinsan.-Its Strength.Mutiny of his Troops.-Gordon quells it.-Gordon made Tsungping.-General Ching.-His Impetuosity.-Gordon's Prudence.-Reconnoitres Rear.-The Village of Chumze.Great Success.-Vigorous Pursuit.-Heavy Rebel Losses.Garrison evacuate Quinsan.-Great Importance of its Capture.-Gordon moves his Head-quarters from Sunkiang to Quinsan. Another Mutiny.-General Ching huffed.-ExTaeping Soldiers.-An Accident.-Cessation of Operations.Dr. Macartney. His various Employments.-Rumours about Burgevine. A third Mutiny. - Major Tapp. - Gordon's Opinion of his Army.-Attack on Kahpoo.-Capture of Wokong. Numerous Prisoners.-Burgevine joins the Taepings. -His Disappointment and Motives.-Dr. Macartney fathoms his Plan.-Major Gordon incredulous.-Burgevine's Letter. --Arrest of Burgevine's Agent.-Gordon makes himself responsible for Burgevine.-Burgevine leaves Shanghai.Seizes "Kajow" Steamer.-Gordon Resigns.-Withdraws his

[ocr errors]

done.

Resignation.-Rides back to Quinsan.-Fears of Fidelity of the Force. Precautionary Measures.-Burgevine wastes Time. -General Ching pushes forward.-His Position at Waiquaidong.-Gordon joins him.-A Franco-Chinese Corps.-Captain Bonnefoy.-Belooches at Quinsan.-Patachiaou.-Burgevine's Movements.-His Sources of Information.-Attack on Patachiaou. The Europeans wish to leave the Taepings.Burgevine's Letters.-Full of Confidence.-Sudden Change. -Meets Gordon.-His Mad Proposition.-Arrival of Chung Wang. Thirty Rebels desert.- Imperialists' Success at Monding. The "Kajow" sunk.-Burgevine's Peril.-Gordon saves him. His later Letters.-A weak and vain Man.His subsequent and final Return. His untoward but not unnatural Fate. The Siege of Soochow. - Capture of Wuliungchow.-Capture of Leeku.-Santajin's Movements. Accident at Wanti. The Military Position.Opposing Armies.-Jealousies among Commanders.-What might have been Another Steamer carried off. -Capture of Fusaiquan.-A Leader who deserved to lose his Head. The Lowmun Stockades.-A Repulse.-Gordon's first Failure. The Mow Wang. Thirteen distinct Victories. Prepares for fresh Attack.-Its Success.-Chung Wang leaves Soochow to its Fate.-The Rebels negotiate for Surrender.-Ching and Lar Wang swear Brotherhood. -Gordon resolves to save Mow Wang.-His Opposition to Surrender. His Murder.-The other Wangs come in. - Gordon prevents Loot. Demands Pay for his Men. -Li's Compromise. Gordon resigns.- Departure of the Force. The Wangs visit Li.-The Details unknown.-Their Murder. Prince Wittgenstein finds their Bodies.-Gordon's Disgust.-Refuses present of 10,000 Taels.-Stays at Quinsan.-Insubordination of his Men.-Sixteen Officers dismissed. Resolves to take the Field.-Later Campaign.Death of Smith.-Capture of Yesing. Difficult Country.Desolated by Famine.-Surrender of Liyang.-March on Kintang.-Alarming Rumours.-An Ominous Silence.-Decisive Repulse.-Gordon wounded.-Heavy Loss.-Retreat. -Returns to Wusieh.-Tso takes Hangchow.-Another Defeat at Waisso.-350 hors de combat.-Second Battle of Waisso. The Taeping Force annihilated.-General' Ching's

-

Death.-Gordon's Opinion of him.-Siege of Changchow.-
The Liyang Men.-Repulse of Assault.-Heavy Loss.-Thirty
Officers killed and wounded.-Construction of Trenches.-
An Accident.-Death of Major Tapp.-Changchow taken.-
Closing Incidents of Taeping War.-Siege of Nankin.-Tseng
Kwofan.-His Character and Influence.-Death of Tien
Wang.-Capture of Nankin.- Capture and Execution of
Chung Wang.-The Hero of the Taepings.-Chinese led by
Chinese. Gordon's Campaign.-His Rewards.-The Yellow
Jacket and its Origin.- Effect produced on China.-Imperial
Edicts.

WHEN Captain Gordon* assumed the command the fortunes of the Imperialists had again sunk to a low point. The return of Chung Wang had been followed by a disaster to the forces of the Government, and the Taepings were further encouraged by it to believe in the superiority which they seldom failed to display under the leading of the Faithful King. It would have been unreasonable to suppose that the appointment of a young English engineer officer to the command of a force, which it was considered would more probably disobey him than accept him as its leader, would suffice to restore the doubtful fortune of a war that had already continued for two years under very similar conditions. Yet clearly the whole result de

Appointed to the command in February 1863. In accordance with the agreement between General Staveley and the Futai Li Hung Chang he did not assume it until the 24th of March in order to complete the survey, on which he was engaged, of the country round Shanghai. He wrote home saying that he did not suppose the English Government would allow an officer of his rank to take so high a command. The biography of General Gordon has recently been written and published by his cousin, Mr. A. Egmont Hake, in "The Story of Chinese Gordon," 1884. The history of the campaign had been previously written by the late Mr. Andrew Wilson in his "Ever- Victorious Army."

pended on whether he could succeed better than Ward, or Burgevine, or Holland, in vanquishing the more desperate and well-armed rebels, who were in actual possession of all the strong places in the province of Kiangsu, and whose detachments stretched from Hangchow to Nankin. There was also another danger. The disciplined Chinese contingent, now numbering five regiments with their foreign officers of all nationalities, adventurers unrestrained by any consideration of obedience to their own Governments, furnished the means of great mischief, should any leader present himself to exhort them to fight for their own hand and to carve out a dominion for themselves. The possibility was far from chimerical; it was fully realised and appreciated by the English authorities.* A great responsibility, therefore, devolved upon Captain Gordon. He had not merely to beat a victorious enemy, and to restore the confidence and discipline of his defeated troops; but he had also to advance the objects of the English Government, and to redeem the rights of a long outraged people. Unlike his predecessors he had no personal aims for himself, he did not wish to displace or weaken the authority of the Chinese officials, and his paramount thought was how to rescue the unfortunate inhabitants of Kiangsu from the calamities which had desolated their hearths, and driven whole towns and districts to the verge of destruction and despair.

* The published despatches and private letters of Sir Frederick Bruce are full of references to the possible complications and evils that might ensue from the mutiny of this force, reinforced as it would have been from America but for the outbreak of the Great Civil War.

« AnteriorContinua »