The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1853-1861, 1853-10-04
by. Taylor Among the Insurgents.

we recently fNehtlOncQ lnaC LIT. ClafieS
Taylor, sent to China from the South Carroll.
ma Conference as missionary from the South
ern Methodist Church, had visited the camp of
the Chinese insurgents The North. China
Herald, which had hoped to publish Dr.. I. 5
narrative, as written by himself, has been pre-
vented from doing So the cause of which is cx-
planned in the following note from DR.. T.:
"To the, Editor of the NORTH China He,aM'
SIR: The undersigned has been apprIzed
that considerations arising from his relation us
q citizen Of the United States, render it advsil-
bic to withhold from publication the narrative
of his recent visit to the camp fthe insurgents
at Chinkiang-in, although he authorized you to
announce its appearance in your columns this
week.
lie deeply regrets that he feels compelled
under the circumstances TO diSappoint any cx-
pcctatons to which that announcement may
possibly have given rise for it would certain
| y afford him a sincere pleasure to contribute
anything, however little, to the information and
qualification ola community from SD many mem.
bers of which he has ever met with acts Of cour.
tesy and kindness. CHARLES TAYLOR.
Shanghai, June l3, 1853"
The Herald then gives the following items
of DR.. Taylors visit as they have been reported
to that parcr:
He left Shanghai on the I'd ofJune, the day
the Lady Wood left for Hong. kong, in a small
native beat-and having succeeded in passing
the Imperial fleet blockading Chin kcang- foo
anchored on Saturday night, June 4th, near the
South bank Of the langtsze, opposite Silver
Island about two miles below the city-his
hoat;nen absolutely refusing to go any farther.
Therefore, at day-break next morning he Ian
ded alone, taking his carpetbag filled with
Christian books, walked along the path on the
river-bauk to the high, PERCEPTIONS bluff rising
abruptly from the river, and running inland in
a soctherly direction for about a quarter of a
mile to the northeast gate of the city. When
he came near enough to discern the per-
Sens on the stockades, which run along the
ridge ofthis hill to the gate, he made a signal
to them, which was observed, and he was beck.
oned to approach.
To walk up in this manner, defencc..ess and
alone, must have been very different thing
from approaching the guns of the Hermes,
which vessel had left, it was to he presumed,
no very pleasant "reminiscences of foreigners,
with its ffty-three rounds Of shell. -
Our friend found this hill, and indeed the
whole city, fortified with great strength and
no little military skill, by means Of bitches, pal
isades embankments, abattis, coupes de loup,
Il. e. pitfalls concealed by coverings of straw,)
chevaux-de frise, &c, &c When he had sue
ceeded, after much difficulty, in passing these
various Instructions, one of the insurgents came
down the hill, took his carpet bag and led the
way up to the garrison. On coming within the
stockade he found himself surrounded by great
numbers of ferce.ooking. long haired men,
who addressed him as brother lie was asked
many questions, but being desirous to get an
interview with Lo, commandant Of the forces,
he resolutely refused to answer any Till conduc-
ted into the presence of that officer. After
many Intellectual Efforts to induce him to COM
muncate with officers Of inferior rank, he was
furnished with an escort ofseveral soldiers, who
mandant within the city walls. When this
parsonage, who is a man of about fifty years of
age, short and square built, made his appear
ance, so destitute was he of the pompous dis
play SO common to Chinese officials, our friend
began to think another attempt was being made
to thwart him in his des ign Of obtaining access
to their, chief, and at first refused to reply to
his interrogatores; nor was it until his atten-
dants had invested him with a yellow and red
silk Uniform that the doubts of his visitor were
removed, who then Informed him fully of him
self, whence he came, and the object of his vis
it-at the same time opening his carpet bag,
presenting him with the books, which gave ev.
i'lent satisfaction, and elicted the remark which
was oft repeated, that the doctrines were the
same as their own; they indeed, claiming a
common brotherhood with foreigners Lo hos
pitably entertained our friend mt his own quar-
| ters during his visit and on leaving provided him
with horse, and an escort of several hundred
soldiers with their officers, to accompany him
beyond the city walls and the stockades to the
river bank.
We hear, DR.. Taylor observed, that they had
no regular uniform, probably from want Of a
sufficient quantity of material requisite, conse
quently their appearance was of a most motey
character, being attired in clothing of all COL
ors and descriptions. Many of them had their
hair bound with bit of red or yellow silk ina
kind Of knot on the head. They were mostly
armed with long spears or swords, few COM
paratively having matchlocks.
Great numbers of boys were seen bearing
spears and swordS, and performed duty with
the older soldiers.
Their stockadcs and batteries were 80
vided with guns Of every size and1saf
from gunjalls to large caGa
of a triangular form werq
scribed with the name oi :
title of the new dyha
ries of ditfcrenl IN
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