Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1859-02-03
A Chinese Review.

: es the following description of a gran
review of the Chinese army, supple
; by an eye witness:
The Chinese army may be estimate
at 100000 men ard more, inelud
Ing what may be called the Reserve
The purely Chinese element may b
counted among them for 100000 o
j 7O0,O0 men. The Mantchous, who
are NIL compelled to serve In the army
are divided into nine bodies. Th,
Mongols do not supply more thar
100000 men. A review by torcI
light took place previous to the late
war, 10 the plains OF Yan-chen-ra,at 7 the
gates Of Pekin. The lights we're at
tached to the horns of oxen. There
were q divisions of the Army. ex-
tending from East to West. Enor-
nous lanterns we're suspended in
front Of each division, which indica-
ted the name by means Of rose celor-
! ed paper. The soldiers passed back
wards and forwards in confusion. each
endeavorlpg to find his place. An
immense tent painted blue, was pla-
ced on a bill, which commanded the
view of the entire plan, and indicated
the places alOttpd to the, officers
The artillery, consisting Of brass ean-
non, three feet in length, were placed
in front Of the tent. Each gun was
mounted on a carriage with four
wheels, by means of knotted ropes.
SOms of the guns were loaded, and
come not, in consequence. perhaps, Of
their imperfect condition, indicated
by the iron hoops with which they
were held together. The morning
dawned before the troops were form
ed in line. The lanterns were re.
moved from the horns of the oxen,
and shortly afterwards appeared the
individuals commissioned by by the
Emperor to review the army. $50
These singular personages descen.
ded from their palanquins, and en-
tered large blue tent. A few min
utes afterwards ali the trumpets sound
ed, and the cannon fit for service
were fred. The manner in which |
these Chinese charge their guns is
worthy of remark. They first load
With large quantity of "day" (pow-
der composed Of charcoal mixed with
small portions of nitre and sulphur) T
they then fill the touch hole with /
fine powder, and, finally, they set fire
to it with a match of twisted paper,
the cannon advances aud recedes, and
some seconds elapse before the ex-
plosion takes place. One may judge
By that Of the precision of the fire,
and of the effect produced by the
cannon balls when they are balls,
and not stone-which are projected
from such machines.
The firing Of the inflntry succeed
ed that of the artillery. The sol
aiers fred twenty. at a time, COM
mencing sith the centre and ending
With the tanks, those who fired ad-
vanced few steps in the midst of
confused noise of drums heating.--
This species of maneuyre We're re-
peated six times, and immediately af-
terwards the fire ceased along the en-
tire line. the soldiers firing. the last
shots in the air, fearing, NO doubt,
to wound their comrades. Il is nec-
essary to observe that their muskets |
are far from being supplied with the
mechanism of ours. What
they call a gun is nothing more than
a large iron cylinder, about ten inch
es long, fixed to a stock without either
lock or ramrod. A small iron. rod,
to the end of which is applied a match
stepped in saltpetre, serves as a lock,
and sets fire to the powder placed In
acavity Of the barrel and which is
uncovered. After the infantry exer-
else came that of the cavalry, which
was grouped round the large blue
tent and was charged with the
guard Of the principal eolors. When
the signal was given, by bugles, the
cavalry marched forward in the great
est disorder, and advanced as fast as
there horses were able. This race,
for it deserves no other. name, con-
cluded the review. The inspectors re-
turaed to their palauquins, The gen.
erals and officers quilted the ground,
and the soldiers did the same thing,
without order or object.