Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1860-09-11

me. You know not how many there are who
will abandon me. I could name them for you
if you wish" "
The Horrors of Chinese Warfare.
We extract from correspondent of the New
York Times, writing from Shanghai, compre-
hensive account of the progress of the rebellion
against the government of Hien-Fnng during a
portion OF the present year, so far as the oppor-
TUNES afforded in a country not furnished with
newspapers win admit of:
ed Shanghai that an army of rebels were threat
enlng Hangchan. This army at first made some
demonstrations against Huchan, large city ly-
ing between Hang-cbsn and Suchan. This turn
ed out to be only feint, designed to draw away
the Imperial troops from Hang chan, the real OBJ
iect of attack. The ruse was partially success
ful, considerable detachment having been sent
to the relief of Hu chan. Suddenly the Rebel
army disappeared from the vicinity of that city,
and in an incredible short space Of time was seen
gathering upon the hill top, and occupying the
temples in the vicinity of Hang chan. AS usual
they showed very little respect either to their
priests who resided in these temples or to their
numerous idols. Many of the priests, it is said,
were slain, and the idols were beheaded In
many instances whole rows of idols had their
Eoses knocked off.
'.On the 10Th of March the insurgents succeed
ed in springing a mine under the city wall,
where it crosses high hill partly within the ci
ty. A breach being thus effected, the Rebels
rushed to the attack, drove back the Imperial
ists and secured lodgment within the walls
Their position was a commanding one, and with
8 few pieces of heavy artillery the city certainly
must have been entirely at their mercy. From
the hill thus occupied-the only one within the
walls-they overlooked the whole city. This
hill was covered with temples, which rendered
the position q very secure one by sfording COW
er against attack, and at the same time furnish
ing comfortable quarters. These buildings were
all destroyed by the insurgents before they evac-
uated the city. ! am told, however, that one of
them which had been occupied by an American
missionary, and by him fitted up with doors and
windows in foreign style was left uninjured-
This seems to show either some respect for the
Christian religion, Or salutary fear of coming
in collision with foreigners.
"The occupation of this commanding position
did not, unfortunately for the people, settle the
question of the possession of the city. At Hang
chan there is large Tartar garrison, and these
soldiers, with their families, occupy portion OF
the city which is separated from the part occu-
pied by the Chinese by high and substantial
wall. They well knew that to them, if the Reb-
els should succeed, no quarter would he shown.
Every Tartar, without distinction of age or sex,
is doomed to death by the Dascent Celestial
Peaceful Dynasty" The Tartar troops, there
tore, had no choice but to fight or die, and they
made such efforts as their desperate condition
demanded. We have no means Of ascertaning
their number, but probably amounts in all, wo-
men and children included, to twenty thousand
souls at least. 1t was not only the Tartars that
fought. The people, too, seem to have stood, in
some instances, in their own defence. The
brawny arms OF some fifteen or twenty thousand
men, employed in the manufacture of tin-foi,
were engaged for the defence of the city; and
thew appeared armed with the heavy hammers
used in their trade.
ssThe Rebels are, of course, responsible for the
horrors enacted during the six days in which
this desperate conflict was kept up. No pen
will ever tell US what those horrors really were !;
but we may be well assured that if they had oc-
Cured in Christian city, and the half were
told us, they would make our ears to tinge and
our hearts to bleed. How could it be otherwise
Here was an immense population of a million of
souls, shutu within the walls enclosing space
OF not more than three miles in diameter. The
gates were all closed and guarded, so that there
was no escape. Forty or fifty thousand men
were engaged in constant irregular warfare in
their narrow streets. Thousands of thieves and
robbers, always abundant in a large city, started
up to make the most of the state of terror and
anarchy which prevailed The will of the
strongest was law, and woe to the man who had
not the means ofdefending bis property, his wife,
his daughter his life, from the lawless murder
ers who rrowled about in search of plunder.
'.In any other than Chinese city mutual
friends and neighbors would have banded togeth
er for the defence of their lives, if not of their
property. But here nothing of the kind could
be done. There was no time for consultation,
and there is too little mutual confidence among
the Chinese to admit of such combination in
times of great danger. Every man was intent
upon saving his own life, and had no time to
think Of others. Crowds were seen flying hith-
er and thither, trying to escape from some
scene OF slaughter Or some burning conhagration.
Women and children were trampled to DEATH
Parents torsook their little ones, or lost them in
the crowd Cannon balls and bullets were fly
ing in all directions; swords and spears were
flashing in the flames of burning houses, and de-
moniac yels of brutal violence or shrieks of ter
ror were heard in all directions. Such scenes
must have been OF constant occurrence during
that fearful week, as was testified by the smoul-
derng ruins and blackened corpses found living
in all directions when order had been in some
measure restored.
eBesides this, multitudes committed suicide
rather than meet the thickening horrors of that
scene; or driven to desperation by their terrors,
whole families plunged together into ponds or
wells rather than fall into the hands of the fero-
cious savages who were plundering and murder
ing their neighbors. One instance especially
has been mentioned to me, of a wealthy family
who knew that their reputed wealth would draw
the banditti to them, and who deliberately re-
solve to escape or die together. There were
twenty -aeven persons in all-parents, children,
grand. children and daughters.in-law. When it
was found that the slaughter had begun and that
there was no hope of escape they all leaped into
a deep well and died together. AT length, how
ever, these scenes of blood were brought to an
end. The Rebels found it impossible to storm
the Tartar quarter of the city, and hearing Of the
advance OF large imperalist force sent to
TO the relief Of the city, they abandoned the
place and made good their retreat.
"The loss of life at first reported was 100000
This, however, proves to have been below the
mark. Missionaries who have visited the city