Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1861-02-02
Dscription Of a Chinese Battle.

A Chinese battle is as goodas farce. Some
OF the little fights at Shanghai were very anus
ing One Gay. when q great many soldiers
were out, saw more of the combat than was
pleasant. Having got into the line of fire, ]
was forced to take shelter behind grave, the
bullets striking the grave from each eide every
second. Why they came my way IL was diff.
cult to discover, for they ought to have passed
on the other side of the creek, about 90 yards
distant, to the ipeop!c they were intended for;
but to see the lodging Of the soldiers, then of
the rebels, each trying to evade the other, was
almost amusing. One fellow, ready primed and
loaded, would rush up the side Of grave hill
lock, drop his matchbox over the top, and
without taking aim, blaze away. There is no
ramrod required for the shot they use; the
bullet or bar of iron is merely dropped in:loose
upon the powder. There was fine scene
On an occasion when the Shanghai rebels
made sortie; one of the men was cut
or by an imperial skirmisber, who had his
piece loaded. The rebel had no time to charge
bis, SO he ran round and round grave, which
was high enough to keep his enemy from shoot.
ing him when on the opposite side. Hare hunt
ing is nothing to it. Red-cap described hosts
of circles, and the Royalist was fast getting
blown, when the gods took pity Oh bis wind !;
for, by come unlucky chance, the rebel tripped
aud fell! The soldier was ai him in a moment
and, to make sure of his prize put the muzzs
of the matchbox to Red-cap's head, fred and
took TO his heals as fast as he could go. It ia
difficult to say who was most astonished, when
Mr.. Red cop did exactly the same. The
bullet that dropped down readily On the pow
der fell out as easily when the barrel was de-
pressed. The rebel got off with good singeing
of his long hair. There were frequently, how.
ever, some very ugly wounds; and where
surgery is at such a discount, the poor
wounded must suffer most severely The
Chinese rarely, If ever, amputate. They
use strong drawing plaster to extract the ball.
The Missionary hospitals at Canton and Shang-
hal, under the able charge of their indefati
gable managers, Drs. Hobson and Lockhart, as
also that under the good care of DR.. Parker,
late Plenipotentiary flor the United States to
China, did great good. Indeed, It is impossible
to tell what grand results may follow the labors
OF these gentlemen. Their hospitals were often
crowded with wounded,y soldiers chiefly being
benefited by their skill, There we're frequently
fights close to DR.. Lockhart's hospital, and
men ofiboth parties had been carried thither.
Dr. Hobson received upwards of 1000 Canton
soldiers, and his reputation is far spread. Even
the mandarins have deigned 10 notice his aid
True to their usual policy towards foreigners,
they give the barbarian no credit but his ser.
vices were 20 great that they could not be pass.
cd lover, So they selected Chinese lad, who
was sort of medical pupil and paid assistant at
the hospital, and dubbed him mandarin of tho
sixth rank. A grant Of land for hospital would
nave done more good,-1'uetoe years in China.