The Lambertville press. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1858-1???, 1861-04-03
Description Of a Chinese Battle

O"iu0oC OdCtic Is us SOOu as farce.
Some of the little fights at Shan CHA
were very amusing. One day when
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 gravt
from each side every second. Why
they came in my way it was difficult
to discover, for they ought to have
passed on the opposite side of the
creek, about twenty yards distant, to
the people 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 the grave hillock
drop his matchbox over the top, and
without taFing 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 a Sortie one of the men was
cot off by an imperial skirmishcr, who
had bis piece loaded. The rebel had
no time to charge on him, as he ran
round and round grave, which was
high enough to keep his enemy from
shooting him when on the opposite
side. Hare hunting is nothing to it,
Redcap describes hosts of circles, and
the royalist was fast getting blown,
when the gods took pity on his wind,
for by some unlucky chance the rebel
tripped and fell The soldier was at
him in moment, ard to make sure of
his prize, put the muzzle of his match
lock to .Redcap's head, fred, and took
to his heels as fast as he could go.
1t is difficult to say who was the most
astounded when Mr. Redcap did pre-
cisely the same The bullet that drop
ped down readily on the powder fell
out as easily when the barrel was de-
pressed. The rebel got off with a
good singing of his ing hairs.
There were frequently, however,
some very ugly wounds and were
surgery is at such discount, the poor
wounded must suffer most severely.
The Chinese rarely if ever amputate.
They use strong drawing plasters to
extract the ball. The missionary hos
pitfalls at Canton and Shanghai, under
able charge Of their indeftigable man.
ayers, Drs. Hobson and Lockhart, as
also under the good care of DR. Par
ker, late plenipotentiary for the Uni
ted States to China, did great good
Indeed, it is impossible to tell what
grand results may follow the labors of
these gentlemen. The hospitals were
often crowded with wounded soldiers,
chiefly being benefited by their skill
There were frequently fights close to
DR.. Lockhart's hospital, and men of
both parties had been carried thither.
DIR. Hobson received upwards of ]. 900
Canton soldiers, and his reputation is
far spread Even the mandarins have
deigned to notice his aid. True to
their usual policy towards foreigners,
they gave the barbarian to credit ;
but his services were so great that
they could not be passed over, SO they
selected Chinese lad, who was sort
of medical pupil and paid assistant at
at the. hospitals, an dnbbed him a
mandarin of the second rank. A grant
of land for hospital would have done
much more good. Tdoelce Years IN
China.