Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1861-09-19
Description Of u Chinese Battle.

A Chinese battle is as good as farce
Some of the little fights at .Shangha
were very amusing. One day, W hen {
great many soldiers were out, saw more
of the combat than was pleasant. IIav
ing got into the line of fire | was forceC
to take shelter behind a grave, the bull
let's striking the grave from each side
every second. Why they came my way
it Was difficult to discover, for they ough
to have passed on the other side of tht
creek, about twenty yards distant, to the
people they were intended for, but tc
see the dodging of the soldiers, then o.
the rebels, each trying to evadc tht
other, was almost amusing One fel
low, ready primed and loaded, would
rush up the side of the grave hillock
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 sortic;
one of the men was cut off by an impe-
rial skirmisher, who had his piece load :
ed. The rebel had no time to charge
on him. as he ran round and round n
grave, which was high enough to keep
his enemy from shooting him when on
the opposite side. Here hunting is no.
thing to it. Rcdcap describes hosts of
circles, and the Royalist was fast get
ting blown, when the gods took pity on
his wind, for by some unlucky change
the rebel trippcd and fell. The soldier
was at him in moment, and to make
sure of his prize, put the muzzlc of tee
matchbox to Redcap's head and fired, ,
and took to his heels as fast as he could
90, 1t is difficult to say who was the
most astoundcd when Mr.. Redcap did
precise the same The bullet that drop
ped down readily on the powder fell out
as easily when the barrel was depressed.
The rebel got off with good singing
of his long hair.
There were frequently, however, some
very ugly wounds; and where surgery
is at such discount, the poor wounded
must suffer most severely. The Chinese
rarely if ever amputatc. They use strong
drawing plaster to extract the ball. -
The missionary hospitals at Canton and
Shanghai, under the able charge of their
managers, Drs lIobsou and
Lockhart, as also that under the good
care of DR.. Parker, late Plcuipotentary
for the United States to China, did
great good. Indeed, it is impossible to
tell what grand results may follow the
labors, of these gentlemen. The hospi-
tails were often crowded with wounded
soldiers chiefly being benefited by their
skill. There were frequent fights close
to Dr.. Lockhart's hospital, and men of
both parties had been carried thither.
DR.. Hobson received upwards of 1000
Canton soldiers, and his reputation is
far spread. Even the mandarns have
deigned to notice his aid. True to their
usual policy towards foreigners, they
give the barbarian no 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 the bospi-
tai, and dubbed him mandarin Of the
sixth rank. a grant of land for hos
ptal would have done much more good
YUe[Cc leurs IN Ehinu.