Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1862-12-18
The War in Chiua--A New Yorker COM
maudinE the Imperial Armies

From the New ferk Post
Some months ago we published an ao-
count of the romantic career and sdVen-
lures of Mr.. E. Forester, young man
from one Of the northern counties Of this
State, who, q few years since, went to
China, as a sGilor,an entering the Chinese
service, rose to high military rank. He
became Chinese mandarin, the next but
one in rank to Gen. Ward, and is now his
successor, thus keeping an American at
the head of the Chinese army.
A letter Just received by his relatives in
this city from Mandarin Forester, and
dated at Ningpo, September 18th, gives
romantic account of the perils and dangers
he had passed. Having, with the allies,
attacked the city Of Ching-poo, which was
captured with but little loss to the attack
ers, Forester was placed in charge of the
captured city, with garrison of one
thousand Chinese, while the English and
French held the city Of Ca-ding with about
the same number Of troops. Both of the
places were held for some time, until the
enemy-that is the rebel army-approach-
ed to the number of 1900 men. Ca-ding
was evacuated by the English and French,
and occupied by the rebels, eighty thous-
ed Ching-poo. In the meantime, Forester
had received small reinforcement and al
though the besiegers offered liberal terms
of capitulation, he held out for twenty-one
DAYS, until ordered by Admiral Hope to
evacuate, and proceed to Jungkong. He
was to leave the city with an escort of six
hundred men and three gunboats.r Three
hours only were allowed for the evacua-
ton, while the orders were to burn the
city while leaving it. .r
The evacuation was not successful, and
the beleaugered city was too closely sur
rounded to allow its brave defenders to
escape With others, Forester was made
prisoner by the enemy.
81 will not" he writes in the letter be-
fore us, undertake to recount to you my
suffering during the thirty-one days fol-
lowing, but will leave you to imagine them
when tell you that 1 am the only one the
rebels we're ever known to spare. 1 was
FIVE days without food or drink, and in the
hot sun, and stark naked all the time. My
captors marched me about six hundred
miles through many large cities, where
always in q state of utter nudity was
shown to the people. All this time, too
chain was fastened around my neck, and
my hands we're tied behind my back. If
you want to find full particulars of all this
read the Chinese papers. At last by my
good luck and the kindness of Admiral
Hope, who sent q man-of-war after me,
with q ransom Of muskets and powder
valued at ten thousand dollars, was re-
leased. This is kindness on the part Of
the English Government which cannever
forget.
During the unlucky evacuation Mr.. For
ester lost his valise with $4,000, and all
hi other property. -T-- +
He says that the city Of Ching-poo was
subsequently retaken by the Imperialists,
with a great loss to the enemy, who had
force of but one Thousand men and seven
pieces of artillery. In this engagement,
which was commanded by Forester, he re-
ceived a severe wound in the shoulder
at is the fourth wound in as many
months" he writes, "and am not dead
yet"
The letter from which we are permitted
to quote was written before the death Of
General Ward, of whom his friend Forester
writes:
"General Ward's brother is, in New York
trying procure q small navy He will be
glad to see you for his brothers sake, who
WARD is q good and brave man, and has
only thirteen wounds, received during the
last two years. Three Balls are in his
body now"