The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1862-12-23
The War I'm China-A Yankee Com.
manding the Imperial Armies.
a the N. Y. Evening Post.


Some months ago we published an accouu
OF the romantic career and adventures Of Mr.
K. Forester. young man from one of th,
northern counties of this State, who, few
years slnce went to China as sailor, entering
the Chinese service he rose 10 high military
rank. He became Chinese mandarin, the
next but one in rank to Ger. Ward, and il
now his successor, thus kserisg an American
at the head Of the Chinese Army.
A letter just received by lis relatives ip tbi,
city, from Mandarin Forester, and dated al
Ningpo, September 18th, gives romantic &C
count Of the perils aud dangers be had passed
Having with the allies, attacked tn, city ol
Ching poo, which was captured with but little
loss to the attackers Forester was placed in
charge Of the captured city, with garrison OF
one thousand Chinese. while the English aud
French held the city Of Ca ding with about
the same number of troops. Both Of the pa
ces were held for some time, until tho enomv
that is the rebel my-approached 10 the
number Of 10000 men. Ca ding was evac
uated by the Euglish and French, and occu
pied by the rebels, eighty thousand Of whom
then advanced and surrounded Ching poo
In the meantime, Forester Lad received q
small rein 'orcement, and although the btseig.
ers offered liberal terms Of caplulsiion, be
held out twenty -one days, until ordered by
Admiral Hope to evacuate and proceed to
Jung kong. He was to leave the city with an
escort Of three hundred men and three gun
boats. Two hours only were allowed for the
evacuation, while the orders were to burn the
city while leaving it.
The evacuation WAS not successful, and the
bolea. .ured city was too closel y surrounded to
allow its brave defenders to escape. With
others, Forester was made prisoner by the
enemy.
IL will not" he writes in the i tier before
us, undertake to recount to yon my suffer
iugs during Tho next thirty.one days following
but will leave you only to imagine them, when
tell you that I am the oniy one the rebels
,0ere euer known 10 spare. was five days
without tooJ or drink, and in tho hoi sun, aud
stark naked all the time. NV cap,ors march
ed me abou, six hrndtc1 lies through many
large cities, wbere-always in state Of utter
nudity | was shown 10 the people. All this
time, too, chain was fastened around my
neck, and my hands tied behind my back If
you want 10 iud the full particulars Of all this
read The Chinese papers. At last, bv my
good lick aud the klndn' IS Of Admiral Hope,
who sent man. of war after me with ransom
of muskets and powder valued at $4,000,
was released. This is a kindness on The part
Of the English government which can never
forget"
During tho unlucky evacuation Mr.. Forres
ter lost his valise with $50 900, and all bis
other properly.
He says that the city Of Ching poo was sub
sequently taken by the Impe,ialisls, with a
great loss to the enemy, who bad force Of
but one thousand nen and seven peices Of ar.
tillery. In this engagement, which was COM
mandcd 10y Forester, he received a severe
wound 10 the SHOULDER. "It is the fourth
wound in as many montbs, "he writes, "snd
am not dead yet"
The letter from which We are permitted to
quote was written before the death Of General
Ward Of Wht IN his friend Forester writes:
"Gen. Wards brother il in New York, try
ing TO procure small navy. lie will be glad
TO see you Tor his brothers sake, who (Wsrd)
is brave aud good man, and has only thir-
teen wounds, received during the last two
years. Three balls are in bis body now"
Colonel Forester was expecting official dis
patches from Pekin with bis papers of promo
ton. He was preparing to lead storming
party on the attack Of Nankin. the capitol of
the rebels-.the Richm ond Of China. The
sudden death Of Gen. Ward, aud the severe
injuries received 10y Col. Burgernc, the next
in command, causes tho c. ief command of the
Imperialist armies Of China to devolye on
young Forester, the New York country boy.
lie friends here. and the American public
generally. will follow bis career with lively
interest.