Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1864-12-03
The War in China.

OF Tie Great heOeJlOH IN We EdSt-
Hoe Nankin ,oos piliaged and its hab.
stations destroyed, etc.
A despatch, dated July 30, 1864, Of
which the following is an extract, has
been received by Earl iRussel from Mr..
Adkins, Acting British Consul at Chin.
kiaug, China, lie says
have the honor to inform you that
the city OF Nankin, SO long the centre OF
dsaffection in China, and the point from
which SO many bands of ruthless plunder-
ers have started on thrir raids upon the
peaceful and wealthy cities Of Central Chi
ma, has been captured by the imperialist
army, under the command of Tsepg.kwo
chuen, the Governor of Chekiang, and
brother of the Viceroy of the provinces of
Kiank Nan and Kiang Su. The city was
stormed on the 10th of this month through
breech caused by mine sprung under
the wall near the east gate. Rumors of
its capture reached me on the day follow.
ing the assault, but paid no attention to
them, having been SO often deceived by
reports Of Chinese victories. On the 24th
of this month, however, obtaiucd copy
Of the memorial to the throne formally an-
noupcing the capture. When the impqr
ialists made good their grand interance
into the city they found that the palace Of
the Tien Wang, the leader Of the rebel
lion, and the claimant for many years
past of Divine honors and attributes, had
been burnt to the ground. 1t is said
that the impositor aid his attendants lie
buried in its ruins. am inclined to cred
it the rumor, for the city has been closely
blockaded since January last, and think
nothing but desperate sortie would have
enabled to. get clear.
But the most important fact of all is the
capture of Chung Wang. This person
has for many years been the most restless
and determined of all the desperadoes
Taepingdon has sent forth. He it was
who threatened Shapghac in 1860, he
was Admirrl Hopes antagonist in his op-
erations near Shanghue he fought against
Col. Gordon at Soochow. He tried to
introduce the foreign element int his
levies, and was said by rebel sympathizers
to be the main hope of the Tacping cause
in its declining days. After the assaults
he managed to leave the city with few
followers but he was captured three days
subsequently, by a party of cavelry.
was much pressed to visit the Chung
Wang in his confinement, but declined, as
I had no personal acquaintance with him.
On the day following my interview with
the Commander-in.Chicf, 1 rode into the
city and visited the breach. Words can
not describe the utter desolation of every
shDg within the walls. The main thor
oughfares treversed by me were the streets
between the southwest and south gates.
On eithe. hand the houses left standing
had the appearance Of having been tenant
less for years, while the gaudy gateways,
denoliug the residence of the waDgs or
princes, opened in most instances on to
courts full of brickbats and charrod tim
bers. AS for the side streets, they were
many of them overgrown with jungle four
feet high.
During my ride through the city saw
great numper of unburied bodies, and in
many places the smell was so off ncive
that both myself and Lieutenant Lee, who
accompanied me, were almost overpower-
ed. But, on the whole. l came to the con-
clusion that the rebel force in the city at
the time of capture could not have been
very large. The imperialists, according
to their own account, spared very lew able
bodied males, SO that the dead lying in the
streets would be fair crierian Of the
strength of the garrison. l estimate it at
ten thousand men against fifty thousand
under the inperialist commanders.
think ride through the streets oil
Nankin as they arc at present would sat
isfy the most ardent advocate of the rebel
cause of the dreadful helliness of the sys.
tenn they support. Some eleven gears age
the Taepipgs took Nankin, then one of the
finest cities in China. Ever since its cap
ture it has been their headquarters. Iuit
the chiefs Of the movement built their
tawdry houses, and from it they despatch
ed their plundering bands in all directions
Meanwhile the works Of civil government
and social organization are entirely neg
lected, and when the city is retaken it il
found to be wilderness of empty houses
Income Taxes.
By law of Congress, tax upop all real