River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1879-05-15
UNITED THEY STOOD.
The Only Day Upon Which the Americans and
ENGLISH Fought as Allies

English Fought as Allies.
An English paper published in Shang.
hla, China, gives this reminlsCence:
Thursday, the 4th of April, was the ami
versary of the battle Of Muddy Flat, which
occurred in 1915, and is, we believe, mem
Orable as the only occasion when the
American and British flags were united
or allied against an emmy. The volunteers
flag, destroyed at the fire at the British
consulate, bore these words: ''4th April
Defence not Defiance Few remain now
in Shanghai who were present and took
part ON that memorable occasion, and a
few scraps from memory of the event may
not be uninteresting to the volunteers of
the present day For some time previous
ly the Imperialist soldiers, or as they
really were, rabble, were encamped out
side the Defence Creek, their camps ex-
tending from the joss House at the
Soochow Creek nearly up TO the turning
of the race course at Probst's Garden.
They had made several truitlcss attempts
to drive the rebels from the city.
The imperialists were, however, con
tinual source of annoyance to all forcigns,
for as their encampment was ON the edge
and even ladies walking on this side OF
the creek. They for several days cut of
our market supplies, compelling us to fall
back on Cross u Blackwell. Notwith
standing repeated circumstances from the
consuls to the Chinese commanders. they
refused to retire to a distance, or stay
their insults or encTDachments. One
source of great danger was, that they
used to place their targets for ball prac-
tice in such position that the ball would
come Kissing near the persons of foreign
ers while taking exercise on the road. At
last becoming embroidered, they assaulted
a lady while being carried in "A chair, and
wounded her husband, and it was deter
mined to expel the intruders the intrud
by force. 1t was, therefore, arranged by
the American and British Consuls that
they should unite their forces, call out
the volunteers and all foreigners to assist
the naval force to drive away the imper-
ialist's army.
The volunteers to man turned out
under Captain Wade, then her Majcstys
vice consu. The force, under the com
mand Of Captain O'Callagan, OF the En-
counter, and Captain Kelly, of the Ply
mouth, marched out to the spot on the
Maloo between the Racket Court and the
old Grand Stand, the American force tax
ing ground where the municipal
stud are stabbed. 1t had been duly mott
fed to the Imperialist commander that
they would be given up to three 2. NJ. to
move off, but us there was ne signs of his
complying, at the moment OF three
O'Clock, as if by magic, Il she'll from each
gun fired by the American and English
forces fell bursting into the encampment,
general stampede followed, and the
country to the westward, SO to speak,
blackcncd and blued with the figures of
hurriedly retrcating soldiers. Not one
of the foreigners had the slightest idea
that the camp contained so many soldiers
After the first shelling, when the sol
diers had apparently evacuated the posi-
ton, the foreign forces approached the
works; in doing so they were fired upon
by the soldiers stationed at the guns
pointing from concealed port holes, when
M. Gray, Of Russell d Co, was wounded,
losing leg Captain Pearson, of the
American ship Rose Standish, received a
mortal wound in the face. The carpenter
of her Majesty's ship Encounter was kill
ed also seaman of the United States
ship Plymouth Mr. Brine an English
one of the volunteers, received
a mortal wound in the head. Some
minor casualties were also received. 1t
was not ascertained how many men were |
killed of the Chinese Their encamp-
ment We're completely destroyed. In
of the determined action of
this handful Of foreigners, the Chinese
considered it prudent to |
move off to more respectful distance.
The whole affair was very pluckily car
ried out. About 40 foreigners in all |
bravely left their houses, and attacked, it
was estimated, about $4,000 Chinese in
trcnched with several large guns in posi- |
ton. And 50 vast the number of Chinese |
who followed in the rear of the foreign |
ers, and remained between them and |
their homes, that had they had any
for their countrymen they had |
only to oppose their return, and
the foreigners would have been at
tackled front and rear, and not one could
have escaped. The rebels, seeing the
success of the foreigners, came out and |
the destruction of the encamp- |
ment.