Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-02-24
How Chinese Gordon saved Decker.

Cor. United Service RecjelO.
Yes, Chinese Gordon then a Captain of
Royal Engineers very nearly had to put
up vith a decker for the China campaign
Of 1860. But perhaps, before relating the
following auecdOte, | ought to explain the
meaning ~ the WORD docKer. 1t IS the
British soldier slang term for war medal
without clasps, and originated in the
Crimea-a medal only being awarded 10
soldiers who arrived after the docks were
blown up on the evacuation of SehastOpOI
by the Russians. In like manner in China
a medal only was awarded to soldiers
who were in the country, but not present
with the army before Pekin on Oct. 6. 1850.
1t is not necessary to relate how Can't.
Gordon was ordered to the seat of war:
suffice it that he arrived by steamer from
Hong Kong at the Taku forts some time
during the day of the 4th Of October, 1860,
where he Immediately heard of the taking
of the forts, followed by the advance of
the allied armies on Pekin. To Join his
comrades at the front and take part in the
siege and occupation of the capital was
his first thought. but how to get there was
another thing, He was told that there
was no conveyance faster than the usual
convoy of all stores and spare ammuni-
ton, strongly guarded on account
Of the many desperate bands
of la-la-lOng (thieves, marauders)
that are always to lie found hang
ing on the outskirts of an advancing
army in an enemy's country. But Charley
Gordon was not the man to be denied. He
skirmished round and eventually picked
up a stray Tartar pony, brought it to the
transport stables, got a bride and numna
there. put some ships biscuits in his
pocket, slung a water bottle, buckled on
his sword and revolver, jumped on the
pony, and the next minute was going at
hand gallOp, amid the cheering Of the
men, along the road leading to Pekin.
which he had never seen, or heard. or
read of before, and infested with thieves
distant $50 miles.
Well do l recolect the night of the 9TH
9th Of October, 1860, although now nearly
tWenty-fOur years ago. For two weeks
we had been working hard getting the
preaching guns into position, and on the
morrow before dawn they were to open,
when a breach being practicable, we were
to storm. few of us were discussing
our various positions in the mornings
work, sitting and standing around the
camp fire, when an English officer covered
with dust rode up on a WObegOne pony
and inquired if this was the engineer
camp. Before any could answer he threw
himself of, saying, Chow are you. Ora
ham, old fellOw?" seeing Mai. Graham,
Royal Engineers, who was one Of our
,
in the Crimea.
You may imagine our astonishment
when we recognized in the newcomer
Charley Gordon. He had actually ridden
the $50 miles in seventeen hours, most Of
the time with revolver in one hand and
sword in the other, and what between
shooting and shouting he had managed TO
escape scot free the many attempts that
Were made to capture him, arriving just
in time to take part in the operations Of
the morning.
After a few minutes conversation he
went off arm in arm with his old friend to
get some refreshment and an hour or
two's sleep, for Graham was to lead the
stormers IN the morning, and it was
largely surmised that Gordon would ask
permission to accompany HIM.
1t was a daring ride, and the whole
army talked of it and how Gordon saved
a decker.