The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-02-06
GENERAL GORDON's LIFE.
Soldier by Inheritance and Champion of
Humanity by Preference.

humanity Dy reference.
London Times.
The story of Chinese Gordon's life, full as it
has been of adventure and stirring incident, can
not fail to appeal to a wide circle of readers
Very few men our age have held so large place
in public consideration as he has, both for his
lofty courage and for his honesty of purpose
while his achievements in China have obtained a
durable place in history. Mr.. Egmont Hakes
narrative is interesting, and it could not appear
at more opportune moment than now, when so
many of the scenes both in China and in the
Soudan with which Gordons name is connected
are subjects of general attention. The record of
Gordons career would be impressive under any
circumstances but it will be allowed to his BIZ
ographer that he has turned to good use the CO.
pious materials placed at his disposal, and that
this volume is worthy the fame of its subject
Mr. Hake describes, in some detail, the early
incidents of his cousins career. The tradition
of his family made Charles Gordon soldier
His father majorgeneral in the artl-
lery; his elder brothers had preceded him in
the profession Of arms. 1t was the most
natural arrangement that he himself should be
entered at Woolwich for the Royal Engineers
At " oolwch he was not considered in his studies
a promising candidate Once, Mr.. Hake tells US,
he was rebuked for incompetence, and told that
he would never make an officer; whereupon. he
tore the epaulets from his shoulders and flung
them at his superior's feet" He obtained his
commission none the less, and. in 1855, pro-
ceeded to the Crimea, where he served several
months in the trenches and obtained the repu-
tation of being the quickest man to detect
the plans and movements of the Russians
After the close of the war he was employed
on the frontier commiss ions in Bessarabia and
Armenia, where his talent as a draughtsman
stood him in such good stead that all his applica
tionS for leave to return home were distinctly
refused at the Horse Guards. In the year 1860
the difficulty with China had assumed serious
form, owing to the repuSe. OF Admiral Hopes
attack on the Taku forts, and large Anglo
French expedition was sent to the Peiho for the
purpose of bringing the Chinese government to
reason. Before Gordon reached China the Taku
forts had been attacked a second time and cap
tured, but he Was engaged in all the later opera
tons, which terminated with the occupation of
Pekln and the destruction of the Summer Pal
ace When the Taipings became more active in
the country round Shanghai Gordons experience
of the Chinese-for at TEN Tsn he had employed
his spare time in studying the character and
country of the peOple-was called into requisi
ton for the purpose of clearing the district
round that great place of trade Of the insur
gents. His measures were completely success
full, and when he had driven the Taipings back
to the line OF the grand canal, he Zealously de-
voted himself to the task of personally survey
ing the whole country for distance of thirty
miles round Shanghai This thoroughness
showed the character of the man, and he attrib-
uted to the Typographical knowledge thus ac-
quired his subsequent successes when employed
in the Emperors name against the bands of the
Nankin faction.
The necessities of the Chinese government
compelled it to have recourse to foreign allies;
but although the services of few American
Adventures were obtained, neither their ex-
ploits nor their character promised a speedy
issue from the dangerous situation into which
the young Emperor's authority had been brought.
The climax was reached when Burgevine vio-
lently appropriated for his own purposes the
sum of $4,000, and was dismissed the Chinese
service in consequence. 1t was then that the
Chinese applied to the English general to nom
mate trustworthy officer for the command
of the foreign drilled contingent. and
General Stavely named Captain Gordon,
then not more than thirty years of age. The
manner in which he led the so-called ever
victorious army from one success to another,
until he had cleared the province of kiangau
and the course Of the grand canal of the pres
ence of the TAPPING rebels, is almost a thrice
told tale; but still Mr.. Hake has succeeded in
imparting freshness to a record of military
achievements which in their way and still
are unique. When Gordon assumed the com
mand of the force necessity for greater vlgor
had arisen in consequence of the defeat of Col.
Holland in an attack on Taitsan. The Taipings
were naturally very iubilant over their success,
and affected for time to entertain a contempt
for the prowess of Europeans. ''They
thought they could take Nankin and
they have failed before Taitsan' Such
their boast when Gordon was called
upon to repair the blunders and msfortunes of
his predecessors. He soon justified the expecta-
tions of those who had followed his career by
capturing both Fushan and Taitsan. Other
successes rapidly followed. His force was
dressed in semi European uniform, and the
men wore boots Such was the terror produced
by their presence that the mandarins avaed
themselves of a ruse in order to spread a belief
that they were more numerous than they were.
sand pairs of European boots, which he dis
tributed so that .'the marks of Gordons soldiers
might be every visible" We must make
room for the following quotation. showing how
Gordon obtained his extraordinary influence over