The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-08-21
THE BATTLE OF ten TSIN
A Fight In Which No Prisoners Were
Taken-Oficial Report of American
Officers in Command

Washington, August THE navy
department today made public the re-
ports of Colonel Robert l.. Meade and
Major L. w. T. Waller, of the United
States marine corps, on the battle Of
account of this initial engagement in
the Chinese campaign, but, further, the
information with official e~xactness.
Colonel Meade's report is dated at
Tien Tsin, July 18th. After telling of
the situation around Tien Tsin and of
the decision on July 18th at a confer
ence held at the English generals head
quarters, to attack the city about day
break the next day, Colonel Meade's
report, in describing the early fighting
in which the marines M Ninth infan-
try took such a gallant part, says:
WE reached the advanced position
about s o'clock a. m. [ took $50 rounds
per man with me-100 rounds in the
belts and eighty in the h~aversacks.
This is not sufficient for an all day
fight, n as it grew toward night, 1
began to be a~pprehensive of being left
in an advance position in a fight where
no prisoners were taken on either side
with only the bayonet to fight with.
"On the firing line h action was es-
p~ecially hot, and the enemy's fire es-
p~ecially rapid and accurate and
about $50 a. m. the enemy appeared in
large numbers upon our left and among
the grave mounds of the field in which
we were, with the evident intention of
thanking us. 1 mad a turning move
ment to the left and we drove them
away. Later in the day, about 2 o'clock
p. m. they again made a thanking effort,
but al his time the infantry support
of the artillery company was on the
mud wall of the city and aided US by a
cross fire. This company was COM
handed by Captain c. G.. Long. The
effort of the enemy proved a failure
n we drove them in.
we remained in the trenches until
about s o'clock p. m, when we received
an order from the brigadier general
| commanding to which was
probable the most difficult action Of
| the day since the enemy a so well
covered our position hat their shots
| struck the creStS of the trenches and
threw dirt in u faces-many being
hit.
General Dorward ordered that the
troops should sleep upon their arms
that night, and on the following morn
ing to enter h city, h south gate to
| be blown in by gun cotton.
ION the 18th instant, the south gate
having been blown in, We moved into
| the walled city at about 6 o'clock g.
m.
I'VE found the city filled with dead
| Cinnamon and animals. No resistance
| was made to our occupation of the
walled city itself, but an infantry fire
was kept up by the Japanese infantry
upon the enemy who responded from
the suburbs. Since then we have had
undisturbed possession Of all Tien
Tsin."
Colonel Meade enclosed the let
ter from General Dorward, the COM
mander of the English forces, in which
he highly commended the American
commanders and troops and took upon
himself the blame for ordering the
Ninth regiment into a dangerous posi-
ton. General Dorward especially men,
toned for bravery Lieutenant Smed-
ley d. Butler and Lieutenant Henry
Leonard and Captain Lawton.
Colonel Meade gives a list of the
casualties, and details h circum-
stances or the death of Colonel Liscun
and Captain Davis. The proclamation
10 h inhabitants Of Tien Tsin telling
them that h bombardment was only
in reply to the attacks by rebels, IS in.
cluded in the report.
MAJOR WALTERS REPORT.
Major Waler's report is of especia
interest, as he had m of the ma.
rines in the fight before Tien Tsin wa.
reached. The report is dated Tien Tsin
June 2Sth, and says in part:
AT 2 O'Clock in the morning. Jun,
goth, the Russian colonel informed m,
h a he would push on with his 400 me-
and attempt to get into Tien Tsin an,
aid in the defense Of the city. I OBJ
jected, u was overruled in council
My reason told me hat there was
slim chance for passing the Chimes
force with only $50 men and no guns