The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-09-22
THE TIENTSIN FIGHT.
Gallant Conduct of American Cav
nIry and bengal Inncers.

airy and Bengal Lnncers.
NEW YORK, Sept. 21-A correspondent
of the Commercial Advertiser" writing
from Tientsin under date of August 20,
says:
In the engagement on the outskirts of
Tientsin yesterday Sunday the Sixth
United States Cavalry and the Bengal
Lalcers (sikhs. northern India) made one
of the grandest fights ever seen. 1t was a
very unequal contest as to numbers. for
the American and British mounted troops
named were far outnumbered by the Box
ers and Chinese imperial troops in action.
THE British .entnels on guard at the
southwest corner OF the walled city on
Thursday last could observe through their
glasses that the Boxers were in great
force several miles away. On that after
noon recommending party. consisting of
thirty-fve Bengal Lancers, under Lieuten-
ant Gansen, and Troop A, Sixth United
States Cavalry, under Lieut.. E. r. Hell
berg was sent out. 1t found the enemy in
force and strongly entrenched seven miles
southwest of the West Arsenal. There
were from three to four thousand Boxers
and Chinese imperial troops.
Inc american 10 COlO-
mel Whit, commanding the Sixth Cavalry,
and the British Bengal Lancers) to Gen
eral Dorward, their commander. that the
Chinese had fired on them with both black
and smokeless powder Boxers use the
foi mer and imperials the latter. and that
their position had been partially recon-
noitred. On Friday Lieutenant Marshall
with sixteen men from Troop ID. Sixth
United States Cavalry. was sent to make
d map Of the country between the Arneri-
can and British forces and the enemy and
discover the position of the Chinese, If
possible. The American troops secuted
the whole country to the southwest of
Tientsin as far as the Grand Canal. They
entered six outlying villages. and spent
the day trying to discover the enemy, but
without success.
'On the afternoon of the same day Brit
ish sentinels on the high west wall saw
the enemy moving toward the north, ap-
parently toward Pekin. That information,
together with Lieutenant Marsball's fail
ure TO find the Chinese the day before,
gave the impression that all the Boxers
had withdrawn, but in that the allies were
deceived.
ION Saturday night the Japanese. Brit
ish, and American commanders decided
upon joint reconnaissance with force
consisting of six troops United States cav
airy (430 r5en) So Bengal Lancers, 500
British AID 200 Japanese infantry That
party left the city at a. m. Sunday with
the Americans and Indians in the lead.
Lieutenant Marshall ID Troop Sixth Cav
airy. and Lieutenant Garssen led the adj
vance. The Indians acted independently.
but at the same time well within the
American flanking troops.
after crossing the canal on bridge
which permitted only one nan to pass at
a time, the advance continued to the west
about one mile. Lieutenant Marshall had
prepared maps of the country, but beyond
that there was no information in the pos
session of the allied forces except that
they knew the land was level and open,
the only obstacle being an enormous sugar
cane field. with growing cane from six to
eight feet high. In the middle OF that
the United States cavalry and lancers
were fired on by about 1000 of the enemy,
who used all sorts of weapons, many Of
them first-class rifles of long range. The
mounted troops swung around and formed
a line half the width of the cane field, the
growing cane reaching over the backs OF
the horses as high as the mems shoulders.
In that position the American cavalry
and few lancers carried on the fight, stead
lily advancing The Japanese and British
infantry could do nothing. They were
hampered by having to cross the canal, and
consequently they could not give the
mounted troops. now far in their advance,
any support. The little band of cavalry
forced its way out of the cane field and
advanced rapidly in the face OF a tremen-
dous fire. The firing was begun at els
a. m. At s a. m. the Americans and in
dams asked for permission to charge the
enemy. That was promptly granted by
Colonel Whit. Their fire moved down the
enemy fast and soon the Boxers. armed
with their long. ugly spears, began to
throw away their weapons and run over
the fiat country
by 9 o'clock the. cavalry and lancers
were upon them. sabring and splitting
them The order of the allied force was
perfect. and the sight of them advancing
over the open country on TO the enemy at
gallop was a beautiful one, Hundreds
of the Chinese were scattered dead over
the ground. The enemy was put to flight
in all directions as flock of quail would
be scattered.
'The Americans lost one man killed and
five wounded Fifteen American horses
were killed. The lancers had no casual
ties.
1.-The killing OF the Chinese was discon-
tinued only when Captain Blocksom or
dered it. One hundred prisoners were
taken by the Americans, but were turned
loose the next day