Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1901-03-26
FIRST AMERICAN
ATTACK IN CHINA
Two Hundred Marines
Help Capture the
Shanghai Forts.
WERE ALLIES or THE
ENGLISH FOR the DAY
P. G, Won BuSkirk Tells How a
Small Band Of Sailors ROut-
ed a Chinese Army
in 1858.

a''Ni'"H N'is sbihl'I lbl NuIte years
In the Confederate army and a member
Of dozen or more special cruises of
the American Navy. is one OF Homo.
lulus quiet visitors. lie tells most
interesting story Of the first appear.
ance OF the American flag at the head
Of hostile band Of blue coated ma.
rines IN April. 1858. Then. as in the
recent international invasion OF the
Chinese capital. the American flag was
waved side by side with the Union
Jack
II was while the great Tai Ping re-
bellion was at its height and the city
Of Shanghai. held by 5000 rebels was
besieged by 10000 imperial troops.
At Shanghai. during this rebellion,
the Chinese government had set aside
certain grounds the consuls of the
United States. England and France.
This was neutral soil observed by both
the imperial and the rebel forces.
Regular picket lines and sentrles. how
ever, were kept on guard by the Con-
sulates. An encampment Of 1000 inn
perialist besiegers were fortified near
the line of the American Consulate.
All would have been well with the
foreigners but for a little incident
which was taken by them as the
gauntlet OF battle.
An English gentleman with his wife
was walking abroad when they were
assaulted by Imperial soldiers and bad
ly battered in the encounter.
With characteristic sang froid, the
English and Americans decided that
the Chinese should be punished. They
forthwith demanded OF the Chinese
Taou Tai that the guilty soldiers
should be arrested and punished. The
reply was that II was impossible to
comply. When the first demand was
refused. second was sent command
ing the Chinese general to remove his
1000 troops at once or he would be
moved upon by the American and En-
glish marines.
To this exhibition OF nerve. the Chi
nese general deigned no reply.
The sloop Of war. Plymouth, was in
the harbor. She was one of Commo-
dore Perry's squadron. despatched with
n special mission by President Frank
lin Pierce to the Emperor OF Japan.
Two British naval boats were also in
the harbor. From these were landed a
force OF 600 marines and sailors at
o'clock on the morning of bright day
in April.
The entrenched Chinese army was
notified that the assault would begin
at noon
During the intervening three
hours" said Mr.. Van Buskirk, THE
surrounding hills and knobs were COW
cred with thousands OF noncombatants
from Shanghai, who had come out to
witness the piece of Anglo-SaXon folly.
A force OF several hundred men from
the rebels. within the city. came out
and wanted to join MS. They were
strictly enjoined to refrain from hostil-
tiles.
at fell to the force OF 200 men from
the Plymouth to make the frontal at
tack. while the 400 British marines
made fianking movement to the rear
OF the Chinese entertainments.
I'VE attacked with howitzers, field
guns and old fashioned muskets. The
Chinese trained on us hundreds of jun
gals. The jungal was a large gun
mounted on tripod, each requiring
three men to handle. II was a smooth
bore piece and carried a l2-ounce ball
It was a terrific exeCutioner, when
charged with small shot and fired al
close range.
1--WE advanced upon the forts at the
appointed hour, going with run and
cheering the flag which was borne well
to the front ] was young fellow
and as | had beaten the drum with
General Scott in Mexico ! was detailed
to beat inspiration for the boys at the
Shanghai assault. My drum was OF nc
use in the charge. ! was as big lit
tie coward as there ever was, but
got credit for little bravery. The as
sault led down LONG hill. As We
started ! unconsciously dropped into
the musicians place at the rear. Thu
jungals were shooting high and real
lied that as drummer boy, ] was tn,
| likliest mark In the company. A mar
fell In front OF me. : threw away my
drum, secured his musket and cart
ridge box and rushed forward into thu
| fighting line. The shot was flying fas
and the bugler rang out the order Il
deploy. In falling into that movement
one of our men, in his excitement sho
away his ramrod. He borrowed minl
and turned to deliberately walk off with
1t. leyelled my gun at his head ant
he willingly returned the most neces
sary part OF my equipment,
I'VE fought hard for more than al
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