The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-12-24

terest by Scrantonians because of its
references to then Lieutenant Colonel,
now Brigadier General Wnt:
''By reason of the intensity of the in
terest which centered in the Pekin lega-
tions and the expedition marching to
their relief, two years ago, while they
were besieged by the fanatical Boxers
much fine work done on our side by
troops guardinS communications es
capped the notice which it would other
wise have attracted. This was notably
true Of the Sixth United States cavalry
in an engagement with five thousand
Chinese troops Of the Imperial army.
hear Tientsin.
Owing to the lack of lighteragr fa-
cilities at the port of Taku, it was I'M
possible to disembark the horses Of the
sixth in time for all of that regiment
to start for Pellin with the relief expe-
dition, SO two squadrons of 1t were left
behind at Tientsin to await the COM
ing of their mounts. The main column
was far on it's way when the horses ar
rived and hurry orders were given for
the cavalry to follow it. This meant
much hard marching and in view of the
fact that the horses We're somewhat
stiff from the ocean voyage and con
finenent on the transport it was
thought best to give them moderate eX-
crcise before they started on the road
With this in view Il movement was
planned against a large body of the
enemy which was reported to be threat
ening the city from the west. The
Chinese were strongly intrenched, with
three thousand Imperial troops armed
with Manlicher rifles, and two thousand
Boxers armed with lances.
A Composite Force.
THE force sent against the position
consisted of one regiment of Bengal in
antry, one battalion of Japanese in
.antry, one troop of British Indian cav
airy, half a troop of Chinese cavalry
and the two squadrons of the Sixth
United States cavalry. Besides there
was battery of British artillery, but
owing to the bad condition of the roads
il never arrived on the scene but halted
about half way out. The column was
under the command of a British brig
adler general, but Lieutenant Colonel
Wint was in command of all the caval-
ry-British and Japanese, as we'll as
American.
ION the march the cavalry formed the
advance guard, and when the vicinity
of the towns was reached they met the
Chinese in q corn field. BY order of
Colonel Wint one squadron dismounted
and advanced in skirmish order, lead
ing their horses by the lariat while the
other squadron left their horses in q
ravine and took position in support. |
The engagement was brisk, for a few
moments, when the Chinese slowly re-
tired to their trenches at the town.
"By this time the general had thrown |
his force into battle formation and the. !
line advanced to the attack. The Chin
ese occupied three small villages sur
rounded by walls. These walls had been |
loopholed and made excellent defenses |
In addition they occupied a line of |
trenches in front of the villages Che T,
villages were, according to the custom !
built upon embankments about six feet !
high, which raised them above over
flow from the Peiho river. This gave
excellent range for shooting over the
trenches) The line of trenches ran
eastward for some distance beyond the
last village ana ended on the bank of a I
canal which approached from the south
and at that point bore off to the east ,
with !; sharp angle.
The Line of Attack.
"The line of attack was formed in |
the cornield, between which and the |.
trenches lay an open field a thousand
yards Wide which afforded neither pro-