The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1912-08-16

the Futai of the province Of Cheh-Kiang, obtained
directly from the Picking authorities a commits
sion to raise and command an imperial Chinese
levy. His experience told him that. well drilled
and daringly handled, the natives had plenty OF
good soldier-stuff and would fight and die In
their tracks.
A singular thing happened at this time. At
the principal temple of Confucius one day he
discovered In one of the consecrated inches a
scepter-like staf Of ebony with a curiously
carved head Of Jade minutely inscribed. The
effect on his native valet was remarkable, and
he learned that 1t was one of the great tails
mans Of the empire. When he appeared with 1t
before his troops the next day they fell to their
knees in ranks. Thenceforward he carried no
sword, only this magic baton attached to his
wrist with a thong. In the eyes of the Chinese.
even the Taipings, 1t made him an invincible
leader. Shortly afterward, indeed, 1t saved his
life.
A large detachment from the main force OF
Chung Wang camped too near his city Of Sung
Kiang. Sallying forth with two regiments, he
struck their camp like @ thunderbolt at night.
cutting the force to pieces. =
The clock now struck twelve for Frederick
Ward. A courier arrived post haste from the
Futai Of Shanghai, ordering him to report there
for cooperation with the Anglo-French contin-
gent. He obeyed with two picked regiments,
leaving Sung Kiang strongly garrisoned under
Colonel Forester. Admiral Sir James Hope had
arrived and had insisted that General Ward
should be fully recognized as the most efficient
factor Of salvation. -
The first move was against Kaschiaou, which
threatened the supplies of Shanghai, Ward and
his Celestials carried the defenses In the most
gallant fashion. leaving Sir James Hopes con-
tingent but little to do except gather In two
thousand prisoners. .u.
All the English officers were delighted with
the splendid dash and confidence marking
Wards attack, and when Sir James Michel, the
British commanderinchief, arrived from Hong
Kong with Sepoy reinforcements he agreed cor
daily with Admiral Hope when these two re-
viewed Wards forces at Sung Kiang.
II was advised that Ward be commissioned by
the Chinese government to raise from 5000 to
10000 men and be invested with a large range
Of authority.
The result was an extravagantly phrased re-
script from Peking that commissioned General
Ward to raise and command 5000 men. named
him Acknowledgement. and made him a mandarin
of the peacock feather" With 1t came the
famous yellow Jacket" equivalent in China to
the Golden Fleece or the Order Of the Garter.
The new force was designated Chun Chen
Chun, "The Ever Victorious Army" Il
w. 1t was in April, 1862, that a council Of war
was held at Sung Kiang. Sir James Hope, Cen
eral Staveley, the French Admiral Potret, Cen
eral Ward and Viceroy Lich being present. 1t
was here that Wards general plan was fully
sanctioned. This showed great grasp Of military
strategy. The proposition was to capture the
cities of Kahding, Sing Poo, Najaor, Tsaolin and
lesser fortified places within a radius OF forty
miles from Shanghai.
Needless to linger on the details Of the
on Kahding, Sing Poo, Najaor and Tsaolin. Gem
eral Ward in each case, magic baton in hand.
headed the a~saulting column through the breach
made by artillery, and his men charged to the
very gates Of Tophet, ~resistless in their ardor,
mad with the Joy Of battle. In the Tsaolin affair
the gallant French admiral Protet was shot
dead at his side.
Tiki fell before his assault like a house OF
cardboard, but one OF the last hostile bullets fired
pierced Wards chest with a fatal wound. He
was taken aboard a British gunboat commanded
by Lieutenant Roderick Dew and was brought
down to Ningpo.
Splendid funeral o~bsequies at the temple OF
Confucius in Sung Kiang were held, at which
all the foremost personages of that part OF
China, native and foreign, attested their grief
and paid their homage to the deeds Of the man
who had practically arrested the disintegration
Of the empire.