Evening star., 1921-05-15
BY WILLIAM STUART FLEMING.


IN 1850 the TAPPING rebellion broke
out in southern China and between
then and 1860 the Tadpings had
rayaged the whole of the southern
and eastern parts of the country. pene-
trated the Yangtse valley and captured
all of the cities in the provinces Of
Chekiang and Kiangsu south of the
Yangtse river except Shanghai. They
had ruined six hundred cities, sacri-
feed over twenty million lives and
were guilty of unheard-of excesses
and unspeakable atrocities. Shang-
hal was threatened and the foreign
communities there were greatly
alarmed. Indeed, there seemed moth
ing to prevent these savage hordes
overrunning the whole of China and
bringing it to complete ruin.
Attracted by this warfare, an Amer
lean named Frederick Townsend
Ward, a native Of Salem. Mass, who
had served with the French in Crimea-
went to Shanghai in 1860 to offer his
services to the Chinese government
After viewing the situation he advised
the government that he could recap
ture the cities in the vicinity held by
the Taipings, but that it would re.
quire considerable money to raise and
equip a force for that purpose. The
Chinese, at first skeptical. finally ar
ranged with him to pay after the
goods were delivered" Ward was no
buffer and set about raising a force
to recapture Sunkiang. stronghold
near Shanghai, which the Taiplngs
held. He gathered a hundred foreign
-. al potiopalifieS hut with
large proportion Of Americans. and
with them, by a clever and rapid night
assault, took one Of the principal forti-
fed gateways in the city wall, which
he held against desperate counter at
tacks until the imperial troops could
enter. As a result, very large force
of Taipings garrisoning the city were
either killed, captured or routed. This
was the first substantial victory the
government forces had gained Tor
Ward Immediately found high ia
vor with the Chinese. Decorations
and honors were showered upon him
and he was commissioned general in
the imperial army. He reorganiZed
the forces, which he ofiicered in part
from his own men, not few OF whom
showed marked ability. From then
the tide of battle changed Ward
struck a series Of rapid and success
ful blows and the Taipings lost to him
one city after another. He secured
the confidence and cooperation of
the French and British naval COM
manders. who participated with their
fleets in a number of engagements at
the seaports. His forces became
known as "the ever-victorious army"
and as such are described in Chinese
In 1852 Ward was directed by the
to take Ningpo. large
City on the coast below Shanghai.
held by the rebels. The task was
the same confidence, vigor and devo
ton to duty which had characterized
his previous efforts and assured his
great achievements On September
21, while storming the city, Ward
fell. mortally wounded. The city was
taken. however. and the Taipings sui |
fered a crushing blow.
The loss Of Ward was mourned by
the Chinese. Posthumous honors were
conferred by imperial edict. High !
officials of the government were sent
from Peking to attend the burial
services, which were held at Sunkiang, I
the scene of his first victory. Memo
rial tablets were erected at Ningpo |
and Sunkiang and at the other prin-
cipal battlef1elds. By imperial order
throughout the monarchy
until its overthrow in 1911 officials
proceeded to the tomb to make sac
rifciar offerings over his remains. 1t
is believed that. unmindful of the old
the republican government
has no longer continued these, put a /
loyaI American missionary. Rev. John !
Burke of Sunkiang. has arranged with
the Chinese military commander OF
the forces now in the district to care
for the tomb and it's surroundings.
Returning recently to the United
Statss from long residence in China, the
1u1te ha&, whzfo IN WaahMStQ con-h