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\R:\lS SERIES
275
THE TAIPING
REBELLION 1851-66
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'IE"-.\T--\R'IS SERIES
275
THE TAIPING
REBELLION 1851-66
Text by
IAN HEATH
Colour plates by
MICHAEL PERRY
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th" the <Ifiginal I"in'ine>
lian ..fuch ,he roIoo, pial... '" thi, book ..,n pre"""", ..., a,,,":>Illc lOr
>aIe_ All "'I"odoc"""
ooplnfill '0'11:>.."""" " "'......'" by tlo.' p<Jb1"h..--r. All
C"'lUlri.S shoolJ be odlh.. .."j to:
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THE TAIPING
REBELLION
1851-66
1lle T.ip;ng Rebellion was only In. first, albeit (he
rro:o;l daog"""", of. spale of insurre<:tion, .gain>!
!hi: ailino; goyernmenl of China in In. mid [9Ib
"."tury. Bel",,,,," 1850 and 1877 tbe Moslems in (lie
~ ond oonbwesl of thoe COWlI/)', In. Triads and
Ire il!>original Mioou in Ibe sooth, .lId It>. Nicn and
Ire Taipings in the eaS! aJllM up arms .gain>! their
H"IlCkI oycrlonk in a ..,ies of ......"Its th.t nearly
brrughI: the eh'iog dynasty to an end. The <JwlySi
i:r su..-h widespreod rebellion " ... Olin.'s hmoi
livioo by BriI.in in In. Opium War of 1839-42,
wtlidl had highlighled II>< impolence of her ami
~ army. Howey."., the ineffkieocy "rIlle eh'ing
I'P'~ hod prepared In. ....;ry, lhroogh a comb;
mticrt of O'"en.xalion, corruplion. official discrimi_
rulim against minorily groups .rod In. adminim._
I","" failo... to m.tch China', mass;", populati"n
""fh;"'" (lfom 125 millioo in I B610 432 million by
18:52) wilh. proportionate iDcrea.. in amble land.
The Taiping movemem began "lbe Pai Shang.
Ii Hu; (11Y:: Socie1y of God_Worsllippers). foondod in
K",,,,l'Si pro,'illCe in 1&16 by l1ung Hsiu_chuan. A
i )
}/:
"
"
...,..,-..d
",,,,"w.
MILITARY
ORGANISATION
In the fCJfllli>I mHilary organisation lhey had adojlled
by mid 1&50. ba'ied on Chou and Ming amoceden",
lhe Taipings de,oonstrated sophiSlication in COlli
jl.lffioo with OIher rebels. Su"'iYing copies of tbeir
oil.:w military m.n""l. the T"ai-p 'ing Chan-mao lell
us that lheore1ically a Taiping eMin or anny corps
COOl"ised 13.156 "",n diYided imo f"" r.gimems
(shih) of 1.:!(Xl "",n, plus oflk:ers. Each shih "as
dhided in turn imo Ih" oonaliOllS {ieu) of:!(Xl men
:nl each oollalion into f,n companies (IS") of 100,
plus offtcer.'l. Each company comprised flw pla'OOllS
(liang) of 15 "",n and a sergeam, and a plaloon "as
,rode up of four squads (Wit) of four pri'"l''' and a
corporal An anny ,herefore oominally rompri'ied
10.0:0 prinl"" (ll'''-ISIt), 1,S(x) <oq><>raIs (wlt-.ehang),
~ sergealllS (liang-sslt-ma). 125 company com_
mander. (t.m-.ehang), 25 ballaHon commanders (ieush,mi). fly", regimenlal commanders (shih.shuaij and a
commanding g.neral (eh,m.sh'~li). In reaHry. how_
""". unit. were ollen """,rely under strength. and
~y a shih comprised ju,t 100 men, or ,orne
liIrcs only a lew doren.
E,,,,ry famity was eKf"'Ct.d to supply one sokl;"10 the T.ipmg Army. A' tbe number of Taiping
adherems or conquered subject' grew, roew anny
corps w.re e'lablisbcd, wilh a new squad in'liluted
i:r each additional liw families, a new plalOOn kJr
X~
.lffli'aryjacK<S ala
T",pingrri""~ (lifii a.J
a
1Allt
~..,
1~
.l!;j
,l
"i"".
l\
lhem as young.s six or seyen. H"'ing Dttn indoctri_
nate<! since infancy, lhe... we,.. fa""tical .dllereols of
lhe Taiping CilUse. Most had I>ten lakeo by foo:e in
conquerc"d 1errilories. Adopted and reared by anny
personnel. especially officers, they were 'imbued
wilh ferocity of disposition and callCJll5roeSS of feeling,
10 execute the behests of Ihclr maSle,,'. Seyeml
WOSlem 00..." ..", ooted Ihem being giYC'11 'pri,,;_
leges beyood lheir years' in exchange kT their fidel_
ity, and """" were "''''' commissioDed as officers.
Though T.iping regulations staled Ihal children
"ere nOllO engage in acliye ntilitary dUlles, iI soon
became conlm<>n practke j;x those ompl<>yed by
off"""" to accompany lhem into b.llie to reload lheir
f"""""" .lId by 1861 children were Ioeing fielded ill
",-or_iocreasing nllffibcrs. Undk--y, wOO cOllSidered
Ihat boys agod hetween 12 and 15 COllstilUled 'the
br.m'51 soldiers .1Id mosl daring spirils in the """'s
oflhe Taiping soldiory', reckonod lllat in the spring
of 1861 l:lrgo pall of the Taipinjl Anny coos iSle<! of
'more boys', while R.J. Forrest, "isiling Nanking in
Ma",h tllal year, wrole Illal 'w!>ere lhere is ooe
growo_up man there .re two or Ihree boys of liom 12
to 18 years of age'. adding th.t he 'ney"r saw. rcb<-I
sold;"'" who could be called old'. An account oflhe
fighling at ChJpu in Seplembcr 1861 Sl.tes Ihat 60
per cenl of the 5,lXXl T.ipin"" in\'OI\-I were 'lillie
boy,', while the enlire rearguard ora force lh.l sallied
oil! from Nanking in February 1862 consiS1ed ofboys
agod bctween seyen and 15.
Wome" .iso "","Cd in the field, moS1ly ill """oial
""'*
....., lItvo.
"'=
C.n'n.... d urue'ur.
r.,,,,
UIOCII~).
..... hcnI.ppo,nlcd.
made "1Io'lp SImply 1O.mol lnC.unUIII llle pro-IIKlOOft of othen...11I10 COIIIpetml coeutlOIIIdors - . .
o!ft .....trloo/r;cd. The Oumg W""g. ..110 ..... tumsclf
ooly .rpoinIed b tear !hal ho m'ghl 0Ih0.....-....
defoct, stOlcd lhal lb.. probfel3hon. """",,iaUy
amonS$! flungs ....11 family and ,be de5jl'sN roun
offiCIals. "'''' pnr>cipal cou.. of disaff:"on
.nlOngs! T.iping orTkcrs towards tbe C'nd of ,be
Rehollion, r"wlling in a ""desp~ad l:>ct of 00_
oporal;OOl at rommand 1e>'C1.
Lindley ob5cn'Cd lilac by the 180605 ""ungs h.>d
'''Oll~ conlrol' o-a- the troop. lII>Ikr lhe" corn.
mand, cIcO"""ng Ihc""""'..... ,..,.,"abIe OIlly Co 11M:
l-b'nJy K'1lI h"moclf or 10 tho C<lIl'IIn>Ilder1IHiI1Cf
...m thoR' "''1$ one.. Ccn.amJy InOlI "" lllo6< openl.
IIIi' III .....1).." _
"''CIC xtlna: all bul ,ndcpcad. .lyoflllC CIflIl<II by
F"lIUdly, ill 186l, HUlIg
.lCmflU<llo nJIb I... lR'nd by docbn"lllihal henceforth , ... Ta",.. AIWI) '35 In be rd'clftd 10. lhe
,""","tilly AlWly
KIld.... '"5 'Ilo).., Troops'.
.......I<'h. tho Ollllg ,,"aIIg IIOICd. 'mode tllC1ll all ,nlo
I"".
1""'"
,!te" hats.
THE
IMPERIALISTS
Chi",,', milil'ry esl.blislunem passive, parochial,
"...Jk and
011 OUtdated "'..., In. product oflh.
coonlly'-m;Utal)' cullUre. It comprised boIh
WaM irregul>r troops, (he f""",",," con,i,ling oflhe
Eighl BJJUl.... Ipoch',}.lId lhe Army of 1M Green
SiJ.nd:ud III..yingj, aDd lhc I.ller oflhe milili. (I\"IM.
lien;, 'Bra",.' (ping) and. lale. 'Bra'-. Ballalion.'
(yllng-Jing). The in:ldeqU3Cy oflhe regular elemems
":IS confirmed early in lhe Rebellioo. and by (he lime
the Taiping. we... fimlly crushed il was J,mg-ying
b= ",nidi bore Inc bn"'l oflne figlUing.
.00>"
'.gu_
--
!
t
"
... m.iDder w.... distribm.d in Manchuri. .lId only 150, alld in reolily ofIe'll comprised 110 moo:
TurkeSl.n. Banner g.rrisons omside Peking con_ Iban 40 or so. Lower ranking company offICe'" were
sistM of: In. Chi-fu ChI< Fang, lhe galTisons ofllle 25 the fang.y" or caplain, llle hsiao-dl'1 hslao or lieUlen
cilics ne.rest 10 Peking, tOia/ling some 4O,lXXl men, .nl.nd he Ung_ls'ul or corporals. Pri,-.tes were
lnoSily infanl!)"; the LJng.<:h 'In Ch" Fa/Ig or galTisons generally called ma-chia, teclmically 0 term indic.tof tile Imperi.1 Mausolea. comprising IZ() men: ing armoured canlrymen. lhougb In.re were 01,.,
.00 lhe Ko.,Mng Chll Fang, In. 25 provincial garri. ).wg_)l1 ping. supernumeraries aw.iting appoimment
sons, three of wllich we... marine est.bJishmems. 10 the ranks oflbe ma-<:hia as ncancies occurred.
The largest g.rrisons consisted of 4.5,lXXl Banner
This official slmclure had linle relennee 10 !he
men, tn. sm.lleSi of a lew' hundred.
""Y Bannermen were dimibuted in lhe field, sc.l_
Tileorelic.lly each kltsai comprised. fU-I'""g lered in garrisons of\'arying sizes. Those of 3,lXXl or
(Iieutenant.g'lleral) conullanding lh" banalioll'S (or more Ban"""""n were usll:llly commanded by
1""0 in a Mongol kustJi) calledjllian or chn-ia. each of gelleml bearing tile lille chiang-chtln (rendered in
I.~ men. Each oon.lion w,", comm:lllded by
English SOW'CeS as 'Tanar General'), who in all
Is 'an-ling (colollel).nd ,'..... organised inlo
com- milita!)" maners ooHanked th. \'ireroy of wbkl>e\.....
panies. caliM niru in M.nchu or ISo-ling in Chinese. province he "'as posled 10. Sm.ller garrisons of .lIOut
fum company "'as comm.nded by a major (.Iso LOCO B:mnermen came under a depuly li""l.na01_
caOed a Is<>-Ung). The Is<>-Ung Il>erefore oominally gelleml ifu fU-I'llng), .nd tbose Ihal "'"re smaller SlilJ
comprised -"00 men. but was so often under>lrenglh were led by. commandant (ch 'c"g_shQu}1tj.
Ibal in 1851 ~ was genernJly considered 10 number
Th Pcki"e IIH".crmtn
Ii,,,
f,,,,"
,."aIry
,~~~.
'_
Ar",~'
"
Green SlaOOJrd lmops comprised shall-ping coloool) but SOIlk-'1imes ooly a major (IIHSUj or cap_
(prrison infamry), pll-ping (infant!)') and mil-ping 13in (sltaa-peij. The )'ing was subdivided inlo right
(c",-alry)' In n>OS1 places ~arrison infant!)' oulnum_ and left sltao or palrols, e.d, coolmlnded by. lieu-bered lhe Olr.er 1\0.'0 pul Iogelber, and pl..ping 001_ lellJnl felt 'ien_t.s""gj. The slta"comprised 1\0.'0 or foor
numbered ma-ping almosl ",-erywr.ere. T.E Wade. sub-unils (SSU) under ensigns (pa-ISIIngj, organised in
squad< (p 'engj of oominJlly len ,nen conunanded by
wrilin~ in 1&51. gi"'-'l 10lals kJr lhe Ihree cal"W'ries
(excluding "'''' 7,400 offICers) ... some 321 ,900 garri_ an NCO.
The licu1enam, ensigns and NCOs were u,...11y
son infanlly, 194,800 infanlry and 87.100 ca,..Iry. Of
lhese, only 10 per cem III mosl were kepi regularly on commanders of lhe small deuchmenlS assigned to
aclive sel'dce. These fogw-es pUI lhe ",,,,-a11 infantry hold OU1f1O'1S <:a1J<d Itslln (posls), IIIn or pall (walch.
10 "",-airy ralio al nearly 6:1. close 10 tile offlciJl lowers or lookOO1 sial ions), m:l.ny ballalions being
figure of 5:1, lhough Ille p..-ping 10 rna_ping ralio ",anered in liny unils IlIat mi~ht comprise no rn.:>re
",lied belween 1:1 and 10:1. In sealxtard p"",inces llIan dozen ,nen. The widespreod dislribmion of
up to a Ihird of lhe men might be 'water soldiers' or unils W'aS a'lOlher faclor in 1M <le<:line of ll1e G=n
marines, lhough lhey were SlUi based .,hore, a,1d a S13ndard, since it was nOl only difflCUh fox a com.
smaU number of lh<-m were oclllaily <:a,-aI!)'.
mander 10 assemble .<!equale forces 10 cope "ilh an
The ba>ic unit of Green Slandard oq::anisJlioo unexpec1ed eme-rgency. but il also became '-inuaUy
was lhe)'ing or bal1aliol1, of which there were son.. impossible feo- him 10 comrol or uain his men. 0IIe
1200. Banalions we... fonred imo brigades, <:ailed )'ing on Chusan in 1800 is recorded ilS nol il:Iving
piaa orchen-piaa, each commanded by a I"mg_ping been collecled for drill for lhe previoos eight years.
(coounon1y called. chen-I'aij. or re~i,""ms (hsiehj
The o",raU command slmclure of lhe Green
commanded by a colonel (ji;-.:hiang;. and lhe number S13ndard wilS buill around a syS1em of 'checks and
of banalions within these larp:er unils Yalied. The balances' design.ed 10 pre",nl lhe concel1lralion of
ling ilself nominally cons iSle<! of 500 men pillS om_ military POW'" with anyone individual. The "'mg.
cers, bm in praclice coold be as lew as 50 men or ilS ping, fox itlS1ance. Wa<l ""swerable 10 boIh Ihe pro'-in_
many It'> IiXXl. II was cOl11lnlnded by a )'ing.A1l11n or cial commander_in-chief (l'i_lUj and lhe c;..-man 8'7'-_
banalion officer, l1SIlJUy a ls'an-.:hiang (lieulenam. emor. and allhoogh boIh were his seniors, lhey hod
"
18:!O< lhe Emperor had commiSlSiooed nu"""roos 7o.COJ men) .00 Tso Tsung_l'.ng', ehu Army
pro"iDciJl offo:i:lIs lO 11I1se ,uch unl15. The "",n were (40,OOJ"",n by mid 1864~
The b.,ic unit of .U such .rmies WllS ll1e )'ing of
recroiled from the local populalion. nd ,upple_
"",med by delachmem, drawn from exlSllng lImn_ 500 men and six oft....rs. The ying consiSled of the
Ii..... y,mg and G"",n Slalldard unils. One of lhe eh'in-ping or banalion comm.nder's gu.rds (72 men
e.rliesl. and lhe moS1 Impon.nl. ,'..,.. lhe !/siang- organised in six pioIOOtl'i or wi of J2 men each, WiUl
ehiin. org.nl ..d in Hunan by Tseng Koo_f.n in 1&53. lwo of llle plaloon, "'lulpped Wilh lighl gun,) and
h pom-ed so sue<:essful lh.l ,Imil.1r annies were four sh<lQ of 100 "",n (organised in eight plaloons, six
raised .Iong IdemlcalllDes In Olhtr pro'..inces includ_ of 12 men .nd lwo _ equipped wllh jlngaJl, _ of 14:
Ing Anh,,"'; (lhe !/utli,h,,". 1862), Chekiang (1M lhe rem.Ining 18 "",n included. deputy commander,
Chlt--ch,m. 1860), Kiangsi (lbe Chiang_d"m. 1&55) five orderU.., and oook 10 each shaO). In a<\d;lion,
.lId Szrchewan (lhe Ch',,,,n_e",m. 186J~ II ".,.. lht
liJl coolies "ere altached 10 each )'ing. used 10
!/siang-chlln. or Hun.n Army. lh.l "QfI1he Imperial- replace C"",.111es In lhe rank, ... lhey o<curred. The
im' firsl major "iclory ""..r lhe T.Iplngs in 1&54, alld ying was comm.nded by .ying-k,~'m. nd lbe c0mill; .'ll.ICC>:Sses lhere.f1", "",.nt lhal from 1860, follow_ panies by skao-klmn. Brigades of belw""n two ..Id
Ing lhe Taiplngs' decl';.... ovenhrow oflht Soulhern doren or moreying came under lhe cOlllJll.lJ'<l of a
Imperial Barrack, omside Nanking, },,,,g_ying r'.,,,g-Ung. woo.. n.me lhe brigade u,,,,,ily lOOk.
.rmies ecl;psed IIIe lrndiliooal Green Slalld.rd and while lhe comm,nd of 1\0." or more r\arg./ing consli_
B.nner fOI= and were considered nol only p.n of lU1ed chiln under. la-skl/ai.
lhe regul.r mJliury esl.bllshmem, but il' mOS1 1m_
The ;n;li,1 recmllS we", mostly formers, prefer_
pollant pan. Tseng himself ....emu.Uy IJ"came 1>0"_ ably from ~iflC loc.l;ty In order lh.l lhey ,Ilould
eroor_general and supreme commander on the Io\>.'er 011 know 0"'" allOlher. To ensu", loy.lly, shao-kum,
Yongtze, respon,Ible for 001 only lhe Hunan Army_ were responsible KJr enlisling lhelr O"TI men: ying_
which uhim'lely gn."W 10 owr 1.lO,COJ "",n _ but also bmn ,imil.rly <bose lheir o....n shao--k.,an. I'.,ng-Ung
for Li Hung_cban!",s celcbl1l1ed Hu.I Army (60_ lMIr mm )'ing-kuan. and lhe Ia_skl/ai hi, lung-ling.
Personal allaclunenl' ....ere so mons lhal when a ,mil
LindJ<ryo'" depie';"" of Ii><
brisll;.g n,-,h spears '0
coounJnder died IUs men "ere lliually dls.banded,
.o;,k"ifieJ !Mole of, 11.- pmrCCf ,h,;, ",wle'_s
and If he was lran,ferred lhey were lran,ferred Wilh
m . '" n-h,eh ,he To'p'"lts
Qgm..' Impenal",
him. laler rec,rnilmem beeaolle less ",I..liyc: size_
f&mCd Q uries of circle.
rowllry.
DRESS AND
WEAPONS
Th
T.lplll~s
'mad.
of
..
S1<<<h b) ~.KI'
"",,,,ri.,",.
paf"b<J.a,d,
p<'aFl"'''JX'M<d, ""d a
lilil. bied ,.. ,he '''r''
"
..
dmg",,_hal, ~o"<lhing
Ix",,,,,. "milr< and Q
looJ~rop. WH. .IIedh..",
(I~54) d<senlx. i, as r<d,
.h:oc"teJM,.,h """iQ.d
<mbmid",..
',Ii",...
jld "pp<'omntY,
sho"'s"ndgrs"", lali"",',
as wdI os Iiy """""'i!'l>
fi,."" 'Orlcs "nil", Itisju'.
TiIJ"""'. oPfH!ar IQlom-.
10 in ead.<>{I"w, .
regim,n" IW'
/858).
,,,,,,i.
w,",
Th~
IIll[l<'rl.llsb
Eyc.}wy Chinese <:IOIhe. were sober in colour mostly blue, whil', brown and grey. Like lhe
Taipings, Imperi.lisl sokliers oorm.lly wure dyiUan
.nire under lheir uniform jackels, loough somelimes
unil ",.. also proyi<\ed Wllh lrousers .ndlor shins.
mwlly blue or while. The uniform j.ckel, sleeyed or
.leeyeless, w"" mosl commooly blue edged in red or
red edged in while, lhough numerou. OIher combi",,
lioos were worn. (Green Slar.dard IfOOps ""'" in
1855 "ure blad: edged in red; brown edged in pink
,,;IS "urn by Bam.. rn",n alll>e Taku Forts ill 1858;
H""i Army lroop. irt 1862 ""OIl> purple edged irt
yellow; and Peking Bannermcn .1 Pall.kao ill 1860
"'Ufe yellow edged in black.)
A drculor <:IOIh paleh .00u1 10 ins acfOSS, us""l1y
while. w"" generally worn on lbe bre.SI and back of
lhe jackel, slaliding oOJ! so prominenlly lhat one
hWlIouroo.ly 'uggeSled lhey were 'possibly
desigoed tor lhe enemy 10 .im .11'. Upon th= w....
inscribed deuils of Ibe wearer'. unit Some1ime.
lhese deuils we", PUI dire<:1ly 0010 lhe jackel (lhere
is one record of lhis from 1860 .nd il became .n
increa.ingly common praClke in lhe 1870:s~ In common Wilh lbe T.ipings, the Imperi.lisl' wore
wooden dog-lag .1 lhe bell. It 00'" lhe soldier'
obse",,,
"'l'l
in /XIj_ af
Ta.t., IJ A");"sr /861).
fim R. S... mnOl!',
Nar",;,'. of...., N"flh
B.mfl(!f"ma
......"
o.
"
ARTILLERY
Anillery in 191h Cetllury China differed lillie from
lrnl of 171h cemury Eul'Op"'. and war< often as old.
The guns - u=Uy l>rge nod lI<"~vy in relation 10
their calibre were m.de liom brass. iron. copper
and "''''' woed. occ.,ioo.lly ornmely consm,cloo 10
",...mble dragon> (the Taipings OC1ually called canoons 'long drngons'j. Cilles and fons were provided
in 1861).
do"dooo DODD 0
d 0"00"'0"0"dddo"do
FLAGS
Chinese armies were accompanied by huge quamities
of ~ in .ssoned sizes.oo colours. mostly lriangu.
lor bUl sometime' square or ",,,n, amoog'l lroe im_
perialisls, !"'nf.lon_shape<!. They were mode of dyed
'ilk. usually wiln dcq>ly scalloped or serTalOO edges
in a contrasling 00100 . fill<d 10. 11-13 fl baml>oo
pole. J. lamprey. present io Shanghai in 1862.64.
said th.l among 1M I ,,,peri.lislS OIl<" llag "as carried
per len men, and lh.l some were up 10 11 feel long
and eighl frel ~p. Imperialisl Oogs were uniform to
'0
E",peror. (NDI;"""I.f"""
.If,oe"",)
ha'"
THE EVERVICTORIOUS
ARMY
The EVA "'<IS a corps of Weslerolrained and
oft""""d Chinese which foughl fC4" tlle ImperialiSl'
in II>e Shanghai are. Founded by an AnlCrican
fllibus!er, Frederick Ward, il Slarled life in mid 1M
as art international ballalion of aboIn 100 mercenar
ies. The men were mostly de""rlers, "'naway seamell
or ad\-emurers. predominamly AllIC'Iicarl and Bril
ish, loougb almost "''''Y coomry in Europe wilS
repres<.'"nled ill ils rallks. Most were dismissed in tn.
summer of 1861, but tOOse hpl Oil became oftkers of
I,XJJ Chinese soldiers thaI Ward nad ,",,"'iled ill the
"kinity of his headquarlers al SWlgkian8 by Febru
l:T"p;".w."o
1: 1''';'''"0 _".,.m"n
Jo T",p"'" nM"~""""
Sm."
Sbo..1>&i lMO-tl
1 F..""h .......
l: lnfon",,-. F
J:;
P".._.SU
I_e-p.
In
Sl\anfl:1Ia. ..........
"""*
FrrJ.ri<*
......"
_S
.u:sa
Or~""I,atlo"
"
riwr_l>o.l Ikol
OTHER
'DISCIPLINED
CHINESE' UNITS
Th~ '.:wr_So<nr~ ..\r",~'
Th~ Fr~n<o_Chi".,.,
Corps of Ki .. ~su
Army'
Force
Force
""'-.nce
ANGLO-FRENCH
INVOLVEMENT
Unh.ppy wirh llle Ch'ing Gowrnmenl's refltSal 10
consider addilion.1 lrading cooces,ions 10 rhose
.greed III rhe elld oflhe Opium War. ll>e seizure of
llle crew of a ship (1M Arro>.j regisrered in Hong
Kong and llle murder of a Caloolic missionary by
Ch'ing oltki:lk "ere used by Brirain.nd france as an
excuse 10 declare " .... on ClUna in 1857. Variously
rdened to as rhe AITOW War, rhe Seoood China War
and lhe Sec<Jnd Opium ""'ar, lhis conflicllasled. wirh
lengthy inrenni..ions, unlil 1860. lIs principal .. Ii"'" <:arne .r lhe l>eginning and end of lhis period.
"irh lhe c""lure of Camon in December 1857 and
.galtlS1 T.iping forces in Ihe Ioc,UI)" be!w""n Febru"'Yand Nonmber 1862, noIably in the """,.Ued '30_
mHe radius' cao'P"ign of March_May which r.",lted
in the ",e'''''1)" of t.n dlies for the Imperiali>ls.
During 18ffi-61 garri""n forces in Shanghai
generaily comprised some -I.cro Brilish and
similar. bUi uSUJUy smaH.r, number of French
Iroops, largely sean..n and mari""s. Afl... 1110 second
T.iping 'l1""k, inJaml.1/)' 1862, heM....er, lhe Brilish
elemenl ""as increased dramJlie.ily, and a",raged
.bout 2,500 men until mid 1863. A subslOnti.1 "",-.1
brig.de wo;; a promi"..m f.alUn: of this forre: some
450 or mor. Brili'b and :l(X)..400 Fr.neh seamen '00
marinos look pan in most operaliotlS oflhe '3Q.mHe
r.diu,' camp"ign. aoo ll>oir overall eom""'nders
wen: also "",-.1 men - Admiral Hope tor 1110 British
and Admiral PrOle! (umil bo was killed in May 1862)
tor lhe French. Indi.n troops provided by Ihe 51h
Bombay Nat,,'e Infantl)"oo the 22nd Pwlj.bis con_
Sl;Med anolher "",jO!" ingrediem. long,ide ele-menlS of 11>0 Brilish 3151, 671h and 99th Regimoms
and the Freneb 3m Ughl Infaml)' Banalioo
d'A!riq"e. Unlil March 1862 ooly. leY.' hundr~d of
those .i1ied troops had ""lWily been ;n,,,h-ed in fi.ld
operal;o", .g.inSl the Ta;pings, but ,ft.r Aprillbeir
numbers were increased 10 arour.d 2,lXXl. They were
suppon.d by up to 30 guns, .nd lhe Briti'h in,-.ri
"'''''ily
A 30-s1rong
lroop c,lIed lhe Sh,nghai
MO\llued Rangers "'" added in December 1861.
This p,m'ided Admirnl Hope wilh scoots during lhe
allied operalions round ShJnghai in 1862. and be
came inml,"cd in a skirmish "ilh Taiping m.rnuders
in AuguSI. Though initially mounled on horses. lhey
''''1' soon changed 10 1131iYe ponies. They were
apparently .rmed wilh sabre, .nd firearm>.
CHINESE TACTICS
Though WeSler.. rs con,irered Ihe Chi ..se limid. il
would be fairrr 10 describe lhem as supremely cauI;OUS: they ,,",,' nOlhing merilorious in heroics or self
sacrifICe. 'They h.lYe a m.uin, lilal "rash ,nd arro
gam ""klier's musl be defe.ted": wrole John U",i> in
Ille 18JOs.. '..lid llle chi.r V;I1"" of In.ir slralegy ;s
extr.me camion and 10\." ofaafl. nOl w;lhout I.rge
,hare of perfidy .nd falsehood.' Anolher obse,,"cr
,,,,,".
",bu,,,,,,,
ha,,,
,.,,,,med.
THE PLATES
AI: Tail';I1/i. ~"II/1.
Wangs ''''''lly wore y"IIoI>.' and red. Though depicled
on foo here. ll>ey ,,~... moWlled on ltle Dallleflekl.
and their standard.l>earers. inYari.bly on fOOl. had to
run to keep up wilh them.
CJ:
It~"..riolisl
in ...illl.,. dr",s
E"cr_\'kluriousArm,'
,"
,------,----,-=-=--------,--------------l ",,,rue",,,h,,,,
Diagram,"" lie
;!.
Omcufo,,<>j,iocJo,'
'!oallP""Jcd ,he Pcih" aJ
rot"_ from Esca}mc de
LQ"'"rC~ Memo"". sur La
Ch"", (I~65).
%
/I'
L
D1: Al1ll1n,.,,,,,o
The Anille1y', wimer unHorm WilS lighl blue, "'lh
c,rteI ,oouldo-r_slrap. and rocings and broad scar
k:1 snipe down lhc lrooser.leg. Though some EVA
sokli<1's wore Weslern boals, .nillerymen, wiloom
excepl;on. wore Dlmese slippers and Slockings.
,UIII"'"
DJ: III/am",,,,,,,,_
m'/flIT/1I
The wimer uniform of (he Inf.ntry "'" dart. green.
";lh scark1 r>clogs. and shoold<-r_slrap. In.t were a
diff.",nl coloor br .>en regiment .1Id 'slamped'
wilh Ill<: regiment', number in Chinese and English.
In (he summer Inf.n!!y. AMineI)' and Bodyguard
al"'. change<! into '. comple1. ",nn. uniform wilh
red facings. precisely similar 10 lhe kahkee dre.. wom
by Brilish lmops in India'. The blankeHoli. worn.U
year round. is de.....-ibed in 1861 as coming ill '.11
m.ru><1" of brighl colours'. His weapon is smOOlhbore I"'",ussion muske!. Only Ibe 4th or Rjfle Regi.
ment ""as equipped wilh rifles eilher Enflekls or
Dreyse ndle.guns.
Bro/{>~
famoo
p/lo'ogmplos.
of
2: 'Chillese' GOrdOll
The dress of EVA OftkelS"."" "arie<!. Cen.inly "
unifonn exisle<! by April 1861. perhJps lhoe same bluo
jackel. lrousers .00 cap", comprised lhe unifonn of
lhe force while il W&'S Slill entirely composed of
foreigners. Howe,,,r. one sioologisl. H.B. Morse.
'\'I'OIe earUer this century lMl off"""" wore green
unifonns wilh bl:lck braid round lhe cuffs. PhOlographs show jacke1S similar 10 a Brilish Anny palrol.
jack'" or frock-cOOI. Am"rican officers in panicular.
home...... appear 10 1\",," remained un.uniformed.
we..iIlg 'bucc.neerillg. brigand.like dress . . .
slriped.Imed and booted Ui<e l!>eatrical oondini'.
Wil/d "ore 00 unifonn; inslead he usually wen:
eilller a dark blue English frock-coal and sOOn
cape. or loose. blue serge lunic. Gordon wore I\is
0\\11 RE uooress uniform.
3: Imp"ialist ",a",Jar;"
E I: Prim". King,,.I~,'s f'orre
Tbi. figure is froo, ske1ch by Lamprey. who de
serires lheir uniforn, as reing of bl ... serge. w",n
wilh luroon lh,l could re block. red or ligbt blue.
Lindley lells U<; lha! Illey hod llle numrer '6T on
lhoeir shoulder.Slr""s - lhe regimenl 10 which lh<:ir
Brilish Oftloers belonged. MOSI of lhe fon::e """
1'1:
Iml',r;~list
'8rt"""
=""""'.
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cR''Qlr)"m~n
u~mm,
G2:
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'roncoChines,
1(;~nJlsu
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Norll'
C~in.
1860
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MIUTARY
.\IE"-.\T-.\R:\IS SERIES
rm:ml
MILITARY
An unri..... l1~ oou= of Informa.ion on .he unifonns, insigrti.a and appear-anee of lhe "wid'. lishting
men of pas' and presen . The Me.._a,_AITR>' rille.
5ubjecu ... di,'e"", ... the Imperiol Roman army,
tho: Napolc:ooie ..va and Gcnnan Ilitbol'lle 'roop> in a popular 48-p.Ige format i....,Juding-..:
+0 phorogroophl .nd diaJnou, and ,,;,h' fuU-eoJour pla'e.
".,.,et
t>efinitive analy.;" of the armour, "-em",,n., .acti"" and mo.h",;o01 of ,he foghting fTM'n of hi,...,..
Each 64_1'"1" 1>001< tontaim ~..... ,..a).. and ""P1ooed an,,'o"" or .he warrio.', weap""" and iltmQUr.
NEW VANGUARD
Comp...,he""ive hi......... of ,he de.ipt, "ndopm"n' and """",tiuna! use of ,he "'.,,id'. am..,u...,d "ehides
and anill.ty. Each 48~p.,., book contains eOlht p~ or rull-colou. an"'ork inclodinl a d"",ile<J ""...",'ay
ofthe ,-.,Iude'. in,er'"''
CAMPAIGN
Con";"', .uthorita.ht ""toun.. or <!tti.i,-e entoun ..... in mili.ary hi.."'Y. Eac:h 96-parc boo~ torI...;n.
I'll""' t~ 90 ilIo ....,;..... ineluding mal"', "rd.", "rba,tle antl colour pla.e.. J>lu. a oeries or
thru-dim.-nal"nol ha<tl. map" tb.at mark .he criti.... l stages of th. """,plip>.
__
...
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"'"
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...
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