The enemy in strong force--On the east bank of the Pei-ho--Transport
troubles--Chinese mules and their ways--The Bengal Lancers--Enemy
commanding a wedge-shaped position--The railway embankment--The line
of battle--Slow advance under heavy fire--The 1st Sikhs and American
Infantry--Russian Artillery--Brave Lieut. Murphy, Capt. Scott and
Capt. Martin--Two single lines--Severe Orders--Chinese withdraw in
good order--Chinese trenches--Enemy protecting their retreat--Chinese
mistaken for French--Americans taken for Chinese--Pursuing the
enemy--Casualties--An American funeral.
It was decided to follow up the Chinese at once to Yangtsun, and to
give them no time to recover from the blow received at Pei-tsang.
The troops camped that night just beyond the pontoon bridge, and the
Russians, French, and Austrians, being unable to deploy on their side
of the river owing to the inundations, crossed over and joined the main
body of the force on the west side of the stream.
One squadron of the 1st Bengal Lancers made a reconnaissance towards
Yangtsun, discovered the enemy in strong force, and returned to camp
during the night.
The troops began to march forward again at 6 +A.M.+ on the 6th, and the
Japanese (the Manabe brigade), with the Russians, British, Americans,
French and Austrians, all marched this time on the east bank of the
river.
[Sidenote: TROUBLESOME MULES]
And here, with the rough roads, began the first and serious troubles
arising from hastily-made transport arrangements. The heavily-laden
carts sank deep into the road; the teams of Chinese mules, unaccustomed
to foreign drivers, stampeded, kicked, and smashed harness and
vehicles, and a considerable amount of strong language, in many
different tongues, was consequently used on all sides.
[Illustration: JAPANESE CROSSING THE RIVER AFTER THE BATTLE OF
PEI-TSANG]
Personally, I fared even worse. Having been unable to secure carts in
Tientsin, I felt very proud of the artillery saddles, on which I had
toiled for several hours, working like a saddler to make them fit my
mules. The saddles looked very handsome (at least, to me) when they
were finished; and when the moment came for starting we were able,
with the assistance of eight American soldiers, four Chinese servants,
and two Sikhs, to fix them on the backs of the mules, who, not being
accustomed to them, gave us no end of trouble. Although I have had
a great deal to do with mules, I have never found more vicious and
tiresome animals than those of North China. It is probably because they
are so ill-treated. The baggage was eventually properly fastened on
and duly balanced, and, barring a few mishaps, all went well the first
day.
When I was about to leave Pei-tsang I discovered, much to my sorrow,
that the mules had, during the night, kicked the saddles to pieces.
A short journey in the neighbourhood with my Indian servant led to
the happy discovery of an abandoned Chinese cart, and in less than no
time a young Christian Chinaman who was with me made a harness with
stray bits of rope and straps removed from the broken saddles. We then
proceeded triumphantly with a nice team of three mules, and I had a
spare splendid white mule to ride on.
Acting on the information collected by the Bengal Lancers the previous
night, the British and Americans led the advance, marching about ten
miles before coming into touch with the enemy.
The Cossack cavalry discovered the enemy commanding a strong
wedge-shaped position formed by the railway embankment and the river,
and intersected by a forked road. The Chinese left flank was protected
by three guns near a building, and four hundred cavalry some distance
beyond the railway embankment. There were also five guns to the north;
five more stood still further back on the opposite bank of the river,
commanding both sides of the road, directly across the iron railway
bridge, and three others on the south side of the railway.
The railway embankment, being very high, and provided with a long
platform near the station, furnished a commanding position, together
with most excellent protection.
[Illustration: ONE OF THE AUTHOR’S PEKIN CARTS WITH THREE MULE TEAM]
On the side of the Allies the line of battle was formed as follows:
On the left, along the river, were the Russian infantry and artillery
(4 guns); next to them, on the south, and to the right, came the
British Royal Artillery, the 1st Sikhs supported by the 14th United
States Infantry on their right on the west side of the track, and the
9th Infantry, supported by marines; Reilly’s battery, six guns, and the
Bengal Lancers, were on the east side. The Tskamoto Japanese brigade
was held in reserve, and occupied the extreme right of the advance;
while more Russians, with the 7th Bengal Infantry to their left, were
near the Hsiao-chieh houses, and the French infantry behind them.
[Sidenote: A WEDGE-SHAPED POSITION]
[Illustration: CHINESE POSITION ON RAILWAY AT YANGTSUN]
At about 1500 yards the line began to deploy with no very great
opposition and in comparative safety, as there was fair cover from
trees, undulations in the ground, and stray houses; but when only at
nine hundred yards the advance became very slow, and was made under a
terrific fire with no cover at all. As can be seen by a glance at the
map, the wedge formed by the embankment of the road and that of the
railway becomes gradually narrower, and eventually forms a point at
its northern portion. It was at this point that the 1st Sikhs and the
24th Punjab Infantry were forced forward in close formation, with K and
M companies of the 14th United States Infantry by their side.
[Illustration: THE BATTLEFIELD OF YANGTSUN
Taken from the Chinese position and showing depression occupied by
Sikhs and above it position occupied by Americans.]
The 1st Sikhs advanced well until they found themselves in the narrow
depression shown in the illustration, where they got penned in and were
exposed to very heavy fire. They held fast to their position, while the
Americans came along in skirmishing order. The 14th, which was ahead,
when coming round the bend in the road, came under the fire of the gun
which the Chinese had placed on the embankment near the water-tower,
and also from the rifles of the Chinese infantrymen in houses and
behind trees.
The Chinese, furthermore, were lining the whole parapet of the station
platform, whence they kept up a hot fusillade. Their forces consisted
of Imperial troops in the centre and well-armed Boxers at the sides.
[Illustration: PLAN OF THE BATTLE OF YANGTSUN]
[Sidenote: THREE BRAVE OFFICERS]
The Russians, advancing from the same direction, fired volley after
volley into the Chinese, and, having brought up their artillery,
shelled the enemy with great effect.
The Sikhs were for one moment under such heavy fire that they could not
advance. Those few of the Americans who were not exhausted by fatigue
and the terrible heat, were ordered by Colonel Daggett, when at eight
hundred yards, and under a withering fire from front and flank, to
rush the Chinese position. A handful of them, led by brave Lieutenant
Murphy, of the 14th, and a handful of plucky Sikhs, with Major Scott at
their head, stormed the embankment, the Chinese running for dear life
at their approach.
[Illustration: LIEUT. MURPHY
14th U. S. Infantry.]
Lieutenant Murphy was the first to reach the position where the Chinese
gun had been; then, a second later, came Scott with six Sikhs. Captain
Martin, with six men of Company M (United States Infantry) and one man
of Company I, arrived next. The Chinese were very smart, and dragged
away their battery when the enemy was only three hundred yards off.
It was very gratifying to hear Captain Martin speak in most glowing
terms of the behaviour of the Sikhs on this occasion, and one cannot
find words sufficient to express one’s admiration for such men as
Lieutenant Murphy, Captain Martin and Major Scott, whose feat on that
occasion spoke for itself.
So narrow was the wedge when the Americans passed the Sikhs that
they actually formed two single lines. When double time was ordered
the Americans were so much exhausted from the long march in the
morning--the attack began at 11 +A.M.+--and hunger and thirst, that
many dropped on all sides and became delirious, or went clean out of
their minds.
It was understood that, although wells had been passed, the American
General had given strict orders that the men must not be allowed drink.
Some of the fellows suffered agonies from the unbearable heat and dust,
and the broiling sun; one soldier particularly, who had become a raving
lunatic, with his tongue parched and frightfully distorted features,
was making gestures to his companions to shoot him, because he could
bear the pain no longer.
Once the enemy were dislodged from the high embankment the victory
became easy. Captain Taylor, of Company I, 14th United States Infantry,
was the first of the Allies to enter the village to the left, and
Colonel Daggett reached the platform just in time to see the Chinese
withdraw in good order up the river.
In their rear to the north the Chinese had one line of trenches on
the road, one line at the bank of the river, and two lines across
the plain. When the Allies had seized the top of the embankment, the
Chinese infantry, having occupied their first line of trenches almost
parallel with the embankment, and about eight hundred yards from it,
opened fire principally from their left, to protect the retreat of
their artillery.
They leisurely withdrew, gaily flying their standards. The American
9th, on the right flank, had a splendid opportunity of firing into
them at short range, and working great havoc; but as the Chinese were
dressed in blue, and flew white, red and blue flags, they were mistaken
for Frenchmen and so escaped. Later, the French mistook the Americans
for Chinese, and fired into them! Fortunately they did not hit anybody.
When the first error was discovered it was too late to pursue the enemy
effectively.
[Illustration: RUSSIAN ARTILLERY]
[Sidenote: PURSUING THE ENEMY]
A worse mistake happened. Either the Russian or the British gunners
(nobody seemed to know for certain) sent a few shells among E company
of the 14th United States Infantry, killing eight and wounding nine.
The first Chinese trench was taken by a regiment of “supports,” and the
others were evacuated.
Two squadrons, one being Hinde’s, of the 1st Bengal Lancers, went in
pursuit of the enemy in the evening, and succeeded in killing fifty.
One of General Ma’s flags was captured, and five standards, and so was
a trumpet, with the trumpeter. Two lancers were wounded, and one horse
shot.
The Japanese took no part in the engagement, the Yangtsun battle being
over by 2.30 +P.M.+, and only fired a few shots on the retreating
enemy. The Japanese command of the division had come up by the right
bank of the river, and only arrived at five o’clock in the afternoon,
having been delayed by the difficulty of making temporary bridges over
the river, which had overflown in many places.
The Americans and British, who had borne the brunt of the fighting,
had a heavy list of casualties. American: 21 killed and 54 dangerously
wounded. British: 46 killed and wounded.
The men were so much exhausted that a day’s rest was deemed necessary;
besides, there was the painful duty of burying the dead.
The American funeral was a most impressive sight.
Preceded by the brass band (the American was the only force among the
Allies which had a band on the march to Pekin), the killed were brought
up to a large grave, where a touching service was read, and then the
bodies were laid to rest side by side until they could be conveyed at
the expense of the State, back to America.