Taitsan: Difference between revisions

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[[Category:Battles]]
== History ==
{{Battles_Infobox
[[Battle of Taitsan]] 1863
|partof=[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taiping_Rebellion Taiping Rebellion]
== Spelling Variants ==
|date=1-2 May 1863
Modern name: Taicang<br>
|location=[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taicang Taicang, Jiangsu Province, China]
Variants:Taitsan<br>
|presidency=[[Madras]]  
|co-ordinates=[http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?ll=31.452035,121.09669&z=13&t=h&hl=en 31.452035°N 121.09669°E] 
|result=British victory
|territory=
|combatant1=The Ever-Victorious Army
|combatant2=Taiping Rebels
|commander1=[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_George_Gordon Maj Charles George Gordon]
|commander2=
|strength1=
|strength2=
|casualties1= 
|casualties2=
}}
"Such was the position of affairs when on March 24, 1863, Major Gordon took
over the command of the Ever-Victorious Army. At that moment it was not
merely discouraged by its recent reverses, but it was discontented with
its position, and when Major Gordon assumed the command at Sunkiang there
was some fear of an immediate mutiny. The new commander succeeded in
allaying their discontent, and believing that active employment was the
best cure for insubordination resolved to relieve Chanzu without delay.
The Taepings were pressing the siege hard and would probably have captured
the place before many days when Major Gordon attacked them in their
stockades and drove them out with no inconsiderable loss. Having thus
gained the confidence of his men and the approbation of the Chinese
authorities Major Gordon returned to Sunkiang, where he employed himself
in energetically restoring the discipline of his force, and in preparing
for his next move, which at the request of Li Hung Chang was to be the
capture of Quinsan. On April 24 the force left Sunkiang to attack Quinsan,
but it had not proceeded far when its course had to be altered to Taitsan,
where, through an act of treachery, a force of 1,500 imperialists had been
annihilated. It became necessary to retrieve this disaster without delay,
more especially as all hope of taking Quinsan had for the moment to be
abandoned. Major Gordon at once altered the direction of his march, and
joining en route General Ching, who had, on the news, broken up his
camp before Quinsan, hastened as rapidly as possible to Taitsan, where he
arrived on April 29. Bad weather obliged the attack to be deferred until
May 1, when two stockades on the west side were carried, and their
defenders compelled to flee, not into the town as they would have wished,
but away from it toward Chanzu. On the following day, the attack was
resumed on the north side, while the armed boats proceeded to assault the
place from the creek. The firing continued from nine in the morning until
five in the evening, when a breach seemed to be practicable, and two
regiments were ordered to the assault. The rebels showed great courage and
fortitude, swarming in the breach and pouring a heavy and well-directed
fire upon the troops. The attack was momentarily checked; but while the
stormers remained under such cover as they could find, the shells of two
howitzers were playing over their heads and causing frightful havoc among
the Taepings in the breach. But for these guns, Major Gordon did not think
that the place would have been carried at all; but after some minutes of
this firing at such close quarters, the rebels began to show signs of
wavering. A party of troops gained the wall, a fresh regiment advanced
toward the breach, and the disappearance of the snake flag showed that the
Taeping leaders had given up the fight. Taitsan was thus captured, and the
three previous disasters before it retrieved."<br>[http://forum.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?p=841498 Post from Kung Fu  Magazine Forum]


 
[[Category:Locations]]
 
[[Category:China]]
== External Links ==
[http://www.oxforddnb.com/index/101011029/ Dictionary of National Biography - Charles George Gordon]

Latest revision as of 22:36, 17 December 2009

History

Battle of Taitsan 1863

Spelling Variants

Modern name: Taicang
Variants:Taitsan