P

THE MAGAZINE OF HISTORY

WITH NOTES AND QUERIES

AUGUST, 1917

AMERICAN SOLDIERS OF FORTUNE

FREDERICK TOWNSEND WARD

HENRY BURGEVINE

No. 2

ROBABLY Ward is better known than any other similar figure, as his career in China was associated with that of the afterwards. celebrated "Chinese" Gordon.

He was a typical New Englander, cool, daring, self-reliant, active. Born in Salem, November 29, 1831, he became a sailor, then enlisted in the French army in time to see service in the Crimean war, and returned to his native land and was a ship-broker in New York: then just how has not been told, reached China, and in 1860 was in Shanghai; having previously, according to one authority been an associate of Walker in Nicaragua.

In Shanghai, he had a partner-or associate-named Henry Burgevine, also an American, but of whom particulars are lacking. At this time the Taeping rebellion was assuming great proportions, and Ward's adventurous disposition brought him to the front. He made an offer to the Chinese officials to raise a force-said by some to be only fifty-Malays and other desperate spirits, with which he would capture the large walled city of Sungkiang, about twenty miles from Shanghai, on the Whangpoo river. If he succeeded he was to raise a thousand Chinese, and secure twenty-five foreign officers to lead them. The government promised liberal pay, and Ward raised his little force, and repaired to Sungkiang which had a garrison of four thousand men and was surrounded by a wall with only four gates, which were closed at sun

set.

Putting fourteen men at each of three gates, and himself with the other eight at the fourth, the instant they were opened in the morning, the handful of invaders rushed in and captured the city. This remarkable feat naturally amazed the officials and Ward's star was in the ascendant thereafter. His basis of war was a remarkable one-he

would offer to capture a certain city, for a certain fixed price. In addition to this for the Sungkiang capture he was made a mandarin of the fourth class. In a year the magic of his name and invariable success enabled him to raise a force of three thousand well-armed men drilled in European tactics, and ready to follow him anywhere. This became known as "The Ever-Victorious Army" and for a year carried all before it even against odds of ten to one. From being regarded as a mere outlaw, he now was admitted to the confidence of the European residents of Shanghai, who welcomed his organizing ability, which insured peace within a radius of thirty miles around Shanghai.

To his military ability was joined honorable dealing with the mandarins, and but for his premature death he would doubtless have become the supreme military authority in China. He had adopted Chinese nationality and married a Chinese lady of high rank, and was raised to the highest grade of mandarin. In 1862, when the news of the Trent affair reached China, he quickly decided to withdraw from service and return to his native country to take part in her defence. He offered a contribution of $10,000 to the Union cause, but before our Minister, Anson Burlingame, could reply, Ward was dead from a wound received in attacking Tsekie, near Ningpo, September 20, 1862.

To find a successor equal to him was impossible, but it seemed natural that it should be his old associate Burgevine, who had been his second in command. Unfortunately, as in many other instances, an excellent subordinate proved unequal to sustain chief authority, and Burgevine was superseded by Holland and Cooke, two English officers, from whom in turn the command passed to General (then Captain) Gordon, whose success is historical, but whose army was that which Ward had created and organized.

With Ward's death the Chinese authorities also seem to have failed to maintain the sense of honor they had shown in keeping, faith with him. Burgevine could not get the pay due his men: he seized all the cash in the treasury of the nearest official, and even then had not enough to pay them all due. He went to Peking to lay the matter before the Emperor, and during his absence Holland was defeated at Tai-tsang; the first time the "Ever-Victorious Army" had suffered a reverse. Maddened by his treatment, Burgevine (who like Ward, had become naturalized as a Chinese citizen) went over to his old enemies the Taiping rebels in July, 1863; but in October surrendered to Gordon.

He again tried to join the enemy, but was captured and imprisoned by the Chinese authorities who caused him to be drowned while in irons.

Ward's remarkable success was commemorated by the erection of a temple in his honor outside the walls of Sungkiang. Inside the building is a tablet inscribed with characters signifying "the spirit tablet of Ward." On a specified day each year the local officials visit the temple and offer incense before the tablet. "He had converted his large possession into cash and securities, which disappeared from his person when he was killed. The English officer last with him was suspected of the theft, and in the U. S. Consular Court at Shanghai there were protracted proceedings in the Ward Estate case. (Appleton's Cyclo. Biog.)

JAMES LILLI BRIDGE (MURRAY)

The natural son of James Lillibridge, a merchant of Newport, R.I., was born about 1765, and for a time bore his father's name; but changed it to James Murray, and went to sea. After making several voyages, he made one, to India, which was destined to change his whole life. Landing at Tranquebar, on the coast of Coromandel, in 1790, he heard of the success attained by some Frenchmen who had entered the service of Indian rulers, so went to the Mahratta provinces and entered the service of Holkar, the Rajah of Indore. Exposed to every peril and hardship known to the terrible intestine wars which desolated India from 1790 to 1805, and from Cape Comorin to the Persian border he became conspicious for his invincible courage and undaunted presence of mind, as well as for his personal prowess.

An act of humanity finally brought our Rhode Island hero to British notice. Having taken prisoner a number of British officers he brought them before Holkar; when the barbarian ordered them to be instantly slaughtered. At the imminent risk of losing his own life, Murray interfered and succeeded in saving theirs; but lost Holkar's favor forever. Disgusted at this revelation of the Oriental's real nature, he determined to forsake his service; and having contrived to bring a large region under his own influence, when Holkar supported Scindia on the outbreak of the war with the English in 1802, Murray put his own territory under British rule, and went over to Lord Lake at the head of 7000 native cavalry. As the storming of Bhurtpore, in 1805, in which the British lost 3000 men, in four unsuccessful attempts Murray earned the title of "the best partisan officer in India". At the end

of the war, having acquired a large fortune, he determined to return to his native country, his strong attachment for which had not been diminished by sixteen years' absence. Reaching Calcutta, in September, 1806, he gave a farewell dinner to his friends. Reputed the best rider in India, he unfortunately attempted to jump over the dining-table, mounted on his Arab horse. But what he could have easily done while sober was too much for him when flown with wine: the horse fell, and the rider was so injured that he died, September 23, and is buried in Calcutta. Of his fortune $20,000 was sent to his mother and sisters in Newport-what became of the rest is unknown.

Murray is described as of medium height, pleasant expression, and under ordinary circumstances mild and amiable; but ferocious when roused to anger. He was possessed of great bodily strength and agility, and unrivalled in the use of the broadsword.

The history of India from 1790 to 1806 is the record of his achievements and wonderful daring; and the most marked tribute to his ability is that implied by an article in the treaty made by the British with Scindia-that the Maharajah should never again take an American into his service.

JOHN PARKER BOYD

Just one year before James Murray was born, a boy named John Parker Boyd was born in Newburyport, Mass. (Dec. 21, 1764.) Though he did not enter Washington's army during the Revolution, he did so in 1786 as an ensign: but the time of peace succeeding the Revolution soon palled on him. Just how he made his way to India we do not know, but he landed there at least a year ahead of Murray, for in 1789 we find him at twenty-two the chief of a partisan force of 1500 men, and assisted by some British officers. This was as near like the Condottiere of the Middle Ages as possible; being ready to serve any native ruler with a war on his hands and money enought to hire soldiers.

In those days of ambitious native rulers and aggressive British officials, such troops were in demand, and Boyd at different times served Holkar, the Rajah of Indore, the Peishwa, Scindia, chief of the Mahrattas, and the Nizam Ali Khan, under whom he at one time commanded ten thousand men. But our Yankee had foresight to see that as British influence increased, the "free-lance" soldiering business would decrease; and in 1806 he sold out to a more sanguine adventurer, one

Colonel Felose, an Italian, and left India, first for France and then for his native country, where in 1808 he was appointed to the command of the Fourth (regular) Infantry. In 1811 his regiment was part of Harrison's army in the Tecumseh campaign, and helped win the battle of Tippecanoe. In 1812, he was promoted to brigadier, and helped capture Fort George, Canada, in May, 1813. In the autumn he commanded a brigade under Wilkinson in the expedition down the St. Lawrence, and at the battle of Chrystler's Field-or farm-on November 11, his force bore the brunt of the conflict. In 1815, he was honorably, discharged, and soon was appointed to the post of Naval officer for the port of Boston.

This office he held until his death in 1830; a change indeed from the turbulent scenes he had shared in for seventeen years in India and four here, to the humdrum routine of an official desk in a dull Custom House in sedate Boston.