676 Mr. A. Henry Savage Landor, [May 31, 



The 14th, which was ahead, came under the fire of the gun which the 

 Chinese had placed on the embankment near the water-tower, and 

 also to that from the rifles of the Chinese infantrymen in houses and 

 behind trees. 



The Chinese, furthermore, were lining the whole of the Station 

 platform, whence they kept up a hot fusillade. Their force consisted 

 of Imperial troops in the centre, and well-armed Boxers at the sides. 



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 ex- 

 hausted 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 Infantry, and a handful of plucky Sikhs, with Major Scott at 

 their head, stormed the embankment, the Chinese bolting at their 

 approach. 



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. 



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 exhausted from the long march in 

 the morning — the attack began at 11 a.m. — and from hunger and 

 thirst, that many dropped on all sides and became delirious, or went 

 clean out of their minds. 



When once the enemy had been dislodged from the high embank- 

 ment, the victory became easy. Captain Taylor, of the 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, about 

 eight hundred yards from it, opened fire principally from their left, 

 to protect the retreat of their artillery. 



They then leisurely withdrew, gaily flying their standards. The 

 American 9th, on the right flank, had a splendid opportunity of firing 

 into them at short range ; 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 



