SHANGHAI DURING THE TAIPING REBELLION, 1860-1864

For a few years after the evacuation of the "Small Swords" from the city of Shanghai, the Settlements enjoyed peace and prosperity, but they were soon threatened with a more serious danger, that of invasion by the Taiping Rebels.

Mr. Laurence Oliphant, who visited Shanghai at that time, in his narrative of Lord Elgin's Mission, gives the following picture of life in those days. He describes people "riding or gyrating daily on the race course, as though they were being lounged. Those who prefer gossip to exercise, frequent The Bund, a broad quay which extends the whole length of the Settlement, and which is crowded with Chinese porters all the morning and sprinkled with European ladies and gentlemen in the afternoon. The harmony and hospitality of Shanghai make it infinitely the most agreeable place of residence in China to the Mission."

Origin of the Taiping Rebellion

The Taiping Rebellion began in the Province of Kwangsi in 1850. Its leader, Hung Hsiu-ch'uan, had been influenced by Christian teaching, and his original purpose was a crusade against idolatry, and the establishment of a society called the "Shangti Hui, Association for the Worship of God."

He believed in using force for the promotion of his object, and soon came into conflict with the authorities. This led to open rebellion on his part, and the heading of a movement for the overthrow of the Manchu Dynasty and the inauguration of a new dynasty to be known as the "Tai-ping-tien-kuo," that is, "Great, Peaceful, Heavenly Kingdom."

He became more and more fanatical in his religious views, claiming for himself the Third Place in the Divine Trinity - consisting of God (the Heavenly Father), Jesus Christ (the Heavenly Elder Brother), and himself (the Heavenly Younger Brother).

Spread of the Rebellion

The rebellion spread northwards through Hunan to the Yangtze River and established its capital at Nanking on March 19, 1853. The expedition sent to the North to attack Peking was repulsed at Tientsin and the rebels were obliged to fall back on Nanking. Here they were closely invested by the Imperialist forces, but one of the four princes, Chung Wang (Loyal Prince), who had been appointed by Hung Hsiuch'uan as his principal assistant, cut his way out from Nanking and began the invasion of Chekiang and Southern Kiangsu. Through the activity and strategy of this leader the rebellion, when about to collapse, entered on a new lease of life.

Taking of Soochow

After the taking of Soochow by the Taipings in June, 1860, there was consternation in Shanghai, as it was felt that before long an attack would be made on the rich Settlements.

Policy of Neutrality

The original policy adopted by the foreign powers towards the Taiping Rebellion was that of neutrality. Among the foreign officials and missionaries some were inclined to sympathize with the rebellion, and to regard it as the dawn of a new era for China, when a better government than that of the Manchus would be established. Their hopes, however, were soon dispelled, when it was discovered that the whole movement was destructive, and had nothing constructive about it.

Another reason for following a neutral policy was that England and France were at war with China. This second war between Great Britain and China began in 1856, and may be divided into three stages.

In the first, hostilities were confined to the South, and an attack on Canton; in the second, Lord Elgin, who had been sent out from England to be Commander-in-chief, carried the war to the North, and forced the Chinese Government to agree to the Treaty of Tientsin, which was signed on June 26, 1858; in the third, the British and French armies advanced on Peking because of the refusal of the Chinese authorities to permit the exchange of the ratification of the Treaty in the capital. This led to the taking of that city by the Allied forces (British and French) and to the signing of the Treaty of Peking, October 22, 1860.

Among the public monuments in Shanghai there is one erected to some members of tbe British force who took part in the advance on Peking in 1860. Lord Elgin had sent forward a small party under Mr. (afterwards Sir) Harry Parkes to carry a letter to the High Commissioners at Tungchow, who had been appointed by the Chinese Government to treat with the English and French commanders. On their way back they were seized and sent to Peking, where they were imprisoned and suffered great indignities. Of the 26 British seized on September 18, 13, including Mr. Parkes and Mr. Lock and one English dragoon, were returned alive, the other 13, according to Lord Elgin's account, "were barbarously murdered." Some of the bodies were sent back, but some were never recovered.

Of the 13 French seized, five were released alive, the bodies of six were returned, and two were not accounted for.

A large granite cross was sent out from England in memory of those who lost their lives. As there were difficulties connected with its being put up in Peking, it was erected in Shanghai, and stands on the lawn in front of the British Consulate. On the sides of the steps forming the base of the cross are inscribed the names of William de Norman, Robert B. Anderson, John Phipps, Luke Brabrazon, and Thomas William Bowiby, with the dates of their birth and death.

The cross bears the following quaint inscription:

Born in its light, Passing through the dark valley, In its power, Resting in its shadow. In its great glory, Behold it, 0 Heathen, Enquire, believe, and live.

The Treaty of Tientsin and Opium

It is unnecessary here to give the full terms of the Treaty of Tientsin, but one of the provisions of the Treaty, that of legalizing the opium trade, calls for some remarks as it had much to do with the commercial life of Shanghai.

After the first war with Great Britain, the trade in opium had been declared illegal. In the American Treaty of Wanghsia, 1844, as Mr. Cushing pointed out, it was expressly stipulated that "In regard to opium, which is not directly mentioned in the English treaties, it is provided by the Treaty of Wanghsia, that citizens of the United States engaged in this or any other contraband trade shall receive no protection from the American Government, nor shall the flag of the United States be abusively employed by other nations as a cover for the violation of the laws of China."

The attempt to keep out opium resulted in a disastrous failure. and led to smuggling on an extensive scale, in which American ships played no small part. At Shanghai, but moored at Woosung, were a large number of receiving ships. Up to 1854 there were ten; four for opium consigned to British firms, four to Jewish or Parsee firms, and two to American firms. In 1854 the two American ships were withdrawn from service.

Swift and well-armed clipper schooners carried the opium from point to point along the coast. The arming of these ships and of the receiving ships was not for the purpose of forcing the noxious drug on the people, as some hostile critics have stated, but for the purpose of guarding against pirates. The drug was in great demand and found ready purchasers, who obtained it from the receiving ships. The officials connived at the illegal traffic, inasmuch as they could obtain a large revenue by taxing the smugglers.

The following figures show the rapid increase in this illegal traffic in Shanghai. In 1847, 16,500 chests were disposed of and in 1857, 31,907 chests.

The Chinese Government, having become convinced that it was impossible to prohibit the importation of opium, and that the attempt resulted in lawless smuggling, adopted a change of policy. In the negotiations carried on for drawing up the Treaty of Tientsin, Lord Elgin proposed the legalization of the opium trade to the Chinese deputies. To this they agreed on the following terms:

"Opium was to pay Tls. 30 per picul import duty. The importer was to sell it only at the port. It was to be carried into the interior by Chinese only, and only on Chinese property; the foreign trader would not be allowed to accompany it. The passport and transit dues were not to be extended to it, and the transit dues were to be arranged as the Chinese Government saw fit; and tariff revision was not to apply to opium."

The opium traffic, whether carried on legally or illegally, resulted in great harm to China, and we have arrived now at a time when specious arguments are no longer used to defend it. Condemned, both on moral and physical grounds, the great problem confronts the nations as to the best way of limiting the drug to its legitimate uses in all countries. China has never been able to deal with the problem effectively.

Prohibition led to smuggling. Legalization of the trade led to the more rapid spread of the habit throughout the country, and to the planting of the poppy in China itself. The agreement on the part of the British Government in 1908 to restriction of the importation of Indian opium into China, and to ultimate prohibition lcd for a time to a crusade for the suppression of the planting of the poppy. Recent years, however, have brought a recrudescence of its cultivation, and although for many years Great Britain has prohibited the export of Indian opium to China, opium still remains one of the great curses of the country.

For Shanghai the legalization of the trade meant the appearance of the opium hulks moored along The Bund. Old sailing ships were converted into receiving stations for opium, which was stored on them until it could obtain a market. These unsightly monsters disfigured The Bund for many years, and the last of them did not disappear until after the cessation of the importation of opium from India in 1917.

The Defence of Shanghai

Returning to the Taiping Rebellion, the question uppermost in everyone's mind was how Shanghai could be defended in the case of an attack by the Taipings. The Chinese officials were anxious to get foreign assistance to keep the rebels out of Shanghai and the Taotai actually proposed that the foreign forces gathered at Shanghai for the expedition against the Government in the North, should be employed to fight against the Tai- pings. The inconsistency of warfare between China and the foreign forces in the North, and an alliance between China and the foreign forces in the South was not appreciated. This is indicative of the lack of the spirit of nationalism at that period.

Measures of Defence

As a first step in taking measures for defence, the Volunteer Corps, which had practically ceased to exist, was, in 1860, reorganized. Both the French Minister, M. de Bourboulon, and the British Minister, the Hon. Mr. (afterwards Sir) Frederick Bruce, acceded to Wu Taotai's appeal to join in the defence of Shanghai but the British policy at first was confined to defensive measures and was opposed to aggressive action against the rebels.

Chung Wang announced in a letter to the foreign ministers that he was about to attack the city of Shanghai, but that if the foreigners observed neutrality the Settlements had nothing to fear.

The Attack on the City, August 18,1860

On August 17, 1860, the approach of the rebels was heralded by a dense cloud of smoke in the west, due to the burning of villages. Chung Wang seized the Mission premises at Siccawei for his headquarters, and on the next day launched an attack on the city of Shanghai. The Taipings found, to their surprise, British and French flags flying on the walls of the native city, which were manned by the Allied troops; the British under Captain Budd of the Royal Marines, and the French under Captain Faure.

The rebels advanced under cover of thickets, grave mounds and buildings towards the South Gate, held by Captain Budd. When the attacking force came out into the open they were met with a brisk fire of rifles and of large guns which had been brought from the ships.

Driven from the South Gate, the Taipings moved toward the south-west corner of the wall, but there encountered a telling fire from the Marines and Sikhs, and the attacking force, numbering about 3,000, was obliged to retire.

During the night, parties were sent out from the city to fire the western and southern suburbs, which afforded shelter for an attacking force. Under cover of darkness the Taipings managed to get into Nantao, inhabited by leading Chinese merchants and containing a large supply of merchandise. Here they seized the Custom House, and proceeded to pillage and massacre. The French force, as a defensive measure, set fire to the whole of this rich suburb.

Settlement Threatened

On the morning of the 20th, the Taipings advanced to the West Gate, and then turned toward the Settlements, whose defence was in the hands of Colonel March. No sooner had they planted their standards close to the Race Course than they were attacked by shells and rockets. The river despatch boat "Nimrod" sent shell after shell over the Settlements far out into the fields beyond, and the "Pioneer," which had taken up her position on the Soochow Creek, attacked the rebel force with 13-inch shells. After submitting to a two-hour bombardment the rebels retreated towards Siccawei.

Within the Settlements, the Volunteers under Colonel Neale guarded the barricades which had been erected at the entrance to every street on the western boundary. Mr. Forrest, the Interpreter to the British Consulate, rode out to the camp at Siccawei, accompanied by an orderly named Phillips with a letter to the rebel chiefs in which they were told that the city of Shanghai was under the protection of the British and French, and that they could not be permitted to enter it. He was civilly received and invited into the camp. This invitation he did not think it wise to accept, and departed after leaving his despatches.

Withdrawal of the Rebels

In consequence of the severe check suffered by his troops Chung Wang decided to withdraw from Siccawei. Before doing so, however, he sent a letter to the foreign Consuls, threatening to stop the silk and tea trade if any further aid was given to the Imperialists, and stating that he had come at the invitation of certain foreigners who sympathized with the Taipings, and that his object had been to negotiate a treaty. On the next day, when Mr. Forrest returned to Siccawei for his answer, he found only a few ill-clad soldiers at the rebel camp. The army had evacuated, leaving some stuffed straw figures to represent soldiers.

With the departure of Chung Wang, Shanghai enjoyed a brief respite. Had it not been for the presence of the foreign forces gathered in Shanghai at that time in connection with the expedition of the Allies to the North, its fate might have been sealed.

Influx of Chinese into the Settlements

Just as when the "Small Swords" seized Shanghai there had been a great influx of Chinese into the Settlements, so it was at the approacn of the Taipings, only on a much larger scale. Officials and merchants, rich and poor, all alike, rushed in, seeking a place of safety. Every available space was soon occupied, even the creeks and the river being crowded with boats of all descriptions. The population of the native city fled into the Settlements or across to Pootung. Twenty dollars became the regular price for conveying people across the river in a sampan.

Soon the Chinese population had increased to 300,000 and the cost of living advanced rapidly. Real estate values also began to soar, and land purchased originally for £46 to £74 per acre was sold for £8,000 to £12,000 per acre.

Visit of Vice-Admiral Sir James Hope to Nanking February, 1861,

After the war in the North came to an end,Vice-Admiral Sir James Hope, in proceeded to Nanking and had an interview with Tien Wang (Heavenly Emperor) i.e., Hung Hsiu-ch'uan, who was persuaded to agree that his forces should not approach Shanghai nearer than a 100 li, or 30 miles. This promise, however, was given for a year only, and nothing was said of what might happen after that time had expired. Shanghai consequently enjoyed a year of peace and steamers began to ply on the Yangtze, which was opened to trade as far as Hankow.

Chinese Employ the Service of Foreigners

Shortly after the fall of Soochow the Chinese residents at Shanghai, under the direction of Wu Taotai and a wealthy banker named Ta Chi (Yang Fang), formed a Patriotic Association for the purpose of resisting the Taipings.

In the meantime Tseng Kuo-fan, who had become titular Viceroy of Nanking and High Commissioner, with jurisdiction over the provinces of Kiangsu, Kiangsi, Che- kiang and Anhwei, called to his assistance Li Hung-chang.

The latter came into prominence by his vigorous actions against the rebels in Anhwei, and in consequence in July, 1862, had been appointed titular Governor of Kiangsu. These two officials adopted a bold and aggressive policy against the Taipings and saw the advantage of employing foreigners to assist the Imperialist forces in resisting the rebels.

Engagement of F.T. Ward

Frederick Townsend Ward, born in 1831 in Salem, of an old Massachusetts family, took to the sea at the early age of 15. He found his way to Shanghai as master of a barque in 1851, and spent several years in the seafaring world on the coast and the Yangtze River. He was a born adventurer and entered into an agreement with Ta Chi, Chairman of the Patriotic Association, to recapture Sungkiang, which had fallen into the hands of the rebels, for a sum of Tls. 30,000, the payment of the money to be conditional on his success.

He proceeded to enlist 100 men, chiefly foreign sailors attracted by the prospect of plunder, and with these he attempted to take the city of Sungkiang, but failed. Undiscouraged, he then enlisted the same number of Manila-men (Filipinos) with two foreign lieutenants, E. Forrester and Henry Andrea Burgevine. With this force he delivered a second assault, this time successfully, and drove out the Taiping garrison. Next he undertook to retake Tsingpu (Chingpoo) with a force of 200 men, accompanied by 10,000 Chinese troops, but here he found foreigners were assisting the rebels, and was repulsed, being himself severely wounded. He was obliged to retire to Sungkiang, and for over a year made it his headquarters, while he drilled his troops.

Foreigners generally regarded Ward as a filibuster, and the Americans objected to his actions, as up to this time the policy of neutrality had been adopted by their government. The British authorities were incensed because the temptation to join Ward's force and to enrich themselves by plunder led to many desertions from the Navy. In May 1861, Admiral Hope arrested Ward on the charge of enticing sailors to leave their ships and he was brought before the American Consul for trial. He secured his acquittal by declaring he had renounced his nationality and had become a Chinese subject.

Being obliged to abandon his policy of enlisting foreigners, he undertook to raise and drill a body of Chinese troops to serve under foreign officers, retaining his own bodyguard of Manila-men. In this new venture he sbowed marked powers of organization, and developed a force which proved capable of winning many victories.

Owing to the fact that their uniforms were semi-foreign and because they wore foreign hats, at first his men were nicknamed "the imitation foreign devils." The Second Attack on Shanghai

On January 11, 1862, some 30,000 Tai-pings, with 200 foreigners enlisted in their service, began an advance on Shanghai from the direction of Woosung. They reached a point a mile and a half north of the British Consulate, but withdrew when they found they were opposed by the Volunteers and a battalion of Indian troops. At the same time another force threatened Sungkiang, and a third army advanced from Hangchow. The force attacking Sungkiang was defeated at Kwangfuling (a town half-way between Sungkiang and Tsingpu) by Ward's well disciplined troops, and retreated to Pootung.

The rebels advancing on Shanghai were prevented from taking the field by a heavy fall of snow, early in January, which lasted 58 hours and covered the Settlements and country to a depth of 3 feet in many places. This gave the forces in the Settlements time to organize their defence.

On February 24, a combined force of English and French sailors led by Admiral Hope, and 700 of Ward's men attacked the Taipings at Kaokiao (Kajow) on the Pootung side between Shanghai and Woosung-and defeated them, and a short time afterwards another body of about 6,000 Taipings were put to rout by this same force as Nankiao (Najow). For these victories Ward was promoted by Imperial decree to the rank of Brigadier-General in the Chinese army, and the title of the "Ever Victorious Army" as bestowed on his force.