Read Anywhere and on Any Device!

Subscribe to Read | $0.00

Join today and start reading your favorite books for Free!

Create Free Account

Quick and Easy Sign Up!

It takes less then 1 minute to sign up, then you can enjoy Unlimited eBooks.

Sign Up Browse

Popular Genres

Read Anywhere and on Any Device!

  • Download on iOS
  • Download on Android
  • Download on iOS

General Frederick Townsend Ward , Leader of the Chinese "Ever Victorious Army" (1912)

General Frederick Townsend Ward , Leader of the Chinese "Ever Victorious Army" (1912)

Ralph Delahaye Paine
5/5 ( ratings)
Read Download
The career of Frederick Townsend Ward flashes across the history of Salem like a meteor. After a youth crowded with astonishing adventure this merchant sailor and soldier of fortune became the organizer and first leader of the "Ever Victorious Army" of the Chinese Imperial forces in the Tai-ping Rebellion and was killed while storming a walled city at the head of his troops in his thirtieth year. So memorable were his services in this, the most disastrous armed conflict of modern times, that his ashes which rest at Sung Kiang, were yearly honored by offerings of incense and solemn rites.

In 1912, Ralph Delahaye Paine published "The Ships and Sailors of Old Salem," which included a 30-page chapter on Frederick Townsend Ward titled "General Frederick Townsend Ward, Leader of the Chinese 'Ever Victorious Army.'" It is this chapter that has been republished here for the convenience of the interested reader.

Frederick Townsend Ward was an American sailor and soldier of fortune known for his military service in Imperial China during the Taiping Rebellion. Aside from working as a sailor during the 1850s, Ward found employment, as a "filibuster". "Filibustering" is "raising private mercenary armies and leading them into other countries to advance either [one's own] schemes or those of wealthy sponsors". Ward worked for the infamous “King of the Filibusters”, William Walker, in Mexico, where he learned how to recruit, train, and command mercenary troops.

In early 1862, Ward and his brother arrived in Shanghai, China in 1860 for the purpose of trading, perhaps as an extension of their father's New York office. Ward took up customary employment as the executive officer on the Confucius, an armed riverboat commanded by an American, employed by the “Shanghai Pirate Suppression Bureau”. Ward's show of bravery and initiative on board the Confucius reflected great credit upon him, and the prominent men of Shanghai took notice. His exploits, previous military experience, ability to rise above racism and empathize with local populations, and his stated mercenary intentions, made him an attractive candidate to lead a force of foreign nationals in defense of Shanghai against encroaching Taiping forces.

In concluding his work, Paine quotes a Chinese newspaper article about Ward:

"'The memory of Ward is held sacred to this day by those with whom or with whose fathers he was closely associated. He had endeared himself to the Taotai and the Chinese people principally through his military career and his more personal relations with Shanghai. The full significance of Ward's martyrdom for the Chinese people has not been forgotten to this day by this class of Chinese.'"

About the author:

Ralph Delahaye Paine was an American journalist and author popular in the early 20th century. Later, he held both elected and appointed government offices.

Other works by the author include:

• The Praying Skipper and Other Stories
• The Story of Martin Coe
• The Romance of an Old-Time Ship Master
• J. Archibald McKackney
• The Greater America
• The Stroke Oar
• College Years
• The Ships and Sailors of Old Salem
• The Head Coach and The Fugitive Freshman
• Sandy Sawyer, Sophomore
• The Book of Buried Treasure
• The Wrecking Master
• A Cadet of the Black Star Line
• The Dragon and the Cross
• Campus Days
• The Judgments of the
Format
Kindle Edition

General Frederick Townsend Ward , Leader of the Chinese "Ever Victorious Army" (1912)

Ralph Delahaye Paine
5/5 ( ratings)
Read Download
The career of Frederick Townsend Ward flashes across the history of Salem like a meteor. After a youth crowded with astonishing adventure this merchant sailor and soldier of fortune became the organizer and first leader of the "Ever Victorious Army" of the Chinese Imperial forces in the Tai-ping Rebellion and was killed while storming a walled city at the head of his troops in his thirtieth year. So memorable were his services in this, the most disastrous armed conflict of modern times, that his ashes which rest at Sung Kiang, were yearly honored by offerings of incense and solemn rites.

In 1912, Ralph Delahaye Paine published "The Ships and Sailors of Old Salem," which included a 30-page chapter on Frederick Townsend Ward titled "General Frederick Townsend Ward, Leader of the Chinese 'Ever Victorious Army.'" It is this chapter that has been republished here for the convenience of the interested reader.

Frederick Townsend Ward was an American sailor and soldier of fortune known for his military service in Imperial China during the Taiping Rebellion. Aside from working as a sailor during the 1850s, Ward found employment, as a "filibuster". "Filibustering" is "raising private mercenary armies and leading them into other countries to advance either [one's own] schemes or those of wealthy sponsors". Ward worked for the infamous “King of the Filibusters”, William Walker, in Mexico, where he learned how to recruit, train, and command mercenary troops.

In early 1862, Ward and his brother arrived in Shanghai, China in 1860 for the purpose of trading, perhaps as an extension of their father's New York office. Ward took up customary employment as the executive officer on the Confucius, an armed riverboat commanded by an American, employed by the “Shanghai Pirate Suppression Bureau”. Ward's show of bravery and initiative on board the Confucius reflected great credit upon him, and the prominent men of Shanghai took notice. His exploits, previous military experience, ability to rise above racism and empathize with local populations, and his stated mercenary intentions, made him an attractive candidate to lead a force of foreign nationals in defense of Shanghai against encroaching Taiping forces.

In concluding his work, Paine quotes a Chinese newspaper article about Ward:

"'The memory of Ward is held sacred to this day by those with whom or with whose fathers he was closely associated. He had endeared himself to the Taotai and the Chinese people principally through his military career and his more personal relations with Shanghai. The full significance of Ward's martyrdom for the Chinese people has not been forgotten to this day by this class of Chinese.'"

About the author:

Ralph Delahaye Paine was an American journalist and author popular in the early 20th century. Later, he held both elected and appointed government offices.

Other works by the author include:

• The Praying Skipper and Other Stories
• The Story of Martin Coe
• The Romance of an Old-Time Ship Master
• J. Archibald McKackney
• The Greater America
• The Stroke Oar
• College Years
• The Ships and Sailors of Old Salem
• The Head Coach and The Fugitive Freshman
• Sandy Sawyer, Sophomore
• The Book of Buried Treasure
• The Wrecking Master
• A Cadet of the Black Star Line
• The Dragon and the Cross
• Campus Days
• The Judgments of the
Format
Kindle Edition

More books from Ralph Delahaye Paine

The Book of Buried Treasure Being a True History of the Gold, Jewels, and Plate of Pirates, Galleons, etc., which are sought for to this day

3.5/5 ( ratings)

Blackbeard: Buccaneer

3.4/5 ( ratings)

The Fight for a Free Sea: A Chronicle of the War of 1812

3.4/5 ( ratings)

The Old Merchant Marine: A Chronicle of American Ships & Sailors

3.7/5 ( ratings)

Dead Men Tell No Tales: 60+ Pirate Novels, Treasure-Hunt Tales & Sea Adventure Classics

3.1/5 ( ratings)

The Chronicles of Pirates: The Truth Behind the Legends: Complete History of Piracy & Biographies of the Most Famous Buccaneers: 9 Books in One Volume

3.3/5 ( ratings)

The Book of Pirates: 70+ Adventure Classics, Legends & True History of the Notorious Buccaneers

4.3/5 ( ratings)

The Ships And Sailors Of Old Salem: The Record Of A Brilliant Era Of American Achievement

3.5/5 ( ratings)

The Pirates of the High Seas: Know Your Infamous Buccaneers, Their Exploits & Their Real Histories: 9 Books in One Edition

4.5/5 ( ratings)

15 War Short Stories - SELECTED SHORTS COLLECTION

5/5 ( ratings)

The Adventures Of Captain O'Shea (1913)

5/5 ( ratings)

Lost Ships and Lonely Seas

5/5 ( ratings)

A Cadet of the Black Star Line

5/5 ( ratings)

The fight for a free sea : a chronicle of the war of 1812 1920 [Leather Bound]

5/5 ( ratings)

The Fight for a Free Sea: A Chronicle of the War of 1812

5/5 ( ratings)

30 True Short Stories - SELECTED SHORTS COLLECTION

5/5 ( ratings)

THE CURSE OF THE PIRATE GOLD: 7 Treasure Hunt Classics & A True History of Buccaneers and Their Robberies: The Gold-Bug, The Book of Buried Treasure, Treasure ... The Pagan Madonna, Stolen Treasure...

5/5 ( ratings)

The Book of Buried Treasure Being a True History of the Gold Jewels and Plate of Pirates Galleons etc which are sought for to this day

5/5 ( ratings)

The Corsair in the War Zone

5/5 ( ratings)

The Pirates' Chronicles: Greatest Sea Adventure Books & Treasure Hunt Tales: 70+ Novels, Short Stories & Legends: Facing the Flag, Blackbeard, Captain Blood, Pieces of Eight...

5/5 ( ratings)

Rate this book!

Write a review?

loader