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Brown, Walter T., fl. 1900-1901 to Mrs. S. W. K. Brown

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC04546.011 Author/Creator: Brown, Walter T., fl. 1900-1901 Place Written: Tonku, [in China] Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 13 July 1900 Pagination: 4 p. : Order a Copy

Relieving siege of Taku and Tientsin. A long letter describing fighting: "2300 men of all nations held the city [Tientsin] against 30,000 Imperial troops and 100,000 Boxers. It was hell for 6 days [as] they bombarded the city. Our losses - over 600 killed and wounded." Also mentions the relief expedition to Peking (Beijing) and an expedition to seize a Chinese arsenal: "We drove the Chinks like rats and cheer after cheer went up from 1800 men in 7 different tongues... Capt. McCalla sang out 'What blue jackets are those?' "Monocacy!' 'Well done, Monocacy.' With 2000 men and 200 wounded we had taken an arsenal worth $13,000,000 occupied by 7000 Chinks.... We've done our part and saved Tientsin but God help the Peking people." Brown served as Paymaster Yeoman on the USS Monocacy during the Boxer Rebellion of 1900. The Monocacy had served in Chinese waters for nearly 30 years, and was ordered to recapture the forts at Taku on 11 June 1900. He was trapped with the US Marines and multinational force in Tientsin.

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