6 THE EVER-VICTORIOUS ARMY.

another, until he stormed Nanking and established his throne there,

Under the shadow of the Porcelain Tower he marshalled his great army, appointing his own relatives to the high office of Wangs, or Kings, and bestowing upon them various familiar nicknames, such as “Yellow Tiger,” “ Cock-Eye,” “ The One-Eyed Dog,” etc. His troops ravaged the country, and the Imperialists could do nothing against him. The starving peasants were reduced to cannibalism ; business in the coast towns was paralysed, and the rebel who caused this desolation and suffering bestowed on himself the title of the Heavenly King.

The British Government having been asked to appoint an officer to take command of the Chinese Imperialist forces, Gordon was selected

for that important post, and the following quotation from his letters home in 1863, shows in what spirit he entered upon his gigantic task :—

“‘T am afraid you will be much vexed at my having taken the command of the Sung-kiang force, and that 1am now a Mandarin. I have taken the step on consideration. 1 think that anyone who contributes to putting down this rebellion fulfils a humane task, and I also think tends a great deal to open China to civilization. I will not act rashly, and I trust to be able soon to return to England; at the same time I will remember your and my father’s

wishes, and endeavour to remain as short a time as possible. I can say that if I had not accepted the command I believe the force would have been broken up and the rebellion gone on in its misery for years. I trust this will not now be the case, and that I may soon be able to comfort you on this subject. You must not fret on this matter’; I think I am doing a good service....I keep your likeness before me, and can assure you and my father that I will not be rash, and that as soon as I can conveniently, and with regard to the object I have in view, I will return home!”

Tue Ever-victorious ARMY.

“The ever-victorious army,” as Gordon’s force was called, at first

consisted of only 4,000 men, but indifferently armed. Under the sway of his genius, however, they soon became a formidable army, and

their superior discipline enabled them to attack much larger forces with unvarying success. One or two gun-boats also did good service — ‘in that land of canals and rivers, whilst the swiftness of Gordon’s

movements and the force of his unexpected blows soon created a panic amongst the insurgents. Stockade after stockade was stormed, and one city after another taken, till at last the neck of the rebellion was

broken. The success of the “ ever-victorious”” army was largely owing

to General Gordon’s personal gallantry, without which it would have been impossible to have led his troops in assaults that often appeared