GORDON’S OWN VIEW OF HIS WORK. ¥
like a forlorn hope. He carried no weapon himself, but always went
into action armed with a small cane, with which he would stand calmly under the hottest fire, pointing to the spots he wished attacked, and encouraging his soldiers by voice and gesture. No wonder that
this little cane was christened by the soldiers “Gordon’s Wand of
Victory,” and as he himself appeared to possess a charmed life, and seemed rather to enjoy standing amid a hailstorm of bullets, his men considered him invulnerable. It is related that once, as he was leading a storming party, his men wavered under a terrific fire. Gordon turned cheerfully round, stood still, and calmly lighted a
cigar. He then waved his “magic” wand, and his soldiers came om with a rush, carrying the position. Once only his good fortune
failed him, and he was shot in the leg. He tried to conceal his wound, and stood giving orders till he nearly fainted, and had to be carried from the field. It is somewhat difficult to follow every move- ment of General Gordon in China, the reason for which may be found in the following extract. He says :— f
‘*T have sent my journal of 1863, home. I do not want the same published, as I think if my proceedings sink into oblivion it would be better for everyone. My reason for this is, that it is a very contested point whether we ought to have interfered or not, on which point I am perfectly satisfied that it was the proper and humane course to pursue ; but I still do not expect people that do not know much about it to concur in the same.”
Unfortunately he afterwards destroyed these valuable journals.
Gorpon’s Own ViEW oF His Work.
His own short summary of the war, written to his mother, may
fitly close the account of the Chinese portion of his life :
“‘T shall, of course, make myself quite sure that the rebels are quashed before I break up the force, as otherwise I should incur great responsibility, but on these subjects I act for myself and judge for myself; this I have found to be the best way of getting on. I shall not leave things in a mess, I hope, but I think, if I am spared, I shall be home by Christmas. The losses I have sustained in this campaign have been no joke. Out of 100 officers I have had 48 killed and wounded, and out of 3,500 men nearly 1,000 killed and wounded ; but I have the satisfaction of knowing that, as far as mortal can see, six months will see the end of this rebellion, while if I had continued inactive it might have lingered on for six years. Do not think I am ill-tempered, but I do not care one jot about my promotion, or what people may say. I know I shall leave China as poor as I entered it, but with the knowledge that through my weak instrumentality upwards of eighty to one hundred thousand lives have been spared, I want no further satisfaction than this.”