Ohio History Journal

Editorialana.                                                 467

 

novelist.  The Stockport Brass Band interspersed the program                          with

musical selections.

It was a unique and interesting event in the history of the society

as this is the first time that the society has come into the possession

of a purely historic site. The proceedings with the speeches in detail will

be published in the January Quarterly of the society.

The society will proceed without delay to protect the site with a

fitting enclosure, making it an attractive place of resort for all who may

care to visit this memorable spot.

Mr. Brokaw has certainly earned the gratitude of all lovers of early

pioneer history by the timely erection of this stone. It will stand as a

constant memorial to one of the gruesome chapters of the early history

of Ohio. It will be a reminder to the coming generations of what it

meant to plant settlements in the forests of the west. It will not only

be a tribute to those who perished on that January day over a century

ago, but it will be an ever present testimonial of the opportune thought-

fulness and the generosity of the man who has erected it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

OHIO IN THE CHINESE UPRISING.

We have been frequently asked the question whether it be true, as

often reported in the public press, that the American troops were the

first to enter the city of Peking at the time of the invasion by the allied

nations, and that Ohio soldiers were the first within the gates of the

Tartar City.  In response to our inquiry, we received the following

from Colonel Webb. C. Hayes, who at the time was upon the staff of

General Chaffee:

WASHINGTON, February 1, 1905.

MR. E. O. RANDALL, Columbus, Ohio.

DEAR SIR:- The allied troops who marched to the relief

of Peking from Tien Tsin in 1900 consisted approximately

of 2,000 Americans, 2,000 British, 4,000 Russians and 8,000

Japanese. There were no German nor Italians in this column.

The Japanese headed the column all the way and did more

of the fighting than any other one of the allies. Peking con-

sists really of two cities side by side, enclosed by high walls -

The Tartar City and the Chinese City.

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468       Ohio. Arch. and Hist. Society Publications. Under the plan of attack, the Japanese were to take gate No. 1, the Russians gate No. 2, the Americans gate No. 3, and the British gate No. 4. The Americans reached the walls some time before the Brit- ish, but through a mistake attacked and captured gate No. 4, and then sent word to the British troops who marched in un- opposed and then marched through the sluice-way (5) to the legation, being the first to reach the legation. In the mean-

time the Americans, after opening up with artillery the gate No. 4 for the British, then made their attack on gate No. 3. the 14th U. S. Infantry scaled the walls and hoisted their regimental flag on them - the first flag on the wall,- and at the same time the Americans forced their way through gate No. 3, being the first troops to get inside the walls of the Chinese City, and then fought their way to the sluice-way (5) through which they followed the British, a close second, to the legation. The Japanese and Russians entered through gates 1 and 2 the next day. The Commander, Major General Chaffee, his Ad- jutants General Captain Grote Hutcheson and Col. H. O. S. Heistand, his Chief of Staff Capt. J. T. Dickman and myself, all of General Chaffee's staff, besides many other officers are Buckeyes.                    Respectfully, WEBB C. HAYES.

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