General Gordon | Page 4

advanced as quickly as we could until we
came to the foremost trench, when we leaped the parapet, then made a
rush at the blood stained walls of the Redan. We had had a clear run of
over 200 yards under that murderous fire of grape, canister and
musketry. How any ever lived to pass that 200 yards seemed a miracle;
for our poor fellows fell one on the top of another; but nothing could
stop us but death. On we went shouting until we reached the redoubt.
The fighting inside these works was of the most desperate character,
butt and bayonet, foot and fist; the enemy's guns were quickly spiked:
this struggle lasted about an hour and a half. It was an awful time,
about 3,000 of our brave soldiers were slain in this short period." Our
hero Gordon, tells us that on the evening of this 8th of September--
"I heard most terrific explosions, the earth seemed to be shaken to its
very centre;--It was afterwards discovered the enemy's position was no

longer tenable, so they had fired some 300 tons of gunpowder, which
had blown up all their vast forts and magazines. O! what a night: many
of our poor fellows had been nearly buried in the debris, and burning
mass: the whole of Sebastopol was in flames. The Russians were
leaving it helter-skelter--a complete rout, and a heavy but
gloriously-won victory."
For his acknowledged ability, his fine heroism, and his true loyalty to
his superiors during this most trying campaign, he received the
well-earned decoration of the Legion of Honour from the French
Government, a mark of distinction very rarely conferred upon so young
an officer.
"God gives us men, a time like that demands. Strong minds, great
hearts, true faith and ready hands; Men whom the lusts of office cannot
kill, Men whom the spoils of office cannot buy, Men who possess
opinions and a will, Men who have honour, men who never lie."
We must not leave this part of our story without a brief notice of one
whose name will live in song and story, when this generation shall have
passed away. Many noble English ladies bravely went out to nurse the
suffering soldiers; but in this noble band was one whose name remains
a synonym for kindly sympathy, tenderness and peace--Miss Florence
Nightingale.
The following lines were written in her praise--
"Britain has welcomed home with open hand Her gallant soldiers to
their native land; But one alone the Nation's thanks did shun, Though
Europe rings with all that she hath done; For when will shadow on the
wall e'er fail, To picture forth fair Florence Nightingale: Her deeds are
blazoned on the scroll of fame, And England well may prize her
deathless name."
CHAPTER II.
"The greatness of a nation depends upon the men it can breed and
rear.--Froude.

The war over and peace duly established, Lieutenant Gordon (for so he
was then) accompanied General Sir Lintorn Simmons to Galatz, where,
as assistant commissioner, he was engaged in fixing the new frontiers
of Russia, Turkey and Roumania. In 1857, when his duties here were
finished, he went with the same officer to Armenia; there, in the same
capacity, he was engaged in laying down the Asiatic frontiers of Russia
and Turkey. When this work was completed he returned home and was
quartered at Chatham, and employed for a time as Field Work
Instructor and Adjutant. In 1860, now holding the rank of Captain, he
joined the Army in China, and was present at the surrender of Pekin;
and for his services he was promoted to the rank of Major.

THE BURNING OF THE SUMMER PALACE.
"On the eleventh of October," Gordon relates, "we were sent down in a
hurry to throw up earth works against the City; as the Chinese refused
to give up the gate we demanded their surrender before we could treat
with them. They were also required to give up the prisoners. You will
be sorry to hear the treatment they have suffered has been very bad.
Poor De Norman, who was with me in Asia, is one of the victims. It
appears they were tied so tight by the wrists that the flesh mortified,
and they died in the greatest torture. Up to the time that elapsed before
they arrived at the Summer Palace, they were well treated, but then the
ill- treatment began. The Emperor is supposed to have been there at the
time.
But to go back to the work, the Chinese were given until twelve on the
13th, to give up the gate. We made a lot of batteries, and everything
was ready for assault of the wall, which is a battlement, forty feet high,
but of inferior masonry; at 11.30 p.m., however, the gate