3-016-804 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

The Taeping Rebellion in China: troops of the Quinsan Garrison, under Major Gordon, forming square, 1864. Engraving from a photograph, '...illustrative of the capture of the Chinese town of Soo-Chow by the Imperialist troops, under Major Gordon; and the subsequent destruction of the Taeping or rebel leaders...By the exertions of Major Gordon, an officer of the Royal Engineers, a small but well-organised force of native troops has been collected and trained with European discipline, its head-quarters being in the town of Quinsan...Here we see a body of these Chinese regular infantry going through their evolutions and preparing to form a square. The garrison...musters about 3000. Beyond their barracks...rises a singularly-shaped hill, above 600 ft. high, consisting of solid rock, from which the town of Quinsan, or "Marvellous Mountain", derives its name'. From "Illustrated London News", 1864.