Battle of Changzhou

Infobox Military Conflict
conflict= Battle of Changzhou
partof=
date=25 December,1863--11 May 1864(Decisive battle from April 25 to 11 May )


caption=
place= Changzhou and oudside towns Jintan
territory= Southeastern ChinaQing recover whole Jiangsu
result= Qing Dynasty victory
changes= Qing recover whole Jiangsu
combatant1= Qing Dynasty
combatant2= Taiping
commander1= Governor of Jiangsu Li Hongzhang (then 40 years) Lieutenant General Bao Chao Major GeneralZhou Shengbo(周盛波) Zhang Shusheng Liu Mingchuan
commander2= Chen Kunshu Li Shixian(defend Jintan early) Chen Jueshu Fei Tianjan(費天將)
strength1= 110,000 Why Army4,000Ever Victorious Army Filipino
strength2= 80,000 Taipings
casualties1=15,000 Why Army killed
casualties2=unknown

Battle of Changzhou(常州攻防戰)(25 December 1863--11 May 1864)the classic street fighting inner city and last battle after battles of recovered 20s cities in whole Jiangsu province by Why Army. This battle was historical because the first big scale of used Rifles in China.

Background

After the Suzhou Massacre POW Incident, Huai Army‘s last target city in Jiangsu was Changzhou, there were over 80,000 Taiping army vowed never surrender,and famous general Cheng Xuechi dead, that have become the largest tough challenge from raised Huai Army in 1858.

110,000 were the Huai Army total strength that no any prepare strength and Li Hongzhang command them to frontline the first time in person, he layed stress on this battle very.

Before this battle that 40,000 Taiping forces and families at least across Pacific Ocean by ships escaped to the Americas, maybe this reason that Chinese named the sea means Taiping Yan from then.

Battle of Jintan

Christmas military meeting

Li Hongzhang very worry about this battle because Taiping bought many rifles and none Cheng Xuechi helpful first, Li happened convened whole generals discussed and decided how to fight thus key battle in Christmas 1863. Li selected Christmas this day maybe summon part of Taiping troops religion Christianity to surrender and hope Jesus could pardon guilty battle coming soon.

Borrow general:from Xiang Army

Lieutenant General Bao Chao was belong to Xiang Army, Li please Bao Chao reinforce and directed Huai Army, and Bao led 20,000 Xiang Army combat with famous tough Taiping Li Shixian in Jintan.

Aftermath

In 17 April Bao Chao led Xiang Army pretend retreated and troops hidden in Mao Shan, 20,000 Taiping army out Jintan 25km follow Xiang Army and fallen trick, defeated by Bao Chao‘s Xiang Army in Mao Shan(茅山). Xiang Army recovery Jintan and Taiping commander Chen Jueshu was KIA on 25 April.

Also Li spends 50,000 taels(then a soldier salary was 2 silver taels one month ) hired the Ever Victorious Army, but this act seemed made Bao Chao unhappy that feel gave Xiang Army too cheaper, so Xiang Army leaved after recovery Jintan.

Decisive battle

Rifle‘s walls:face to face

On 11 May morning, Huai Army used Explosive material broken the city wall, thousands Huai Army ran into city, but thousands the Taiping troops arrange many walls took their Rifles shoot Huai Army and Huai Army also shoot them each other. then front soldiers fallen then back supply immediately, scene very bloody and cruel before the machine gun raised 1890s. Both them no any hidden places just known stand up so deaths very seriously.

Distance 10 Metres!

This sadness made because them each others less used rifles experiences, lead to mistake of early infantry tactics.All they forgotten use rifles not used knives long time ago that made their distance so near and soldiers look like jam on every city‘s streets bloody. 　

Arrested Chen Kunshu

Chen Kunshu was a Kung fu master, when Huai Army surround his home none door that a Senior Colonel Gong yangsen was a Kung fu master too be volunteer, climbed high wall and inner boxer fighting with Chen and arrest him at last.

Recovery: Just 4 years

The Chinese calendar that day was lose Changzhou in 1860 and recovery same month and day after 4 years, that made Qing‘s officials very excited and thought its god‘s help .

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