Battle of Beicang
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Beicang during the Boxer Rebellion
, was fought August 5, 1900 between the Eight Nation Alliance and the Chinese army
. The Chinese army was forced out of its prepared entrenchments and retreated to Yangcun. The Eight-Nation Alliance
army at Beicang consisted of Japanese, Russian, British, American, and French soldiers. The Japanese spearheaded the Alliance victory at Beicang.
to march towards Beijing
in order to relieve the Legations under siege
. The army consisted of approximately 20,000 soldiers from the following countries: Japan—10,000; Russia—4,000; Great Britain—3,000; United States—2,000; France—800; Germany—200; Austria and Italy—100.
Reconnaissance indicated that the Chinese forces were entrenched at Beicang, six miles from Tianjin, on both sides of the Hay River
. The Americans, British, and Japanese advanced on the west side of the river and the Russians and French advanced up the east side. The armies bivouacked the night of August 4 near Xigu Fort
. The plan was for the Japanese, supported by the British and Americans, to turn the right flank of the Chinese lines and for the Russians and French to turn the left flank on the opposite side of the Hay River.
The Chinese forces, estimated to number 8,000 to 12,000 men, was positioned behind several lines of well-constructed earthworks with approximately 26 artillery pieces at key positions. It was “a formidable position to attack.”
}}
On the east bank of the Hay River, the Russians and French were unable to get around the Chinese flank due to flooded terrain. However, the Japanese victory on the west bank forced the Chinese to retreat which they did in good order. The Chinese preserved most of their artillery by withdrawing it early in the battle, an action that “must have predisposed the rest of their army to its prompt retreat.”
About 50 Chinese bodies were found on the battlefield. Almost all the Alliance casualties were Japanese, amounting to 60 dead and 240 wounded. A few British and Russian casualties were caused by Chinese artillery fire. The Americans were never engaged, not finding their way to the battlefield until the action was over.
American medics treated Japanese casualties.
.
The assessment of one participant at the battle of Beicang, was that the “Chinese troops received a blow from which they never recovered. They ever after offered no determined resistance.”
Boxer Rebellion
The Boxer Rebellion, also called the Boxer Uprising by some historians or the Righteous Harmony Society Movement in northern China, was a proto-nationalist movement by the "Righteous Harmony Society" , or "Righteous Fists of Harmony" or "Society of Righteous and Harmonious Fists" , in China between...
, was fought August 5, 1900 between the Eight Nation Alliance and the Chinese army
Chinese people
The term Chinese people may refer to any of the following:*People with Han Chinese ethnicity ....
. The Chinese army was forced out of its prepared entrenchments and retreated to Yangcun. The Eight-Nation Alliance
Eight-Nation Alliance
The Eight-Nation Alliance was an alliance of Austria-Hungary, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States whose military forces intervened in China to suppress the anti-foreign Boxers and relieve the siege of the diplomatic legations in Beijing .- Events :The...
army at Beicang consisted of Japanese, Russian, British, American, and French soldiers. The Japanese spearheaded the Alliance victory at Beicang.
Background
On August 4, 1900 the soldiers of the Allied forces left the city of TianjinTianjin
' is a metropolis in northern China and one of the five national central cities of the People's Republic of China. It is governed as a direct-controlled municipality, one of four such designations, and is, thus, under direct administration of the central government...
to march towards Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
in order to relieve the Legations under siege
Siege of Beijing Legation Quarter
The Siege of the International Legations occurred during the Boxer Rebellion in the Chinese city of Beijing . Nine hundred military personnel and civilians, largely from Europe, Japan, and the United States, and about 2,800 Chinese Christians took refuge in the Beijing Legation Quarter and survived...
. The army consisted of approximately 20,000 soldiers from the following countries: Japan—10,000; Russia—4,000; Great Britain—3,000; United States—2,000; France—800; Germany—200; Austria and Italy—100.
Reconnaissance indicated that the Chinese forces were entrenched at Beicang, six miles from Tianjin, on both sides of the Hay River
Hay River
-Rivers:* Hay River * Hay River , a river in Alberta and Northwest Territories, Canada* Hay River , a river in south-western Australia...
. The Americans, British, and Japanese advanced on the west side of the river and the Russians and French advanced up the east side. The armies bivouacked the night of August 4 near Xigu Fort
Great Hsi-Ku Arsenal
The Great Hsi-Ku Arsenal , was a Qing Dynasty Imperial Arsenal that stored munitions, rifles, and millions of rounds of ammunition. In addition tons of rice and medical supplies were stored there. The facility was guarded by Qing Imperial troops using rifles and German made field guns mounted as...
. The plan was for the Japanese, supported by the British and Americans, to turn the right flank of the Chinese lines and for the Russians and French to turn the left flank on the opposite side of the Hay River.
The Chinese forces, estimated to number 8,000 to 12,000 men, was positioned behind several lines of well-constructed earthworks with approximately 26 artillery pieces at key positions. It was “a formidable position to attack.”
Battle
At 3 a.m., the Japanese launched the attack by capturing a battery on the extreme right of the Chinese lines. The Japanese then pushed forward on the flank of the Chinese positions. At dawn, an artillery duel began between the Japanese and Chinese which lasted about one-half hour. During the artillery barrage, a Japanese regiment crept forward and launched a direct assault on the Chinese positions near the river, advancing in close order through fields of millet and corn with a barrage of fire from the Chinese trenches pouring onto them. The Japanese had requested assistance from British cavalry for the assault, but the British failed to arrive, so the Japanese pushed ahead alone. The Japanese suffered heavy casualties but forced the Chinese out of their entrenchments and into a hasty retreat.}}
On the east bank of the Hay River, the Russians and French were unable to get around the Chinese flank due to flooded terrain. However, the Japanese victory on the west bank forced the Chinese to retreat which they did in good order. The Chinese preserved most of their artillery by withdrawing it early in the battle, an action that “must have predisposed the rest of their army to its prompt retreat.”
About 50 Chinese bodies were found on the battlefield. Almost all the Alliance casualties were Japanese, amounting to 60 dead and 240 wounded. A few British and Russian casualties were caused by Chinese artillery fire. The Americans were never engaged, not finding their way to the battlefield until the action was over.
American medics treated Japanese casualties.
Aftermath
The battle was over by nine a.m. Pursuit of the Chinese army was hindered by inundations as the Chinese cut through the river banks to flood the surrounding lowlands. The Alliance army bivouacked at Beicang and its supply train from Tianjin came up during the day. The first battle during the march to Beijing had been a relatively easy victory — albeit costly in casualties for the Japanese. The Chinese now awaited the Alliance in strong defensive positions at YangcunBattle of Yangcun
The Battle of Yangcun was a battle during the march of Eight-Nation Alliance forces from Tianjin to Beijing during the Boxer Rebellion. The Alliance was victorious over the Chinese forces.-Background:...
.
The assessment of one participant at the battle of Beicang, was that the “Chinese troops received a blow from which they never recovered. They ever after offered no determined resistance.”