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E. H. CONGER, ESQ.

EXHIBIT B.

PEKIN, CHINA, September 19, 1900.

DEAR SIR: I am expecting to go to Tungchow soon and wish to ask your help in regard to affairs in one or two villages near there. There has been a movement in some of the villages to settle up some of the claims for destruction of Chinese Christians, etc. I am thinking it may be best to visit these places in person and see if the matter can be adjusted, and possibly payment secured and a measure of protection secured to the villagers. Thus our Christians may be allowed to return in peace, reap their crops, and secure some part indemnity for their losses.

Do you think we can secure a small guard to accompany us on some of these trips? We should go out from Tungchow and in no case be gone over one night. We do not wish a large military escort, as we desire it to meet and talk with the people, not to frighten and destroy, unless of course we meet with armed men. I wonder if you will ask General Chaffee if he is willing to give us a small escort either from Pekin of cavalry or ask Captain Dunlop to help us at Tungchow.

Yours sincerely,

E. G. TEWKSBURY.

ADNA R. CHAFFEE,

LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
PEKIN, CHINA, September 19, 1900.

Major General Commanding United States Forces, Pekin. SIR: The inclosed letter from Mr. Tewksbury expresses his desire for a small escort to visit some villages near Tungchow for the purpose of looking after missionary interests and possibly settling some losses in that locality.

It seems to me that some good might be accomplished by such visits. What shall I reply to him?

I am, sir, your obedient servant,

E. H. CONGER, United States Minister.

HON. E. H. CONGER,

HEADQUARTERS CHINA RELIEF EXPEDITION,
PEKIN, CHINA, September 20, 1900.

United States Minister, Pekin, China.

SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of the 19th instant inclosing a copy of a letter from E. G. Tewksbury, in which he requests a small guard to accompany him on certain proposed trips from Tungchow for the purpose, as he states "there has been a movement in some of the villages to settle up some of the claims for destruction of Chinese Christians, etc." He is also of the opinion that "it may be best to visit in person these places and see if the matter can be adjusted and possibly payment secured and a measure of protection secured to the villagers." A military guard, of whatever size, furnished

as proposed by Mr. Tewksbury, will necessitate the presence of an officer of the Army, who will be instructed by me to take the name of every person making a claim for damages, amount of damage claimed, and the character of the settlement made, and report the same for transmission to the Government at Washington. While I doubt the propriety of Mr. Tewksbury entering upon the settlement of any claim for damages, whether of Chinese Christians or any other persons, and which may possibly become a question for settlement by the United States, I will, if he desires, furnish an escort as indicated above, but whose period of service on the detail would be subject to termination at any time in my discretion, and the service of the guard will be wholly in the discretion of the officer in command and for no other purpose than the protection of the person of Mr. Tewksbury. If the guard be desired, please inform me by letter.

I am, sir, very respectfully,

ADNA R. CHAFFEE, Major General, Communding United States Forces.

ADNA R. CHAFFEE,

LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

Major General, U. S. V., Pekin.

PEKIN, CHINA, September 25, 1900.

SIR: Referring to your letter of the 20th instant. which has been submitted to Rev. Mr. Tewksbury, I have the honor to inform you that he is satisfied with the conditions named and desires the guard to accompany him on the expedition proposed.

He will himself confer with you as to the dates.

I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant,

E. H. CONGER.

PEKIN, CHINA, October 14, 1900.

ADJUTANT GENERAL, FIRST BRIGADE, CHINA RELIEF EXPEDITION,

Pekin, China.

SIR: I have the honor to make the following report: In compliance with S. O. No. 7, c. s., H. F. B., C. R. E., a detachment of 1 officer and 20 men reported to Rev. Mr. Tewksbury, at Tungchow, October 1, 1900. On October 2 the detachment accompanied Mr. Tewksbury to the following towns: Chung Chia Wan, San Chien Fang, Lu Kuan, and Nin Pao Tun, where mission property and property of native Christians had been destroyed. At the last village it was reported that a large number of Boxers had congregated and that the neighboring villages would be warned of the approach of foreign troops by the firing of a cannon cracker. This was done, but no resistance was offered. Eight guns were found in a temple, and destroyed, together with a number of spears. No other property was molested. On October 3, Tungpan, about 8 miles northwest of Tungchow, was visited and 1,000 taels indemnity collected as part compensation for the destruction of the houses of eleven Christian Chinese in Thutzufang. This money, and that paid later, was collected in this and surrounding villages for whatever share the inhabitants of the various villages may have had in the destruction at Thutzufang. October 5, went to Fuhoo, about 7 miles

northeast of Tungchow. On October 9 went to Tungpan and received 1,000 taels, completing the money indemnity for that locality. Also went to Wu Li Ch'iao and received 500 taels in silver aud cash, money indemnity for destruction of property of native Christians in that locality. On October 10 a noncommissioned officer and two men were sent to Fu Hao to bring in some native Christians. This place had been occupied by the French troops until October 5, and my detachment went there that day. About an hour after the three men had left Tungchow to bring in the Christians, a native reported that about 100 Boxers had congregated there and that they would attempt to surprise these men. I took the remainder of the detachment to the village and went to the compound where it was reported that arms were kept. I found about ten men there and dinner cooking for thirty or forty. Had the interpreter tell these men not to leave the room where they were, and posted a sentinel there. One of them ran out toward the sentinel, who shot and severely wounded him. The sentinel says that this man took something from a bundle and ran toward him. The place was searched, and ten guns, a few pistols, and about thirty knives, spears, and sabers found. An attempt had been made to separate the detachment sent for the Christians from the guide with them.

On October 12 the village of Yin Pao Tun paid 2,200 taels for the property destroyed in that village, some of which was mission property. Before this detachment reported to Mr. Tewksbury, he had sent messengers to the villages where property had been destroyed, making the following demands:

1. A money indemnity for the property of the native Christians destroyed.

2. Land for a cemetery.

3. Church location and 6 acres of land to support a minister. The whereabouts of most of the Christians to whom this property belonged is unknown. Mr. Tewksbury says the money is to be used to support refugees. It was reported to me that at Fu Hao two or three times the amount asked for was collected; the difference was probably kept by the chief men of the village who had charge of the collection. This money was collected by the men who did the damage from inhabitants who are now and always have been peaceful. This is probably the case in other villages also. This detachment went only to villages whose inhabitants were afraid to bring the money to Tungchow. Large amounts were sent into Tungchow and a considerable sum was collected in Tungchow itself. I know of this indirectly, and Mr. Tewksbury promised to give a complete account of it to the American Minister in Pekin. As far as I know, no deeds or mortgages were given by any village. I requested Mr. Tewksbury to give me the name of every person making a claim for damages, amount of damage claimed, and the character of settlement made. He replied that he did not know the men whose property was destroyed, nor their whereabouts, but that he thought that he could get the names from some of the native members of his church who were assisting him in collecting this money. I wrote a letter to the adjutant general, First Brigade, China relief expedition, informing him of this, and asking for instructions, but no answer was received. Mr. Tewksbury claimed that this condition of affairs was clearly explained in his letter

asking for the detail. The detachment returned to Pekin October 12, 1900, Mr. Tewksbury saying he had no further use for it.

Very respectfully,

P. W. GUINEY,

Second Lieutenant, Sixth Cavalry.

LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
PEKIN, CHINA, October 23, 1900.

ADNA R. CHAFFEE,

Major General, United States Volunteers,

Commanding China Relief Expedition, Pekin.

SIR: Replying to your communication of the 21st instant, I have the honor to inclose to you a copy of a tabulated report made by Mr. Tewksbury of his settlement of claims of native Christians for property destroyed, etc., etc. It is the only information in this legation on the subject.

I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant,

E. H. CONGER.

TUNGCHOW, October 10, 1900. The following table shows the scheme of settlements made or pending for damages done by the Boxers to Chinese Christians or adherents of the American Congregational Mission:

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The money

Mortgages have been taken in many cases instead of cash. received goes to the church and by its committee is divided equitably according to careful estimates of individual losses. The remainder to be used at discretion of church. The 96 acres of land, if rented out, ought to secure an annual income of $500 for help to widows and orphans, etc. In addition to above, in certain villages, monuments for memorial have been required.

E. G. TEWKSBURY,

REPORT ON THE RUSSIAN TROOPS IN NORTH CHINA.

BY MAJ. W. E. CRAIGHILL, FORTIETH INFANTRY, U. S. V.

HEADQUARTERS CHINA RELIEF EXPEDITION,
PEKIN, CHINA, October 15, 1900,

LIEUT. COL. JOSEPH T. DICKMAN,

Twenty-sixth Infantry, U. S. V., Chief of Staff.

SIR: In compliance with instructions conveyed in your letter of October 7, 1900, assigning to me the duty of observing the Russian and French forces, I have the honor to submit the following report:

The information gained of the Russian forces was meager and unsatisfactory. No reply was made by them to your request for a statement of the location and character of their force present in North China in connection with the relief expedition; and they withdrew from Pekin without my being aware of their purpose, and before I was able to get any precise data from them upon which to base a reliable report.

Infantry, artillery, cavalry, and engineers were observed at Tientsin, on the road between that point and Pekin, and at the latter place.

The uniform generally worn by enlisted men was apparently the same for all arms except the distinctive marks. It consisted of a soft, flat, white cap with sloping visor, a white blouse of cotton cloth, very loose and belted at the waist with a leather strap. The trousers were plain black. The foot-gear was heavy top boots, reaching to the calf of the leg. The winter coat was of black cloth, similar otherwise to the summer blouse.

A characteristic feature of the infantry soldier was that he carried no bayonet scabbard. His bayonet was always fixed and his rifle was apparently never out of reach of his hand. The ammunition is carried in pouches on the waist belt. Their rations carried were of the simplest kind, consisting of hard brown bread, salt, pepper, and tea. They were industrious foragers and supplied meat and other items by this means from the abundant resources of the country.

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