Battle of Cixi

Significance

The Battle of Cixi was fought between the Ever Victorious Army of the Qing dynasty and forces of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom on September 21, 1862. Although the Ever Victorious Army won the engagement, the battle carried significant consequences for the Qing war effort: its commander, Frederick Townsend Ward, the American mercenary who founded and led the force, was mortally wounded during the fighting. Ward's subsequent death triggered a command succession, with Henry Andres Burgevine assuming leadership of the Ever Victorious Army. The transition initiated a period of decline for the force, diminishing the operational effectiveness of one of the Qing dynasty's most capable units at a critical stage of the Taiping Rebellion.

Commanders (2)