thousands of fanatical followers, overran
a large part of the interior. His seat of government was in Nanking.

In his first clashes with the small British army, in 1862, his troops
had the better of the argument. They spoke with open contempt of the
foreigners, and all English, whether soldiers or missionaries, were in
imminent danger. Things came to such a pass that an American, named
Ward, obtained permission to organize a band of volunteers for mutual
protection. This band did remarkable work, and soon grew from a force
of two hundred, to two thousand--every man of them ready to die in his
tracks.

They met the fanatical followers of "The Heavenly King" more than
half-way, and gave them such thorough doses of hot shot and cold steel,
that the rebels finally ran at sight of them. It is said that Ward's
men fought seventy engagements in one year, and won every fight. The
Imperial Chinese Government was very grateful for their aid, and
conferred upon them a high-sounding name which meant, "Ever-Victorious
Army."

Unluckily, Ward lost his life in leading an assault, and left his army
without a general. Li Hung Chang, the statesman, who was later known
as the Grand Old Man of China, came to the British commander General
Stavely, and asked him to appoint a British officer to lead the
Ever-Victorious Army.

Stavely cast about him, and his eye fell upon Major Gordon, who was
then engaged upon a survey of the defenses of Shanghai. He had known
Gordon and admired him. He believed that here was the man for the task.

"What he was before Sebastopol he has been since--faithful, trusty, and
successful," reasoned the General. "Before Pekin and Shanghai he has
evinced just the qualities that are needed now. Although he has never
been in command, he will rise to this occasion, to which he is more
fitted than any other man whom I know."

Gordon at first declined the honor, perhaps through false modesty, and
the command was given to a Captain Holland, with bad results. Holland
traded too much on the invincibility of the Ever-Victorious Army, and
attacked a strongly fortified position at Taitsan. His forces were
driven off with a loss of three hundred men. It was a grievous loss,
but the moral loss was far deeper. His men lost spirit, while the
rebels were extravagant in their glee.

Something had to be done at once. Again they came to Gordon with the
offer of leadership, and this time, he accepted--but not with