General Gordon's Private Diary of his Exploits in China: Amplified by Samuel Mossman ... With Portraits and Map

by Charles George Gordon, Samuel Mossman

This is a gripping and highly personal account of one of the most dramatic episodes in the history of 19th-century imperialism and war. Charles George Gordon, a British general and hero, kept a private diary of his experiences during the Taiping Rebellion in China, which he fought against with utmost bravery and resourcefulness. Samuel Mossman, a close friend and collaborator of Gordon's, edited and annotated the diary, adding many details and insights into the events and personalities involved. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in military history, China, and the psychology of heroism. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

324 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1885

About the author

Major-General Charles George Gordon CB was an officer of the British Army during the Crimean War and Second Opium War, and served as Governor Geneeral of the Sudan 1873–1880. He died in the Siege of Khartoum during the Mahdist War.

He became known as Chinese Gordon for his service in command of the "Ever Victorious Army," a mercenary force of the Qing Dynasty commanded by European and American officers, which was instrumental in quelling the Taiping Rebellion. The Tongzhi Emperor awarded him the imperial yellow jacket (黃馬褂; pinyin: Huáng mǎguà), the highest military honor of the Qing Dynasty at the time, and he was subsequently appointed a Companion of the Most Honorable Order of the Bath, the fourth-most senior of the British Orders of Chivalry.