“He fought countless battles, at the head of a Chinese force called into existence and trained by himself, and always with success.
“Indeed, he taught the Chinese their strength, and laid the foundations of the only force with which their government can hope to defeat the rebellion.
“Before General Ward died, when on board of her Majesty’s steamer Hardy, he made his will, and named Admiral Sir James Hope and myself his executors.
“In a letter communicating the fact to me, Sir James writes:
“‘I am sure you will be much grieved to hear of poor Ward’s death.
“‘The Chinese government have lost a very able and gallant servant, who has rendered them much faithful service, and whom it will not be easy for them to replace.’
“On account of my absence from Shanghai, I shall authorize our consul, George F. Seward, Esq., to act for me.
“General Ward was a man of great wealth, and in a letter to me the last probably he ever wrote, he proposed through me to contribute ten thousand taels to the government of the United States, to aid in maintaining the Union, but before I could respond to his patriotic letter he died.
“Let this wish, though unexecuted, find worthy record in the archives of his native land, to show that neither self-exile nor foreign service, nor the incidents of a stormy life, could extinguish from the breast of this wandering child of the republic the fires of a truly loyal heart.
“After Ward’s death, fearing that his force might dissolve and be lost to the cause of order, I hastened by express to inform the Chinese government of my desire that an American might be selected to fill his place, and was so fortunate, against considerable opposition, as to secure the appointment of Colonel Burgevine.