SHEPPARD , United States Consuls to Frederick F. Low, May 19, 1873

Mr. Sheppard to Mr. Low.

Sir: I beg to lay before you for your information a few facts which I have gathered regarding certain military preparations on the part of the Chinese government within this immediate consular district, during the past few days.

The first intimation I received of the presence of an unusual number of Chinese troops was about the 15th of April, while passing down the river, on my way to Chefoo. At that time a small body of soldiers were encamped in tents along and near the south bank of the Peiho, near the village of Hsin Chêng, about eight miles west of the Taku forts, and about four miles east of the more important village of Ko Ku.

On my return a few days later I discovered that this small force had been greatly augmented, and that the soldiers were busily engaged in throwing up strong earthworks and constructing forts in different places admirably suited to command the river in either direction. It was also ascertained that these troops had been moved down the Taku military road and past the foreign settlement of Tien-tsin at night, and that their force already consisted of about 15,000 troops, mostly armed with foreign rifles.

From the best information in my possession, these troops came from a large camp at Ma Chang, on the grand canal, about 100 li south of Tien-tsin. A missionary who passed through that camp recently states that there are about 60,000 soldiery there, all southern soldiers; a great portion of this body of soldiery is cavalry.

I learn from reliable gentlemen who lately visited the south fort at Taku that great activity is manifested at that garrison. The last of the three cavaliers is being rapidly pushed forward to completion, and will be finished in about two weeks. The other two cavaliers were completed, and three 100–pound Krupp guns mounted in each, commanding the entire entrance to the river. The rear defense of the fort has been strengthened by a second and inner wall as high as the outer wall, and about 20 feet from it. It has since transpired that guns are being mounted on this inner wall to the rear, and commanding the river in that direction also. A recent order of the military commandant was posted up in the fort, ordering the soldiers not to neglect the work they were about, but to attend to their duties and not absent themselves, as the work then going forward was of the utmost importance.

On the Taku road, five miles west of the fort, a new entrenched camp of 500 men was found close to the road. This camp, like many of the others which are being established, cannot be seen from the river, being hidden by clumps of trees. Three miles further west, the main encampment was found at Hsin Chêng. Hsin Chêng appears to be the name of a walled town that existed at this place some 60 or 70 years ago, of which nothing now remains but a few mounds.

The camps here extend for about a mile in double parallel lines on both sides of the Taku road. Seventeen camps were counted, but the number has since been increased to twenty-eight. Two forts have already been built, commanding the river. These forts, it is said, are to be mounted with guns cast at the Tien-tsin arsenal. The people and soldiery all say there are at present 20,000 soldiers in these camps, and that there are more to come, chiefly cavalry and field artillery. The soldiers are chiefly Honan men, and are, it is said, mostly armed with breech-loading rifles. General Chou is in command.

As to the real object and purpose of this unusual and apparently unnecessary preparation on the part of the Chinese government, it does not, probably, become me to venture a decided opinion at this time. The fact is, however, apparent that the Chinese are for some reason strengthening their military defenses from Taku to Tien-tsin. As these preparations are all being pushed forward with unwonted vigor and haste in a time of profound peace, and without any apparent cause, it seems to me that such a proceeding, unexplained on the part of the Chinese government, pending the discussion of a great international question so full of possible consequences as that of the audience question, now under consideration at Peking, is susceptible at least of a very serious interpretation. Between civilized countries such an act would unquestionably be considered as a menace, unless accompanied by satisfactory explanations.

I am, &c.,