Return to Naval Historical
Center home page. 
Return to Battle
Streamer index
DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
805 KIDDER BREESE SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060
China Relief Expedition 1900-1901
United States had maintained an American naval presence
in East Asian waters from 1835, protecting lives and property
during the many unrests that shook Imperial China. During the
Boxer Revolt at the turn of the century, attacks were being conducted
against foreigners.
In June 1900, the Boxers surrounded the legations in Peking
and began a two-month siege. To rescue the beleaguered legations
an international relief force, including U.S. sailors and Marines,
slowly fought its way inland while the USS Newark and USS
Monocacy stood off Taku Bar. Both warships landed Marines
and bluejackets to help with the retaking of the walled city of
Tientsin from the Boxers and continued to provide logistic support
to the multinational force fighting to relieve Peking.
As the weeks wore on and the crisis in North China grew, additional
warships were dispatched to Tientsin by Asiatic Station Commander,
Rear Admiral George Remey. The legations were relieved in late
August 1900, and the fury of the Boxer uprising was spent.
07 August 1996