Dear colleagues,

I have just understood that Rattan Shield troops were used by Kangxi in 1685 against Cossacks in Albazin.

There were 400 prisoners of war, chosen from the whole mass of prisoners, captured during the subjugating of Taiwan in 1683. They were moved from Taiwan to Shandong, Shaanxi, Fujian and Hunan provinces and settled there.

Russian scholar prof. Vladimir S. Myasnikov described them as a special Chinese assault force wielding swords/sabers (in Russian original it would be literally rendered as "cold weapon") and special shields. They were in habit in on-sea battles what could be useful in Amur battles. The Emperor personally examined their weapon and ordered to enhance the shields with additional layers of wadding.

I think it were Rattan Shield troops (tengpaibing).

Then that detachement was given to 2 commanders of han Chinese origin - Kin Xinzhu and He You. In spring 1685 the army went to their expedition.

I have no clear evidences of the real role of "tengpaibing" in the 1st siege of Albazin. The Chinese sources tell us that Rattan Shields occupied very important hill nearby Albazin and it allowed Qing army to install artillery there and to start with the bombardment of Russian fort. But it is not clear if there were any clashes on that hill.

Then Chinese sources mentioned the successful on-river battle near the fort with the reinforcement of Cossacks. About 40 men were killed in action. But Russian sources tell that they were not warriors but peasants who tried to find a shelter in the fort but were massacred by Chinese warriors with their families.

So, Rattan Shields were used in wars with Dutch and Russians both.

Best regards,

Alexey.

so, are rattan shields better at stopping bullets than iron/wood shields?

To my mind they are useless. During the first siege of Albazind Fujian soldiers tried to assault but lost about 150 men in action and had to retreat. But Russians run out of gunpowder and had to surrender the next day.

(So the similar situation was during Qing invasions to Chosun - Koreans used to fight furiously first day with arrows and bullets but they always had to surrender next day as they run out of arrows and gunpowder).

Best regards,

Alexey.

P.S. I try to investigate the matter regarding Rattan shields in Albazin sieges so I would higly appreciate all info (since the establishing of Rattan shields troops) you can kindly give me to go on with the study.

So, luck was on the Chinese side? The Russkis had better weaponry, but not enough ammo?

In the first case (1685) I think the outlook of the battle was alike the most part of assaults in Korea in 1627 & 1636.

In the second case (1686) tengpaibing used their skills to defeat some sorties, but due to the lack of soldiers (only 2300 in siege troops including 200 soldiers of special reinforcement against of initialgarrison of 826 soldiers inside the fort) Manchu troops had to lay siege and to make the bombardment of Russian fort. At the end of the siege Russians lost the most partof soldiers, but kept a lot of gunpowder - it was reported to the governmental bodies by leutienant Afanasy Beiton, who became the commander of garrison when on the 5th day of battles the commander of garrison Alexey Tolbuzin was killed by a fragment of a shell.

Best regards,

Alexey.