The Boxers on the other side of the battlefield decided not to wait for the approaching Imperial Chinese troops, rushing forward to engage the American marines (now reinforced by the British marines) near the edge of town.
 
 
<< The Boxers advance through the rice paddies!
 
 
Roberts, dressed in his best suit (he hadn't time to change since learning of the attack) ordered the American marines into position around the wall, the gun crews manning the cannon and the Colt machine gun.  Ordering canister loaded into the cannon, the gunners awaited the order to fire...
 
Back in the British residency, the commander of the Gurkha squadron ordered his men to man the back corner of the compound, from where they could provide covering fire to the Americans.
 
<< The Gurkhas assume their positions.
 
They maneuvered a supply wagon between the two buildings, forming a second line to which they could fall back if necessary.
 
 
 
Back on the other side of town, the Highlanders Lord Bumblethwaite had ordered to defend the bridge were about to meet the enemy face-to-face.  Sounding their war cries, the Boxers charged across the bridge.  The Highlanders greeted them with a loud volley, and several of the poorly armed natives fell to the fire from the Lee-Enfields.
 
<< The Boxers charge the Highlanders!
 
However, filled with resolve, the Boxers did not waver under the intense fire.  Rushing onwards, swords and halberds glinting in the morning sun, they charged home and greeted the Highlanders with a crash of weapons!  It was at this moment that Charles Purdy, British citizen and owner of the small General Store next to which the Highlanders were standing decided to get in on the action.  Armed with his hunting rifle, to which he had hastily lashed a kitchen knife, he had come out to defend his shop from the Boxer hordes!
 
Although they were all seasoned veterans of many campaigns, the Highlanders were caught by surprise, having expected the Boxers to turn and flee at the first volley.  They clubbed and bayoneted several of them, but two of the Highlanders fell to the flashing swords of the Chinese.  Although the Boxers were forced back across the bridge, they quickly regrouped for a second charge.
 
Sergeant-Major McDuff was concerned that a second charge like that might break his line, exposed as it was.  His concerns were only magnified when a group of musket armed Boxers arrived on a hill just across the stream and opened fire.  Deciding to take the more prudent course of action, McDuff ordered his Highlanders to fall back to a nearby wall.  "Come along, Purdy", shouted the Sergeant-Major, "there's no point in staying here and losing your life."

"Thanks all the same, Sergeant-Major", replied Purdy, "but I'll be staying right here to defend my store, if you don't mind."

Not having time to debate the sanity of this decision, McDuff ordered his to fall back to the more defensible stone wall.
 
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