·清軍在機(jī)器局與聯(lián)軍激戰(zhàn)

清光緒二十六年五月初(1900年6月初),在八國聯(lián)軍入侵中國的民族危亡時(shí)刻，聶士成率武衛(wèi)前軍馬步隊(duì)到達(dá)天津。五月十四日(6月10日),英國海軍司令西摩爾率領(lǐng)八國聯(lián)軍2000余人，由天津向北京進(jìn)犯時(shí)，戍守落垡的聶士成，立即電告裕祿，準(zhǔn)備在楊村進(jìn)行阻擊，裕祿不準(zhǔn)。聶士成憤慨欲拔營回蘆臺(tái)，未被允許，仍在這一帶與八國聯(lián)軍屢屢進(jìn)行小戰(zhàn)。
在大沽炮臺(tái)保衛(wèi)戰(zhàn)同時(shí)，從6月16日開始，聶士成奉命攻打天津租界，惡戰(zhàn)十?dāng)?shù)次，相持八日，使租界岌岌可危。6月17日，八國聯(lián)軍攻陷大沽炮臺(tái)后，大舉進(jìn)攻天津。退入天津城的清軍，與聶士成軍會(huì)同作戰(zhàn)，壯大了力量。
6月18日晨，數(shù)百名聯(lián)軍，由火車站沿著鐵路竄至錦衣衛(wèi)橋，被聶士成武衛(wèi)前軍和練軍、義和團(tuán)奮力擊退。中午，聯(lián)軍又在紫竹林用炮向南門外、海光寺旁的機(jī)器局轟擊，致使廚房起火。
6月27日，侵略軍進(jìn)攻東局子，護(hù)守西面的武衛(wèi)前軍營官潘金山，擊斃侵略者多名。又從軍糧城一帶突出的聯(lián)軍馬隊(duì)千余，對(duì)武衛(wèi)前軍形成四面包圍之勢，潘金山右腿被打穿，包裹傷口堅(jiān)持戰(zhàn)斗。炮彈墜入東局子棉花藥庫，四面火起。另一股聯(lián)軍由河?xùn)|竄至陳家溝，搶修鐵路橋座，武衛(wèi)前軍后路統(tǒng)領(lǐng)胡殿甲，會(huì)合義和團(tuán)進(jìn)行截?fù)?，打死不少敵人。并將陳家溝?lián)軍所修鐵橋轟毀，侵略軍逃回租界。
6月28日，馬玉昆率隊(duì)開進(jìn)天津，連同聶士成軍，清軍有1.6萬多人，再加上義和團(tuán)3萬人，力量達(dá)到4.6萬余人。聶、馬軍并劃分了攻守范圍：馬玉昆軍負(fù)責(zé)老龍頭火車站、陳家溝和紫竹林；聶士成軍負(fù)責(zé)南門、海光寺、八里臺(tái)一帶。
6月30日，馬玉昆與聶士成軍聯(lián)合義和團(tuán)，分別攻打天津租界、老龍頭火車站。聯(lián)軍害怕清軍追及，將紫竹林處海河的浮橋拆斷。駐扎在鹽垛的清軍，也趕來助戰(zhàn)，敵人急忙涉水渡河，中炮落水的不少，還打死敵人戰(zhàn)馬4匹。
7月5日，聶士成率步炮營等，移扎在海光寺，并分頭擇地修筑炮臺(tái)。7月6日，聶士成指揮士兵，把兩尊大炮架在小西門圍墻土臺(tái)上，向租界及跑馬場一帶的侵略軍猛烈轟擊。敵軍猝不及防，五六百人的馬隊(duì)，奔回跑馬場地道內(nèi)潛藏。復(fù)出后，又被炮火轟擊，敵人亂作一團(tuán)，四處逃竄。
當(dāng)天夜里，聶士成挑選了百名勇士，乘船暗渡衛(wèi)津河，潛至跑馬場，向里面投擲手雷，炸死炸傷了許多敵人，攻占了跑馬場和八里臺(tái)。第二天，聶士成又率隊(duì)，沿馬場道進(jìn)攻敵軍據(jù)點(diǎn)，一直打到租界邊緣的小營門，奪取了敵軍的小營門炮臺(tái)，侵略軍攜炮逃遁。
7月9日凌晨，八國聯(lián)軍6000多人從租界出發(fā)，向天津西南郊進(jìn)攻。日本侵華軍司令福島，率領(lǐng)2000名日軍擔(dān)任主攻。敵人兵分兩路，直撲聶士成軍陣地； 500多名日本騎兵，攻占了城南的紀(jì)家莊，沿衛(wèi)津河進(jìn)攻八里臺(tái)。八國聯(lián)軍的主力也由小營門、馬場道，一直攻到八里臺(tái)。
聶士成得知敵人進(jìn)攻八里臺(tái)的消息后，連夜從海光寺機(jī)器局趕到八里臺(tái)，重新組織兵力，準(zhǔn)備堅(jiān)守八里臺(tái)。這時(shí)，日軍1000人，在俄、英、美軍1000人援助下，完成了對(duì)聶士成軍的包圍。聶士成沉著應(yīng)戰(zhàn)，與敵人激戰(zhàn)兩個(gè)多小時(shí)。戰(zhàn)斗中，聶士成身先士卒，沖鋒在前。他兩腿被槍彈打傷，血流如注，仍忍痛立馬橫刀，指揮戰(zhàn)斗。營官宋占標(biāo)，哭求聶士成退后稍息。聶士成堅(jiān)決不肯，提刀挺立橋頭，向官兵大聲疾呼： “今天就是以死報(bào)國的日子，至死也不能后退一步！ ” 他奮臂驅(qū)馬，揮著戰(zhàn)刀勇劈敵人。這時(shí)，一顆炮彈在聶士成身邊炸開，他的左右兩腮被彈片打穿，脛側(cè)、腦門多處受傷，小腹被炸穿，腸子流出數(shù)寸。但他仍然繼續(xù)指揮戰(zhàn)斗，打退了敵人一次又一次的進(jìn)攻。最后，一顆子彈射中他的胸膛，聶士成壯烈捐軀沙場。同時(shí)陣亡的還有宋占標(biāo)等將士350多人，這就是中國近代史上著名的天津八里臺(tái)保衛(wèi)戰(zhàn)。
聶士成殉國后，清政府迫于帝國主義的壓力，直到光緒三十一年(1905),才在八里臺(tái)橋旁為聶士成立碑紀(jì)念，謚號(hào) “忠節(jié)” 。碑的正面刻著： “聶忠節(jié)公殉難處” 。兩側(cè)柱石上鐫刻著兩條長聯(lián)： “勇烈貫長虹，想當(dāng)年馬革裹尸，一生丹心化作怒濤飛海上； 精誠留碧血，看此地蟲沙歷劫，三軍白骨愁歌樂府戰(zhàn)城南” 。橫額為：“生氣凜然” 。八里臺(tái)橋被命名為“聶公橋” 。

·聶士成紀(jì)念碑

In June 1900,Nie Shicheng led the calvary and infantryof the Pioneer Army to Tianjin during the critical timeof China when the allied forces of eight powers invadedChina. On June 10,the British commander Seymourled 2000 allied soldiers from Tianjin to Beijing. NieShicheng notified Yu Lu that it was necessary to nickat Yangcun. Yu Lu did not agree. Nie Shicheng wasvery angry and was going to return to Lutai but wasnot allowed,so he stayed and fought the enemies. Theinvaders were forced to retreat to Tianjin.
During the defense of Dagu Emplacements,Niereceived an order to attack the Tianjin concessions. Thefire was fierce; the cannons never stopped roaring. Therewere eight fights in eight days. On June 17,the alliedforces of eight powers attacked Tianjin after the fall ofDagu emplacements. The Qing army retreated to Tianjincity and joined with Nie Shicheng`s army. The fight inthe city became more and more fierce.
In the morning of June 18,hundreds of allied forcescame to Jinyiwei Bridge from the railway station. Theywere fought back by the pioneer Army,local army andYihetuan. At noon,the allied forces shelled machinerybureau near Nanmenwai and Haiguang Temple fromZizhulin. The cabinet was on fire.
On June 27,the invaders attacked Dongjuzi. PanJinshan,the officer of the pioneer Army ordered thesoldiers not to move. When the enemies drew near,he ordered the fire by lined guns,which killed manyinvaders. Then suddenly came the calvary of theenemies,the pioneer Army was circled. Pan Jinshan`sright leg was hit,but he continued to fight. One shell fellin the magazine of Dongjuzi and aroused fire. Anothergang of enemies went from Hedong to Chenjiagou torepair the iron bridges. Hu Dianjia led the back armyintercepted the enemies with Yihetuan. They blew awaythe iron bridge. The enemies returned to the concessions.
On June 28,Ma Yukun led his army to Tianjin.Together with Nie Shicheng`s army,there were 16,000soldiers. Yihetuan had 30,000 members. Ma Yukun`sarmy was responsible for the Laolongtou Station,Chenjiagou and Zizhulin; and Nie Shicheng`s army wasresponsible for Nanmen,Haiguang Temple and Balitai.
On June 30,Ma Yukun,Nie Shicheng and Yihetuanattacked the Tianjin concessions and LaolongtouRailway Station. Meanwhile,Hu Dianjia of Dongjuziand Yihetuan also assaulted the enemies. The enemiesfled and were killed. They were afraid of being caughtby the Qing army and broke down the floating bridge ofHaihe River. The Qing army stationed at Yanduo alsojoined the fight. The enemies went through the river forlife. Many were hit by shells. Four horses were killed.
The Haiguang Temple out of Nanmenwai wasthe key to the south road. On July 5,Nie Shicheng ledthe calvary barrack there and built emplacements. OnJuly 6,Nie Shicheng ordered the soldiers to place twocannons on the soil stage of Xiaoximen. The fire on theconcessions and Hippodrome was so abrupt that theenemies had no preparation. About 500 cavalrymen ranabout the Hippodrome for conceal. When they appearedagain,they were hit by the shells. A Britain officerrecalled that their position was nearly lost when they metthe bombardment from Nie Shicheng`s artillery.
At night,Nie Shicheng chose one hundred bravesoldiers. He shipped them to the Hippodrome by WeijinRiver. They threw mines,which wounded and killedmany enemies. In the next day,Nie Shicheng led hisarmies along Machang Road to attack the enemy`spositions. They fought to Xiaoyingmen,the edge of theconcession and occupied the emplacement. The invadersran away with cannons.
In the morning of July 9,6000 enemy soldiersdeparted from the concessions and attacked thesouthwest of Tianjin. The 2000 Japanese soldiersattacked as the pioneers. They were divided into twoforces towards the Nie Shicheng`s position. About 500Japanese cavalrymen occupied Jijiazhuang. The mainforce of the enemies went directly to Xiaoyingmen andthe area near Machang Road. The Qing army went alongthe Machang Road and retreated to Balitai.
On July 9,1900,Nie Shicheng got the informationthat the enemies would attack Balitai. He went fromMachiery Bureau of Haiguang Temple to Balitai at nightand organized his power again for the protection ofBalitai. 1000 Japanese soldiers began to attack Balitai,assisted by 1000 Russian,Britain and American soldiers.Nie Shicheng`s army was besieged. On the battle field,bullets were flying,smoke rolling,and detonationvibrating.
Nie Shicheng remained calm and commanded thearmy for more than two hours. He ran before the soldiers.His legs were hurt by bullets with blood running,buthe still sat on the horse and led his army. His officerSong Zhanbiao cried and begged Nie Shicheng to havea rest,but he did not agree. With a sword in his hand,he shouted to his army,"Today is the day to die forour country. We could never retreat." He hewed theenemies courageously. Suddenly,a shell bombed nearhim. His cheeks,legs and brain were wounded. Thelower abdomen was shot through with guts coming out.He continued to command the soldiers to fight back theenemies again and again. In the end,his chest was hit bya bullet. Nie Shicheng sacrificed his life for the motherland. 350 officers and soldiers died,including SongZhanbiao. That was the famous Balitai Defense Battle inthe modern history of China.
Under the pressure from the imperialists,the QingGovernment did not erect stele for the memory of NieShicheng at Balitai until 1905. His posthumous title was"loyalty". In the front of the stele engraved the words of"the place where his honorary Nie died". Two coupletswere engraved in two stone pillars to praise his courageand loyalty. The Balitai Bridge was renamed as "MrNie`s Bridge".

·1905年建的聶公碑(現(xiàn)無存)