The battle of Cixi was a significant confrontation during the Taiping Rebellion, occurring in 1862. The Ever Victorious Army, a Qing dynasty force primarily composed of foreign-trained Chinese mercenaries and European advisors, was led by Frederick Townsend Ward. This engagement represented an important phase in the struggle against the Taiping rebellion, a massive civil war in southern China that arose from social unrest, religious fervor, and dissatisfaction with the ruling Qing dynasty. The rebellious forces aimed to overthrow the Qing and establish a new regime based on their interpretation of Christianity and Confucian principles.

Cixi, located in Zhejiang province, was a key battleground due to its strategic location near the coast and major trade routes. The Taiping forces, under the leadership of various generals, were formidable but suffered from internal strife and resource shortages. The combat at Cixi was marked by fierce fighting, with the Ever Victorious Army demonstrating improved tactics, including better coordination and the use of artillery. The battle concluded with a decisive victory for the Qing forces, further empowering the Ever Victorious Army's reputation in the ongoing conflict.

This confrontation contributed to the eventual decline of the Taiping forces and paved the way for a protracted series of campaigns that would ultimately quell the rebellion. After Cixi, the success of the Ever Victorious Army inspired confidence in Qing military capabilities and signaled a shift in the tide of the rebellion, indicating that foreign-trained troops could effectively confront widespread insurrection. The battles that followed built upon these tactical lessons, leading to the eventual suppression of the Taiping insurgency by 1864.