Boxer Rebellion, Manchu regulars

[vtsaogames]

I'm reading a book about US interventions abroad (Savage Wars of Peace) and note the equivocal performance of all Chinese Imperial troops, aside from the Kansu Braves. Does anyone have an account of Manchu regulars attacking the Allies with cold steel? It sounds like they engaged with fire, preferably at long range, enough so that it might make sense to only allow them to do so in games. For that matter, anyone ever read of the Kansu Braves attacking with cold steel? To offset them, you have Boxers who only have cold steel and the will to close.