摘要
劉錦棠，湖南汀鄉人氏，祖先世代務農，至其父叔，因太平軍興而參加王錱的老汀營。後以其父戰死岳州，因思為父報仇，乃赴江西其叔劉松山處投營，少有異稟，並好言兵。同治三年(1864)護祁門大營，積功最多，曾國藩嘉尚其能。轉戰齊、魯、冀、豫，出入陝、甘、青、寧，回捻既平，中原無警，關隴河湟底定。左定棠扶櫬西征，他冀輔出關，總理行營營務，新疆克復，功不可沒。俄佔伊犁，崇厚誤國，曾紀澤乃因其力改議，方有所成。光緒六年(1880)左文襄公回京陛見，劉錦棠荐署為欽差大臣，督辦新疆軍務。十處(1884)，新疆設省，他為開府第一人。然左宗棠功過，人既已多論述，惟劉錦棠行誼，尚少有著墨，是他故本文擬就其在西北副績功過，做一品評，俾供世人對其進一步了解，並應有肯定。
並列摘要
Jintang Liu was from Shiangshiang, Hunan. His ancestors had been farmers until his father’s generation, when his father and uncles joined Jen Wang’s Shiang army. Jintang’s father later died fighting in Yuehjiou. Jintang joined his uncle Songshan Liu’s troop at Jiangshi, hoping to avenge his father’s death. He was gifted and was interested in military affairs. He made the greatest contribution to the Chyimen battle in 1864 (year 3 of Torng Chyr) and was highly praised by Gwofarn Tzeng. Liu later fought in Chyi, Lu, Jih, Yuh, Shan, Gan, Ching and Ning areas. The Muslim-Nean revolt was later put under control; China proper was again without war and even Gansu and Chinghai areas were calmed. Tzongtang Tzuao was aided by Liu when he took his troop west late in his life. Liu was appointed chief commander and his contribution to the conquest of Shinjing should never be overlooked. Hou Chorng failed the country in the signing of the I-Li Treaty with the Russians. The fact that the treaty was later renegotiated and resigned by Jihtzer Tzeng was in part due to Liu’s strong military support behind the screen. In 1880 (year 6 of Guangshiuh), Tzongtang Tzuao returned to the capital and Liu was recommended to become the royal envoy to Shinjiang, in charge of the military affairs. Liu later became the first governor of Shinjiang in 1884(year 10 of Guanshiuh). Liu’s hard work and great contribution to the west were highly significant, yet references were rarely made on his behalf, especially when compared to that on Tzongtang Tzuao. This paper is written to provide an objective description of and to comment on Liu and Northwestern China so that credit can be given where credit is due.