The Huai Army (淮軍) (named for the Huai River) was a Qing Dynasty military force raised to contain the Taiping Rebellion in 1862. It helped to restore the stability of the Qing Dynasty. Unlike the traditional Green Standard or Banner forces of the Qing, the Huai Army was largely a militia army, based on personal rather than institutional loyalties. It was armed with a mixture of traditional and modern weapons. Li Hongzhang leader of part of the Xiang Army, created the Huai Army in October 1861. It succeeded the Xiang Army. The Huai Army was succeeded by the New Army and the Beiyang Army, which were created in the late 19th century.
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Before recovering Anqing in late 1861, Zeng Guofan ordered his student Li Hongzhang to bring some of the Xiang Army back to Anhui, Li's homeland, for military service, and to organize an independent force under Li Hongzhang's command. Their total strength was 25,000 soldiers. This force included some Taiping soldiers in Anqing who had surrendered. Li combined these forces into one army, and after three months of training they fought their first battle, the Battle of Shanghai (1861).