He was brought up on charges regarding his leadership activities during the Boxer Rebellion, where he and his men hat do defend the walls of the Legation, and was exonerated by an official Naval court of inquiry, which he himself requested, so as to not impede his career advancement in later years. The British Minister had initiated a charge of possible "cowardice under fire", but no concrete evidence had ever surfaced by any witnesses. Under his direct command one wall defense area was lost, but later regained. This possibly had some reaction with the British Minister causing statements after the siege as to his possible laxity in command.