Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1871-07-18
THE coREA.
The Fight of the cOreans with Our Fleet.
Full and Authentic Report.
A Tight Time---0ur Fleet Comes OF VictO.
riOus 1.-The COreans Fight Well.

account of the COrean fight, received
from Shanghai, has been brought
by the Palas. The COrea left June
Sd, to get stores and bring up some
8 inch guns from the Ashuel(jt fleet,
arrived at Jerome Gulf, May 20, re-
port ten days surveying the channels
between the various islands, finally
coming to anchor at a point dGsigna-
ted on the French charts. The BOryz,
for three days with the surveying
party, was in that time met by some
natives, who sent us communication,
asking where we were from and
hoping we were well. On Monday, of
this week, number of COreang of the
third and fifth ranks, came aboard.
Governor Louis, our interpreter,
received them. They were NOT of the
rank to be received by the Admiral or
Minister. They were shown about
the Colorado and distinctly told that
we meant to send a surveying party
up the river and that our mission was
peaceful, and we should not attack
or mOlest them unless they first
assaulted. They expressed themselves
as nOn-cOmbatants, and glad to
know that our mission was peace
full, and as believed that they
were satisfied, Thursday the Mon
archy and PalOs, with four steam
launches, two from the Colorado and
the others from the Alaska and the
Benicia, left the ship to go up past
KanghOa, an island at the mouth of
the river, and survey. The party
from the MonOcacy, under Captain
McRae, numbered 40; from the Palos,
under Colonel Rockwell, fifty launches
manned with eleven men each, Cap
tain Homer @. Blake was on the Palos.
Accompanying the expedition were
Mr.. COWle, private secretary to Minis
ter Lowe, on the PalOs; Messrs. r. ].
McCaslin and Ed. II. Julesburg. Pay
master Spaulding, of the PaIOs, was
with Lieutenant TOtten and Captain
Bowel, and Mr.. SlOssen, of the Colo
RADIO, was with Lieutenant Meade.
The boat parties were armed with
cutlasses, pistols and Remington relies.
The Benicia launch carried a "a
FOUNDER in its bow, the others were
provided with l2-pOunders, all having
a good supply of shell, canister and
schrapnel shot. Awaiting themselves
of the flood tide the launches went
ahead and abreast up the KonghOa
river, sounding as they proceeded, the
PalOs and MonOcacy following at a
convenient distance. The boats, which
were unmOlested for some time, pros
ecuted their work regularly on the
river, which is here about a mile
wide. The day was bright and pleas
ant, and all went well until they ap-
preached a narrow portion Of the
river, about ten miles from the Colo
RADIO. Here a great turnout of white
coated COreans was noticed on the
bluff of the left bank, with
flags flying, and presenting
quite q martial array. A
nearer view indicated their number to
be about 1000 men, clothed in white
coats, not unlike the present European
OvercOats, white pantalOons, tied at
the ankle, with white socks and light
summer shoes, such as Chinese wear;
there were two red stone forts visible
on one end of each bay, apparently
armed with upward of sixty-nine 49,
Founders, and guarding a narrow pas
sage or bend in the river; the one on
the right bank was the smaller of the
two, and was not noticed at all dur
ing the fight except by shot CIR two
to find out if any one was stirring
therein, but the main fort upon the
left bank, rising nearly one hundred
feet from the waters edge, WIS evil
IDENTIFY the standpoint of the COreans,
and from which they expected to inti-
midate or drive away in dismay the
foreigners. Launches were kept in
business, without needing the spectacle
presented on the bank. The Benicia's
launch. meanwhile, had been dropped
astern, owing to a lead line fouling
her screw, so that when the party
came opposite the fort she was nearly
two miles OFF. Mr.. COWle took good
observations of the COreans, and
counted more than thirty-six guns in
position, beside there were the same
number of gingalls carried by two
men; each of these last, with BAN
nered men, helped to swell the array
which formed upon the side and top |
of the hill behind the stone wall,
The turning point of the river was
now almost reached and when at a |
distance of about one hundred and
fifty yards from the shore stream of |
fire was poured from large fort, fol- |
lowed in a few minutes by discharge |
from fort on the right bank. The |
launches were at once turned to bear |
on the main fort and their guns quick |
ly replied, while the PalOs and Mo-
nOcacy, coming up on a hve knot |
tide, ratified away with their eight
inch rified guns over the heads of the
flotilla. Lieutenant Commander
made a splendid practice
with bow guns, while Captain MCRae,
who followed in the MonOcacy, gave
the enemy the full benefit of his broad
side at close quarters, so close that the
vessel grazed some hidden rocks
which formed the reef. NOtWith-
this accident, which dis
placed an iron plate and caused her to
leak, the MOnOcacy kept up steady
fire until the fort was silenced.
During the action there was little or
no breeze, and the thick smoke from
the shore and river almost hid the
at intervals, however, it
was noticed that the red sand with
mortar of the firm walls was flying of
In clouds as the shells exploded III the
works, and in ten minutes from. the
of the firing the
Coreans were driven back over the
nils. Admiral Rodgers had said
before the surveying party left his
ship, "DOn't fire unless you are fred
IpOn; but if you are fred upon, don't
be first to stop firing" There were
40 orders given to land, 80 that after
Captain Blake had satisfied himself as
10 the discOmforture Of the enemy,
he gunbOatS and launches were order
ID to move round the bend and
anchor short distance above the
Icene of action. The only casualties
were on the Alaska. A
aunch sailor while in the act of point
ng a hoWitzer was struck on the side
If the head and shoulders, another
lad two fingers cut of by the reccil of
i gun. 1t seems strange that, with
he hot close firing on the part of the
Joreans, that such small damage
ihould result, but it is believed
his fortunate issue for the boats
vas owing to larger guns on the forts
)eing elevated too much for gunboats,
md launches were all more OF less
truck by balls, and many narrow
escapes took place, but fortunately
hone badly hurt. After the boats had
'ounded the point, the CoreansI re-
urned to their guns, and in time to !
open fire upon the launch of the Be-
licia, which was left behind. Master
in charge OF the launch,
lid not hesitate to force a passage
against all odds, and Join his com
)anions, and as soon as fire from the
Ort was delivered, cOOlly returned
ire, and pushed on up the river. At
lack water, the boats headed down
he stream again, but before they
itarted on their return to the squadron
! few shells were thrown over the, hill
nto the fort. This procedure settled
ltfairs for that day. The COrtans,
inding their forts Of. no use, even
'ound the corner and out OF sight,