The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1871-07-28
The COrean War-Mail Accounts OF
the Battle.

Corean fight was received by the
America, from Shanghai, having been
brought by the Polos, which left Corea
on June 3, to get stores and bring up
some eight-inch guns from Ashuelot.
The fleet arrived at Jeroma gulf on
May 20, and were engaged for ten days
in surveying the channels between the
various islands, finally coming to anchor
at a point designated 10y the French
charts-Ife Boise. For three days the
surveying party was away. In that
time they met some natives who sent
off communication asking where we
were from, and hoping we were well.
On Monday of this week number Of
Coreans of the third and fifth rank
came aboard. Gov. Lows Interpreter
received them, they not being of rank
TO be received by the admiral or minis
ter. They were shown about the Colorado,
and were distinctly told that we were
to send a surveying party..up the river,
that our mission was peaceful, and that
we should not attack nor modest them
in any way, unless they first assaulted
us. They expressed themselves non
committal; were glad to know that our
mission was peaceful, and, as ! believed,
that they were satisfied, on Thursday
the Monocacy and Polos, with four
steam launches, two from the Colorado
and the others from the Alaska and
Benicia, left the ship at about halfpast
10 o'clock A. M. to 60 up to and past
Konghoa-an island at the mouth of
the river Salee. The surveying party
from the Monocacy, under Capt. McRea,
numbered 10; and from the Polos,
under Commodore Rockwell, 50. The
launches were manned by ] | men each.
Captain Homer C. Blake was on the Po-
los, Messrs. r. j. McCaslin, and Edward
II. Julsburg. Paymaster Spaulding, Of
the Polos, was with Lieut.. Totten and
Capt. Boswell, and Mr.. Slassen of the
Colorado, with Lieut.. Mead Both par
ties were armed with cutlasses and pis-
tolls, and Remington rifles. The Benicia
launch carried 24-pounder in her bow;
the others were provided with l2-pound-
ers, all having a good supply OF shell,
canister, and scrapnel,
Awaiting themselves of the flood tide,
the launches went ahead abreast up the
Konhoa river, sounding as they pro
ceeded, the Polos and Monocacy follow
ing at a convenient distance.
The boats, which were unmolested
for some time, prosecuted their work
regularly on the river, which is here
quite a mile in width. The day was
bright and pleasant, and all went well
until they approached the narrow por-
ton of the river about ten miles from
the Colorado. Here a great turnout OF
white-coated Coreans was noticed on a
bluff of the left bank, with flags flying,
presenting quite martial array. A
nearer view indicated their number to
be about 1000 men, clothed in the cos
tune of the country, which is white
coat, European overcoats with pajamas
tied at the ankle, with white socks and
light summer shoes, such as the
Chinese wear. There were two red
stone forts visible, one on each bank,
apparently armed with upward OF 60 IS
Founders, and guarding the narrow pas
sage or bend of the river The one on
the right bank was the smaller of the
two. and was not noticed at all during the
engagement except by a shot or two to
find if anybody was string therein !;
Dul Tile HULL loIl, DullI upOll WIG ptbiN,
rising nearly 100 feet from the waters
edoe, was evidently the stand point for
the Coreans, and from which they ex-
pected to intimidate or drive away in
dismay the foreigners.
The turning point Of the river was
almost reached, and when at distance
of about $50 yards from the shore, a
stream of fire poured from the large
fort, followed in few moments, by a
discharge of the guns from the forts on
the right hand. The launches were at
once turned bows on the main fort, and
their guns quickly replied, while the
Polos and Monocacy, coming up on a
five-not tide, quickly ratified away over
the heads of the fotllla with their s.
inch rihed guns. Lieut.. Commander
Rockwell, with the Polos, made splen-
did practice with his bow gun, while
Capt. McCrea, who followed in the
Monocacy, gave the enemy the full
benefit of his broadside battery. at close
quarters, so close, indeed, that the YES
sci grazed some hidden rocks which for
med reef Just above the bend Of the
river. Notwithstanding the accident.
WHlCH lSpldCCti nun l'i'tlN anu
caused leak, the Monocacy kept up a
steady, we'll directed fire until the forts
were silenced.
During the action there was little or
no breeze, and the thick smoke from
the shore and river almost hid the
combatants. At intervals, however,
there was noticed the red sand with the
mortar from the walls flying off in
clouds as the shells burst in the works,
and in ten minutes from the commence
ment of the firing, the Coreans were
driven back, helter-skelter, over the
hill. Admiral Rogers had said before
the surveying party left his ships, Don't
fire unless you are fired upon; but if
you are fired upon don't be the first to
stop firing" There were no orders
given to land, so that after Capt. Blake
had satisfied himself as to the discom-
future of the enemy, the gunboats and
launches were ordered to move around
the bend of the river and anchor short
distance above the scene of action.
The only casualties reported were on
the Alaska's launch. sailor was IN
the act of pointing a howtzer when a
ball struck him on the side of the head