Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-07-18
THE COREAN FIGHT.


American at Shanghai having been brought
there by the Palos, which left Corea June Sd
to get stores and bring up some eight inch
guns from the arsenal. The fleet arrived at
Jerome Gulf May 50th, and reported ten days
surveying of the channels between various
islands, finally coming to anchor at point
designated in French charts as the Isle of
Boese. For three days the surveying party
were away, and during that time met some
natives who sent off communication asking
where we were from, and hoping we were
well. On Monday of this week number O
Coreans of the third and fifth rank came OF
board the Colorado where they were received
by Gov. Lows interpreters and shown abou
the Colorado, and distinctly told. that VI
meant to send surveying party up the river
and that we should not attack or modest then
in any way, without they first assaulted us
| They expressed themselves now committed
and were glad to know that our mission was
peaceful and appeared to be satisfied. Or
Thursday the Monococy and Palos with foul
steam launches, two from the Colorado and
others from the Alaska and Benecia, lief,
about half-past ten in the morning to 60 up
and pass Kanghoucan Island, at the mouth
of the river Salee. The boat parties were
armed with cutlasses, pistols and Remington
rifles. The Benecia launch carried a twenty.
four FOUNDER in the bow, and the others Il
Founders, all having good supply of shell,
canister and schraphel. Awaiting themselves
| of food tide the launches went ahead up
Konghorn river, sounding as they proceeded,
the Palos and Monocacy following at con-
vcnient distances.
The boats which were unmolested for some
time, prosecuted their work regularly on the
river, which is here quite mile wide. The
day was bright and pleasant and all went
well till they approached narrow portion Of
the river, about ten miles from the Colorado.
Here a great turnout of white coated Coreans
was noticed on bluff of the west bank, with
flags flying and presenting quite a martial
| array. nearerview indicated their number
to be about 2000 men, clothed in the costume
| of the country, which is a white coat, not un-
like the present equipance overcoat, white
pojimas tied at the ankle, with white socks,
and light summer shoes such as are worn by
the Chinese. There were two radstone forts
visible, one on each bank, apparently armed
with upwards of 60 Is Founders, guarding a
| narrow passage or bend fthe river.
| The one on the right bank was the smaller
of the two, and was not noticed at all during
| the engagement, except by shell or two
sent to find if anybody was stirring therein !;
but the main fort, built upon the bank, and
rising nearly one hundred feet from the
waters edge, was evidently the standpoint
of the Coreans, and from which they expect
| ed to intimidate or drive away in dismay the
foreigners. The launches kept steadily at
their business, without needing the spectacle
presented on the bank. The Benecia's
launches in the meanwhile dropped astern,
owing to her leak line fouling her screw, SO
that when the surveying party opposite the
| fort she was nearly two miles off. Mr.. Cowle
took good observation of the Coreans, and
counted more than thirty-six guns in position,
and noticed countless numbers of gingalls
| carried by two men each. These last, with
| the hammered men, helped to swell the array,
which was formed upon the side and top OF
| the hill, behind a stone wall.
The turning point of the river was now al
most reached and when at distance of about
one hundred and fifty yards from the shore
a stream of fire was poured from the large
fort, followed in a few moments by dis
| charge of guns from the fort on the right
bank.
The launches at once turned their guns on
the main fort, and their guns quickly replied,
while the Palos and Monocacy, coming up on
a five-knot tide, ratified away over their
heads of the flotila with their eight-inch
riled guns. Lieut.. Commander Rockwell,
with the palos, made splendid practice with
| the bow guns, while Capt. McCrea, who fol-
lowed in the Monoeacy, gave the enemy the
full benefit of his broadside battery at close
quarters-sO close that the vessel grazed
some hidden rocks which formed reef above
the bend in the river.
Notwithstanding the accident, which dis
placed an iron plate and caused leak, the
Monocacy kept up steady and well directed
fire until the forts were silenced. During
the action there was little or no breeze, anC
the thick smoke from the shore and river
almost hid the combatants.
At intervals, however, there was noticed
red sand with mortar from the walls flying of
in clouds as the shells burst in the works
and in ten minutes from the commencement
of the firing the Coreans were driven bach
heller skelter over the hills.
Admiral Rogers had said, before the sur
veying party started, "Do not fire until 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.
Fiske had satisfied himself as to the discom-
future of the enemy, the gunboats and launch
! es were ordered to move around the bend in
| the river and anchor a short distance above
the scene of action. The only casualty re-
ported was on the Alaska's launch. A sailor
was in the act of pointing the howitzer, when
ball struck him on the side of the head and
| shoulders. Another had two of his fingers
cut off by the recoil of gun.
| IL seeIls stTdnge, WIFI tile Hot, Close Hrlug
on the part of the Coreans, that such a small
damage should result but it is believed that
this fortunate issue for the boat was owing to
the large guns on the fort being elevated too
much. The gunboats and launches were all
more or less struck by the balls and many
narrow escapes took place, but fortunately
none were badly hit. After the boats had
rounded the point, the Coreans returned to
their guns and were in time to open fire upon
the launch of the Benecia, which, as before
stated, was delayed and left behind
Master Schroeder, in charge of the launch,
did not hesitate to force passage against all
odds and join his companions, and as soon as
the fire from the fort was delivered coolly
returned the fire and pushed on up the river.
At slack water the boats were headed down
the stream again, but before they started on
their return to the squadron few shells were
judiciously fired over the hill into the fort
This procedure settled the affairs for that
day.
The Coreans finding their fort of no use,
even though the Yankees were round the
corner and out of sight concluded to evacu-