The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-07-17
THE WAR in THE COREA.
Details Of the Fight Between the Gun-
). boats and the Forts.
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COREAN STRATEGY.
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An Unexpected BrOadside Opeasd Upon the
Yankee Launches.
GALLANT RETURN FIRE.
Forcing a Passage Between the
Two Forts.
The CCreanS Discounted Eyacuate
Their StrOnghOldS.
GALLANT RETURN FIRE.
The CCreanS Discounted Eyacuate
Their StrOnghOlds.
SAN FRANCISCO, July Is. 1871,

The following is special account of the Corean
hght received by the steamship America at Shanghai
having been brought thither by tue Palos, which
lett the Corca on June 8 10 get stores and bring
UP some eight-inch guns from che Ashuelot:-
ARRIVAL OF THE FLEET.
The feet arrived at Jerome cur MAY 20 and re-
ported ten days surveying OF the channels between
the various islands, finally coyalng to anchor at
point designated In the French charts isle BOisee
for three days.
Peaceful. COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE CoREANs.
A surveying party away during that time
some natives, who sent Off a communication asking
where we were from and hoping we were well. ON
Monday OF this week number Of Coreans Of the
third ana fifth rank came aboard the Colorado.
where they were received by Governor LOWS inter-
prefers They were shown about the Colorado, and
distinctly told thar we meant TO send a surveying
party up the river and thar mission was peace
full. and that we should not attack MODEST them
IN hny way unless they first assaulted u.s. They eX-
pressed themselves nOn-committal. and were glad
TO know our mission was peaceful, and rs | be-
ueyed, we're satisfied.
THE REcoNNOIssANcE Up TUE RIVER.
On Thursday the Monocacy and Paos with four
steam launches-two from the Colorado, the Others
from the Alaska and Benicia--leir about hali-pasr
ten O'Clock A NJ. to so up to aud pass Kaughoa, an
island ut the mouth Of the River Saee, ana survey.
Tue party lIOiu lue MONuCuCN. uuucr ShptiiH
McCrea. numbered 10, and that from the Palos.
under Commander Rockwell, fiiy The launches
were manned by eleven men each. Captain Homer
U. Blake was on the Palos. Accompanying the ex-
petition Mr.. Cowe, private secretary to Minis
ter Low. on the Palos; Messrs r. J. McCaslin and
Edward IL. Julsburg. Paymastcr Spauldng, OF the
Palos, was with Lieutenant Totem, and Captain
Boswell ana Mr.. Slassen, OF the Colorado, were with
Lieutenant Mead.
THE ARMS OF THE BOAT PARTIES.
The boat parties were armed with cutiasses, pis-
tolls ana Remington rifles. The Bencia launch
carried twcnty-.our FOUNDER in the bow; the
Others provided with twelve Founders. all hav-
ing good supply of She'll carlsier and shrapnel
Awaiting themselves OF the noou tide, the launches
went ahead, abreast up the Kaugnoa River, sound
ing as they proceeded, the Pao5 and Monocacy fol-
lowing at u convenient distance.
MEETING THE ENEMY.
The boats, which were unmoested for some time
prosecuted their work regularly the river winch
IS here aalte mile In width The day was bright
and pleasant and all went well till they approached
the narrow portion Of the river, about ten miles
from the Colorado.
THE COREAN UNIFORM.
Here q great turn out of white.coated Coreans
noticed bluff or the left bank, with nags flying
and presenting quite a>martia array. nearer
view indicated their numbers TO be about two
thousand men, clothed in the costume Of the coun-
try, which is a white coat-not unlike the present
European overcoat-white pajamas tied at the
ankle, with white socks ana light summer shoes,
such worn by the Chinese.
THE HOSTILE FORTS.
There were two red stone forts visible, one on
each bank. apparently armel with upwards Of
Bixty-nine eighteen Founders, and guarding the
narrow passage or bend Of the river. The one on
the right bank was tile smaller OF the two
and was not noticed at all during the engage
ment except by q shell or two, sent TO find out If
anybody was stirring therein. But the main
fort built upon bank rising nearly a
hundred feet from the waters edge, was evil
IDENTITY the strong point of the Coreans and from
which they expected to intimidate or drive away In
dismay the foreigners. The launches kept steadily
at their business without needing the spectacle pre-
scented on the bank. The Benlca launch mean
while dropped astern, owing to her lead line fOullng
her screw, so that when the surveying party came
opposite the fort she was nearly two miles oil.
TIE CoREAN ARMAMENT
Mr., COwle took goOr observation Of the Coreans,
and counted more than thirtysiX guns IN position,
besides there we're seen countless numbers OF GIN
gals, carried by two men each. These last with
ine hammered men, helped to swell the array which
formed upon the side and top OF the hill, behind the
stone wall
A MURDEROUs ATTACK
The turai ~ point of the river now almost
reached, and when at q distance OF about one hun
dred and fifty yards from the shore stream of fire
was poured from the large fort followed In few
moments by discharge Of guns from the fort on the
right bank. The launches at once turned their
bows on the man fort, and their guns quickly re-
piled, while the Palos and Monocacv coming upon
fve.knot tide ratified away over the heads Of the 40
tilla with their eight-incn rined guns. Lieutenant
Commander Rockwell, with the Palos, made
splendid practice with the bow guns, while Captain
McCrea, VINO followed In the Monocacy, gave the
enemy full benefit Of his broadsde battery at
CLOSE QUARTERS.
so close that the vessel grazed some hidden rocks
which formed a reef above the bend OF the river.
Notwithstanding this accident which displaced an
iron plate and caused leak, the M0nocacy kept up
y steady and well directed fire until the forts were
eilenccd. During the action there was little or no
breeze, and the thick smoke from the shore ana tile
river almost hid the combaans. At Intervals, how
ever, there was noticed red sand with mortar from
the walls dying Off In clouds as the shells burst IN
the works, and in ten minutes from the commence.
ment or the firing the Coreans driven back
helter-skeltcr over the hills.
ADMIRAL RODGERS ORDERS.
Admiral Rodgers had said, before the surveying
party started "Do not fire until you are fired upon
but II you are fired upon don't be the first to stop
firing"
There were no orders given to land, so that after
Captain Blake had satisfied himself as TO the ais
comfture OF the enemy the gunboats and launch es
were ordered to move round the bend Of the river
and anchor short distance above the scene OF
action.
THE ONLY CASUALTIES
reported were on the Alaskas launch. A sailor
was in the act OF pointing the howtzer when bali
STRUCK him OH the side OF the head and shoulder
Another mad two fingers cut or by the iecoil
of gun. IL seems strange that with tn hot,
close firing on the part OF the Coreans such small
damage should result, but it is believed that this
fortunate issue for the boats was owing to the
larger guns on the fort being elevated too much.
The Qunllnais md iaunchas xxnrc alI Inore los