New-York tribune., 1871-07-27
COREh.
LETTER FROM A CITIZEN OF PITTSBURGH WHO
PARTICIPATED IN THE LATE NAVAL ENGAGE


Correspondence Of The Pias6rgh Gazae
u. s. STORE-SHIP IDAHO, YOKOHAMA, Japan,
June 2l-You have, by this time, received telegraphc
accounts OF the fight which took place on the
forces comprising the Asiatie fleet, under the
command OF Rear-Admiral John Rogers, United
tailed account Of the operations. Ordered out 10 this
station the Colorado, Admiral Rogers's flagship, and
after arrival In the East attached 10 the MOnOcacy, the
vessel which took the most prominent part IN the
fight June am Of m eoGr9e, 5 q amhar n adot Ed;n %1I
Nagasaki, Japan, TO the Corea, two days previous to
Dcer %ST ret1rn r TO- the United states The vessels OF the
mSdez yous ON The sth of May They consisted of the
Colorado steam frigate 5000 tuns and 30 guns, Capt
mjTaI's 19g: the Alaska Il guns Commander Blake
Benecjo. "a Guns. 'Commander Kimberly; Monocacy
Commander McCrea 10 guns; Palos, guns Lieut. Com
condition; months Of active and incessant drills had
wrought the crews OF the iir yag9n1 Ves1GS up aP
cheney; exercises embarkng, dlsembark-
ing, firing &C., were had daily, b. fact every
demanded. Minister Low. Ex-Governor or California,
who represents our nation at the Imperial Court Of
Pen went on board the hag-ship on the day Of sailing
short but bosterous voyage OF two days from Shang-
the OF Nagasak Japan This harbor, it will
be remembered, was the first OF the Japanese ports
expedition although the Dutch for more than 200 years
before that time had held here restricted trade with She
naturally that ever saw-deep, long, and narrow, with
precptOus Cliffs covered with the most lovely foliage
where about the entrance shut IL out that IL Is hard to
De found by the experienced navigator. 1t had
NagasaH would be the place Of meeting, not only from
the safety Of anchorage. bn being within easy COM
muncatOn OF the spot in Corea where the vessels
to 90, and the prevailing wind would also allow them
from this point an easy passage over. ,,o--
manderin hief at this place, lett the MonOcacy At
that time nothing delayed the departure of the fleet but
the cOaing of the latter vessel which then in
gress In the harbor of Nagasak at this me beside our
own fleet, there we're several other national vessels OF
no Essi sifzh Erpu
pntionaI prde that we should have taken the Initiative
again, az we had done in the opening OF Japan and
particularly we had neither asked fornOr desired
any cooperation admiral Rodsers desired th4t n, tfs
ourselves. His object was simple ana peacefu one
to negoaf possible Ta % ts fS Sass i. SSTe@ Co6
dore Perry's noted treaty OF kanagawa with
Japan falling IN and ms .eorcs 20 6s 96SSe m ss sborHs
COrea that vessels trading to the northern Chi
ous and reacherous reefs which stretch far out from the
western shores of this peninsula To carry ont this IN
enGn @ Tss ss mogS o the RSngbo Ryer This river
emptes into the Yellow Sea about 81 30 \. Up this
the French call IT, seoul and by which name II Is more
generally known 20 fOreigners), the capital OF Corea
tied the Corea 1866 the spot where fleet is
at present anchored. The Winter season coming on,
thew accomplished nothing except an accurate survey OF
the month and nortious of the river giving names to all
the principal points. Whether the less viyacous but
determined American will succeed better remains
on the 10th of May the feet left Nagasak for their des
nation Before departing they sent on shore from the
flagship four Coreans who bad been received from the
U Consulate ut Shanghai. who had been picked at
sea by OF merchant vessels Admiral Rodgers
detained the shipwrecked mariners aboard his vessel
thinking az of taking them back TO their native land
turn them cOnciatOry act to the authorities
but learning from undOubted that the ,ocals
OF COrea would, If they returned, conduct them
down the beach, in the of the vessels and
heads. he humanely determined them
ashore in Nagasak and allow them by their own means
to work their way back 20 the inhOsptable
land which claimed them subjects. Aboard the Colo
RADIO great deal at Shanghai, China had good view
Of themOi fine physique, long, black straight hair and
the darkest they resemble in many respects the
North American Indian-they behaved with the utmost
and stOicsm when first brought aboard the
ship expecting In cOnsonance with the DracOnIc code Of
their country, to be at executed, making
motions to this effect with their hands across their
throat. When assured OF their safety, however they
soon threw off all reserve and wandered all the
large vessel examining with childish curiosity the
weapons displayed aboard exchan gng their dngY
yellow paiama suits for the sailor blue, and messed
and berthed with the crew, they became IA
miliar objects to Jack who, TO identify them, had,
crbed their sleeves In white tape letters the
that man wars mans fancy considered appropriate,
such Tar Pot" "Jib Sheet" &c The pons used
by the COreans "A species of old-fashoned, wide
mouthed bunderbusses Pittsburghers viii take civic
pride In the fact that the boilers Of the launches
which worked well in the skirmsh of June l,
made by two well known firms OF the city. am very
respectfully yours, JOHN B. ROBINSON,