The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-07-24
miles above the last named fort Is place marked
on the French chart

miles above the last named fort Is aplace marked
on the French chart
'DIFFIcrLr PASSAGE"
Here peninsula about one hundred and lfty feet
high projects In the form OF horseshoe into the
river, while from It's base shoai ledge OF rocgs
nearly hall way across the stream. AS the launches
approached this place IL was observed that at a
height OF about one hundred feet above the river
there was crenelatea wall from embrasures In
which were seen the muzzles OF from forty to fifty
guns. Above this battery tho hill narrowed as It
rose till IL ended In nat circular top about forty
feet In diameter. Around this there ran wall
about six feet high. awning the top ofwnich
transformed the place into rent from the centre OF
which rose pole ON which was noating large
yellow flag. the characters on which were inter
preted to mean ,4tu
'THE OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES"
Between this tent and the battery below were
observed large numbers of s0ldisrs bearing match
locks and displaying an immense array OF Gags. At
q moderate estimate there were not less than 2.0oo
and the demonstration seemed intended to induce
the surveying party to retire.
The launches, however, steamed on, and as they
began to sweep round the bend OF the river caused
by the projection Of the peninsula they observed on
the mainland on their right small fort so situated
that It's fire would converge with chat from the
noted this Ominous fact when the report OF gun
was heard from the commanders tent on the hill
top. 1t was signal gun. Next moment
FIRE OPENED ON THE UNITED STATES FLOTrLLA
from the mainland and island simultaneously. The
cannon seemed 10 be the old fashioned long small
bOres carrying balls OF six eight lbs. There
seemed to be half q dozen OF them securely fixed
side BY side on log OF wood, and from the stimuli
taneous OF their discharge appeared to have COM
mon tOuchhole After the first startled surprise o
sensation OF eager enthusiasm took possession OF
the surveying party. We ought to have mentioned
that, az the launch Of the Benica was prosecuting
her soundings soon after leaving the anchorage her
lead line got entanged somehow with her screw,
and before 1t could be got clear she four I'VE
miles behind. There were thus only three launches
within range when the Coreans opened fire. They
were about two hundred yards from the island
battery. and only 100 from the one on the mainland
1t seemed as II they must be at once cut to pieces
But saucily they turned their stems TO the hill side
from the battery up to the tent.
RETURNING FIERY COMPLIMENTS.
The Palos and Monocacy had difficulty In coming
into position on the hood tide. but only minute or
TWO elapsed when their eight-nch shells were seen
tearing vast rents IN the wall of the battery and the
flames and smoke Of their explosion inside came
rolling out For ten minutes only the struggle
lasted, and then
BOTH FORTS WERE SILENT.
But from the peculiar style IN which the COrean
guns were lasned together and fired, the fire. while
1t lasted, was SO rapid that the water was dented
with the shot as If gigantic hail shower had been
falling. Captain Blake declared that, though he had
his vessel sunk under him in the late war with the
South, no never Witnessed such tremendous fire.
Aaa let strange e say the casualty Of the survey
ONE MAN WOUNDED.
apparently by gngall ball in the back Of the head
and shoulder-a painful wound, but by no means
dangerous. Another got his fingers accidentally
jammed by the recoil OF hts own gum The fact
seems to be that The Corean guns were fixed to
sweep Q certain point and the launches not happen
ing to pass at that particular spot escaped almost
unscathed. When the SMOKE cleared away
NOT A C0REAN WAS TO BE SEEN.
though the yellow nag still noatcd over the Com.
mander's pavilion. rs
The Monocacy sustained some damage, though not
from the enemy. As she faced round to get her
guns to bear on the Coreans her steering gear got
out Of CONTROL and she drtited by the nood tide
against the edge Of the edge OF rocks mentioned
above as running out from the base OF the penin-
sula. Grazing along this some damage was done TO
her plates and she began to leak. But little tenn
porary arrangement soon made her water Tight and
she followed the Palos and the three launches up
to the northern side OF the peninsula hill, where
they anchored.
aft GALLANT ENSIGN UNDER FIRE.
Much interest was now felt as TO what Ensign
Schroeder, who was In charge OF the Benic las
launch, would do. Would he turn back when he
saw the nghts or would he dare alone TO run the
gauntlet OF the two fortsf Most people
tn9usns sns former: BY! they hao .1 not 60.
wv "nchors down many minutes wnen vile uvu,.
was resolved Schroeder HAD resolved to pass, and
the Coreans, seeing the tiny craft approach pluckcd
p tae courage which the shells had 30 sadly shat.
tc.ed, and again stood to their guns and the rapid
BANG BANGi
told his comrades what was happening. But the
Benicia boys were not content TO merely run the
gauntlet. Schroeder ordered the launch TO be
swung round Till her howitzer bore ON the hill FORT
and giving the C0reans another taste OF shell, ne
passed up and joined his comrades above, with the
launch hit In many places by shot. but no serious
damage, and not one man scratched
At $3.50 r. M. the party weighed anchor and pro.
ceeded down stream.
NOT COREAN WAS TO DE SEEN,
and without further inciient they reached the an.
chorage and reported what had occurred to the Ad-
mral. The latter expressed great satisfaction with
the manner In which they had. conducted them
selves, and especially complimented Ensign schroe
der Wp0n the singular courage he had displayed.
About six p M. general order from the Admiral
directed the squadron to have landing party of $50
men and eight field howitzers ready for action the
next morning But 1t would appear that on further
consideration Admiral Rodgers saw reason to change
his mind. The spring tides then running made the
navigation exceptionally difficult; the Monocacy
needed some repairs; It was important that he and
the Minister should both report what had occurred
TO their government. aud that they should receive
latest advices from home. What had happened made
1t unlikely that they could get either coal or other
necessary stores In Corea ana It possible that
more heightened operations might be necessary than
were originally contemplated. For such reason, at