New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-08-23
WHOLE NUMBER 1886.

commanding the channel past this point,
| and protecting the approaches to the fort
| from the water on the front.
As this was the grand object of the attack,
| it was determined to land several miles
below and take it in the rear Accordingly.
when the boats reached the first fort, about
| two miles below the point above mentioned,
! the Monocacy aud Palos opened fire on it
| with vigor, but the Palos unfortunately rum
ming on a rock, was held fast there, and her
| effectiveness impaired for awhile. The
Monocacy's fire continued, silencing the fort
and driving in it's defenders, and under
cover of this fire the smaller boats, which
had been tcwed up by the Palos, cast off
and rowed rapidly to the beach and landed
portion OF the force designated to operate
by land.
The landing was effected in good order
and without difficulty, but the men had
then to toll through some two hundred
| yards of mud from one to two feet deep,
and over sluices in some parts much deeper,
before reaching good, firm dry land.
This done, the first fort was easily occu
pied, its defenders having been silenced
by the fire from the Monocacy and Palos,
and retreated on the approach of the skir-
mlsh line OF marines, who were thrown out
Ill advance of the attacking party, firing q
few harmless shots as they fed. Night
now coming on, the whole land force bivou-
acked till next morning, posting strong
guards in advance.
On Sunday, the eleventh instant, the
whole expedition moved forward on the
next fort, and took it without resistance
They then extended their line across the
peninsula, and advanced ON the main fort.
called by the French Fort d'ElbGuf, from
its being located in the bend or elbow of
the river. This being a place of great
strength, and the way of approach ex-
tremely rough and difficult, some time was
necessary to get the whole force up into
position, when the order was given to
charge.
About half-past ten our whole line went
with rush and yell, which was responded
to by the death wall or war whoop of the
Coreans in tie fort. The Coreans here
made a firm stand and desperate resistance,
firing their clumsy gingals with great cool
ness and deliberation at our men as they
charged up the hill then fighting hand to
hand with long spears and swords.
When the forts had been stormed and
our men were inside the ramparts, Lieu
tenant Mckee, of Kentucky, who led the
charge into the fort, was the first TO enter,
and fell fighting bravely, being over
whelmed and borne down by superior
numbers. Two hundred and forty-three
dead Coreans were found in the fort and
several prisoners taken, among whom was
the deputy commander-in-chief, who was
wounded.
Our own loss was Lieutenant Hugh
Mckee, Seth Allen, ordinary seamen of the
Colorado. and private Hourahan, of the
marine corps killed. Several were wounded,
including Based, assistant surgeon Z. j.
s. Wells, of the Colorado.
After the capture, the destruction of the
forts was Immediately begun. The houses
were fired, the works and guns destroyed,
and the magazine exploded. All the wounded
Coreans were taken 10 the Monocacy.
The land force encamped in the neighbor-
hood of the fort of the fight of the eleventh,
and early next morning took up their line
of march to the feet, the object of the expe-
dition having been fulfilled; namely, aveng-
ing the insult to the American flag on the
first of June.