Worcester daily spy., 1871-07-17

the stand point Of the Koreans, and from which
they expected to iIitii6idate or drive away in
dsmay the foreigners. The lsunches kept
steadily at their business, without hseding the
spectacle on the bank.
file Benecla launch, meanwhile, dropped
astern, owing to lief leak line iouling her screw,
so that when the surveying party, came oppo-
site the fort, she was nearly two miles off, Mr..
Cowle took a good observation OF the Koreans,
afid counted more than thirty-siX guns IN posi-
ton, and Noticed countless numbers of glngalls
carried by two htefI each. These last, with
hammered men, helped t0 swell the array, which
formed upon the side and top OF the hill behind
the stone wall The turning point Of the river
was now almost reached, and when at DIS
tauce Of about $50 yards from the shore, Il
stream of fire was poured from the large fort,
followed in few moments by n discharge OF
guns from the fort on the right bank.
The launches at once turned their bows on the
main fort and their guns quickly replied, while
the PaloS and MOnocacy, coming up on hYe-
knot tidei ratified away over the heads OF the
iotla with their eightineh riAed guns. Lieut.
Com Rockwell Witt the Palos, made splendid
practice with the bow guns, while Capt. McCrea,
who followed, in the Monocacy, gave the enemy
tile full benefit of his broadside battery, at close
1HattetSi so close that the vessel grazed some
hddett roeks which formed reef above the bend
in the river Notwithstanding this accident,
which displaced the iron plate aud caused a leak,
-
fire, until the forts were sienced. During the
actior there was little or no breeze, and the
thick snoBe from she shore and the river almost
hid the combatadts.
At intervals, however, II was noticed that red
sand, with mortar from the walls; was 3ying Oft
hi clouds, as the shells burst in the works, and,
in ten iiifliutgs from the commencement Ot~the
firing, the Koreans were driven back, helter
skelter, over the hills. Admiral Rodgers had
said before the surveying party; "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. Blake had satisfied himself as to the dis
comhture of the enemy, the gunboatS and
launches were ordered to move rodnd the bend
OF The liver, and anchor a short distance above
| the scene OF action.
The only casualties reported were on the
Alaska's launch. A sailor VAS in the act of
pointing the howtzer when ball struck him
on the side of the head and shoulders. Another
laid Two fingers cut off Dy the recoil of Il gun. II
seems sttaHGs With hot, close firing on the part
of the Koreans, that stci small damage should
result, but it is believed this fortunate issue
for the boats was owing to the larger guns on
| the fort being elevated too much. The gun
| boats and launches were all more or less struck
| by balls and many narrow escapes took place,
but fortunately ti0Ile we're badly hit. After the
| boats had routlded the point the Koreans re-
| turned again TO their guS, dfld 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
hot Hesitate to force a passage against all odds
| and join his companions.
As soon as the fire ffoth tile fort was deliver
| ed he 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 iudlciously thrown over the hill into the
fort. This procedure settled affairs for that day
The Koreans, finding their forts of no use even
| though the Yankees were round a corner and
| out of sight, concluded to evacuatc. They were
seen marching out of their works, in single file,
| and making short route to the woods in the
rear. The work of the surveying party being
| concluded, the vessels returned TO the squadron
| without further mOlestaton.
At Yokohama it is reported that during the
fight note, signed by the chief counsellor of
the king, was sent to the boats by messenger,
| which stated that the Koreans refused to hold
| any intercourse whatever with foreign nations,
and that the crew of the foreign ship General
| Sherman, were put TO death under the laws of
the land, because they were guilty of piracy and
murder after they had been shipwrecked. Our
vessels returned to anchorage after receiving
this letter and taking as clear survey of the
| forts as possible. Admiral Rodgers now awaits
| further instructions from Washington.