The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1871-07-17
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Corean Affairs.
| The following details of the Curehn fight, Of
| winch snort account was telegraphed j une
| 10Th, was received by the steamship America
| at ohanghae having been brought thther by
the falos, which lett Corea June Sd, to get
stores and bring up some eight inch guns
| from the Ashuelot.
The fleet arrived at Jerome Gulf Nav Goth.
| and reported ten days surveying of the chan
nels between the various islands, finally COM
| ing to anchor at point designated in French
| charts as Isle of Boisse for three days. The
| surveying party away during that time, met
some natives, who sent off a Communication
| asking where we were from and hoping we
| were well.
On Monday of this week "a number of Coreans
of third and fifth rank, came aboard the Col
| orado, where they were received by Governor
Lows Interpreters and shown about the Col.
| orado and distinctly told that we meant to
send a surveying party up the river, and that
our mission was peaceful and that we should
not attack or modest them in any way unless
they first assaulted us. .4
They expressed themselves now committed
and were glad to know that our mission was
ptdCtIut anu dppedTtu W Do Ou
Thursday the Monocacy and Palos, with four
steam launches, two from the Colorado and
others from the Alaska and Benecia, left about
halfpast ten in the morning to go up and pass
Kaughoucan Island, at the mouth of the River
Salee. The survey party from the Monocacy,
under Capt. Crea, numbered 40, and that
from the Palos, under Commander Rockwell,
numbered 30. The launches were manned by
II men each. Capt. Homer q. Blake was on
the Palos Accompanying the expedition
were MIR. Caule, Private Secretary to Minister
Low on Palos, r. l. McCasIin and Edward III.
Julssburg, Paymaster Spaulding of the Pa
los was with LIT. Totten and Capt. B OsweIl
Ond Mr.. Sassen of the Colorado were with It.
Marsh. The boat parties were armed with
cutlasses, pistols, and Remington rifles. The
Benecia launch carried a 24-pownder bow and
the others - Founders, all having good sup
plyO shell, annister and scrapnel Awaiting
themselves of the food tide, the launches went
ahead up the Konghorn River, sounding as
they proceeded. The Paos and Monocacy
following at convenient distances The boats,
which were unmolested for some time, prose-
cuted their work regularly on the river which
is here quite mile wide. The day was bright
and pleasant, and all went well till they ap-
preached narrow portion of the river, about
ten miles from the Colorado. Here great
turnout of white coated Coreans was noticed
on a bluff of the west bank, with flags flying
and presenting quite martial array. A near
er view indicated their number to be about
1000 mer. clothed in a costume of the country
which is white coat not unlike tile present
European overcoat, white pajamas tied at the
ankle, with white socks and light summer
shoes, such as are worn by the Chinese.
There were two red stone forts visible one
on each side OF the bank, apparently armed
with upwards of SO 1S-pounders guarding
narrow passage or bend of the river. The one
on the right bank was the smaller of the two.
and was not noticed at all during the engage
ment except by shell or two sent to find if
anybody was stirring therein, but the main fort
built upon the bank and rising nearly 100 feet
from the waters edge, was evidently the stand
point of the Coreans and from which they ex-
pected to intimidate or drive away in dismay
the foreigners. The launches kept steadily at
their business without needing the spectacle
presented on the bank. The Benecia's launch
head line 1ouling her crew, so that when the
surveying party came opposite the fort she
was nearly two miles Off Mr.. COwle took a
good observation of the Coreans and counted
more than Sc guns in position and noticed
countless numbers of gingalls carried by two
men EACH These last with the hammered men
helped to swell the array which was formed
upon the side and to poi the hill behind a stone
wall. The turning point of the river was now
almost reached, and when at a distance of
about $50 yards from the shore stream of
fire was poured from the large fort. followed in
a few moments by discharge of the guns
from the fort on the right bank. The launches
at once turned the bows on the main fort and
their guns quickly replied, while the Palos
and Monocacy, coming upon five knot tide,
ratified away over the heads of the flot.lla with
their 8-inch rif1ed guns.
Lieut. Commander Rockwell with the Palos
make splendid practice with the bow guns,
while Capt. McCrea, who followed in the Mon
aauA thA AsAA..Au- ihA-fnll benefit at- his
brdadside battery at close quarters; so close
that the vessel grazed some hidden rocks which
formed a reef above the bend in the river
Notwithstanding this accident, which displac-
ed iron plate and caused a leak, the Monocacy
kept up steady and well directed fire till the
forts were silenced. During the action there
was little or no breeze, and the thick smoke
from the shore and river almost hid the COM
batants.
AT intervals, however, there was noticed red
sand with mortar from the walls flying off in
clouds as shells burst in the works, and in ten
>;,,r,< &l,a Ct:
Coreans were driven back heller SHELTER over
the hills. Admiral Rogers had said before the
surveying party started, "Do not fire until you
are fred upon; but if you are fired upon don't
be the first to stop firing" There were no or
ders given to land, so that after Capt. Blake
had satisfied himself as to the discontinue of
the enemy the gunboats and launches were or
dered to move round the bend of the river and
anchor short distance above the scene of &C.
ton. The only casualties reported was on
AIaska's launch. A sailor was in the act of
pointing the howitzer when ball struck him
in the side of the head and shoulders. Anoth-
er had two of his fingers cut off by the recoil
a gun. 1t seems strange that with the close
firing on the part of the Coreans that such a
small damage should result, but it is believed
that this fortunate issue for the boats was ow-
ing to the large guns on the forts being elevat-
ed too much. The gunboats and launches
wore all more or less struck by balls, and many
narrow escapes took place. but fortunately
none were badly hit. After the boats had
rounded the point the Coreans returned again
to their guns and were in time to open fire
upon the launch of the Benecia, which, as be-
fore stated, was delayed and left behind. Mas
ter Schroeder, in charge of the LAUNCH, did not
hesitate to force a passage against all edds
and join his companions and as soon as the
| fire from the fort was delivered, coolly re-
turned the fire and pushed on up the river. At
slack water the boats were headed dowa
stream again, but before they started on their
! return to the squadron few shells were judic-
| iously thrown over the hill into the fort
This procedure settled affairs for that day.
| The Coreans finding their forts Of no use even
though the Yankees were round the corner
and out ofsight, concluded to evacuate. They
were seen marching out of their works in sie-
| gle file and making short route to the woods
| in the rear. The work of the surveying party