The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-05-13

without the aid of which our men could
never have carried the position, for to
scale those absolutely perpendicular walls
of earth and masonry would have been
an utter impossibility. AS the Monocaty
ceased firing the order to advance was
given by Lieut.. Schley, and the sailors
and marines were over the ridge and
descending the precipitous slope ere the
sound Of his voice had died away. The
Koreans kept up a steady fire. but our
fellows went on coolly down the slope,
across the bare valley, and then COM
mented the ascent of the cliffs as though
the bullets were mere drops of rain The
ascent Of the cliffs was made by means
OF the projecting rocks and shrubbery
which grew plentffully on the sides. AS
our men continued to advance the Kor-
cans discontinued their firing and COM
menced to roll huge stones down the cliff.
Lieut.. Hugh Mckee was the first to reach
the top and as he sprang into a breach in
the walls just a few feet ahead of Lieut..
Schley he was killed by a spear thrust In
the chest. Lieut. Schley leaped to avenge
him. The Korean made a thrust at
Schley with his spear, which luckily
passed between his arm and side. and be-
fore the native could recover Schley
cracked his skull with the butt of his
revolver. The men were now swarming
over the sides of the citadel, and a des-
perate hand-to-hand struggle took place,
which was Of short duration, however.
for the natives were soon driven from the
fort and attempted to make their escape
inland, but were intercepted by the flying
squadron and driven toward the river,
along the bank Of which they succeeded in
esq aping to the earthworks on Point Sum
tolmok.
All the casualties we sustained during
the entire campaign were received in this
attack on the citadel Besides Lieut..
~ Lat
rine and had ten men wounded, all of
whom recovered from their injuries. The
Koreans lost 243 men, whose bodies were
counted in the fort eighty pieces OF ord
nance; hfty-one standards. including that
Of a generalissimo; an immense supply of
stores OF all kinds, all of which were
burned or otherwise entirely destroyed.
After short rest the entire command
moved on the earthworks at Suntolmok
which were speedily abandoned by the
Koreans, though not soon enough to pre-
vent us capturing about twenty prisoners
As these comprised all the fortifcations
around Kanghoa, and almost entirely
cleared the way to Seoul. as soon as the
command had destroyed them and burned
all the buildings and stores the expedition
was ordered on board the Monocafy and
the remaining launches The embarka-
ton was soon completed and before night
had fallen all the men on shore were on
board the Monocacy or in the boats and
moving down stream to rejoin the fleet
after a forty-eight hours campaign, the
br.liancy OF which was out of all pro-
portion to its duration.
Within two days, with only a COMPARE
lively small number of men, the largest
number engaged in any one operation
against the enemy not having numbered
more than 500 We had captured five forts
fought two pitched battles inflicted loss
upon them that was estimated at not less
than 1000 killed. captured 4l pieces of
ordnance, comprising many pieces of large
caliber. captured ffty-one standards and
destroyed an almost inestimable amount
of supplies Of all kinds. And the Koreans
fought well too. OF course, their aban-
donment of two positions some critics
might urge against them but in the first
case It WAS done clearly for strategic rea-
sons. as an analysis OF the campaign will
show: and in the second, when they were
clearly m no place to make n stand ex-
posed as they were in the earthworks to
A fire from the citadel which rendered their
position entirely unterable. In their fight
with Lieut.. Wheeler and in the defense Of
the citadel they were as brave and as
courageous as any troops In the world
would have been.
1t has been Admiral Rodgers intention
TO proceed to Seoul, hut after confer
ence with Mr.. Low II was decided that
such an expedition would simply mean a
useless sacrifice of life. as the Koreans
had already been sufficiently punished for
their insult TO our flag, and Mr.. Low did
not care TO accomplish his mission by
force. On July 3. therefore the fleet
weighed anchor and returned to Cheefoo.
Samuel Elmer Taylor in St. Louis Globe
Democrat.