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

The first fort was found 10 be deserted,
and the sailors at once comm enced the
work Of It's demolition, throwing the ord
nance over the cliff into the river and
tearing down the walls Of the structure,
which had already been seriously dam
aged by the Monocacy's guns. Night fell,
however, before the task could be COM
pleted, and camp was pitched for the
night within the walls OF the half-de-
stroyed fort. The marines were detailed
for guard duty and established their lines
about half a mile from the camp.
The night passed peacefully enough I'M
I'll about midnight, when a body Of Kor-
cans were discovered creeping through the
paddy fields toward the marines camp in
the road The battle alarm was given
and the marines scare had time to seize
their rifles ere the Koreans were on them.
The fighting was brief. however, and be-
fore the sailors from the fort could reach
the scene the Koreans had been driven
back and were flying through the paddy
fields toward the interior. The enemy's
loss in this sk.rmish was considerable.
but the marines sustained no casualties.
About 2 O'Clock another body Of Koreans
occupied a hill near the marines camp,
but contected themselves with merely FIR
ing an occasional shot and keeping Up an
unearthly bowling, evidently designed TO
strike terror to the hearts of our men,
tired. and were not to be found when
dawn Redeemed the sky
At daybreak the marines broke camp
and advanced on the second redoubt, stu
ated on the top Of a hill half a mile
further UP the river. The fort was found
TO be deserted. the Koreans having left all
their ordnance behind them. The two
forts were thrfstened Marine Redoubts"
and were completely demolished before
the march on the remaining forts was
begun The day was excessively hot, and
the four-mile march to the next fort
promised many hardships The artiller-
lists had succeeded in getting the howit-
zers up by this time and Just before noon
the march was commenced.
While the shore party was engaged in
demolshing the captured forts the Mo-
nocacy carried on a fierce bombardrnent
against the third fort. The Koreans re-
Piled briskly for nearly an hour but the
Monocacy's practice was excellent and the
fort was soon rendered untenable. BY
the time the men were ready to advance
the fort had been almost entirely de-
stroyed and its defenders forced to retire
to the citadel some miles beyond where
II was apparent desperate fight would
occur, as the Monotacy could not reach
II as easily az the other forts. After
making an examination of the fort and
throwing the few remaining guns into the
river. the land party started toward the
citadel
The marching was now exceedingly diff
hcuH The heat was intense, and several
men had already succu,phed to the fierce
rays of the sun. Gulleys Innumerable had
to be crossed. and the work of lowering
the heavy DahlRrens down one precip.-
tous side and then raising them up the
other by means of long ropes was terri
BILE Some OF these gulleys were sixty and
seventy feet deep, and It was hard job
for the men alone to swarm down and up
their steep sides, but 10 carry the howit-
GERS with them was apparently super
human task. The men accomplished IL
splendidly, however and in compa ratively
short time, for they were before the cita-
del by 4 o'clock
The marines were in the advance with
their lines covering n wide stretch of ter
ritory, and at almost every turn of the
path were uncovering small bodies Of
Koreans concealed in clumps OF wood and
shrubbery. The fighting was almost con-
tinuous all along the route to the citadel
and the marines behaved themselves in
the same splendid manner that they did in
Cuba. The Workmanship OF the Koreans
was wretched, however and the marines
practically no casualties, though
the road was strewn with the bodies of
Koreans. bearing mute witness 10 the eff
fectiveness OF the salt water soldiers FIRE
About half the distance to the citadel
had been covered when large forces of
Koreans were discovered among the hills
to the rear and some distance inland
Lieut. Commander Wheeler was at once
detailed with three companies OF sailors
acting as infantry. and five howitzers az
a rear guard TO check the advance of the
who were estimated to number
about 400. lie marched a short distance
inland and took up a naturally strong
position on ridge over which the Kor-
cans must pass. Light earthworks were
Immediately thrown up and the guns
placed in position. This had scarcely been
accomplished before the Korean army
was upon them, After a slight ext hange
OF shots the Koreans charged In a sold
mass. but were driven back with heavy
loss. -Four times more did they charge on
the ridge held by Lieut.. Wheeler and each
time were they driven back in confusion,
leaving scores of dead and dying on the
soping ground. Finding they could ac-
nothing by these frontal attacks.
the Koreans reformed behind hill and
started toward the river evidently with
the intention OF coming up by the path
over which our men had marched. This
road was considered perfectly safe as
small bodies OF our men had been left on
all the hills formerly occupied by the
forts, and the boat landing was defended
by over 100 men. but Lieut. Wheeler deter
mined 20 leave nothing to chance. the
Koreans ware in such large force, and
abandoning his position on the ridge
marched tack to the road. where he took
up position IN n shallow gully As
Lieut.. whe~ler had SurInisei. the Kor-
cans attempted 20 come IN by this road
but found themselves between the Are %
Lieut.. wheelera men and that 81 the men
on the hili occupied ny the third fort
which had been given the name OF Fort
MonocaCy They attempted 20 make n
stand but ware soon routed and driven
from the field in utter confusion. lieut.
Wheeler followed them as far as he
deemed advisable and broke Mp the army
Meanwhile the main body Of men num-
herring about an sailors and lc) marines
had reached the citadel and were taking
up positions around 81 preparatory TO the
attack. This citadel at KanEhoR was CON
sidercd tho strongest tortlhcation IN all
Korea. and occupied a peculiar formation
~ ground II was on top OF an elevation
flIv 100 feet p XII and whose sides were