[KS] Re: 1871 Incident / 2 new articles (full text)

[Jacqueline Pak]

----- Original Message -----
From: Frank Hoffmann <hoffmann at fas.harvard.edu>
To: <korean-studies at mailbase.ac.uk>
Sent: Saturday, May 20, 2000 1:54 PM
Subject: 1871 Incident / 2 new articles (full text)



Richard K. Kolb, 'Tiger Hunt' in Korea. _VFW, Veterans of Foreign
Wars Magazine_, vol. 87, no. 7 (March 2000): 38-39.

David F. Winkler, ³Marine Amphibious Landing in Korea, 1871,² _Sea
Power_, vol. 42, no. 11 (November 1999): 22-? .

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Richard K. Kolb, 'Tiger Hunt' in Korea. _VFW, Veterans of Foreign
Wars Magazine_, vol. 87, no. 7 (March 2000): 38-39.

ABSTRACT:
US merchants in 1871 were as determined to open Korea to commerce as
its rulers were to remain isolated from Western influence. When these
mutually exclusive interests collided, the reaction was violent.
During the 1871 weekend war in Korea, fierce "Tiger Hunters" defended
Korea to the bitter end, earning the respect of hardened US Marines
and sailors.


FULL TEXT OF ARTICLE:

As has so often been the case when East meets West, a collision in
cultures results. Unfortunately, that's exactly what happened 129
years ago in "Corea." a nation that is today one of America's
staunchest allies.
U.S. merchants in 1871 were as determined to open the "Hermit
Kingdom" to commerce as its rulers were to remain isolated from
Western influence. When these mutually exclusive interests collided
the reaction was violent.

DISTURBING THE MORNING CALM
The U.S. Asiatic Squadron, based in Japan, was dispatched to the
"Land of the Morning Calm" to negotiate a treaty of commerce and
friendship, but instead sailed away with tales of a ferocious battle
with diehard warriors.
Soon after some preliminary contacts were made, American naval
vessels were fired upon on May 30. The following day, a surveying
party on the Han River sustained two wounded in another attack.
The squadron's mission quickly changed from one of peace to
retribution, resulting in America's first large-scale amphibious
landing on mainland Asia.
Commanded by Rear Adm. John Rodgers, the Asiatic Squadron comprised a
flotilla of five outmoded ships. Some 1,230 men were aboard those
ships that summer.
Several forts guarded the approaches to the Han River (also known as
the Salee River), which leads to Seoul, and were the kingdom's
strongest. Shore batteries were strategically placed on Kanghwado
Island and had been used effectively against the French five years
before.
Supporting the 651-man landing force-an improvised brigade of 542
bluejackets and 109 Marines-was the 44-gun Colorado and two gunboats,
Monocacy and Palos. The party, accompanied by seven light howitzers,
disembarked from 22 small boats.
Men hit the shoreline on June 10, "sinking up to their thighs, losing
shoes, socks, leggings, and in some instances a part of their pants,"
wrote one participant. The first two fortifications were taken
without much opposition, but the third was a different story.

'BLOOD-CURDLING CADENCE'
Intense fighting occurred at the final and main fortress. The
horseshoe-shaped "Citadel" was located atop a 150-foot conical hill
on Kanghwado Island. Asiatic Squadron Marine Officer Capt. McLane
Tilton remembered "the topography of the country as being
indescribable, resembling a sort of chopped sea, of immense hills and
deep ravines lying in every conceivable position."
Defending these formidable breastworks were 3,000 white-clad troops
under Gen. O Yu-jun, including the fierce "Tiger Hunters"-the elite
of the Korean army. From the Yalu River region, each had killed a
tiger single-handedly and was sworn to fight to the death.
"Shorthairs," as the Koreans contemptuously dubbed all Westerners,
were armed with antiquated .58-caliber muzzle-loading rifled muskets.
But some had new Remington breech-loading rifles. Artillerymen
carried cutlasses and Remington pistols. Most were Civil War veterans
and seasoned campaigners.
Considering the reputation of Korean warriors who were wildly rumored
to cut up and pickle or skin and crucify their enemies, it's no
wonder Tilton wrote, "The consensus of opinion ... was to spare
nothing that could be reached by shot, shell, fire or sword."
As shock troops approached the fort, "The air," reported one Officer,
"seemed literally alive with whistling projectiles." Lt. Hugh W.
McKee, commander of Company D, was the first man over the wall. He
was immediately shot and then stabbed with a spear, dying shortly
thereafter.
Korean battle chants sent shivers down the spines of the Americans.
One bluejacket wrote of "the awful cadence of that blood-curdling
strain. It was like nothing human and rang in our ears longer than
the terrible clashing of bayonet, cutlass and spear."
Bravery, however, was not in short supply. Six Marines and nine
sailors earned the Medal of Honor, then the only medal given for
gallantry in action. It was rather liberally awarded then but limited
to enlisted men. Officers' valor was still recognized by brevet
promotions.
When the 30-minute battle for control of the fort was over, 243
Korean corpses were counted in and around the Citadel. Another 100 or
so Koreans were killed in the naval bombardment.
"Tiger hunters" not killed in action drowned themselves or cut their
own throats, including their commander. Only 20 prisoners were taken,
and all were severely wounded.
As U.S. Minister to China Frederick E Low reported, "The Koreans
fought with desperation, rarely equaled and never excelled by any
people."
Because of poor Korean marksmanship, American casualties were
relatively fight. Two sailors and one Marine were killed. Another
Marine died of fever. Of the 10 wounded, half suffered serious
injuries.
The squadron finally left Korean territorial waters on July 6. Though
retribution was exacted, the expedition failed in its main objective
of securing a treaty of amity and commerce. That was not accomplished
until 1882, and then by peaceful means.

FORGOTTEN REMINDERS
Today, the only visible reminder of the 1871 Korea expedition in the
U.S. is a plaque in the chapel of the U.S. Naval Academy at
Annapolis. It is dedicated to the memory of Lt. Hugh W. McKee, the
first man over the parapet of the Citadel.
In Korea, however, the fort's earthworks and shore battery's ancient
cannons are preserved by the provincial government. Visitors to
Kanghwado fortress can relive the battle on the island's hillsides.
In Korean history, the engagement is known as the "Foreign
Disturbance" of 1871. After the battle, monuments were erected with
the following admonition:
"Western barbarians invade our land. If we do not fight we must then
appease them. To urge appeasement is to betray the nation."

===================================================

David F. Winkler, ³Marine Amphibious Landing in Korea, 1871,² _Sea
Power_, vol. 42, no. 11 (November 1999): 22-?


Abstract:
Winkler describes the US Marine Corps' little-known amphibious
landing in Korea in 1871. The expedition to the "hermit kingdom" was
mounted in response to a Korean attack on a US ship.

Full Text:

Nearly two decades after Commodore Matthew C. Perry's diplomatic
triumph of opening Japan to foreigners, the United States sought to
establish relations with Korea. This effort was notable--especially
in the wake of incidents in 1866 in which Koreans treated the U.S.
crew of the shipwrecked vessel Surprise with kindness, yet
slaughtered the crew of the visiting merchantman General Sherman
after it was stranded in the Han River.

Cdr. Robert W. Shufert steamed to the "Hermit Kingdom" in the USS
Wachusett to investigate this contrary behavior in January 1867. He
carried a letter of inquiry for the Korean rulers. A year later, Cdr.
John C. Febiger returned on the corvette USS Shenandoah to receive
the reply and to survey the Taedong River. The Korean response was
statesmanlike, explaining that the General Sherman had provoked a
confrontation. However, one of the Shenandaoh's survey boats was
fired on, prompting Febiger to call for an expedition to avenge this
affront to the American flag.

Three years passed before a flotilla arrived off Kangwha Island near
Seoul under the command of Rear Adm. John Rodgers. The ships of the
Navy's Asiatic Squadron consisted of the frigate USS Colorado,
corvettes USS Alaska and USS Benicia, and gunboats Monacacy and
Palos. Embarked was the American Minister to China, Frederick Low,
who hoped to obtain an apology for the firing incident and to
negotiate trade and shipwreck conventions.

Due to the comparatively shallow waters of the Salee River, only the
gunboats could advance to survey the approaches to Seoul. On I June
1871, the Monacacy and Palos moved forward and were fired on. The
Koreans then ignored an ultimatum from Rodgers and Low. Consequently,
on the 1 Oth and the 11 th, a punitive landing party of mostly
Marines was placed ashore to storm and destroy the Korean forts.
Backed by cannon fire from the gunboats, the Marines overwhelmed
defenders at the first three forts. Marines encountered the fiercest
resistance while attacking the Kwangsong citadel, which was perched
atop a 150-foot hill. After hauling howitzers into ideal firing
positions, the Marines isolated the bastion from reinforcements. They
then scaled the wall and engaged the Korean defenders in hand-to-hand
combat. Armed with superior weapons, Marines pushed their attack
forward to capture the bastion-killing 243 of the estimated 300
defenders. Three Marines were killed, 10 were wounded, and two
corporals were awarded the Medal of Honor for heroism.

Unfortunately, this magnificent feat of arms did not achieve U.S.
diplomatic and trade objectives. Realizing his forces were too weak
to pursue any further military options, Rodgers withdrew on 3 July.
Except for praise for the Marines, the press castigated the
government for the conduct of the operation. One newspaper wrote,
"They sent a force altogether too large for the delivery of the
message of peace and too small for the prosecution of war." However,
in the Navy's defense, the drastic reductions from the 600-ship fleet
of the Civil War clearly limited its strategic options.

Korea halted hostile actions against Americans, but it would be
Japan, not the United States, that opened Korea diplomatically in
1876 with the Treaty of Kangwha. The United States eventually became
the first western power to have a treaty with Korea, with an accord
dated 22 May 1882.

Sources: David F. Long, Gold Braid and Foreign Relations: Diplomatic
Activities of U.S. Naval Officers, 1798-1883 (Naval Institute Press,
1988) and Marine Amphibious Landing in Korea, 1871 (Naval Historical
Foundation, 1966). The latter contains the detailed correspondence of
Capt. McLain Tilton, USMC, and illustrations of the expedition.

[Author note]
By DAVID F. WINKLER
Dr. David F Winkler is a historian for the Naval Historical Foundation.

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Frank Hoffmann * 4903 Manitoba Dr.#202 * Alexandria, VA 22312 * USA
E-MAIL: hoffmann at fas.harvard.edu  *  Fax: (520) 438-4890
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