United States expedition to Korea

Korean Expedition
The capturedSujagiaboardUSSColoradoin June 1871
Date 1 June – 3 July 1871 (1 month and 2 days) Location Ganghwa Island 37.7000°N 126.4333°E/37.7000; 126.4333 Result Inconclusive
Belligerents
United States	Joseon
Commanders and leaders
John Rodgers Winfield Schley Hugh McKee†	Eo Jae-yeon† Eo Jae-sun†
Strength
650 men 1 frigate 2 sloops-of-war 2 gunboats	800 men 40 artillery pieces 6 forts 4 shore batteries
Casualties and losses
3 killed 10 wounded 1 gunboat damaged	243 killed (American estimate) ~350 killed (Korean estimate, likely including drowning victims) 20 captured (later released) 40 artillery pieces captured 5 forts destroyed 1 fort damaged 4 shore batteries destroyed

United States expedition to Korea
Hangul	신미양요
Hanja	Tân vị dương nhiễu
Revised Romanization	Shinmiyangyo
McCune–Reischauer	Shinmiyangyo

TheUnited States expedition to Korea,known in Korea as theShinmiyangyo(Korean:신미양요;Hanja:Tân vị dương nhiễu;lit.Western Disturbance in theShinmi Year) or simply theKorean Expedition,was an American military action inKoreathat took place predominantly on and aroundGanghwa Islandin 1871.

Background

See also:General Sherman incident

Frederick Low,the American ambassador to China, sent the mission to ascertain the fate of themerchant shipGeneral Sherman,which had gone missing while visiting Korea in 1866. According to aNational Interestarticle, Low's own records indicated the punitive campaign was motivated by a need to demonstrate American power over what he considered to be a weaker nation. Previously, the American commanders had felt entitled to be able to "peacefully" enter Korean waters for survey and trade using heavily armed warships and had ignored repeated diplomatic requests to respect Korean sovereignty.

Korean officials had sent letters holding the Americans as responsible for breaking their country's laws through unlawfully sending armed warships into their territorial waters, and also finally explaining to Low what had similarly happened to the General Sherman. The governor of Ganghwa also sent what Low described as a "few worthless articles" —three cows, fifty chickens, and a thousand eggs—in an effort to de-escalate things. The Americans rejected the offer. Instead, a punitive campaign was launched after the commanding American admiral failed to receive an official apology from the Koreans that they felt they were owed.The isolationist nature of theJoseon dynastygovernment and the imperial nature of the Americans to not recognize Korea's set policies, changed a diplomatic expedition into an armed conflict.

Initial contact

The expedition consisted of about 650 men, over 500 sailors, and 100Marines,as well as five warships:Colorado,Alaska,Palos,Monocacy,andBenicia.Embarked aboardColoradowas Rear AdmiralJohn Rodgers,andFrederick F. Low,theUnited States Ambassador to China.The Korean forces, known as "Tiger Hunters", were led by GeneralEo Jae-yeon.

The Americans safely made contact with the Korean inhabitants, described as "people wearing white clothes".When they inquired about theGeneral Sherman incident,the Koreans were initially reluctant to discuss the topic, ostensibly to avoid having to pay any recompense. The Americans consequently let the Koreans know that their fleet would be exploring the area and that they meant no harm. This gesture was misinterpreted; Korean policy at the time prohibited foreign ships from sailing on theHan River,as it led directly to the capital city of Hanyang, modern-daySeoul.Therefore, the Joseon government rejected the U.S. request. However, despite the Joseon government's refusal, the United States sailed.

On 1 June, the Korean fortress fired at the U.S. fleet as they sailed up theGanghwa Straits,which leads to the river. The U.S. forces were not badly damaged due to "the bad gunnery of the [K]oreans, whose fire, although very hot for the fifteen minutes in which they maintained it, was ill-directed, and consequently without effect."The U.S. demanded an apology within 10 days; there was no response so Rodgers decided on a punitive assault on the forts.

Battle of Ganghwa

Main article:Battle of Ganghwa

American servicemen after capturing Fort Dŏkjin (Fort Monocacy) on 10 JunebyFelice Beato

On 10 June, the Americans attacked the lightly defendedChoji Garrisonon Ganghwa, along theSalee River.The Koreans were armed with severely outdated weapons, such asmatchlockmuskets, cannons, andbreech-loading swivel guns.After overrunning the Korean defenders, the Americans moved on to their next objective, theDeokjin Garrison.American 12-poundhowitzerskept the poorly armed Korean forces from effective range. The American troops continued towards the next objective,Deokjin Fort,which they found abandoned. The sailors and Marines quickly dismantled this fortress and continued toGwangseong Garrison,acitadel.By this time, Korean forces had regrouped there. Along the way, some Korean units tried to flank the U.S. forces but were beaten off again due to the strategic placement of artillery on two hills.

Artillery fire from ground forces andMonocacyoffshore pounded the citadel in preparation for an assault by U.S. forces. A force of 546 sailors and 105 Marines grouped on the hills west of the fortress (infantry troops were on the hill directly west of the fortress, while artillery troops on another hill both shelled the fortress and also covered the Americans' flanks and rear), keeping cover and returning fire. Once the bombardment stopped, the Americans charged the citadel, led by LieutenantHugh McKee.The slow reload time of the Korean matchlocks aided the Americans, armed with superior Remingtonrolling blockcarbines, in making it over the walls; the Koreans even ended up throwing rocks at the attackers.

McKee was the first to make it into the citadel and was fatally wounded by a shot to the groin; after him came commanderWinfield Scott Schley,who shot the Korean soldier who had killed McKee.The flag of the Korean commander, General Eo Jae-yŏn, called the "Sujagi"by Koreans, was captured by CorporalCharles BrownofColorado's guard and PrivateHugh PurvisofAlaska's guard.General Eo was killed by PrivateJames Dougherty.While serving as thecolor bearerforColorado's crew and Marines,ColoradoCarpenterCyrus Haydenplanted the U.S. flag on the ramparts under heavy enemy fire. Corporal Brown, Privates Dougherty, Purvis, and Carpenter Hayden received theMedal of Honor.

The fighting lasted fifteen minutes. The total number killed was 243 Koreans and three Americans; McKee, Seaman Seth Allen, and U.S. Marine Corps Private Denis Hanrahan.ten Americans were wounded, and 20 Koreans were captured, several of whom were wounded. Five Korean forts were taken in total, with dozens of small cannons.The Korean deputy commander was among the wounded who were captured.The U.S. hoped to use the captives as a bargaining chip to meet with local officials, but the Koreans refused, calling the captives cowards and "Low was told that he was welcome to keep the wounded prisoners." However, the Americans released the prisoners before departing.

Following the military operations of 10–12 June, the United StatesAsiatic Squadronstayed at anchorage offJakyak Islanduntil 3 July, when they left forChina.

Aftermath

The United States had hoped that their victory would persuade the Koreans to return to the negotiating table. But the Koreans refused to negotiate. In fact, these events led the regentDaewon-gunto strengthen his policy of isolation and issue a national proclamation against appeasing foreigners.Additionally the Koreans soon sent reinforcements in large numbers that were armed with more modern weapons to confront the American troops. Realizing that the odds had shifted, the U.S. fleet consequently departed and set sail for China on 3 July.

There were no further attacks on foreign ships. In 1876, Korea establisheda trade treaty with Japanafter Japanese ships approached Ganghwa Island and threatened to fire on Seoul. Treaties with European countries and the U.S. soon followed.

Nine sailors (Chief QuartermasterGrace,QuartermastersTroy,FranklinandRogers,Boatswain's MateMcKenzie,Ordinary SeamanAndrews,Carpenter Hayden, andLandsmenLukesandMerton) and six Marines (Corporal Brown and PrivatesColeman,Dougherty,McNamara,Owens,and Purvis) were awarded theMedal of Honor,the first for actions in a foreign conflict.

Treaty of Amity and Commerce

Main article:United States–Korea Treaty of 1882

From April–May 1882, the United States, represented by CommodoreRobert W. Shufeldtof the United States Navy, and Korea negotiated and approved a 14-article treaty.The treaty established mutual friendship and mutual assistance in case of attack;and also addressed such specific matters as extraterritorial rights for American citizens in Koreaandmost favored nationtrade status.

The treaty remained in effect until theannexation of Koreain 1910.

Gallery

• 
  Map of the Ganghwa forts
• 
  Korean casualties, after the attack on Fort Sondolmok (Fort McKee)byFelice Beato
• 
  Korean ship in 1871, taken by the Americans during the expedition
• 
  U.S. Navy officers holding a council of war aboard theAsiatic Squadronflagship, the steamfrigateColorado,off Korea in June 1871. The squadron's commander, Rear AdmiralJohn Rodgers,leans over the table on the right.
• 
  Korean official bearing the first dispatches on board theColorado,June 1871
• 
  CapturedSujagiaboard USSColorado.From right to left: U.S. Marine CorporalCharles Brown,U.S. Marine PrivateHugh Purvis,and the sailor on the left is believed to beCyrus Hayden(U.S. Navy). All three were awarded theMedal of Honor.

See also

• Black Ships
• French expedition to Korea
• Ganghwa Island incident
• History of Korea
• List of Medal of Honor recipients - Korean Expedition
• Military history of Korea
• Mr. Sunshine (2018 TV series)

References

• Lee, Ki-baek (1984).A new history of Korea.Translated by E.W. Wagner; E.J. Shultz (revised ed.). Seoul: Ilchogak.ISBN89-337-0204-0.
• Nahm, Andrew C. (1996).Korea: A history of the Korean people(2nd ed.). Seoul: Hollym.ISBN1-56591-070-2.
• Duvernay, Thomas A. (2021).Sinmiyangyo: The 1871 Conflict Between the United States and Korea.Seoul: Seoul Selection.ASINB08BF9J9HB.
• Gordon H. Chang, "Whose 'Barbarism'? Whose 'Treachery'? Race and Civilization in the Unknown United States-Korea War of 1871,"Journal of American History,Vol. 89, No. 4 (March 2003), pp. 1331–1365in JSTOR
• Yŏng-ho Ch'oe; William Theodore De Bary;Martina Deuchlerand Peter Hacksoo Lee. (2000).Sources of Korean Tradition: From the Sixteenth to the Twentieth Centuries.New York: Columbia University Press.ISBN978-0-231-12030-2;ISBN978-0-231-12031-9;OCLC 248562016

External links

• US Naval Historical Center on 1871 US Korean campaignat theLibrary of CongressWeb Archives (archived 2010-04-07)
• medal of Honor Link {1871} reference only
• 1871 US Korea Campaign
• The early US-Korea relations – Excerpt from "A Brief History of the US-Korea Relations Prior to 1945"
• Gateway to Shimiyangyoat theWayback Machine(archived 2004-10-11)
• My Ganghwa dot com, a Korean site dedicated to the Ganghwa Isleat theWayback Machine(archived 2006-09-29)
• Marine Amphibious Landing in Korea, 1871