General Sherman incident
The General Sherman Incident designates an attack in Pyongyang of United States merchant marine schooner visiting Korea in 1866. The attack heightened tensions between the United States and Korea while serving as a catalyst to end Korean isolationism in the 19th century.
Background
In the mid-19th century, European nations and the United States moved to open up trade in Asia as well as establish colonies in China and southeast Asia. Japan opened to trade after Commodore Matthew Perry sailed into Uraga Harbor near Edo (modern Tokyo) on July 8, 1853 and, under the threat of attack, forced Japan to sign the Convention of Kanagawa in 1854. As early as 1840 Korea had engaged in discussions to open trade relationships with the United States; in 1844 the United States Congress shelved a draft due to lack of interest.
The first contact between the US and Korea proved peaceful. In 1853 the USS South America, an American gunboat, visited Busan for ten days and had amiable contact with local Korean officials. Several Americans shipwrecked on Korea in 1855 and 1865 received good treatment, traveling to China for repatriation. In the interim, the Joseon court became well aware of the colonization of China and the Opium Wars, and maintained a strict policy of isolationism.
China to Pyongyang
Determined to explore the possibility of opening Korea to trade, the British trading firm Meadows and Co., based in Tientsin (present day Tianjin), China, sent the General Sherman into Korean waters in an attempt to meet with Korean officials to begin negotiations for a trade treaty. The 187-ton side-wheel schooner, allegedly heavily armed, carried a cargo of cotton, tin, and glass. The crew consisted of Captain Page, Chief Mate Wilson, and thirteen Chinese and three Malay sailors. The ship's owner, W.B. Preston, a British trader, and Robert Jermain Thomas, a Protestant missionary acting as an interpreter, numbered among those aboard.
They departed Chefoo (present day Yantai), China on August 6, August 16, or August 18 1866, entering the Taedong River on Korea's west coast sailing towards Pyongyang. The depth of the Taedong River changed frequently due to rains and the tides, but the ship navigated it successfully, stopping at the Keupsa Gate at the border between Pyungan and Hwanghae provinces.
Pyongyang
Local officials then met the crew, communicating well enough to learn the captain wished to promote trade. The Koreans refused trade offers but agreed to provide the crew with some food and provisions. The Koreas told the sailors to wait while higher level government officials could be consulted. The ship departed again, traveling further up river until stranding at Yangjak island near Pyongyang. The governor of Pyongyang then sent his deputy, Lee Hyon-ik, with food and told the captain to wait at the Keupsa Gate while the local officials consulted with the Korean ruler.
Daewongun. At that time Prince Regent, the Daewongun, ruled Korea in the name of his minor son King Gojong. The Daewongun sent orders that the ship must leave immediately or suffer extermination.[1] Several discrepancies on what happened next exist; one eyewitness noted that as Korean troops moved towards the ship, hostile actions followed.
Hostilities Begin
A small boat launched from the General Sherman with six men attempted to reach shore. They captured a Korean named Lee who had pursued them in a small boat. Seeing Lee captive, Koreans soldiers opened fire without hitting their targets. The ship returned fired with its cannons, hitting several and forcing the troops to retreat to safe ground. Fighting continued for the next four days, with a Korean turtle boat dispatched, but causing no damage.
The Koreans then tied several boats together filled with wood, sulphur, and saltpeter. The first two boats failed to inflict any damage, but the third boat set the General Sherman afire. Unable to stem the flames, the crew jumped into the water where Koreans hacked them to death.
Aftermath
The United States returned in 1871 for a punitive action, called the 1871 United States Korea Campaign by Americans and Sinmiyangyo by Koreans, resulting in the deaths of about 350 Koreans. Five years later Korea signed a trade treaty with Japan, and in 1882 signed a treaty with America, ending several centuries of isolationism.
Disputed account
Although the purported reason for the journey was to conduct trade with Korea, the Koreans contend that the actual intention was to find treasure buried in the royal tombs near Pyongyang. Further, the Americans' trade claim is specious as the General Sherman may not have even carried the necessary cargo for trade; the Meadows Company never specified a quantity of cargo in the manifest documents sent to the authorities after the destruction of its schooner. Koreans also felt the use of a heavily armed, tin-plated gunboat belied the desire for peaceful trade.
Notes
- ↑ According to Korean Official history record, "Kojong-silrok"(Vol.3), there are no statement records. The record said " A mob attacked and burned the ship, and let out a whoop of triumph. There were a few survivors who had dived into the river from the prow of ship. They said "Don't kill me," but they were beaten to death. "
See also
- History of Korea
- Joseon Dynasty
- List of Korea-related topics
ReferencesISBN links support NWE through referral fees
- Cable, E. M. 1938. The United States-Korean relations, 1866-1871. Seoul, Korea: Y.M.C.A. Press. OCLC: 29145170
- Field, James A. 1962. History of United States Naval operations: Korea. Washington: [U.S. Govt. Print. Off.]. OCLC: 1131205 [1]
- Grimmett, Richard F. 2007. Instances of use of United States Armed Forces abroad, 1798-2006. CRS report for Congress, RL32170. [Washington, D.C.]: Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress. [2]. OCLC: 122348156
- Utz, Curtis A. 1994. Assault from the sea: the amphibious landing at Inchon. The U.S. Navy in the modern world series, no. 2. Washington: Naval Historical Center, Dept. of the Navy. ISBN 9780160452710[3]
External links
- The Hermit Kingdom And the General Sherman Incident. Retrieved September 19, 2007.
- USS General Sherman Incident. Retrieved September 19, 2007.
- Sinking of the General Sherman A US Marine Merchant Ship. Retrieved September 19, 2007.
- The General Sherman Incident of 1866 and Rev. Thomas' Martyrdom. Retrieved September 19, 2007.
- Some Comments on "The General Sherman Incident of 1866 and Rev. Thomas' Martyrdom.". Retrieved September 19, 2007.
- The Strange Sage of the Princess Royal. Retrieved September 19, 2007.
- Naval Historical Center: USS Princess Royal (1863-1865). Retrieved September 19, 2007.
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