United States expedition to Korea
Also called: United States expedition to Korea
A US squadron sent over the General Sherman incident attacked Ganghwa. Eo Jae-yeon fell at Gwangseongbo, and the Daewongun put up steles rejecting peace with the West.
National Museum of the U.S. Navy · Public domain · Source
In 1866 the American merchant ship General Sherman sailed up the Taedong River to Pyongyang demanding trade and behaving violently, and was burned by the governor Park Gyu-su and local people. To press the matter and open trade, the United States sent five warships under Admiral John Rodgers in 1871.
US forces seized Chojijin and Deokjinjin on the Ganghwa strait and attacked Gwangseongbo. The Korean troops under Eo Jae-yeon fought to the end and nearly all were killed; the Americans carried off the commander’s flag. Joseon still refused to negotiate, and the squadron withdrew.
The Daewongun set up steles in Jongno and across the country reading, “The Western barbarians invade; not to fight is to seek peace, and to urge peace is to sell out the nation,” and held firm to his policy of refusing relations.
