When did the United States first fight the Koreans?
The United States’ first military fighting in Korea actually occurred in 1871. This was known as the American punitive expedition, and known by Koreans as Shinmiyangyo, which means “Western disturbance of the year of Shinmi.” It resulted from an 1866 incident involving an American merchant vessel named General Sherman.
An Attempt to Illegally Open Trade
The General Sherman sailed up the Taedong River, attempting to illegally open trade with what was then the Joseon Dynasty. The ship’s crew had purchased cotton, tinware, mirrors and glass from Tianjin, then headed upriver.
Joseon officials warned the ship’s captain that he was not allowed to trade in the dynasty. They were even threatened with execution if they did not leave. Not only were these warnings ignored, but the crew of the General Sherman also took a Joseon official hostage!
The Situation went from BAD to WORSE
Negotiation attempts were made for the official’s release, but angry civilians began to attack the ship. The ship retaliated by firing on the civilians. The local authorities sent troops and a warship to destroy the General Sherman. At first, they failed. It finally took ramming attacks by large wooden ships set on fire to destroy the merchant ship. Its crew jumped off the ship and were killed by the angry civilians.
The American Punitive Expedition
Rear Admiral John Rodgers and Ambassador Frederick Low were determined to establish trade with the “Hermit Kingdom” and find out what happened to the merchant ship General Sherman. So the U.S. Asiatic Squadron was sent to what we now know as Korea.
Upon the squadron’s arrival off the Korean coast on 1 June 1871, Korean shore batteries opened fire on the USS Alaska, Benecia, Colorado, Monocacy, and Palos as they sailed on the Han River delta.
Lives were Lost, but few were Americans
Over 650 U.S. sailors and marines attacked Korean forts on Ganghwa Island. While the fighting ended with over 240 Korean soldiers killed, compared to only 3 on the American side, the Koreans refused to negotiate. The squadron and its complement of sailors and marines withdrew on 3 July 1871. Fifteen sailors and marines were awarded the Medal of Honor, the first to receive the medal for actions taken in foreign combat.
No Trade Agreement was Signed… at least not yet
Although this conflict did not open Korea to trade with the U.S., a treaty establishing such trade was signed eleven years later.