By Matt VanVolkenburg
In 1871, an American naval force sailed into Korean waters hoping to open diplomatic and trade relations with the Kingdom of Joseon and to negotiate a treaty for shipwrecked sailors. Instead, shots were exchanged and a military clash on Ganghwa Island left three Americans and perhaps 300 Koreans dead.
A number of misperceptions about this conflict have developed over the years, including the belief that the Americans sought to avenge the General Sherman, an American-flagged ship that was burned near Pyongyang in 1866.
Thomas Duvernay's recent book, "Sinmiyangyo: The 1871 Conflict Between the United States and Korea," sets out to separate myth from fact and provide the most detailed account yet of the events of June 1871.
He begins by making clear that the U.S. delegation did not have vengeance on their mind in regard to the General Sherman incident, as the case had been closed already, with many Americans who were aware of the facts conceding that the ship's crew had been in the wrong.
From there he describes how the military conflict between the two countries grew out of a cultural misunderstanding, in which a lack of response by Korean dignitaries to stated American plans to survey the Ganghwa Straits was misinterpreted as permission.
Before describing the fighting that ensued as a result, a number of chapters give the background necessary to understand the two-day campaign. In one chapter, Duvernay combines museum images, historical photos and excavated munitions to discuss in detail the weaponry used by both sides, while in another he explains the military organization and ranks of the U.S. Navy and Korean military. Other chapters give information on the Korean fortresses, the American ships involved and what daily routines on these ships were like.
The final chapter in this section discusses the research surveys the author carried out between 2000 and 2012 to determine the exact route of the U.S. advance and the positions of the Korean defenders. Aided by contemporary reports, maps and photos, these surveys used metal detectors to uncover spent bullets and shell fragments, which made clear where shots were fired and helped determine the positions of troops.
Though these chapters may at first seem overly detailed, their utility becomes clear once the author begins telling the story of how American sailors and marines landed on Ganghwa Island, fought their way to a number of Korean fortresses, which they demolished, and then returned to their ships. Due to the previous chapters, there is no need to pause and explain details and locations because the reader already has this information.
The book ends with a number of appendixes which include contemporary American naval reports, a discussion of Felice Beato's photos (the first ever taken in Korea) and the author's involvement in negotiating the return to Korea of the flag of General Eo Jae-yeon, which was taken to the U.S. after the battle.
In assessing the conflict, Duvernay makes clear that though the Americans were outnumbered, the result of the fighting was a foregone conclusion due to the superiority of American weaponry, particularly mobile artillery. Despite the American military victory, however, Koreans won a diplomatic victory because "in the end, the Koreans did not concede a single thing." The U.S. got no treaties and left Korean waters empty-handed.
Though readers might wish for more of a focus on the Korean view of these events, the disparity in available archival information makes an American focus inevitable. Still, the Joseon court's view of the conflict would have been interesting to read. As well, while the book opens and ends with brief discussions of international events that contributed to and followed in the wake of the conflict, one is left wishing that the context of 19th-century gunship diplomacy in East Asia was discussed in more detail.
Despite these quibbles, however, Duvernay provides readers with the most detailed account yet of the Korean-American conflict of 1871, one which will appeal to those with an interest in American, Korean and military history.
"Sinmiyangyo" is available on Amazon, Good Reads and various Korean online and offline retailers.
Matt VanVolkenburg has a master's degree in Korean studies from the University of Washington. He is the blogger behind populargusts.blogspot.kr.
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| The cover of Thomas Duvernay's "Sinmiyangyo: The 1871 Conflict Between the United States and Korea" / Courtesy of Thomas Duvernay |
A number of misperceptions about this conflict have developed over the years, including the belief that the Americans sought to avenge the General Sherman, an American-flagged ship that was burned near Pyongyang in 1866.
Thomas Duvernay's recent book, "Sinmiyangyo: The 1871 Conflict Between the United States and Korea," sets out to separate myth from fact and provide the most detailed account yet of the events of June 1871.
He begins by making clear that the U.S. delegation did not have vengeance on their mind in regard to the General Sherman incident, as the case had been closed already, with many Americans who were aware of the facts conceding that the ship's crew had been in the wrong.
 |
| Thomas Duvernay stands on top of Deokjin Fort on Ganghwa Island in 2015. / Courtesy of Thomas Duvernay. |
Before describing the fighting that ensued as a result, a number of chapters give the background necessary to understand the two-day campaign. In one chapter, Duvernay combines museum images, historical photos and excavated munitions to discuss in detail the weaponry used by both sides, while in another he explains the military organization and ranks of the U.S. Navy and Korean military. Other chapters give information on the Korean fortresses, the American ships involved and what daily routines on these ships were like.
The final chapter in this section discusses the research surveys the author carried out between 2000 and 2012 to determine the exact route of the U.S. advance and the positions of the Korean defenders. Aided by contemporary reports, maps and photos, these surveys used metal detectors to uncover spent bullets and shell fragments, which made clear where shots were fired and helped determine the positions of troops.
Though these chapters may at first seem overly detailed, their utility becomes clear once the author begins telling the story of how American sailors and marines landed on Ganghwa Island, fought their way to a number of Korean fortresses, which they demolished, and then returned to their ships. Due to the previous chapters, there is no need to pause and explain details and locations because the reader already has this information.
The book ends with a number of appendixes which include contemporary American naval reports, a discussion of Felice Beato's photos (the first ever taken in Korea) and the author's involvement in negotiating the return to Korea of the flag of General Eo Jae-yeon, which was taken to the U.S. after the battle.
 |
| Thomas Duvernay poses with the flag of General Eo Jae-yeon, which the Americans had taken in 1871, after he helped negotiate its return to Korea. / Courtesy of Thomas Duvernay. |
In assessing the conflict, Duvernay makes clear that though the Americans were outnumbered, the result of the fighting was a foregone conclusion due to the superiority of American weaponry, particularly mobile artillery. Despite the American military victory, however, Koreans won a diplomatic victory because "in the end, the Koreans did not concede a single thing." The U.S. got no treaties and left Korean waters empty-handed.
Though readers might wish for more of a focus on the Korean view of these events, the disparity in available archival information makes an American focus inevitable. Still, the Joseon court's view of the conflict would have been interesting to read. As well, while the book opens and ends with brief discussions of international events that contributed to and followed in the wake of the conflict, one is left wishing that the context of 19th-century gunship diplomacy in East Asia was discussed in more detail.
Despite these quibbles, however, Duvernay provides readers with the most detailed account yet of the Korean-American conflict of 1871, one which will appeal to those with an interest in American, Korean and military history.
"Sinmiyangyo" is available on Amazon, Good Reads and various Korean online and offline retailers.
Matt VanVolkenburg has a master's degree in Korean studies from the University of Washington. He is the blogger behind populargusts.blogspot.kr.
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