Shenandoah (1868): links, questions, comments, coordination, ...

[ggordon]

April 13, at the mouth of the Taedong River, North Korea

Korea at the time was trying to remain mostly isolated. So it appears the Shenandoah was proceeding without maps. Michael will have fun with the navigation data. The log is calling this the Ping Yang River.

The last couple of days officers were out on boats surveying the mouth of the river. Missionaries who came on board in China, went ashore to talk to the natives. Crew members went ashore to set up a flag pole.

[Michael]

[ggordon]

By April 15, still nothing in the log about communications between Capt. Febiger and Korean officials. Just many entries concerning boats leaving the ship to continue surveying the mouth of the Ping Yang River. There have been a couple of entries concerning going ashore to communicate with the "Natives", which may mean the Korean officials.

April 13

10:45 1" Launch with armed crew left the ship with the Missioneries to land them on shore to communicate with the Natives. Launch in charge
of Mr Buers.
4:00 sent 3" cutter, in charge of Lt Comdr Cotton, on shore to set up flag pole.
Fired solid shot, from 60 Pdr Parrott Gun for purpose of estimating distance to Rocks.

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April 15

8:30 Dingy left the ship with Rev Mr Matur for the purpose of communicating with the natives on shore.
10:50 3" cutter returned alongside with Lt. Commdr Cotton & Midn Phelan, with communication in writing from the Natives. 3" cutter left immediately with the Lt. Commdr. Cotton & Midn Phelan, Mr Sanford & Pilot, to answer the aforesaid communication.

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[Michael]

Those were the days...

[ggordon]

April 21, somewhere on the Ping Yang (Taedong) River, Korea.

The past few days, once or twice a day they have let the tide carry them farther up the river and sent boats out surveying the river from each new location. Along the way there have been numerous dispatches communicating with the "natives" (likely government officials). Then,

7:15PM

3" cutter returned. While 3" cutter was engaged surveying, she was fired on twice, about 3 miles above this place, from the Eastern shore apparently from a Government Enclosure.

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[Randi]

Robert Neff contacted us some time ago because he has written about American ships visiting Korea.
You can do a search on his name to find the articles.

As you may have already discovered, foreigners were NOT welcome.
Shipwrecked sailors were treated very well, but they had to leave as soon as possible.

[ggordon]

April is complete. The month ended with the ship leaving the Ping Yang (Taedong) River, having sailed back to the mouth of the river for some final surveying and communications with the natives.

[Michael]

[ggordon]

May 20

The ship remained near the mouth of the Ping Yang River for most of May, continuing surveying and occasional messages with native authorities on shore. Arrived back at Chifoo, China yesterday.

4:05PM

H.B.M. Consul, with the Tao Tai of Chifoo paid an official visit to the ship. Saluted the Tao Tai with three guns upon his arrival and departure.

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[Randi]

I was curious what a Tao Tai was
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circuit_i ... f_Shanghai

[Yantai was formerly Chefoo]
Following the Second Opium War, the Qing Empire was obliged to open more treaty ports by the unequal 1858 Treaty of Tianjin, including Tengchow (now Penglai). Its port being found inadequate, Zhifu—about 30 miles (48 km) away—was selected to act as the seat of the area's foreign commerce.[1] The mooring was at considerable distance from shore, necessitating more time and expense in loading and unloading, but the harbor was deep and expansive and business grew rapidly.[1] The harbor opened in May 1861, with its status as an international port affirmed on 22 August. The official decree was accompanied by the construction of the Donghai Customs House (東海關).[3] It quickly became the residence of a circuit intendant ("taotai"), customs house, and a considerable foreign settlement located between the old native town and the harbor.[1] Britain and sixteen other nations established consulates in the town.[3] The town was initially expanded with well-laid streets and well-built stone houses, even for the poorer classes, a Catholic and a Protestant church were erected, and a large hotel did business with foreigners who employed the town as a summer resort.

[Michael]

[ggordon]

I was curious and looked it up too when I came across it in the log, but only found one sentence definitions saying that it was a person of authority.

[ggordon]

May is complete with the ship back in Shanghai.

After the initial shock of trying to figure out the log going through Japan's Inland Sea at the start of the year, it's been mostly smooth going.

There were lots of messages going back and forth with the Korean authorities, but unfortunately the log makes no mention of their contents.

It's been great learning about the geography and history of that area while following the ship's progress.

[Randi]

I joined to help the climatologists, but it is the events that have kept me on the project

[Michael]

It was the same for me.

[ggordon]

It's now early June and there have been few reports of discipline since all the disruption by the armed men sent ashore in Japan in January. Just a few reports of fighting, disrespecting officers, and neglect of duty. There has also been no shore leave since then. The only men going ashore have been doing so for work related duties.

Leave has now been granted in Shanghai and the reports of disruption on shore and failure to return to the ship are starting to appear in the log again. It must take a toll on the men to have to remain on board for so many months.

[ggordon]

June 14

The ship is leaving Shanghai. While there, several rewards were posted for the return of crew members who failed to return from leave. Most were rounded up, mostly by U.S. Marshalls. However,

Left the following Deserters from the ship in Shanghai viz. Thomas A Dow (Lds) and Thomas Sweeney (Lds)

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[ggordon]

June 29

8:00 AM

dressed ship with English Ensign at the main in honor of the 31st anniversary of the Coronation of Her Majesty
Queen Victoria

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[ggordon]

June is complete. Sailed from Shanghai to Hong Kong

On June 30 the usual problems while in port.

8AM to Meridian

Confined James Nelson (Sea) in double irons for five days, for abusive language to Sentry on forecastle.
Discovered Charles Small (Lds) to be out of the ship without permission.

6:30PM

Gig returned at 6.30. P.M. leaving Edward Burke (Lds) & Wm Battenfield (Sea) ashore without permission

8PM to Mid

Offered a Reward of $10 each for Wm Battenfield (Sea) Edward Burke (Sea) who left the Gig while on shore this evening.
9:00 Charles Small (Lds) Wm Battenfield (Sea) & Edward Burke (Lds) were delivered on board by the Police. Confined them
all in double irons per order of Comd'g. Officer.

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[Michael]

Stuff happens!