The Korean Expedition of 1871

We read much about the current American intervention in Korea, but little has been written about our first intervention there seventy-six years ago. This interests us today not only as the first American intervention in Korea but also as the largest single naval operation between the Civil and Spanish-American Wars and as an example of an early amphibious operation, this first intervention was occasioned by two factors: first, an attempt to open trade, and second, to secure satisfaction for the loss of the American trading schooner General Sherman in Korean waters.