U.S. Flag Ship Hartford (2 Rate)
Hong Kong, China
December 12, 1866

Hon. Gideon Welles.
Secretary of the Navy
Washington, D. C.

Sir:
　I have the honor to inform the Department that I am here in Hong Kong, on the 3rd Inst. having been forced to come to this port, by the circumstance reported in my dispatch No: 57 1/2 (Dated November 30th 1866,) namely, the breaking of the air pump of the after engine of this ship.
　I found the Wachusett Commander R. W. Shufeldt in this port. He has been actively cruising between the Island of Hainam to the westward and Amoy to the eastward without falling in with any pirates.
　The hull and the decks of the Wachusett needing calking, and her copper being off her bottom in several places, I dispatched her on the 7th instant to [“Whumpoa”]; to go into dock there.
　She will probably return to this anchorage in about ten days; when I shall dispatch Her to “Chifoo” (as she is the most capable of steaming against the strong N.S. monsoon, which blows on this coast, ‘till May); to obtain information as to the American Schooner General Sherman, and her people referred to in my dispatch No. 58 ; November 30th, 1866. Commander Shufeldt will be directed to proceed thence to the Corea; if not prevented by the ice, which is said to blockade that coast, during the winter months.
　I regret to state, although there is an American Consul residing at Chifoo whence the Schooner General Sherman sailed for the Corea, and whence come all the reports, as to the murdering outrage upon her people, that all the information I have yet received of that shocking affair, has been from British authorities. Except from Mr. F. P. Knight, Acting U.S. Consul [at Freed.] [Cherang]. Mr Knight arrived here on the 10th December last and placed in my hands, copies of Shanghai papers, which tend to prove that the General Sherman was destroyed in the river “Se’oul” or “Kiang Kang” and that her officers and crew were murdered, by order of the Regent of Corea, but a shadow of doubt is cast over the horrible report, that all the hands were burned to death in the vessel as one of the persons on board is rumored to have escaped to China; and it is therefore hoped that others also, may have escaped. The date of this outrage is fixed at the 2nd of September, 1866.
　My despatch No. 58 of November 30th: 1866 informed the Department of some movements of the French Admiral, in the Corea. Since my arrival here, I have learned from the Shanghai papers that the French Admiral, on the 5th of October last; declared a blockade of the mouth of the river “Se’oul,” and his intention, of obtaining redress for the murder of the French missionaries (a copy of the declaration of which blockade is herewith enclosed; marked A). In pursuance of which, he landed a force of 600 men, upon the large island of “Koangboa”; at the mouth of the Se’oul River and took possession of the city of the same name; which has a population of about 30,000; [situate] upon this Island.
　From thence reconnoitering parties were pushed out upon the mainland, but a determined resistance by the Coreans, and on one occasion, twenty five of the French were killed and wounded.
　Finally, a large force of Coreans were landed upon this island and a party of 50 French sent to dislodge them were obliged to retreat with a loss of 35 killed and wounded. Under these circumstances and probably influenced by the fact that the ice would place his vessels in the most critical condition, if he remained, Admiral Roze is said to have re-embarked his forces having first destroyed the city of “Kanghwa” where there were magazines, containing large quantities of cannon, small arms, [jingals] swords, armor, spears, bows and arrows, and other arms; and also, no less than four hundred and fifty tons of powder, and raised the blockade for the present, retiring from the coast. It is not known, whether the Admiral has withdrawn under instructions from France or not.
　The capital of Corea, Se’oul, is now ascertained to be situated about twenty six miles from “Koang Hoa” by land, and about fifty miles by the river.
　Considering all these circumstances, I hope the Department will deem it expedient to increase the force under my command in these seas. I shall proceed to the Corea in this ship as soon as winter breaks up in that region to ascertain more particularly the fate of our unfortunate countrymen, if the Wachussett should return from Chifoo without any satisfactory tidings of them.
　The enclosed excerpts from Shanghai papers, relating to the Corea, may prove interesting to the Department.

I have the honor to be, Sir
Very respectfully
Your obedient servant
H.H. Bell
Acting Rear Admiral
Commdg. US Asiatic Squadron