U. S. Flag Ship Hartford(2nd Rate)
Hong Kong China
December 27, 1866

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

Sir:
　In connection with my Despatch No 63 of December 14th, 1866, marked confidential, a duplicate of which is herewith enclosed, I have the honor to transmit to the Department for its information the following Documents;
　1st: An Extract marked A, from a communication received yesterday, from Captain I.P. Bankhead, commanding U.S.S. Wyoming dated Nagasaki December 6th, 1866.
　2nd: A copy, marked B, of a letter likewise received yesterday from our Consul at Chifu, from Mr. E. J. Sandford, addressed to Consul General Seward at Shanghai which was forwarded to me by that efficient officer:
　3rd: A copy, marked C, of a letter from the Honorable Anson Burlingame, U.S. Minister at Peking, informing me that Corea is outside of his diplomatic boundaries.
　4th: Extracts, marked D, from Shanghai newspapers, transmitted to me by Consul General Seward.
　The enclosure from Captain Bankhead, and that from our Consul at Chifu, give more exact information, than any yet received, and I am glad to observe, that my own opinion, as expressed in my Despatch No. 63, as to the propriety of attacking the Coreans, by moving a land force upon the Capital Seoul, is sustained by that of the French Admiral.
　The situation of Ping-Yang, (or Phieniang), the name of the river and the capital of the Province, is now ascertained; the letter of the diplomacy, the Rev. C. Ridel, quoted by the Consul at Chifu, describing it, as being in the extreme N.W. of Corea, and I also find it on an English atlas, while the river Seoul, the scene of the French operations, is about the middle of the Corea.
　The number of the people of the General Sherman having been committed, we are led to believe, by the Order of the Regent of Corea; the Capital Seoul, is in my opinion, the proper place to seek redress, and if the Government should consider this a proper occasion for the exercise of force, I take the liberty of saying that this can be more honorably and efficiently done by the United States single-handed, than by any combined movement made with England or France. This would cause the power of the United States to be felt in the East, and the prestige attending the prompt redress of this outrage upon our citizens, would have a great effect, in both China and Japan, where the influence and power of the United States is constantly and systematically disparaged to the natives by the European press and people in these parts.
　Considering the resistance which the French encountered, I do not regard the force, at present, under any command, sufficient for any decisive operations, against the Coreans. I therefore repeat my opinion that a land force of about two thousand men is necessary for success, as none of the vessels under my command can ascend these rivers.
　The squadron should be supplied with six steam launches, drawing not over four feet; and armed with a rifled howitzer.
　If these cannot be promptly sent from California, it is probable that suitable craft may be secured upon this coast.
　Port Hamilton referred to, in my Despatch No. 63, is formed by a cluster of three small islands, standing alone, about thirty-five miles from the large island “Quelpart,” while Chrichton Harbor is formed by a larger cluster of islands, and more convenient to “Quelpart.” Vegetables and bullocks may be supplied from the last named island in sufficient abundance. The position of these harbors is somewhat commanding; and I have little doubt that either one of them would afford the squadron a desirable sanitarium easily obtained at the present time, and whence a profitable traffic might be established with the Coreans themselves.
　The Wachusett Commander Shufeldt, having completed her repairs in dock, is now nearly ready for sea; at this port she will sail on the 29th of this month for Chifu to obtain in formation with regard to the General Sherman, from thence she will proceed to Chien-yang (if not shut out by the ice) to ascertain the fate of the unfortunate persons on board the General Sherman, and to demand that the survivors (if there are any) be delivered on board the Wachusett.

I have the honor to be, Sir
Very respectfully
Your obedient servant
H.H. Bell
Rear Admiral
Commanding U.S. Asiatic Squadron