Memorandum of an interview between Comdr. R.W. Shufeldt of the U.S.S. Wachusett and Father Rydell and another Missionary of the Roman Catholic Church, both of whom were in Korea at the time of the disaster of the General Sherman.
Also questions put to the Korean who piloted the French expedition to “Ile Boisée”&c.

Question to Father Rydell. “Were you in the Korea at the time of the disaster to the Genl. Sherman?”
Answer. “We were.”
Question. “Are you sure that the crew of the Genl. Sherman were murdered? And why?”
Answer. “I am sure that they were murdered because it was the uniform report of the inhabitants of the surrounding country.”
Question. “Are you equally sure of the locality of the disaster?”
Answer. “I am, it was in the Tai-Tong Kang river in the province of Ping-An-To. The Korean chart was here produced showing that the river rises in the North and centre of Korea, and running in a S. Westerly direction, empties into the Yellow Sea about 120 miles Nth & Wst from “Saoul” or “Kan-gi-tan” the capital of the country.”
Question. “Are these rivers frozen up at this season of the year?”
Answer. “The Saoul river is probably open at its mouth, but frozen at the capital.”
Question. “Do you think it possible or probably that a pilot could be procured to take the vessel to the anchorage at “Ile Boisée”?”
Answer. “I do not think it possible under the circumstances, as the natives would all run away, or if taken by force would be beheaded with all of their families, on your departure.”
Question. “Is it possible to have communication from the harbor of “Chosan” with the Govt. of Korea?”
Answer. “There is a highway between “Chosan” and the capital, and you could have communication, no doubt, provided you could get anyone to carry the dispatch, the distance is about 70 leagues.”
Questions to the Korean pilot through Father Rydell acting as interpreter.
Question. “Is there a good anchorage at the “Ile Boisée” at this season of the year?"
Answer. “Yes, if you have a pilot to take you there.”
Question. “How is the weather on the Korean coast in the winter?”
Answer. “About the same as at Shanghai at present but very bad about a month or six weeks later.”
Question. “Is it possible to anchor off the river “Tai Tong”?”
Answer. “There is no harbor, it is full of dangerous sand banks, and the river itself is frozen up to the Sea.”
Question. “Could I get a pilot on the coast of Korea?”
Answer. “There are plenty of pilots, but they would all run away from the sight of a vessel.”

Remark 1. The Genl. Sherman, I have ascertained in Shanghai, was a centerboard vessel, drawing not more and probably less than 6 feet of water, and of about 80 tons burden.
Remark 2. I am satisfied from the intelligence of these priests and the appearance of the pilot, that the above information is substantially correct; and that the crew of the Genl. Sherman were murdered seems to be established, and in the river before mentioned (the Tai Tong). Also that it is very inadvisable to attempt to reach the mouth of the “Tai Tong” river at this season of the year; and improbably that any communication could be held with the Korean Government at the point of the French operations. Chosan, in view of season of the year, the late operations of the French, and its accessibility in the winter, seems to present the most feasible point for communication with the Korean Government on the subject of the disaster to the General Sherman.

R.W. Shufeldt
Com.
Shanghai, China
Jan. 9th 1867