U.S.S. Wachusett
Chefoo, Jan. 19, 1867

Rear Admiral H.H. Bell
Comdg. U.S. Asiatic Squadron

Sir:
　In compliance with your order of 27th December, to forward all information in the case of the Am. Schr. Genl. Sherman to you, before proceeding to Korea, I have the honor to submit the following brief abstract as the most reliable result of inquiry at Shanghai and at this port.
　The General Sherman cleared from Tientsin for “Possiete” a Russian port on the N.E. boundary of Korea and Russian possessions. She touched at Chefoo, but at this port it was only indirectly understood that she was going to trade on the West coast of Korea. She did go however, leaving Chefoo on the 9th of August last, and entered the river “Tai tong” in the province of ‘Ping Yang’ for the purpose of ascending to the capital of that province called “Ping Yang so.”
　A reference to “Williams mark of China and Korea” which I have compared with a native Korean chart will show this river there called “Ta-ting” running through the Northwestern part of Korea in the province of Ping Yang, thus reconciling all discrepancy as to the point of disaster between the French Missionaries and the Chinese Pilot.
　Without referring to an immaterial difference of date between the above authorities, the Schooner got on shore in the river sometime during the last week in August or the first week in September, and according to the French Missionaries, all of the persons on board amounting to 19 or 20 were beheaded by order of the Regent of Korea. According to the Chinese Pilot she had 27 persons on board, and they were murdered by a crowd of natives who were fully impressed, with the idea that the Schooner was a pirate, this impression gained ground and increased the mob the higher she ascended the river. The Genl. Sherman was a vessel of 80 tons armed with 2 twelve par. guns on broadside, and from the number of her crew, and her armament might easily have been mistaken by an excited, and ignorant populace. Be this as it may, the difference between the number reported by the French Missionaries to have been beheaded, and the number reported by the Pilot to have been on board, leaves the slight hope that the Americans and Europeans may have been spared, and are now held either in captivity or yet on the way to China delayed by the inclement season.
　The Am. Schooner Surprise of Shanghai was wreaked on 23rd of June last, while endeavoring to enter the same river (as near as I can ascertain from the Captain) and the crew and officers were taken charge of by the Korean Officials and transferred at Govt. expense, for 43 days, to the “Korean Gate,” then turned over to the Chinese Authorities. During this time they received kind treatment from both Korean officers and people.
　The Am. Bark Juan Raltray bound to “Possiete” entered the port of Chosan, from stress of weather in Sept. last, and although the natives were anxious to have her leave, they manifested no unfriendliness.
　It will be seen that these vessels were in Korea, the one before the other after the disaster to the Genl. Sherman, and the Raltray was actually in “Chosan” while the French were fighting at “Kang Wha.”
　These facts leave the impression that the murder of the crew of the Sherman, was done by the mob, for the reason stated by the Chinese Pilot, and not by order of the Govt. as reported by the Missionaries, and that the event ought not necessarily to be confounded with the massacre of the French priests and their converts.
　Out of the mass of evidence that I have been able to collect from the French Naval Officers, the Missionaries survivors of the Korean massacre, from the Chinese Pilot, the last person known to have been on board the Sherman, and from the records of this Consulate, the foregoing seems to be all the points essential and reliable. But it may not be amiss to state that the Missionaries attribute the massacre of Christians in Korea to the encroachments of the Russians across the Northern border of that country. This encroachment, gradual but apparently inevitable, was the source of the greatest dread to the Korean Govt. and with it they had associated the progress of Christianity. The massacre occurred on Feby 6th 1866, included 2 Bishops, 9 Priests and all the native converts who would not apostatize.
　The Korean Government is at present in the hands of a Regent, whose son a minor was adopted, by the Queen when she herself a widow married the present Regent, thus making his son the presumptive heir. The capital is at “Kangitao” called by the French “Seoul.”
　If the Chinese Government disclaims all control over Korea, then the voyage of the Sherman was not illegal, for she violated none of the treaty obligations with China, by endeavoring to enter the ports of an independent Government.
　This fact, while it might have been unknown to the Capt and Charterers of the Sherman, deprives the voyage of the appearance of illegality, and gives to them a more lawful claim, upon the protection of their Government.

I am Sir
Very Respectfully
R.W. Shufeldt
Commander
Comdg. U.S.S. Wachusett