Bombardment of Qui Nhơn

Bombardment of Qui Nhon
Part of the Cochinchina Campaign
USS Saginaw at Mare Island naval yard.
Date July 31, 1861 Location Qui Nhơn, Vietnam Result American victory; Vietnamese-held fort silenced
Belligerents
United States	Viet Nam (Nguyễn Dynasty)
Commanders and leaders
James F. Schenck Frederick K. Engle	Unknown
Strength
1 sloop-of-war 50 crew: U.S. Navy U.S. Marines	220 soldiers 4 artillery pieces 1 fort
Casualties and losses
None	70 killed 15 wounded 12 deserted 3 artillery pieces damaged beyond repair 1 artillery piece moderately damaged 1 fort destroyed

The bombardment of Qui Nhon in 1861 was an attack by a United States Navy warship upon a Vietnamese held fort protecting Qui Nhon in Cochinchina. United States forces under James F. Schenck went to Cochinchina to search for missing American citizens but were met with cannon fire upon arriving. In response to the attack the American warship bombarded the fort until it was reduced. The incident occurred during French and Spanish conquest of the nation.^[1]

Bombardment

An 1886 map of Asia, Qui Nhon is along the central coast of Vietnam.

Commander John Schenck was serving with the East India Squadron in June 1861 just before setting sail east to join the West Gulf Blockading Squadron. His last mission in the Far East was to proceed with the paddle steamer sloop USS Saginaw to Qui Nhon. A boat filled with sailors from the American merchant ship Myrtle was reported missing so Flag Officer Frederick K. Engle ordered Schenck to search the area. The Saginaw was armed with one 50-pounder (23 kg), one 32-pounder (15 kg) and two 24-pound rifled guns. She had a complement of fifty officers and enlisted men. Commander Schenck arrived off Qui Nhon of July 30 and prepared to enter the harbor the following day at 1:00 am. He wanted to ask the Vietnamese if they had seen the missing sailors. When the Saginaw was entering the harbor of Qui Nhon on July 31, the nearby fort to the north, mounting a few guns, opened fire at a range of 600 yards.^[2]

USS Saginaw's crew was just putting the anchor down when the first shot burst in the water next to the ship. Surprised, the Americans first raised a white flag to show their friendly intentions but then a second shot was fired along with a third. Trying to get up steam, the Saginaw turned around and withdrew slowly to 900 yards, by which time her crew were at station and ready for action. The American gunners returned fire with one of their 32-pounders and after only about twenty minutes the Vietnamese guns were silenced. A secondary explosion was observed and it was suspected that either the powder magazine of the fort, or one of the guns, blew up and killed their operators. After the explosion no further shots were fired from the fort. However, the Saginaw's gunners continued their bombardment for another half-hour unopposed until the fort was in ruins. American forces suffered no damage or casualties and after the action, communicating with the natives proved fruitless so the Saginaw steamed back to Hong Kong.^[3]

The men of Saginaw ultimately did not find the missing American sailors. Commander Schenck went on to serve with distinction at the battles for Fort Fisher during the American Civil War.^[4]

See also

• Bombardment of San Juan del Norte

References

1. Schenck, pg.90-91
2. Schenck, pg.90-91
3. Schenck, pg.90-91
4. Schenck, pg.90-91

This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.

• Schenck, Alexander (1883). The Rev. William Schenck, his ancestry and his descendants ... R.H. Darby Publishing.