Rover (bark)
Encyclopedia
The Rover Incident occurred on March 12, 1867 when the American merchant ship Rover, en route from Shantou
to Yingkou
shipwrecked off the coast of Taiwan
. The ship struck a coral reef
called Qixingyan
(七星岩) near Oluanpi and drifted into the area of Kenting. The American sailors were killed by Taiwanese Aborigines
in revenge for earlier killings of Kaolut tribe members by foreigners. Subsequently, the U.S. Military decided to send a military expedition against the tribe members responsible.
Charles William Le Gendre
quickly traveled to Foochow, arriving on 2 April 1867, to persuade the governor generals of Fukien
and Chekiang to intervene and put pressure on the Chinese authorities in Taiwan
to resolve the issue. The governor general of Fukien gave Le Gendre permission to go to Taiwan himself, and wrote him a letter of introduction to take to the prefect of Taiwan, asking him to cooperate with Le Gendre, but adding that "if the consul takes measures to manage the case himself, please invite him not to do so, for these savages might give him more trouble that he thinks." Le Gendre commissioned the United States steamer , under the command of Captain John C. Febiger
, in order to visit the scene of the wreck and to try (unsuccessfully) to get foreign officials in Taiwanfoo (where he arrived on 18 April) to act. After a subsequent failed punitive expedition
carried out by Rear Admiral Henry H. Bell
of the United States Navy
, Le Gendre again returned to Formosa—this time without any reference to his superiors. While in Taiwan, he asserted United States consular authority, selected a deputy consul in north Taiwan, visited the Keelung
mines, and gathered information from United States merchants.
The landing of one hundred and eighty-one officer, sailors, and marines provided with four days' rations and water was made on June 13 under the command of Commander George E. Belknap
of the , accompanied by Lieutenant Commander Alexander Slidell MacKenzie
, fleet lieutenant as second in command. In the terrible heat, surrounded by aborigines in ambush, the Marines and sailors fought desperately until they could fight no longer. MacKenzie was killed in the action on 13 June 1867 after receiving a mortal wound to his chest from enemy fire.
The Marines were under the command of Captain James Forney
, who submitted the following report to Commander Belknap, dated on board the flagship Hartford, at sea, June 17:
The Rover incident plays a critical role on USA military history in terms of shaping US Marine Corps' "rules of encounter" in "Small Wars".
Upon return to south China, Le Gendre managed to persuade the governor general in Foochow to send a military force to southern Taiwan. The force, significantly smaller than the 400 to 500 soldiers recommended by Le Gendre, was dispatched on 25 July 1867. Le Gendre then personally requested a gunboat from Admiral Bell, which he was denied, and eventually managed to commission the Volunteer. He embarked for Formosa on 4 September 1867, telling his superiors that "I am going there as a mere spectator. . . . I have no jurisdiction over the Chinese forces."
Le Gendre quickly assumed de facto command of the mission from General Liu in the course of a long and difficult march into deep aboriginal lands in southern Taiwan (some of which required extensive road construction). Then, with the aid of William A. Pickering
and James Horn
, Le Gendre negotiated an effective treaty guaranteeing the safety of shipwrecked American and European sailors with Tauketok, the chief of 18 aboriginal tribes in the area when the Rover had gone ashore.
which subsequently was the justification for the Empire of Japan
to invade and occupy a part of Taiwan
. In addition, the Qing court established the Hengchun
lighthouse (now Oluanpi lighthouse) for the protection of the Taiwan Strait
and vessels transiting the Bashi Channel
.
Shantou
Shantou , historically known as Swatow or Suátao, is a prefecture-level city on the eastern coast of Guangdong province, People's Republic of China, with a total population of 5,391,028 as of 2010 and an administrative area of...
to Yingkou
Yingkou
Yingkou is located in the northwestern portion of the Liaodong Peninsula, and on the left bank of the Daliao River, which enters the sea in the city. To the west is the Liaodong Bay of the Bohai Gulf, and the city thus looks across to Jinzhou and Huludao...
shipwrecked off the coast of Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
. The ship struck a coral reef
Coral reef
Coral reefs are underwater structures made from calcium carbonate secreted by corals. Coral reefs are colonies of tiny living animals found in marine waters that contain few nutrients. Most coral reefs are built from stony corals, which in turn consist of polyps that cluster in groups. The polyps...
called Qixingyan
Qixingyan (Taiwan)
Qixingyan , off the coast of Pingtung County, Taiwan, in the Bashi Channel is composed of seven coral reefs. At low tide seven reefs are visible. At high tide, only two reefs are visible. Qinxingyan is arranged in a shape similar to the Big Dipper, hence the name Seven Star Reef. It is located...
(七星岩) near Oluanpi and drifted into the area of Kenting. The American sailors were killed by Taiwanese Aborigines
Taiwanese aborigines
Taiwanese aborigines is the term commonly applied in reference to the indigenous peoples of Taiwan. Although Taiwanese indigenous groups hold a variety of creation myths, recent research suggests their ancestors may have been living on the islands for approximately 8,000 years before major Han...
in revenge for earlier killings of Kaolut tribe members by foreigners. Subsequently, the U.S. Military decided to send a military expedition against the tribe members responsible.
American Reaction
Following the wreck of the United States ship and killing of the surviving crew by aborigines, the American Consul to AmoyAmoy
Xiamen, or Amoy, is a city on the southeast coast of China.Amoy may also refer to:*Amoy dialect, a dialect of the Hokkien lects, which are part of the Southern Min group of Chinese languages...
Charles William Le Gendre
Charles Le Gendre
Charles William Joseph Émile Le Gendre was a French-born American general and diplomat, who served as advisor to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Empire of Japan from 1872 to 1875 and as advisor to Emperor Gojong of the Korean Empire from 1890 to 1899.-Early life:Le Gendre was born in...
quickly traveled to Foochow, arriving on 2 April 1867, to persuade the governor generals of Fukien
Fujian
' , formerly romanised as Fukien or Huguing or Foukien, is a province on the southeast coast of mainland China. Fujian is bordered by Zhejiang to the north, Jiangxi to the west, and Guangdong to the south. Taiwan lies to the east, across the Taiwan Strait...
and Chekiang to intervene and put pressure on the Chinese authorities in Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
to resolve the issue. The governor general of Fukien gave Le Gendre permission to go to Taiwan himself, and wrote him a letter of introduction to take to the prefect of Taiwan, asking him to cooperate with Le Gendre, but adding that "if the consul takes measures to manage the case himself, please invite him not to do so, for these savages might give him more trouble that he thinks." Le Gendre commissioned the United States steamer , under the command of Captain John C. Febiger
John Carson Febiger
John Carson Febiger was a rear admiral of the United States Navy, who served with distinction in the Union Navy during the American Civil War.-Biography:...
, in order to visit the scene of the wreck and to try (unsuccessfully) to get foreign officials in Taiwanfoo (where he arrived on 18 April) to act. After a subsequent failed punitive expedition
Punitive expedition
A punitive expedition is a military journey undertaken to punish a state or any group of persons outside the borders of the punishing state. It is usually undertaken in response to perceived disobedient or morally wrong behavior, but may be also be a covered revenge...
carried out by Rear Admiral Henry H. Bell
Henry H. Bell
Henry Haywood Bell was an admiral in the United States Navy during the American Civil War.-Biography:Bell was born in Orange County, North Carolina. Appointed a Midshipman on 4 August 1823, during the next two decades he served afloat in U.S...
of the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
, Le Gendre again returned to Formosa—this time without any reference to his superiors. While in Taiwan, he asserted United States consular authority, selected a deputy consul in north Taiwan, visited the Keelung
Keelung
Keelung City is a major port city situated in the northeastern part of Taiwan. It borders New Taipei and forms the Taipei–Keelung metropolitan area, along with the Taipei and New Taipei. Nicknamed the Rainy Port for its frequent rain and maritime role, the city is Taiwan's second largest seaport...
mines, and gathered information from United States merchants.
The landing of one hundred and eighty-one officer, sailors, and marines provided with four days' rations and water was made on June 13 under the command of Commander George E. Belknap
George Belknap
Rear Admiral George Eugene Belknap was an officer in the United States Navy. USS Belknap was named for him....
of the , accompanied by Lieutenant Commander Alexander Slidell MacKenzie
Alexander Slidell Mackenzie
Alexander Slidell Mackenzie Born in New York City, Mackenzie was a U.S. Navy officer who served during the first half of the 19th century. He was an accomplished author and writer who wrote several contemporary essays and biographies of notable US naval figures of the early 19th century. He was...
, fleet lieutenant as second in command. In the terrible heat, surrounded by aborigines in ambush, the Marines and sailors fought desperately until they could fight no longer. MacKenzie was killed in the action on 13 June 1867 after receiving a mortal wound to his chest from enemy fire.
The Marines were under the command of Captain James Forney
James Forney
James Forney was an American officer serving in the United States Marine Corps during the American Civil War. He was approved to receive the Marine Corps Brevet Medal for bravery but died before it could be presented.-Biography:...
, who submitted the following report to Commander Belknap, dated on board the flagship Hartford, at sea, June 17:
- "I have the honor herewith to submit a brief report of the part taken by the Marines on the 13th inst., on the island of Formosa. On the first landing, by your order, I took charge of twenty Marines, deploying them forward as skirmishers. A dense and almost impenetrable thicket of bush prevented the men from advancing very rapidly. I penetrated with them to a creek about half a mile from the beach without meeting any of the enemy, and was then recalled for further orders. You then instructed me to leave a sergeant and five men on the beach, and to advance with the main body, headed by yourself. In consequence of all further operations coming under your own observation, I have nothing further to report, except that the men behaved gallantly, and deserve credit for the manner in which they marched over such a rough and hilly country, and under such intense, scorching heat...The entire number of Marines on shore was forty-three, thirty-one of whom were from this ship, and twelve from the ."
The Rover incident plays a critical role on USA military history in terms of shaping US Marine Corps' "rules of encounter" in "Small Wars".
Upon return to south China, Le Gendre managed to persuade the governor general in Foochow to send a military force to southern Taiwan. The force, significantly smaller than the 400 to 500 soldiers recommended by Le Gendre, was dispatched on 25 July 1867. Le Gendre then personally requested a gunboat from Admiral Bell, which he was denied, and eventually managed to commission the Volunteer. He embarked for Formosa on 4 September 1867, telling his superiors that "I am going there as a mere spectator. . . . I have no jurisdiction over the Chinese forces."
Le Gendre quickly assumed de facto command of the mission from General Liu in the course of a long and difficult march into deep aboriginal lands in southern Taiwan (some of which required extensive road construction). Then, with the aid of William A. Pickering
William A. Pickering
William A. Pickering was the first Protector appointed by the British government to administer the Chinese Protectorate in colonial Singapore. He was the first European official in Singapore who could speak fluent Mandarin and Hokkien and gained the trust of many of the Singapore Chinese...
and James Horn
James Horn
James Horn was a Liberal Party Member of Parliament in Otago, New Zealand.He won the Wakatipu electorate in the 1919 general election, and held it to 1928, when he retired. In parliament he supported construction of the Otago Central Railway to Clyde and then Cromwell, and the breaking-up of large...
, Le Gendre negotiated an effective treaty guaranteeing the safety of shipwrecked American and European sailors with Tauketok, the chief of 18 aboriginal tribes in the area when the Rover had gone ashore.
Influence
Following the Rover Incident in 1867, another shipwreck triggered the Mudan IncidentMudan Incident of 1871
Mudan Incident of 1871 was the massacre of fifty-four Ryukyuan sailors in Taiwan who wandered into the central part of Taiwan after their ship was shipwrecked. 12 men were rescued by Han Chinese and were transferred to Miyako...
which subsequently was the justification for the Empire of Japan
Empire of Japan
The Empire of Japan is the name of the state of Japan that existed from the Meiji Restoration on 3 January 1868 to the enactment of the post-World War II Constitution of...
to invade and occupy a part of Taiwan
Taiwan Expedition of 1874
The , usually referred to in Taiwan and mainland China as the Mudan incident , was a punitive expedition launched by the Japanese in retaliation for the murder of 54 Ryukyuan sailors by Paiwan aborigines near the southwestern tip of Taiwan in December 1871...
. In addition, the Qing court established the Hengchun
Hengchun
Hengchun of Pingtung County is the southernmost township in Taiwan. Hengchun is also the only urban township in the southern part of Pingtung County. Hengchun has a land area of 136.7630 square kilometers and has a population of 31,123 as of August 2009....
lighthouse (now Oluanpi lighthouse) for the protection of the Taiwan Strait
Taiwan Strait
The Taiwan Strait or Formosa Strait, formerly known as the Black Ditch, is a 180-km-wide strait separating Mainland China and Taiwan. The strait is part of the South China Sea and connects to East China Sea to the northeast...
and vessels transiting the Bashi Channel
Bashi Channel
The Bashi Channel is a strait between the Y'Ami Island of the Philippines and Orchid Island of Taiwan. It is characterized by windy storms during the rainy period, June to December. It is a part of the Pacific Ocean....
.