Several blogs have told of Sam's claim of American birth when he was clearly a Canadian. Mention was given of his exploits in the US Navy before the Civil War and service on board a supply ship that serviced the needs of fleets in some of the major ship to shore battles during that war. We left off with the telling of how the Korean war..or skirmish, as some call it, started back in 1871. This could be said to have really started by actions back in 1866.
That's when 21 men on the Steam Ship General William Sherman had entered Korean waters with claims that they wished to trade British goods picked up in China. Of course at that time Koreans wanted nothing to do with trade outside of their country. They told the ship to either wait for higher instructions from Korean officials, or immediately leave their waters.
But the ship ignoring the instructions, a matter taken by the Koreans to be an act of war. It sailed upriver to the capitol and was fired upon and returned fire en-route. Many of the crew were killed and the vessel was finally set afire by floating barges lit for such purposes. The remainder dove into the water, came ashore and were either beaten or tortured to death.
That's when 21 men on the Steam Ship General William Sherman had entered Korean waters with claims that they wished to trade British goods picked up in China. Of course at that time Koreans wanted nothing to do with trade outside of their country. They told the ship to either wait for higher instructions from Korean officials, or immediately leave their waters.
But the ship ignoring the instructions, a matter taken by the Koreans to be an act of war. It sailed upriver to the capitol and was fired upon and returned fire en-route. Many of the crew were killed and the vessel was finally set afire by floating barges lit for such purposes. The remainder dove into the water, came ashore and were either beaten or tortured to death.
This is the side-wheeler SS General early in the US Civil War.
Over the next few years several attempts to learn what had happened to the crew were made. One vessel had to turn back due to weather. Another because of tides. A further attempt to gain information on June 1 1871 resulted in two American warships turning back when fired upon. But they would return on the 10th, with almost triple the number, and little thoughts of turning back.
Over the next few years several attempts to learn what had happened to the crew were made. One vessel had to turn back due to weather. Another because of tides. A further attempt to gain information on June 1 1871 resulted in two American warships turning back when fired upon. But they would return on the 10th, with almost triple the number, and little thoughts of turning back.
One of the fleet returning was the USS Colorado, Admiral Rogers commanding. And on his crew was a fellow named Sam. On the 9th the fleet sent about 650 marines and sailors ashore to capture or destroy several smaller forts and a larger one they would later call the Citadel.
Navy vessels were always expected to have about 1/3rd of the crew trained for landing parties and Sam was one of these. He would go ashore and be part of the action as the Koreans in the smaller forts would either be captured, killed or retreated. This partly no doubt due to their antiquated weaponry including resorting to flintlocks, shotguns, spears and rocks.
Naval Lieutenant McKeen led the ground party in which Sam was a part. When the officer was the first to arrive at the Citadel he was shot and instantly killed. Sam would be at his site trying to save him. That battle would be over in about 1/2 hour. But in that time the enemy commander was killed, his 2nd in command and about 20 others were taken prisoner and about 250 were killed. McKeen, one other sailor and one Marine were the only American deaths, though there were many wounded. One of the dead had 17 spear wounds.
A few days short of eight months later Sam would be awarded with the medal of honor for his bravery at the side of his officer commanding. Eight other sailors and 6 US Marines would ultimately be awarded the Medal of Honor for their actions that day as well.
These medals were the first awarded for actions with the enemy of a foreign power. Though 7 years earlier several medals including some coming to Canadians, were awarded for ACTIONS on foreign lands..or waters in this case... during the sea battle off the shores of France during the famous sea battle of the USS Kearsarge and CSS Alabama, mentioned often in the space. (The shoreline war grave of three sailors in that action is located at Cherbourge. One of the three buried is a Canadian sailor from that battle.)
Sam would continue serving in the US navy for about another decade and then, after almost 30 yrs of service he would leave there to work as a Quartermaster on various vessels plying the Great Lakes. Still not losing his sea legs he would then start a new career as a light-keeper at at least three different Lighthouses.
Navy vessels were always expected to have about 1/3rd of the crew trained for landing parties and Sam was one of these. He would go ashore and be part of the action as the Koreans in the smaller forts would either be captured, killed or retreated. This partly no doubt due to their antiquated weaponry including resorting to flintlocks, shotguns, spears and rocks.
Naval Lieutenant McKeen led the ground party in which Sam was a part. When the officer was the first to arrive at the Citadel he was shot and instantly killed. Sam would be at his site trying to save him. That battle would be over in about 1/2 hour. But in that time the enemy commander was killed, his 2nd in command and about 20 others were taken prisoner and about 250 were killed. McKeen, one other sailor and one Marine were the only American deaths, though there were many wounded. One of the dead had 17 spear wounds.
A few days short of eight months later Sam would be awarded with the medal of honor for his bravery at the side of his officer commanding. Eight other sailors and 6 US Marines would ultimately be awarded the Medal of Honor for their actions that day as well.
These medals were the first awarded for actions with the enemy of a foreign power. Though 7 years earlier several medals including some coming to Canadians, were awarded for ACTIONS on foreign lands..or waters in this case... during the sea battle off the shores of France during the famous sea battle of the USS Kearsarge and CSS Alabama, mentioned often in the space. (The shoreline war grave of three sailors in that action is located at Cherbourge. One of the three buried is a Canadian sailor from that battle.)
Sam would continue serving in the US navy for about another decade and then, after almost 30 yrs of service he would leave there to work as a Quartermaster on various vessels plying the Great Lakes. Still not losing his sea legs he would then start a new career as a light-keeper at at least three different Lighthouses.
The last of these was at the Grand Marais Lighthouse along the south shores of Lake Superior and some 75 miles west of Sault St Marie, as shown to the left. He would man the light here from about 1898 to 1904.
When first built the light stood 43 above seawater. It was later raised to 62 ft... and that no doubt took many steps to climb, no matter the time of day or conditions of the climber or weather. Sam would be the first light keeper to light up these lights. The job was so new that they had not even bothered to build a shelter for the keeper.
That was left to Sam to sort out. The shanty above was built with his own hands... and whatever lumber he could scrounge from the beach or elsewhere. When he retired in 1905 due to health, his replacement was stunned to see the quarters he had to now occupy. Ultimately the new quarters above were built. The new keeper is shown with his son at above left. And medal of Honor Hero Sam is shown at the right, probably with the "new"quarters being built in behind him.
Sam passed away in late 1905 and lay at rest in Illinois.
As you can see below, his old marker was replaced several years ago with the newer Medal of Honor marker and as you can see he did actually have a last name. And that was Rogers.
Sam passed away in late 1905 and lay at rest in Illinois.
As you can see below, his old marker was replaced several years ago with the newer Medal of Honor marker and as you can see he did actually have a last name. And that was Rogers.
Many years ago the old marker was replaced with the newer Medal of Honor type of marker that you have often seen at this site.
And now, as Paul Harvey used to say,... that is the rest of this story.
Bart
And now, as Paul Harvey used to say,... that is the rest of this story.
Bart
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