Battle of Ganghwa

Battle of Ganghwa
Part of the Korean Expedition
A map of the Korean forts with American names
Date June 10–11, 1871 Location Ganghwa Island, Yellow Sea, Joseon Result United States victory
Belligerents
United States	Joseon Dynasty
Commanders and leaders
John Rodgers Winfield Schley	Eo Jae-yeon †
Strength
Land: 109 marines 542 sailors 6 artillery pieces Sea: 1 frigate 2 sloops-of-war 2 gunboats	~300 infantry ~40 artillery pieces 6 forts 4 shore batteries
Casualties and losses
3 killed 10 wounded 1 gunboat damaged	243 killed 20 captured 40 artillery pieces captured 5 forts destroyed 1 fort damaged Dozens of small cannons captured 4 shore batteries destroyed

The Battle of Ganghwa was fought during the conflict between Joseon and the United States in 1871. In May, an expedition of five Asiatic Squadron warships set sail from Japan to Korea in order to establish trade relations, ensure the safety of shipwrecked sailors, and to find out what happened to the crew of the SS General Sherman. When American forces arrived in Korea, the originally peaceful mission turned into a battle when guns from a Korean fort suddenly opened fire on the Americans. The battle to capture Ganghwa Island's forts was the largest engagement of the conflict.

The United States Navy expedition involved over 1,400 personnel, 542 sailors, 109 marines and six 12-pounder howitzers made up the landing party. Frigate USS Colorado, the sloops USS Alaska and USS Benicia and the gunboats USS Monocacy, and USS Palos were assigned to the operation, all together mounting 85 guns under the command of Rear Admiral John Rodgers and Commander Winfield Scott Schley. Korean forces included the six Selee River Forts, of various sizes, and four shore batteries with over 300 men and dozens of artillery pieces. While negotiations were going on at Inchon, on June 1, 1871, USS Palos was engaged by one of the forts so the Palos and USS Monocacy returned fired and silenced it. Rear Admiral Rodgers demanded an apology but none came so nine days later, the expedition attacked in force.

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