Battle of Ganghwa

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Battle of Ganghwa
Part of the Korean Expedition
A map of the Corean Forts, Unknown author
Date June 10–11, 1871 Location Ganghwa Island Result American victory
Belligerents
United States	Joseon
Commanders and leaders
John Rodgers Winfield Schley	Eo Jae-yeon † Eo Jae-sun †
Strength
651 troops 6 howitzers 1 frigate 2 sloops-of-war 2 gunboats	300 troops 40 artillery pieces 6 forts 4 shore batteries
Casualties and losses
3 killed 10 wounded 1 gunboat damaged	243 killed 20 captured (later released) 40 artillery pieces captured 5 forts destroyed 1 fort damaged 4 shore batteries destroyed

The Battle of Ganghwa was fought during the 1871 United States expedition to Korea, a conflict between Joseon and the United States. In May of that year, five Asiatic Squadron warships set sail from Japan to ascertain what happened to the crew of the SS General Sherman as well as to establish a trade treaty with the Hermit Kingdom similar to the one Commodore Perry had pressured Japan into adopting in the early 1850s. 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.