USS Wyoming engages Chōshū vessels in the Shimonoseki Straits (1863)

On 16 July 1863, the USS Wyoming engaged Chōshū Domain vessels in the Shimonoseki Straits. This action followed the Emperor's order to expel foreigners, which the Chōshū daimyō interpreted as a mandate to attack foreign ships. The sloop fought local forces for two hours before withdrawing, marking a significant naval encounter in the early stages of the Shimonoseki campaign.

Episodes

Background and detail

The Engagement. In response to attacks on foreign vessels, the USS Wyoming sailed into the Shimonoseki Straits on 16 July 1863. Under Captain McDougal, the ship engaged the poorly manned Chōshū fleet for nearly two hours. The Wyoming sank two Japanese steamers during this single-handed action. The vessel subsequently withdrew from the strait, having secured a naval victory over the domain's forces.

Aftermath. The Wyoming continued the search for the Alabama into February 1864 and arrived at the Philadelphia Navy Yard on 13 July 1864, completing a circumnavigation begun after commissioning. The two steamers sunk during the engagement were later raised by the Chōshū Domain in 1864 and attached to the harbor of Hagi. This incident was part of a broader series of military engagements in 1863 and 1864 involving multiple Western powers against the Chōshū Domain.

People involved

Sources

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