The U.S. frigate USS Wyoming, under Captain McDougal, sails into the strait and single-handedly engages the U.S.-built but poorly manned local fleet for almost two hours before withdrawing on July 16.

The Chōshū clan is equipped with mostly antiquated cannons firing cannonballs, but also some modern armament, such as five 8-inch (200 mm) Dahlgren guns, which had been presented to Japan by the United States, and three steam warships of American construction: the bark Daniel Webster of six guns, the brig Lanrick, or Kosei, with ten guns, and the steamer Lancefield, or Koshin, of four guns.

McDougal sinks two enemy vessels and severely damages another one, along with inflicting some forty Japanese casualties.

The Wyoming suffers extensive damage, four crew dead and seven wounded, one later dying of his injuries.

The two Japanese steamers sunk by the Wyoming will be raised again by Chōshū in 1864 and attached to the harbor of Hagi.

The battle does not deter the Choshu clan, and the shore batteries remain intact.

The shelling of foreign ships continues.