Johanna Expedition

Johanna Expedition
Part of the African Slave Trade Patrol

USS Dale off San José del Cabo, Mexico in 1847, by William Henry Meyers.
DateAugust 1851
Location
Matsamudu, Johanna Island, Indian Ocean
Result

American victory

  • Johannans surrender the town, houses, slaves, cattle and money[1]
Belligerents
 United States Anjouan Johanna Sultanate
Commanders and leaders
United States William Pearson Anjouan Selim
Strength
1 sloop-of-war
U.S. Navy
U.S. Marines		 1 fort
1 blockhouse
Casualties and losses
None 1 fort damaged
1 blockhouse damaged

The Johanna Expedition, or Anjouan Expedition, was a naval operation that occurred in August 1851 during the American anti-slavery patrols off Africa. The event was unrelated to slavery and began after the seizure of the merchant ship Maria and her captain at Johanna Island. The United States Navy sent a sloop-of-war to free the captain, who was still being held, and to demand compensation for the incident. When Sultan Selim refused, the Americans briefly bombarded the island's fortifications.[1][2]

  1. ^ a b "The Bombardment of Johanna". NYTimes. February 4, 1852. p. [1].
  2. ^ "Suppression of Piracy on Johanna Island, August 1851" (PDF). Naval History and Heritage Command. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 10, 2011.