On May 6 the Japanese government landed a small force commanded by Douglas Cassel to select a campsite fortified by the sea.
Four days later, more Japanese troops landed, and on May 15 Cassel acted as a negotiator to Chief Issa, head of the Island's sixteen southern tribes.
Chief Issa stated the "Botans" were out of his control, and gave the Japanese his consent to punish them as they wished.
After this, a pig was killed and a feast was had, where Japanese Officers presented Snider rifles for three friendly chiefs while Cassel and Wasson showed off the capacity of a Winchester rifle to astonished aborigines.

On May 17 a one-hundred man party went inland to scout for another camp location, and from this party a dozen split off to investigate a village.
Despite being within friendly territory, this small group was ambushed by the Botans.
In the ensuing skirmish one Japanese soldier was wounded in the neck and a Sergeant from Satsuma killed.
The small Japanese group retreated back to the main force, and upon returning found the Sergeant had been decapitated by the aborigines, his head taken as a trophy.

On May 18 the Japanese ship Nisshin commanded by Akamatsu Noriyoshi anchored in Kwaliang bay and launched a small boat to conduct surveys.
Aborigines from the village Koalut fired upon the boat with muskets.
Despite receiving no injuries, Akamatsu was enraged at the incident and made immediate plans not only for attack on Koalut, but the nearby village of Lingluan as well.
These plans would be postponed and eventually cancelled.

On May 21 a detachment of twelve men was sent out to investigate the area where the Satsuma Sergeant had been killed.
During this investigation the detachment was ambushed again by a group of fifty natives and in the exchange of fire two Japanese were seriously wounded and one attacker was killed.
The Japanese returned hastily to the shore and sounded the alarm, and 250 men accompanied by Wasson marched inland to respond.
Wasson was dismayed at the lack of discipline of the Japanese soldiers, particularly in the rear, who quickly broke rank and dashed ahead in a race to get to combat first.
The natives retreated after the arrival of the main force.

Saigō arrived with more troops on May 22.
Consequently, Colonel Sakuma Samata commanding a 150-strong force marched too far inland and was ambushed by 70 natives, commencing the Battle of Stone Gate.
The aborigines were already in pre-selected ambush positions behind stone, while the Japanese had to make do with what cover they could find from rocks seated in the waist-deep river and only being able to employ 30 troops at one time due to the terrain.
Early in the engagement Sakuma ordered a retreat, but was completely ignored by his troops who continued to fight.
The fighting lasted a little over an hour, until Sakuma ordered 20 riflemen to scale a cliff to his left and fire on the natives from above while the men in the river continued to press them.
Upon seeing the 20 riflemen atop the cliff, the natives retreated.
 Sixteen Taiwan tribesmen were killed in the battle, including the Chief's son, 14 were mortally wounded, including the Chief himself, and many more wounded.
Japanese casualties were six killed, including an officer, and 30 wounded.

In July there was an outbreak of malaria that killed over 550 Japanese troops.
Both American foreign advisors contracted it, and while Wasson survived, Cassel died from the malaria he contracted on the expedition in spring the next year, 1875.
He is buried in Woodlawn Cemetery in Zanesville, Ohio.

In November 1874 the Japanese forces withdrew from Taiwan after the Qing government agreed to an indemnity of 500,000 Kuping taels, or about 18.7 tonnes (600,000 ozt) silver.
Sir Harry Parkes, the British minister to Japan, characterised this transaction as "China's willingness to pay to be invaded".
On May 6 the Japanese government landed a small force commanded by Douglas Cassel to select a campsite fortified by the sea. Four days later, more Japanese troops landed, and on May 15 Cassel acted as a negotiator to Chief Issa, head of the Island's sixteen southern tribes. Chief Issa stated the "Botans" were out of his control, and gave the Japanese his consent to punish them as they wished. After this, a pig was killed and a feast was had, where Japanese Officers presented Snider rifles for three friendly chiefs while Cassel and Wasson showed off the capacity of a Winchester rifle to astonished aborigines.
On May 17 a one-hundred man party went inland to scout for another camp location, and from this party a dozen split off to investigate a village. Despite being within friendly territory, this small group was ambushed by the Botans. In the ensuing skirmish one Japanese soldier was wounded in the neck and a Sergeant from Satsuma killed. The small Japanese group retreated back to the main force, and upon returning found the Sergeant had been decapitated by the aborigines, his head taken as a trophy.
On May 18 the Japanese ship Nisshin commanded by Akamatsu Noriyoshi anchored in Kwaliang bay and launched a small boat to conduct surveys. Aborigines from the village Koalut fired upon the boat with muskets. Despite receiving no injuries, Akamatsu was enraged at the incident and made immediate plans not only for attack on Koalut, but the nearby village of Lingluan as well. These plans would be postponed and eventually cancelled.
On May 21 a detachment of twelve men was sent out to investigate the area where the Satsuma Sergeant had been killed. During this investigation the detachment was ambushed again by a group of fifty natives and in the exchange of fire two Japanese were seriously wounded and one attacker was killed. The Japanese returned hastily to the shore and sounded the alarm, and 250 men accompanied by Wasson marched inland to respond. Wasson was dismayed at the lack of discipline of the Japanese soldiers, particularly in the rear, who quickly broke rank and dashed ahead in a race to get to combat first. The natives retreated after the arrival of the main force.
Saigō arrived with more troops on May 22. Consequently, Colonel Sakuma Samata commanding a 150-strong force marched too far inland and was ambushed by 70 natives, commencing the Battle of Stone Gate. The aborigines were already in pre-selected ambush positions behind stone, while the Japanese had to make do with what cover they could find from rocks seated in the waist-deep river and only being able to employ 30 troops at one time due to the terrain. Early in the engagement Sakuma ordered a retreat, but was completely ignored by his troops who continued to fight. The fighting lasted a little over an hour, until Sakuma ordered 20 riflemen to scale a cliff to his left and fire on the natives from above while the men in the river continued to press them. Upon seeing the 20 riflemen atop the cliff, the natives retreated.  Sixteen Taiwan tribesmen were killed in the battle, including the Chief's son, 14 were mortally wounded, including the Chief himself, and many more wounded. Japanese casualties were six killed, including an officer, and 30 wounded.
In July there was an outbreak of malaria that killed over 550 Japanese troops. Both American foreign advisors contracted it, and while Wasson survived, Cassel died from the malaria he contracted on the expedition in spring the next year, 1875. He is buried in Woodlawn Cemetery in Zanesville, Ohio.
In November 1874 the Japanese forces withdrew from Taiwan after the Qing government agreed to an indemnity of 500,000 Kuping taels, or about 18.7 tonnes (600,000 ozt) silver. Sir Harry Parkes, the British minister to Japan, characterised this transaction as "China's willingness to pay to be invaded".
Japanese invasion of Taiwan (1874)