After the signing of the Treaty of Tianjin, the French retreated to Penghu. Liu Mingchuan, viewing Taiwan as dangerously exposed, with no war ships or cannons to protect it, relied on forces from Hunan and the Huai River and local Taiwanese militia.
「天津條約」簽訂後，法軍撤退澎湖，劉銘傳鑑於台灣孤島危懸，無艦可戰，無砲可守，全賴湘淮各軍及台灣團練苦守八月之久。