It was fought between a British landing detachment and the local coastal troops of Russian Grand Duchy of Finland at cape Halkokari, Kokkola.

Rear admiral James Hanway Plumridge, in command of four paddle frigates started his operation of ravaging the military and economic targets on the Finnish coast at Ekenäs in 19 May, and sailing west with his fleet continued with strikes at Hanko Peninsula, then on the Gulf of Bothnia in Raahe and Oulu.

[2] Finnish major general Alexander Jakob von Wendt, responsible for the coastal defense of the Gulf of Bothnia, hurried from Vaasa and brought with him two infantry companies and two guns.

A rich local businessman and ship-owner, Anders Donner, organised a 100-man volunteer force to defend the harbor from Halkokari cape.

After unsuccessfully demanding the city to let its valuables to be destroyed, the British prepared to attack, without knowing there was a considerable armed force ready to defend.