Background
The Russians first came to Sitka in 1799. They made a settlement at Gajaa Heen, what is now known as Old Sitka, north of town near the end of the present roadway system. They also had a settlement at Yakutat, intending to have control of Southeast Alaska's fur trading. However, the Hudson Bay Company also wanted control and offered a trade to the Tlingit people of muskets and gunpowder in exchange for exculsive fur trading rights. In 1802, the Tlingit people attacked and destroyed the Russian's settlement at Gajaa Heen while their ships were away at Kodiak. Tlingits from Sitka, Angoon, Kake, Hoonah, Auke Bay, and Klukwan took part in the battle and left few survivors at the Russian settlement.
Following is a condensed version of the Battle of 1804 from the book Will the Time Ever Come? by Andrew Hope III and Thomas F. Thornton.
The Battle
A Shaman, Stoonookw, convinces the Kiksadis to prepare for the Russians' return by building a fort that could withstand cannon fire. It was approximately 200 square feet and consisted of over 1,000 logs. The fort was built at Kaasdaheen (Indian River) because of its strategic location; the Russian's ships could not get close enough to inflict much damage. K'alyaan is chosen as new war chief, replacing Shk'awulyeil, leader of the war in 1802 at Gajaa Heen.
Russians arrive in August, 1804, with three ships and 400 Aleut sea otter hunters in bidarkas. The warship Neva joined them. It consisted of 14 cannons and 50 professional sailors. The Kiksadis planned to test the Russians at Noow Tlein, (Castle Hill) before drawing them to Shis'ki Noow. They were waiting for their northern Tlingit allies who helped during the 1802 battle, but they didn't arrive. The Russians demanded their surrender. The Kiksadis decided to fight alone.
The Kiksadis had stored all their ammunition in a cave in Silver Bay. They sent an elite crew to retrieve it, and when they arrived with it at the battleground in their canoe they were fired at by the Russians. They exchanged fire, then a huge explosion occurred. All Kiksadi elite warriors perished along with the stocks of ammunition. Before the battle had even started, the Kiksadis stockpile of ammunition was gone.
On the first day of battle, Baranof chose to go ashore without consulting Lisianski and without being covered by the Neva's cannons. Aleuts approached the fort, and under the advisement of the shaman, the Kiksadis withheld their fire until the opposition was at the front of the wall. The Kiksadis launched their attack over the heads of the Aleuts at the Russian soldiers from the front, causing the Aleut hunters to disperse. Amid a smoke filled beach, K'alyaan led an attack from the river behind them, surprising the Russians. Baranof went down and was carried off by his soldiers. Having to leave a cannon behind to survive, the Russians lost the battle they were confident of winning.
The Kiksadis were not totally victorious, though. They had used too much ammunition. On the second day, Lisianski bombed the Kiksadi fort all day long. When the bombardment stopped, the Kiksadi chiefs met to discuss their options. With no sign of allies to aid them, the idea came up to abandon the fort site, Shis'kinoow. They would rather live to fight another day. While the Kiksadi warriors delayed a Russian attack on their fort on day three, elders, women and children were sent on their way to Gajaa Heen to retreat.
While each family planned their retreat, young Kiksadi leaders met again. They agreed they must be able to return to Sheet'ka the next summer to harvest herring eggs and setup their fish camps. They wanted to blockade Peril Strait and forbid Tlingits from trading with the Russians. The elder chiefs accepted the plan.
On the fourth day while the bombardment of the fort continued, the Kiksadis negotiated a retreat with the Russians. They would leave Shis'ki Noow the next day. That night, a ceremony was held in which the house chiefs thanked everyone for defending their homeland. A last song was sung to grieve the loss of life, land, and possessions, including Shis'ki Noow, Noow Tlein, and tribal houses. They left Shis'ki Noow on a survival march across Baranof Island.
