Alaska’s Alamo: Tlingit warriors’ last stand against Russia at Sitka in 1804

Katlian’s Last Stand Against Baranov at Castle Hill

The Kiks.ádi clan called Castle Hill home for 11,000 years before the Russians came.

In 1802, they struck back at fur traders, killing dozens. But Shaman Stoonook knew trouble would return.

Soon after, the Tlingit built a massive fort using 1,000 spruce logs.

When Alexander Baranov attacked in 1804, War Chief Katlian led the defense wearing his sacred Raven mask and swinging a blacksmith’s hammer. The warriors wounded Baranov but couldn’t match Russian naval guns.

Eventually, the Tlingit made their famous “Survival March” to a new home.

Castle Hill still stands today, where six original Russian cannons tell this powerful story of resistance.

Tlingit People Called Castle Hill Home for 11,000 Years

The Kiks.ádi clan lived at Castle Hill (Noow Tlein) for thousands of years before Russians showed up.

From this hilltop spot, they watched Sitka Sound and controlled sea otter hunting areas.

The Tlingit built a society with Raven and Eagle/Wolf family groups, clear ownership rules, and smart ways to protect their land.

They traded with other Tlingit clans along Southeast Alaska’s coast, creating allies and business partners. Their fighting skills and strong forts helped them keep their homeland safe for centuries.

Russian Traders Arrived Looking for Furs in 1795

Alexander Baranov sailed into Sitka Sound on the Ekaterina in 1795, looking for new fur trading spots. By 1799, he talked the Tlingit into selling him land rights, mostly to keep other foreign traders away.

The Russians built “Redoubt Saint Michael” at Starrigavan Bay, about 7 miles from the main Tlingit fort. Their settlement grew to include a warehouse, blacksmith shop, barracks, and Baranov’s house.

At first, the Tlingit welcomed these newcomers, but things soon turned bad.

Bad Blood Grew Between Natives and Newcomers

The Kiks.ádi got mad when Russian traders took native women as wives but treated them like “kalga” (slaves).

Both groups fought over who could hunt sea otters as Russian demands grew. Other Tlingit clans mocked the Sitka Tlingit, calling them Russian slaves and sellouts.

The Kiks.ádi realized the Russians wanted free labor and expected them to bow to the Tsar.

Tensions boiled over with several failed Tlingit attacks on the Russian post during winter 1799.

Tlingit Warriors Destroyed Old Sitka in 1802

Chiefs Skautlelt and Kotleian led a Tlingit war party that attacked the Russian settlement in daylight in June 1802.

They killed 29 Russians, 3 British deserters, and 200 Aleuts, then burned everything to the ground, including a ship being built.

A British ship called Unicorn saved the survivors after the Russians paid a 10,000 ruble ransom. The warriors took thousands of valuable sea otter pelts.

Captain James Barber brought the survivors and news to Baranov at Kodiak on June 24.

A Shaman’s Warning Sparked Massive Fort Construction

Shaman Stoonook told his people the Russians would come back “in force” and urged them to get ready for a big fight. Many Tlingit argued against this plan, but Stoonook won them over.

The clan picked a smart spot at the mouth of Indian River with shallow tidelands that would make it hard for ships to get close. They used 1,000 spruce logs to build 14 buildings inside thick walls.

The fort had a special shape to handle cannon fire, with angles to deflect naval shots.

Katlian Grabbed His Hammer and Prepared for Battle

The Kiks.ádi picked K’alyaan (Katlian), an aristocrat from Point House, as their war chief to lead the defense against the Russians.

Katlian bought guns, bullets, and cannons from American and British traders passing through. Under his leadership, they finished Shís’gi Noow (“Fort of Young Saplings”), the biggest Tlingit fort ever built.

Their battle plan was simple: check how strong the Russians were at Castle Hill, then fall back to their new fort for the real fight.

Russians Returned With Warships and Hundreds of Fighters

Baranov came back on September 29, 1804, on the warship Neva with Lieutenant Commander Yuri Lisyansky. He brought 150 fur traders and 400-500 Aleuts paddling 250 baidarkas (skin boats).

The Russians set up camp at the winter village, calling it “Novo-Arkhangel’skaya Mikhailovskaya” (New Archangel Saint Michael). Baranov sent messengers to talk for the Castle Hill site, but the Tlingit refused.

The Russian ships moved into firing position while soldiers got ready to attack on land.

Tlingit Fighters Sent Russians Running for Their Ships

On October 1, 1804, Baranov led a Russian landing party against the Tlingit fort, firing nonstop. The Aleut warriors got scared and ran back to their boats on the beach.

Katlian put on his sacred Raven mask, grabbed a blacksmith’s hammer, and led a fierce counterattack. The Kiks.ádi trapped the Russians: some warriors charged from the fort while others attacked from the woods. They hurt Baranov badly and forced the Russians to retreat so quickly they left their guns on the beach.

Four Days of Cannon Fire Failed to Break Fort Walls

After Baranov got hurt, Lieutenant Commander Lisyansky took over and ordered the ships to bomb the fort. The Neva’s cannons couldn’t break through the thick wooden walls from a cable’s length away.

For four straight days, the Russians fired at the fort but couldn’t crack its smart design. The Tlingit offered fake truces, hostage swaps, and false surrender talks to buy time.

They turned down all Russian demands to give up while quietly moving children and elders out of danger.

One Lucky Shot Changed the Course of the Battle

A Russian cannon hit a canoe carrying gunpowder to the fort, blowing up the Tlingit’s main ammunition supply. The blast killed young leaders bringing the gunpowder, greatly weakening the Kiks.ádi fighting strength. The clan elders made a tough choice to leave rather than face a long siege without bullets.

No help came from other Tlingit clans, who stayed out of the fight.

As night fell, the House Chiefs met to plan their escape across the island to a spot they had picked out earlier.

The Kiks.ádi Left Their Homeland in a Daring Night March

On October 4, 1804, the Kiks. ádi slipped out of their fort in the dark, leaving the Russians to find an empty stronghold the next morning.

Nearly 900 clan members set out on the famous “survival march through our own backyard to planned destination. ” They hiked across Baranof Island’s rough mountain terrain to reach Chichagof Island.

Red cedar canoes helped them cross the ocean to build a new settlement at Point Craven. They called their new home Chaatlk’aanoow (“Little Halibut Fort”), ending 11,000 years of living at Castle Hill.

Visiting Castle Hill (Baranof Castle State Historic Site), Alaska

Castle Hill is at Harbor Road and Lincoln Street in downtown Sitka and costs nothing to visit during daylight hours. You can walk up the paved path to see where Kiks.ádi war chief Katlian fought Russian forces in 1804.

The interpretive panels explain how the Tlingit defended their homeland before the strategic survival march.

From the 60-foot hilltop, you get great views of Sitka’s harbor and can read plaques about the 1867 Alaska transfer.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

Read more from this brand:

• 142 years of trauma: When the Navy obliterated a Tlingit village in Alaska
• Castner’s Cutthroats: the Alaskan scouts that gave America its westernmost WWII base
• When the Spanish flu orphaned an entire Alaskan village in 1918