Nuku Hiva Campaign facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Nuku Hiva Campaign
Part of the War of 1812
The American fleet off Nuku Hiva in 1813.
Date October 1813 - May 1814 Location Nuku Hiva, Marquesas Islands Result American victory Tai Pis and Happahs defeated Madisonville abandoned in May 1814
Belligerents
United States Te I'i (1813-May 1814) Happah (November 1813)	Tai Pi Happah (October 1813) Te I'i (May 1814)  United Kingdom
Commanders and leaders
David Porter John Downes John M. Gamble Gattanewa	unknown
Strength
Land: ~5,000 warriors ~250 sailors ~40+ marines 5 artillery pieces 1 fort Sea: 1 frigate 10 recaptured or captured whalers ~200 war-canoes	~4,000 warriors 2 forts
Casualties and losses
American: 5 killed ~12 wounded 1 corvette captured	Estimated in the hundreds

The Nuku Hiva Campaign was a series of battles between the United States and some native groups on the island of Nuku Hiva in 1813. This happened during the War of 1812. Captain David Porter of the U.S. Navy sailed his ships to Nuku Hiva for repairs. He was also raiding British ships. When they arrived, the Americans got involved in a local tribal war. They teamed up with the Te I'i people. They fought against the Happah and Tai Pi groups.

Why the Americans Came to Nuku Hiva

In early 1813, Captain Porter sailed his ship, the frigate USS Essex, into the Pacific Ocean. He went around Cape Horn all by himself. His main goal was to bother the British whaling industry. Whaling was a big business back then.

After months of sailing, the Essex needed serious repairs. Captain Porter decided to go to Nuku Hiva. This island is part of the Marquesas Islands. He was worried that British ships would find him if he stopped at a South American port.

The American fleet that went to Nuku Hiva included the USS Essex. It also had a freed American whaling ship called Barclay. Plus, there were nine British whaling ships that the Americans had captured. These captured ships were now part of Porter's fleet.

Captain Porter had about 200 U.S. Navy officers and sailors. He also had a small group of about 20 Marines. A young sailor named David Farragut was with them. He later became the first admiral in the U.S. Navy.

Building a Base: Madisonville

Captain Porter arrived at Nuku Hiva on October 25, 1813. He renamed the island "Madison's Island" after the U.S. President James Madison. Porter then started to build the first American naval base in the Pacific.

They also built a small settlement called Madisonville. This was a place for the sailors to live. A small fort, named Fort Madison, was built with four cannons.

On November 19, they had a flag-raising ceremony. They fired a 17-gun salute. They also buried a message for any future Europeans who might try to claim the island. This message said that the Te I'i people were now subjects of the United States. It also stated that the U.S. officially claimed the island. Porter hoped it would become an important naval base.

While building, sailors cleaned the bottom of the Essex. They also used smoke to get rid of over 1,000 rats from the ship. The Americans described the native warriors as tall, copper-colored, and covered in tattoos. They wore loincloths and sometimes capes made of tree bark. They carried large clubs or spears. The women dressed similarly and were friendly. An Englishman named Wilson, who had lived on the island for years, helped as an interpreter.

Battles on Nuku Hiva

Nuku Hiva had many different native tribes. They lived in villages separated by tall mountains. The area around Massachusetts Bay, where Madisonville was built, was controlled by Chief Gattanewa of the Te I'i tribe.

To get permission to build the base, Chief Gattanewa asked the Americans to become his allies. He wanted them to help fight his war against the Happah tribe.

Fighting the Happah Tribe

While most Americans were building the settlement, Lieutenant John Downes and Marine Lieutenant John Gamble led a group of 40 Marines. They were ordered to go to a fort high in the mountains. They even brought a wheeled cannon with them. The native people were amazed by the power of gunpowder weapons.

Several hundred Te I'i warriors joined the expedition. They left the coast in early November. After a journey through the jungle, Downes and his men found the fort. It was held by 3,000 to 4,000 enemy warriors.

The Te I'i and their American allies attacked. During the fight, a rock hit Lieutenant Downes in the stomach. A sailor was wounded by a spear but survived. Lieutenant Gamble fought a large Happah warrior with a wooden club. Another Marine helped Gamble by aiming his musket at the warrior.

The attack on the fort was successful. In the next few days, the Happah chiefs came to the coast to make peace. One of the peace terms was that the Happah would help the Te I'i and Americans fight the Tai Pi tribe.

Fighting the Tai Pi Tribe

Soon after the Happah were defeated, the Tai Pi tribe declared war. They fought against the Te I'i, the Happah, and the Americans. This led to a major landing operation by Captain Porter's fleet.

About 5,000 friendly warriors in at least 200 war-canoes joined the Americans. They attacked the Tai Pi coastline. After landing, 36 officers and men, with a cannon, were led by Captain Porter himself. They marched towards a fort with seven-foot-high walls.

A battle started when the Tai Pis ambushed the column in the jungle. Captain Porter wrote about spears and stones flying from unseen enemies. Skirmishes continued as they moved forward. The column reached the fort, and a long battle began. The Te I'is and Happahs did most of the fighting. The Americans used their muskets and cannon.

The Tai Pis had a strong position and pushed back the native attacks. Near the end, the Te I'is and Happahs fled. This left the 36 Americans to fight alone. Captain Porter ordered Lieutenant Gamble to cover their retreat to the beach. Gamble positioned his men to fire one last volley. This stopped the enemy from chasing them. The American force lost one man killed and two wounded. Lieutenant Downes suffered a badly broken leg. Porter said they returned to the beach "much fatigued and harassed."

Battle in Typee Valley

An 1846 drawing of Nuka Hiva.

When news spread that Porter and his allies had been defeated, the Te I'i and Happah warriors started to turn against the Americans. The Americans feared that Madisonville would be attacked. Porter decided they had to prove their strength by attacking the Tai Pis again.

Porter led most of his men on a second mission into enemy territory. This time, they went overland to Typee Valley. The Te I'i provided limited help. Typee Valley was the heartland of the Tai Pi tribe. Their villages were there, and they grew coconuts and breadfruit.

Porter planned a surprise attack by avoiding the heavily defended fort. They marched one night to a ridge overlooking the valley. Because his men were tired, Porter waited until the next morning to attack. The next day was rainy and windy, which made the gunpowder wet. So, they rested another day for the powder to dry.

Finally, on November 30, the attack began. The Americans and Te I'is faced another ambush but fought it off. Captain Porter sent a message to the Tai Pi leaders. He told them to stop fighting or their villages would be burned. When they ignored his warning, the advance continued. American forces and the Te I'is won the day when night came. There were no American casualties.

Porter said he took no joy in defeating a "happy and heroic people." He described the aftermath as "a scene of desolation and horror." He wrote that he left behind "a line of smoking ruins" when he returned to Madisonville. Tai Pi messengers soon came with many hogs as a peace offering.

Leaving Nuku Hiva

By December 9, 1813, the USS Essex was repaired and ready to sail. Most of the fleet left Nuku Hiva to continue raiding. However, three ships – Sir Andrew Hammond, Seringapatam, and Greenwich – stayed behind. Lieutenant John Gamble was left in charge with 19 sailors and six prisoners. Some of the sailors and prisoners were British.

Things were quiet until May 7, 1814. The British sailors among the crew mutinied. They freed the prisoners and attacked Fort Madison. Then, they took over the Seringapatam and sailed away. Lieutenant Gamble was wounded in the foot. He was left in a small boat but eventually made it to the Sir Andrew Hammond.

Meanwhile, the British interpreter Wilson caused trouble with the Te I'i. He told them that Captain Porter would not return. A few days later, on May 9, six American sailors were attacked on the beach by the Te I'i. A 16-year-old midshipman and four sailors were killed. Two others escaped, one of whom was wounded.

Lieutenant Gamble was alone on his ship, recovering from his foot wound. Two war-canoes approached to attack. The ship's cannons were already loaded. Gamble, despite his injury, fired the cannons himself until the enemy retreated. The next morning, he ordered everyone to leave Madisonville. Only eight men were left, and all were either wounded or sick. This was the end of America's first naval base and colony in the Pacific. Captain Porter never returned because he was captured by the British in the Battle of Valparaíso on March 28, 1814.

After the Campaign

The mutineers sailed the Seringapatam to New South Wales. From there, it was returned to its owners in Great Britain.

The British ships Cherub and Phoebe caught up with Essex and Essex Junior at Valparaiso. The Phoebe eventually captured Captain Porter and both American ships.

Before leaving Nuku Hiva, Lieutenant Gamble set fire to the Greenwich. He and seven men then sailed the Sir Andrew Hammond about 2,500 miles. They were later captured by HMS Cherub. Gamble eventually returned to the United States in 1815.

On August 28, 1814, a British Royal Navy group anchored off Nuku Hiva. They found that the natives had destroyed Fort Madison and a villa that Porter had built after his ship left. Before leaving, Thomas Staines, with the agreement of most local tribes, claimed Nuku Hiva for the British Crown.

See also

In Spanish: Expedición estadounidense a Nuku Hiva para niños

Images for kids

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  An 1846 drawing of Nuka Hiva.