Tlingit: northwest coast North America - Varang update p13

[cuprum]

The Russians did not have a regular military force in Alaska. They were armed settlers. So I think that figurines of Russian partisans of 1812 are well suited for depicting Russian detachments - folk clothes have had little change over long periods.
Perry has these figures, but they have few firearms and you will probably need a conversion.

[juergen c. olk]

Great idea Cuprum

[James Morris]

Cuprum, those are excellent, great idea!  There are also some sailors involved in the fighting at Sitka so I guess these might be more uniform (but probably not much).

[cuprum]

The Russian-American Company had no special armed forces or ships. I don't think her sailors, other than officers, had any uniforms. Russian military sailors during this period were not civilians and could not go to service in the commercial fleet (except for officers).

Three-quarters of the number of Russian troops in the wars with the Tlingits were Eskimos and Aleuts, often armed only with cold weapons.

According to the recollections of the participants in the battles, the armor and helmets of the Tlingit were so good that they very often withstood the hit of a musket bullet.

The Russians, in turn, often used chain mail, dressed under clothing. They were armed with muskets, pistols, sometimes sabers.

Both the Russians and the Indians used small-caliber artillery in battle, especially during the sieges of settlements.


Russian-American Company Flag:

[BillK]

  This thread started out to be really interesting... and just keeps getting better and better. I wish more threads provided as much historical insight and so many details concerning various "bits 'n pieces." Thanks so much for starting this and to all who keep adding to it.

[juergen c. olk]

Russian warship, Tlingit warrior

[Atheling]

Russian warship, Tlingit warrior

The Tlingit warrior graphic is brill- a very good piece of work!! 

[James Morris]

The Russian-American Company had no special armed forces or ships. I don't think her sailors, other than officers, had any uniforms. Russian military sailors during this period were not civilians and could not go to service in the commercial fleet (except for officers).

Three-quarters of the number of Russian troops in the wars with the Tlingits were Eskimos and Aleuts, often armed only with cold weapons.

According to the recollections of the participants in the battles, the armor and helmets of the Tlingit were so good that they very often withstood the hit of a musket bullet.

The Russians, in turn, often used chain mail, dressed under clothing. They were armed with muskets, pistols, sometimes sabers.

Both the Russians and the Indians used small-caliber artillery in battle, especially during the sieges of settlements.


Russian-American Company Flag:

That’s all really helpful, thank you cuprum! I had read about Baranov wearing a mail shirt and giving it to a local chief when he was finally recalled to Russia, but I didn’t realise the practice was more widespread. I certainly plan to make my Tlingit warriors slightly more resistant in their armour (probably easily done using Muskets and Tomahawks, as I plan to.

Going back to Russian minis, I had a quick look at these Foundry Cossacks. Probably a little bit too Cossack and in need of some head swaps, but they will match the Varang figures size-wise.

[WuZhuiQiu]

Might some Cossacks have found their way over there as individual adventurers?

Re. the Indigenous warriors, would they already have worn some of that scale armour that was made from brass or bronze Chinese coins?

[Raza Decon]

It is important to note, that the Tlingit and other Tribes of the Pacific Northwest faced more forces then Russian and other PNW First Nations. They also battle British/ Canadian, Spanish Colonial forces, and American forces from time to time. According to oral tradition of the Tlingit or Tsimshian (i can not remember which) conducted a massive raid on Korea and the Northern most island of Japan. After the Russians took a firm hold on Alaska, several tribes started to raid and collect resources from places they have not gone before like California and Hawaii. It was not uncommon for the Tlingit, Tsimshian and Haida to attack European and American Tall Ships. The Haida leader Koyah captured four tall ships.

Coin mail armor was common. Asian coins was a trade good

[cuprum]

Only some figurines could be used if historicity is your concern.
I think that Russian settlers largely adopted the clothes of local peoples, especially warm ones))) After all, it was the most practical in those conditions.
The Cossacks could have ended up in Alaska, but they would hardly have differed in appearance from all other Russians.

I have some Tlingit images that can give some good ideas for painting figurines. Go here:
http://siberia-miniatures.ru/forum/showthread.php?fid=10&tid=350

There are also images of the reconstruction of the Tlingit armor:

[James Morris]

That’s another great link, cuprum.  Some great pics in there. I will go through it in detail later.  Thank you.

I read about the skirmishes with the other nations - lots of possibilities there. I’m going to concentrate on getting a decent Tlingit warband first and will look around for opponents when that’s done.
-

[Raza Decon]

Here are some battles and conflicts that you might want to look up

Puget Sound War 1855-1856 - Americans vs Nisqually
Battle of Port Gamble 1859 - Americans vs Tlingit and Haida
Battle of Seattle 1859 - Americans vs Nisqually
Battle of Sitka 1804 - Russians vs Tlingit
The Nootka Crisis 1789 - Spanish vs British vs Nootka
Awa'uq Massacre 1784 - Russian vs Aleutian
The Lamalcha War 1863 - British/ Canadians vs Hwlitsum
Chilcotin War 1864 - Canadian vs Chilcotin

[Atheling]

Here are some battles and conflicts that you might want to look up

Puget Sound War 1855-1856 - Americans vs Nisqually
Battle of Port Gamble 1859 - Americans vs Tlingit and Haida
Battle of Seattle 1859 - Americans vs Nisqually
Battle of Sitka 1804 - Russians vs Tlingit
The Nootka Crisis 1789 - Spanish vs British vs Nootka
Awa'uq Massacre 1784 - Russian vs Aleutian
The Lamalcha War 1863 - British/ Canadians vs Hwlitsum
Chilcotin War 1864 - Canadian vs Chilcotin

This thread really engrossing stuff.

[juergen c. olk]

I have to do this...