Nuku Hiva Campaign | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Part of the War of 1812 | |||||||
![]() The American fleet off Nuku Hiva in 1813 | |||||||
| |||||||
Belligerents | |||||||
![]() Te I'i (1813-May 1814) Happah (November 1813) |
Tai Pi Happah (October 1813) Te I'i (May 1814) | ||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
![]() ![]() ![]() 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 [1][2] | Estimated in the hundreds[citation needed] |
The Nuku Hiva Campaign was an armed conflict between the United States and the Polynesian inhabitants of Nuku Hiva during the War of 1812. It occurred in 1813, following Captain David Porter's decision to sail his fleet to the island for repairs before continuing his raid against British shipping. Upon arrival, the Americans became involved in a tribal war and allied themselves with the Te I'i people against the Happah and Tai Pi clans.[3]