Second Fiji Expedition
Encyclopedia
The Second Fiji Expedition was an 1858 United States Navy operation against the native warrior
s of Seru Epenisa Cakobau
on the island of Waya
in Fiji. Following the death of two American traders on Waya, the Pacific Squadron
launched a punitive expedition
against the Wayans and defeated them in a pitched battle at the village of Somatti.
, the Pacific Squadron sent the sloop-of-war
USS Vandalia
under Commander
Arthur Sinclair
. The warship arrived at Ovalau on 2 October 1858 and it was decided that in order to get to Waya a vessel with a shallower draft was needed. To solve this problem Commander Sinclair chartered the schooner
Mechanic and placed her under the command of veteran Lieutenant Charles Caldwell. A force of ten marines, forty sailors and a 12-pounder howitzer
were mustered for the landing on Waya.
A few Fijian guides and three American merchant sailors also participated. One of whom was Captain
Josiah Knowles of the clipper ship Wild Wave which was wrecked off Oeno. Knowles and forty others were marooned on the island until being rescued by the Vandalia and taken to Fiji.
to Waya. During their passage to the island, Lieutenant Caldwell’s men heard many stories from towns and villages about the warriors of Waya. A letter was also received from the Wayan chiefs responsible for the deaths of the two American traders. The message said, “Do you suppose we have killed the two white men for nothing? No, we killed them and we have eaten them. We are great warriors, and we delight in war.” Caldwell later wrote, “...and woe to the members of any strange tribe that falls into their hands... to be clubbed to death and eaten is the only alternative for the captive. It is not a matter of surprise that the tribes along our route learned with feelings of satisfaction the nature of our expedition.”
At 3:00 am on 9 October, the Americans made a landing and marched inland towards the village of Somatti over tropical and mountainous terrain. While climbing through the mountains, the 12-pounder was destroyed and left behind when it fell 2,300 feet down the side of a hill as the expedition tried to pull it up.
When the column reached Somatti it was daytime and over 300 native warriors were positioned in front of the village for defense. The Wayans wore white robes and were armed with clubs, rocks, spears, bows and some muskets. The Americans had swords and carbine rifles and the battle began when Lieutenant Caldwell ordered a flanking maneuver on the left side of the mass of warriors. This routed the natives and they dispersed themselves amongst the town or fled into the jungle. After, Master's Mate
John K. Bartlett, who led a group of sailors, sang "Red, White and Blue
" and let out three cheers before charging and capturing the village.
The crew of the 12-pounder, with no gun to fire, took charge of burning the village and over 115 huts were destroyed. Marines under Lieutenant Alan Ramsey participated by providing a rearguard for the sailors, they repulsed a final Wayan attack from the jungle after they had regrouped. In all fourteen warriors, including the two chiefs, were counted dead after a fierce half an hour battle. At least thirty-six others were wounded. Two marines were wounded by musketry but survived, two sailors were hurt badly by rocks, one other marine was hit in the leg with an arrow and a sailor from the Wild Wave was hurt as well.
After the battle the Americans took until 16 October to return to the coast where the Mechanic was waiting. They stopped at friendly Fijian fishing villages and spread the news of their victory. Caldwell noted that two ramrod
s and one bayonet
were lost during the march, and a large amount of ammunition was used in battle. The lieutenant received much credit for the operation which is considered one of the most impressive military campaigns launched by the United States in the South Pacific
during the nineteenth century.
Warrior
A warrior is a person skilled in combat or warfare, especially within the context of a tribal or clan-based society that recognizes a separate warrior class.-Warrior classes in tribal culture:...
s of Seru Epenisa Cakobau
Seru Epenisa Cakobau
Ratu Seru Epenisa Cakobau was a Fijian Ratu and warlord who united part of Fiji's warring tribes under his leadership, establishing a united Fijian kingdom.-Background:...
on the island of Waya
Waya
Waya was a French Thoroughbred World Record holding filly racehorse who competed successfully in France and was a Champion in the United States. She was bred by the prominent French horseman Daniel Wildenstein through his breeding company, Dayton Ltd...
in Fiji. Following the death of two American traders on Waya, the Pacific Squadron
Pacific Squadron
The Pacific Squadron was part of the United States Navy squadron stationed in the Pacific Ocean in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Initially with no United States ports in the Pacific, they operated out of storeships which provided naval supplies and purchased food and obtained water from local...
launched a punitive expedition
Punitive expedition
A punitive expedition is a military journey undertaken to punish a state or any group of persons outside the borders of the punishing state. It is usually undertaken in response to perceived disobedient or morally wrong behavior, but may be also be a covered revenge...
against the Wayans and defeated them in a pitched battle at the village of Somatti.
Background
In the summer of 1858 two American citizens on Waya were killed and canibalized by the natives so when word of the incident reached the American consulate at OvalauOvalau
Ovalau is the sixth largest island in Fiji's Lomaiviti Archipelago. Situated at 17.70° South and 178.8° East, , the island is about 13 kilometers long and 10 kilometers wide...
, the Pacific Squadron sent the sloop-of-war
Sloop-of-war
In the 18th and most of the 19th centuries, a sloop-of-war was a warship with a single gun deck that carried up to eighteen guns. As the rating system covered all vessels with 20 guns and above, this meant that the term sloop-of-war actually encompassed all the unrated combat vessels including the...
USS Vandalia
USS Vandalia
USS Vandalia has been the name of four ships in the service of the United States Navy. All of the ships are named for Vandalia, Illinois.*USS Vandalia , an 18-gun sloop-of-war*USS Vandalia , a screw sloop...
under Commander
Commander
Commander is a naval rank which is also sometimes used as a military title depending on the individual customs of a given military service. Commander is also used as a rank or title in some organizations outside of the armed forces, particularly in police and law enforcement.-Commander as a naval...
Arthur Sinclair
Arthur Sinclair
Commodore Arthur Sinclair was an early American naval hero, who served in the U.S. Navy during the Quasi-War with France, the First Barbary War and in the War of 1812...
. The warship arrived at Ovalau on 2 October 1858 and it was decided that in order to get to Waya a vessel with a shallower draft was needed. To solve this problem Commander Sinclair chartered the schooner
Schooner
A schooner is a type of sailing vessel characterized by the use of fore-and-aft sails on two or more masts with the forward mast being no taller than the rear masts....
Mechanic and placed her under the command of veteran Lieutenant Charles Caldwell. A force of ten marines, forty sailors and a 12-pounder howitzer
Howitzer
A howitzer is a type of artillery piece characterized by a relatively short barrel and the use of comparatively small propellant charges to propel projectiles at relatively high trajectories, with a steep angle of descent...
were mustered for the landing on Waya.
A few Fijian guides and three American merchant sailors also participated. One of whom was Captain
Captain (naval)
Captain is the name most often given in English-speaking navies to the rank corresponding to command of the largest ships. The NATO rank code is OF-5, equivalent to an army full colonel....
Josiah Knowles of the clipper ship Wild Wave which was wrecked off Oeno. Knowles and forty others were marooned on the island until being rescued by the Vandalia and taken to Fiji.
Expedition
The expedition left Ovalau on 6 October 1858 and sailed west around the northern end of the main island of Viti LevuViti Levu
Viti Levu is the largest island in the Republic of Fiji, the site of the nation's capital, Suva, and home to a large majority of Fiji's population.- Geography and economy :...
to Waya. During their passage to the island, Lieutenant Caldwell’s men heard many stories from towns and villages about the warriors of Waya. A letter was also received from the Wayan chiefs responsible for the deaths of the two American traders. The message said, “Do you suppose we have killed the two white men for nothing? No, we killed them and we have eaten them. We are great warriors, and we delight in war.” Caldwell later wrote, “...and woe to the members of any strange tribe that falls into their hands... to be clubbed to death and eaten is the only alternative for the captive. It is not a matter of surprise that the tribes along our route learned with feelings of satisfaction the nature of our expedition.”
At 3:00 am on 9 October, the Americans made a landing and marched inland towards the village of Somatti over tropical and mountainous terrain. While climbing through the mountains, the 12-pounder was destroyed and left behind when it fell 2,300 feet down the side of a hill as the expedition tried to pull it up.
When the column reached Somatti it was daytime and over 300 native warriors were positioned in front of the village for defense. The Wayans wore white robes and were armed with clubs, rocks, spears, bows and some muskets. The Americans had swords and carbine rifles and the battle began when Lieutenant Caldwell ordered a flanking maneuver on the left side of the mass of warriors. This routed the natives and they dispersed themselves amongst the town or fled into the jungle. After, Master's Mate
Master's mate
Master's mate is an obsolete rating which was used by the Royal Navy, United States Navy and merchant services in both countries for a senior petty officer who assisted the master...
John K. Bartlett, who led a group of sailors, sang "Red, White and Blue
Red, White and Blue
Red, White and Blue is a fictional trio of soldiers from DC Comics.Red Dugan of The United States Marine Corps, Whitey Smith of the Army, and Blooey Blue of the Navy made up the Red, White & Blue team, U.S. agents who fought against Axis forces during World War II. They were helped by FBI agent...
" and let out three cheers before charging and capturing the village.
The crew of the 12-pounder, with no gun to fire, took charge of burning the village and over 115 huts were destroyed. Marines under Lieutenant Alan Ramsey participated by providing a rearguard for the sailors, they repulsed a final Wayan attack from the jungle after they had regrouped. In all fourteen warriors, including the two chiefs, were counted dead after a fierce half an hour battle. At least thirty-six others were wounded. Two marines were wounded by musketry but survived, two sailors were hurt badly by rocks, one other marine was hit in the leg with an arrow and a sailor from the Wild Wave was hurt as well.
After the battle the Americans took until 16 October to return to the coast where the Mechanic was waiting. They stopped at friendly Fijian fishing villages and spread the news of their victory. Caldwell noted that two ramrod
Ramrod
A ramrod is a device used with early firearms to push the projectile up against the propellant . It is also commonly referred to as a "scouring stick"...
s and one bayonet
Bayonet
A bayonet is a knife, dagger, sword, or spike-shaped weapon designed to fit in, on, over or underneath the muzzle of a rifle, musket or similar weapon, effectively turning the gun into a spear...
were lost during the march, and a large amount of ammunition was used in battle. The lieutenant received much credit for the operation which is considered one of the most impressive military campaigns launched by the United States in the South Pacific
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
during the nineteenth century.
See also
- Wilkes ExpeditionUnited States Exploring ExpeditionThe United States Exploring Expedition was an exploring and surveying expedition of the Pacific Ocean and surrounding lands conducted by the United States from 1838 to 1842. The original appointed commanding officer was Commodore Thomas ap Catesby Jones. The voyage was authorized by Congress in...
- Sumatran ExpeditionsSumatran ExpeditionsThe Sumatran Expeditions can refer to:*The First Sumatran Expedition – An American naval expedition to the island in 1832, as redress for the taking of the massacre of the crew of the merchantman Friendship...
- Korean Expedition
- Formosan ExpeditionFormosan ExpeditionThe Formosa Expedition, or the Taiwan Expedition of 1867 was a punitive expedition launched by the United States against Formosa. The expedition was undertaken in retaliation for the destruction of the Rover, an American bark which had been wrecked and massacred by native warriors in March 1867...
- Nukapu ExpeditionNukapu ExpeditionThe Nukapu Expedition occurred between October of 1871 and February of 1872 and was a British punitive operation in response to the murder of Bishop John Coleridge Patteson by the natives of Nukapu...