Angoon bombardment

The Angoon Bombardment was the destruction in October 1882 of the Tlingit village of Angoon, Alaska by US Naval forces under the command Commander Edgar C. Merriman and the under the command of Michael A. Healy. The Tlingit villagers had taken white hostages and property and demanded two hundred blankets in compensation from the North West Trading Company following the accidental death of a Tlingit shaman who died in a whaling bomb accident while working on the whaler. The hostages were released upon the arrival of the naval expedition to Angoon; however, Merriman demanded four hundred blankets in tribute, and, upon the Tlingit delivery of just eighty-one blankets, Merriman's forces destroyed the village.
Background.
Following the Alaska Purchase, the United States Army came to Alaska to serve as the civil administering entity of the Department of Alaska. Administration of the department was transferred to the United States Navy in 1879. The U.S. authorities used common law, while the Tlingit people used indigenous law. Americans generally characterized the Tlingit legal framework as based on "revenge"; in actuality it was more complex and involved "peace ceremonies" which included compensation in either goods or human lives.
In 1869, two major conflicts took place between the army and Tlingit groups following retribution killings by the Tlingit against whites: 
In 1878, the North West Trading Company established a trading post and fish processing plan at Killisnoo, Alaska, near Angoon, Alaska.
Death of Tlingit shaman.
on 22 October 1882, a Tlingit shaman by the name of Til'tlein working aboard a whaling ship in the bay died as a result of an accidental explosion of a whaling bomb.
Hostage taking and compensation demand.
The Tlingit demanded two hundred blankets in compensation for the death of the shaman. In Tlingit law, compensation was also required for accidental deaths. To ensure payment, the Tlingit took two whites and two boats hostage at the plant in Killisnoo and discontinued working.
The superintendent of the whaling station at Killisnoo, J.M. Vanderbilt, managed to escape on the company tug "Favorite" to Sitka, Alaska, arriving on 23 October, and request assistance from Commander Edgar C. Merriman, who commanded the largest ship then in Alaskan waters, the .
Navy expedition.
As the USS "Adams" was thought to be too large to navigate in the shallow waters of the bay, Merriman tendered the company tug "Favorite" and the under the command of Michael A. Healy, upon which he placed a company of marines, a Gatling gun, and a howitzer.
Merriman's force arrived at Angoon on 25 October, and the Tlingit released the white hostages and captured property. Merriman, however, demanded four hundred blankets in tribute from the Tlingit to be delivered by noon the next day. The villagers were only able to collect 81 blankets for the tribute payment. Merriman proceeded to destroy the houses of the village (with the exception of a few "friendly" houses), forty canoes, and food stores. While most of the inhabitants survived after fleeing the village, six children died of smoke inhalation.
Aftermath.
An unknown number of Tlingit died during the winter due to the loss of winter supplies and shelter.
In 1884, the First Organic Act placed Alaska under civilian control.
In 1973, the Indian Claims Commission awarded the Angoon clans $90,000 in compensation for clan property destroyed in 1882 value. The Angoon Tlingit continue to press for an apology by the navy. Governor of Alaska Jay Hammond declared the 100th anniversary as "Tlingit Remembrance Day".