Bombardment of Upolu | |||||||
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Part of the United States Exploring Expedition | |||||||
A drawing of a Samoan village made in 1839 by Alfred Agate during the Wilkes Expedition. | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
United States | Samoa | ||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
William L. Hudson William M. Walker | Malietoa Moli | ||||||
Strength | |||||||
Land: ~20 marines ~50 sailors Sea: 1 sloop-of-war 1 schooner | unknown | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
none | unknown |
The Bombardment of Upolu, in 1841, was the second engagement with islanders of the Pacific Ocean during the United States Exploring Expedition.
Following the murder of an American sailor on the island of Upolu, Samoa, two United States Navy warships were dispatched to investigate. When the principal local chief would not hand over those suspected of the murder, they bombarded one village and went ashore and burned down others.[1]