The Russian soldiery were dressed in a dark uniform, trimmed with red, with glazed caps. The United States troops appeared in the usual full dress.
Of American ladies, six were present: the wives of General Davis, Colonel Weeks, Capt. Wood, and Rev. Mr. Rainier, of the “John L. Stevens,” the wife of Mr. Dodge, Collector of the Port, and the wife of Captain MacDougall, of the “Jamestown.” Six Russian ladies were also present: the Princess Maksoutoff, the wife and daughter of Vice-Governor Gardsishoff, and three whose names I do not know. H. Ex. Doc. No. 177, 40th Cong. 2nd Sess., p. 72.
On the lowering of the Russian ensign it caught in the halyards and a sailor was sent aloft to release it. He tore it loose and flung it down on the bayonets of the Russian soldiery.
On December 14, 1807, the Russian ship “Czaritza,” sailed for Russia, via London, with 168 passengers. January 1, 1868, the Russian ship “Cyane” cleared for Novgorod, Asia, with 69 soldiers of the garrison on board. November 30, 1868, the Russian ship “Winged Arrow,” went to Kronstadt, but there is no record of the passengers. April 24th, 1868, the American steamer “Alexander” took special clearance for Nikolofski, Asia, to touch at all the posts along the Alaskan coasts to close up the business of the Russian American Company. Customs Records of Alaska, Record of Clearances.
The ship “Winged Arrow” sailed on December 8th, 1868, for St. Petersburg, taking over 300 persons. Seattle Intelligencer, January 11, 1869. This is the same voyage as the one above under the clearance of November 30th.
If we may believe the current reports of the time, the military occupation of Sitka was anything but a happy time for the civil inhabitants, especially the Russians who remained. See Colyer’s Report, Ex. Doc. H. R. 41st Cong. 2nd Ses., p. 1030; Seattle Intelligencer, December 14th. 1868; The Victoria Colonist, et al.