Chief Nicolai

Mt Wrangell

The World of Chief Nicolai of Taral

Mrs Chief #1

Mrs Chief #2

the Nikolai Mine

Chief Nicolai's family,
as drawn by Lt. Henry Allen in 1885

Nicolai's Village,
Taral Creek

Lt Henry Allen’s command was made up of Sergeant Cady Robertson of E Troop, 2d U.S. Cavalry, Private Frederick Fickett of the Signal Corps, and two civilian prospectors who joined the expedition in Alaska, Peder (Pete) Johnson and John Bremner. Throughout much of the expedition, the team was also assisted by various contingents of native guides who proved indispensable.

This was not the first attempt to ascend the Copper River. There had been several Russian and a few American efforts, but none resulted in gathering and returning with significant information on the region.

Lt H. Allen

Pvt Fickett

Sgt Robertson

"One of the primary tasks of Lieutenant Allen’s expedition was to study the natives of the interior. With growing levels of activity by whites in Alaska, the U. S. Government was worried that '…conflicting interests between the white people and Indians of the Territory may in the near future result in serious disturbances between the two races.' The federal government provided a broad catalog of questions that Allen was to address. They wanted to know who these people were."

The first and most-important Native that Lt. Henry Allen would seek was Nicolai of Taral. This is the chief who would make the first peace within the interior of the territory of Alaska with the Americans as represented by Lt. Allen.

"The Alaskans had been wards of the United States for less than two decades and little to nothing was known of the inhabitants of the interior. Allen was to ”…ascertain as far as practicable the number, character, and disposition of all natives living in that section of the country”.