Battle of Drummond's Island

Part of the United States Exploring Expedition

A drawing by Alfred Thomas Agate featuring a warrior of Drummond Island in 1841.

Date	April 9, 1841
Location	Tabiteuea, Gilbert Islands, Pacific Ocean
Result	United States victory

Belligerents

United States

Tabiteuea

Commanders and leaders

William L. Hudson

William M. Walker

Unknown

Strength

Land:
~20 marines
~60 sailors
Sea:
1 sloop-of-war
1 schooner
7 armed boats

~700 warriors

Casualties and losses

1 killed
7 armed boats damaged

12 killed

Coordinates: 1°21′00″N 174°48′00″E / 1.35000°N 174.80000°E / 1.35000; 174.80000

The Battle of Drummond's Island occurred during the American exploring expedition in April 1841 at Tabiteuea, then known as Drummond's Island. After an attack by native warriors on the United States Navy sloop USS Peacock, the Americans decided on exacting redress for the incident, which they succeeded in doing.

The USS Peacock was under the command of Lieutenant William L. Hudson when Commander Charles Wilkes ordered him to explore Drummond's Island, so named after a member of the expedition. Around this time Lieutenant Hudson learned from a member of his crew that a merchant ship had wrecked on a reef off the island's northwest coast years before. Most of the crew were massacred except a "white woman" and a child who were supposed to still be living there. So on April 6, the Peacock anchored off Utiroa on Drummond's island and he went ashore with the Scientific Corps and a few navy officers, as well as the detachment of marines. At first the natives were described as peaceful and they led the Americans to their village center. Tabiteuea means "land of no chiefs" in Gilbertese and the natives themselves practiced egalitarianism which meant the Americans had no chief, or leader, to consult with. Utiroa was said to be where the massacre had taken place so other than studying the flora and fauna of the island, Hudson wanted to inquire about the shipwreck and the stranded woman and child. The natives spoke nothing of the incident but "parts of the vessel was found" inside the village's huts though most of the buildings were deemed off limits.

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