1809 Drawing of New Archangel (Sitka)
Following their victory, the Russians established a new settlement in Sitka Sound named New Archangel. This new town at Sitka quickly became the most important settlement of Russian America. In 1808, it became the colonial capital. A library with over 1,000 books and a natural history museum were established there. Over the coming years, most Russians in Alaska would live in Sitka. Within 25 years, it would have over a thousand people and become the largest town on the North American Pacific Coast north of Mexico.
Although the Tlingit had retreated and allowed the Russians to reclaim Sitka, they were not defeated. One year later, in 1805, the Yakutat Tlingit wiped out the Russian settlement there. The Yakutats' list of alleged Russian abuses was long, including robbing a grave, failing to pay for land, blocking their salmon streams, using their children as slaves under the pretense of educating them, and abusing Native women.
The Russians would never re-establish the Yakutat settlement or any further settlements in the Southeast beyond Sitka. Except for Sitka, the Tlingit remained independent and mainly in control of their homeland.
Although the Russians never returned to Yakutat, the Tlingits returned to Sitka. After 20 years, a Tlingit village emerged next to the Russian settlement. From then until 1867, the Russians and Tlingits maintained an uneasy truce that was often violated. On several occasions, the Tlingits attempted attacks on Sitka but could never drive the Russians away.