In 1865, Western Union decided to lay a telegraph line across Alaska to Bering Strait where it would connect with an Asian line.
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That afternoon, 250 American soldiers, 80 Russian soldiers, Russian-American Company Chief Manager Prince Maksutov and his wife, and a group of locals assembled at the flagstaff in front of the governor's residence (on what has come to be known as "Baranof (Baronov) Castle Hill" to witness the flag of Russia being lowered and the U.S. flag being raised in its place.
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With the United States Alaska Purchase of 1867, Sitka became the headquarters of the Military Department of Alaska under U.S. Army Major General Jefferson C. Davis.
Henry E. Nichols (died 1899), U.S. Navy officer and the commander of the Department of Alaska