Battle of Port Gamble facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Battle of Port Gamble |
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| Part of American Indian Wars | |||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 United States |
Tlingit tribe from Kake village, Alaska | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
 Samuel Swartout |
unknown | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 1 killed | 27 killed, 21 wounded | ||||||
The Battle of Port Gamble was a fight between the United States and the Tlingit people. It happened in November 1856. Even though it was a small event, it's important because it was the first time a U.S. Navy sailor died in battle in the Pacific Ocean.
Why the Battle Happened
For a very long time, groups like the Haida from British Columbia and Alaska would travel south. They often raided the Coast Salish peoples who lived around Puget Sound. These raids were sometimes to capture people for labor.
The Native peoples of the Northwest Coast were amazing at building and using canoes. Their large dugout canoes could travel huge distances, sometimes up to a thousand miles! The biggest canoes could even carry 100 warriors and all their gear. These raids continued even after the border was set between the United States and what is now Canada.
The Fight at Port Gamble
In November 1856, a group of Tlingit people, about 100 warriors and their families, came into Puget Sound. This area was then called the Washington Territory. When they got close to the town of Steilacoom, the people living there told the U.S. Army. The Army then sent a message to a nearby U.S. Navy ship, the USS Massachusetts. But before the USS Massachusetts could arrive, the Tlingit group had already moved north.
On November 20, the Tlingit group approached Port Gamble. This was a community where people worked with logs and wood. Nearby lived members of the Port Gamble Band of S'Klallam Indians, some of whom worked at the sawmill. Josiah Keller, who managed the mill, blew the mill's whistle. This was a signal for everyone to go to a special strong building called a blockhouse, which had been built for safety.
The USS Massachusetts arrived at Port Gamble soon after. The Tlingit group had landed and set up camp at the edge of town. Commander Samuel Swartwout, the ship's captain, sent messages to the Tlingit leaders twice. He offered to tow their canoes to Victoria, but they said no each time.
The next morning, Commander Swartwout started firing the ship's cannons at the Tlingit camp. This caused many injuries to the group. They quickly retreated into the forest. As they pulled back, there was a small gunfight between the Tlingit warriors and the sailors from the USS Massachusetts. During this fight, a sailor named Gustavus Engelbrecht was killed. He was the only American to die in this battle. He was also the first U.S. Navy sailor to die in battle in the Pacific Ocean.
After the Tlingit group left the area, the sailors from the USS Massachusetts went ashore. They destroyed the Tlingit canoes that were on the beach and burned their supplies.
Two days later, the Tlingit survivors gave up. They were given food and 24 hours to bury their dead. Then, they were taken onto the USS Massachusetts. The plan was to take them to British Columbia. However, when the ship arrived in Victoria, the governor of British Columbia, James Douglas, did not want the Tlingit people landed in his colony.
Commander Swartwout and Governor Douglas eventually worked out a deal. The Tlingit people were given food and new canoes. Then, they were dropped off near the edge of Russian America (which is now Alaska).
What Happened Next
One of the Tlingit leaders was killed in the Battle of Port Gamble. According to Tlingit traditions, a leader from the enemy side had to be killed in return. So, on August 11, 1857, the Tlingit returned to Washington Territory. They landed on Whidbey Island. They asked settlers if there were any important leaders around. They decided that Isaac N. Ebey was the most important person on the island. They shot him before leaving for home.
After the Battle of Port Gamble, the border between Canada and the United States was watched more closely. Because of this, raids from the north into Washington became less common. There were a few other incidents later. In 1859, Suquamish warriors stopped a Haida landing on Bainbridge Island. In August 1860, there was also a confrontation between the Snohomish and Tlingit.
See also
