In November 1856, the tranquil waters of Puget Sound became the setting for a significant confrontation known as the Battle of Port Gamble. This pivotal engagement pitted a formidable Haida Indian raiding force against the burgeoning American presence, culminating in a violent clash with the U.S. Navy. The Battle of Port Gamble represents a critical moment in the complex history of indigenous-settler relations in the Pacific Northwest, highlighting the territorial disputes and cultural clashes of the mid-19th century.
The Haida, a powerful maritime people renowned for their impressive seafaring canoes and skilled warrior traditions, frequently ventured south from their traditional territories in what is now British Columbia and Alaska. These expeditions often involved raiding for goods, resources, and even captives, as part of a long-established cultural practice. Their presence in Puget Sound in late 1856 was not an isolated incident but part of a broader pattern of interaction and conflict with both other indigenous groups and the encroaching American settlers.
The Haida’s Expedition into Puget Sound
The expedition began with a substantial Haida force, comprising seven sea-going canoes and an estimated 300 warriors, making their way into Puget Sound. Their initial target, or at least a significant point of concern for settlers, was the nascent town of Steilacoom, Washington. The appearance of such a large, armed indigenous group naturally caused alarm among the pioneering community. The settlers quickly sought assistance from U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel Casey, stationed in the region, who was tasked with maintaining order and protecting American interests.
Lieutenant Colonel Casey, recognizing the maritime nature of the threat posed by the Haida canoes, appropriately determined that the matter fell within the jurisdiction of the U.S. Navy. He promptly notified U.S. Navy Commander Swartout, who commanded the steam sloop Massachusetts. This vessel, a powerful symbol of American naval might, was instrumental in projecting federal authority across the vast and often turbulent waters of the Pacific Northwest. While the military channels processed the request, the Haida force, perhaps sensing the impending naval response or simply continuing their established patterns of movement, shifted their focus.
The Threat to Port Gamble Mill
By November 19, 1856, the Haida raiders had paddled further north and approached the bustling sawmill at Port Gamble, located in a place known to the indigenous people as Teekalet. Port Gamble was more than just a sawmill; it was a vital economic hub for the nascent Washington Territory, a testament to the rapid expansion of American industry and settlement in the region. The mill processed vast quantities of timber, a crucial resource for the growing cities along the Pacific coast and beyond. Its strategic importance made it a tempting target for raiding parties seeking to assert dominance or acquire valuable goods.
Upon sighting the approaching Haida canoes, Josiah Keller, the vigilant superintendent of the Teekalet mill, immediately recognized the danger. He sounded the mill whistle, a piercing alarm that galvanized the community into action. Mill employees and their families, well-versed in the perils of frontier life, swiftly retreated to a sturdy two-story wooden blockhouse. This defensive structure served as a refuge, providing a measure of security against potential attacks. Armed with all available guns and ammunition, the settlers braced themselves for an assault that, fortunately, never materialized that day, as the Haida held their position, possibly assessing the defenses or awaiting an opportune moment.
The Arrival of the USS Massachusetts and the Battle
The morning of November 20, 1856, brought a decisive turn of events. The USS Massachusetts, under the command of Commander Swartout, steamed purposefully into Gamble Bay. The arrival of the steam sloop, with its imposing presence and formidable weaponry, signaled the end of the standoff. It was at this point that fighting erupted, marking the beginning of the Battle of Port Gamble.
For the next two days, the waters and shores of Gamble Bay became a scene of intense conflict. Shots were fired from both sides as the U.S. Navy attempted to neutralize the Haida threat. The powerful guns of the Massachusetts likely played a significant role, but the determined resistance of the Haida warriors, fighting from their canoes and potentially from shore positions, ensured a fierce engagement. In the ensuing melee, both sides suffered casualties. Records indicate that 26 native warriors were killed during the confrontation. Tragically, one American sailor, Gustavus Engelbrecht, also lost his life. Engelbrecht, whose name is sometimes recorded as Gustave, holds the distinction of being the first U.S. Navy man to die in battle in the Pacific. His sacrifice was commemorated with his burial on the bluff overlooking the mill, a site that would later become the Buena Vista Cemetery in the town of Port Gamble.
Aftermath and Lingering Tensions
Following the two-day engagement, the surviving Haida force retreated northward, withdrawing from Puget Sound. While the immediate threat to Port Gamble was averted, the battle had a lasting impact. The loss of 26 warriors, including their chief, was a significant blow to the Haida. The concept of revenge and retribution was deeply ingrained in many indigenous cultures of the Pacific Northwest, and the Haida were no exception. The departing raiders vowed to return the following August to seek vengeance for their losses, a chilling promise that underscored the volatile nature of the frontier.
The Battle of Port Gamble, though relatively small in scale compared to other conflicts, was a stark reminder of the continuous friction between indigenous populations and expanding American settlements. It illustrated the U.S. Navy’s growing role in protecting American interests in the Pacific and the challenges faced by both sides in a rapidly changing landscape. The event solidified the presence of federal authority in Puget Sound while also highlighting the enduring resilience and determination of the indigenous peoples in defending their territories and traditions.
The Legacy of Conflict in Washington Territory
The events at Port Gamble were part of a broader period of conflict in Washington Territory, often referred to collectively as the Indian Wars of the Pacific Northwest. These clashes, driven by land disputes, resource competition, and cultural misunderstandings, shaped the demographic and political landscape of the region. The bravery displayed by both the settlers defending their homes and the Haida warriors asserting their traditional rights serves as a poignant chapter in American history. The memory of Gustavus Engelbrecht and the unknown Haida fallen warriors remains a testament to the high cost of this era of expansion and conflict.
Conclusion
The Battle of Port Gamble stands as a compelling, albeit tragic, episode in the history of Washington State. It was a brief but intense naval engagement in November 1856 that saw the U.S. Navy’s steam sloop Massachusetts confront Haida raiders in Puget Sound. This confrontation, sparked by the Haida’s threat to the Port Gamble sawmill, resulted in significant casualties and marked the first U.S. Navy fatality in the Pacific theater. The battle underscored the ongoing tensions and violent clashes inherent in the westward expansion, leaving a legacy of both heroism and loss that continues to resonate in the historical narrative of the Pacific Northwest.
