(click to enlarge photos)
Published in The Seattle Times on-line on May 16, 2024
and in Pacific NW Magazine of the printed Times on May 19, 2024
San Juan Island’s 1859 Pig War brought home the Canadian bacon
By Jean Sherrard
Just as with classic fairy tales, any mention of the Pig War brings lessons to mind: folly, courage, arrogance, the wisdom of restraint. Add an enchanted setting — San Juan Island — and this compelling slice of Pacific Northwest history is well worth revisiting.
Once upon a time, on June 15, 1859, 27-year-old Lyman Cutlar, a squatter on the island, discovered a pig pillaging his potatoes. The lanky Yank had driven the spud-loving critter off his land more times than he could count and the $10 he’d invested in a peck of potato seeds was disappearing with every bite. “Upon the impulse of the moment,” he later wrote, “I seazed my rifle and shot the hog.”
To Cutlar’s credit, he immediately admitted the offense. His 160-acre stake stood on disputed land operated by Canada’s Hudson Bay Company as a sheep farm, managed by its agent Charles Griffin, owner of the deceased pig. Cutlar offered to replace the animal with one of his own or pay cash for it.
This infuriated Griffin: “You Americans are nothing but a nuisance on the island, and you have no business here.” More heated words followed, as did a threat to arrest Cutlar and try him in Victoria. To this, the American provocatively patted his Kentucky rifle.
This seed of what rapidly became an international incident had been planted 13 years earlier.
In 1846, the Treaty of Oregon established the 49th parallel as the international boundary between America and the British Crown colony, exempting Vancouver Island. The nationality of dozens of San Juan Islands, however, had been left unresolved.
The boar’s demise in 1859 brought that prickly stalemate to an end, with American settlers seeking protection from the U.S. military.
From Fort Bellingham on July 27, bellicose U.S. Brig. Gen. William Harney dispatched 66 troops, led by an eager Capt. George Pickett, who was prepared to fight to the last man. In response, three British warships were sent by James Douglas, the truculent British Columbia governor, also spoiling for a fight.
Only the restraint of cooler-headed associates, refusing to go to war over a pig, prevented further bloodshed.
Several months later, the two countries agreed to a joint occupation until a border settlement could be negotiated. To that end, “American Camp” was established on the south side of the island while “English Camp” occupied the north end.
Finally, in 1872, with Germany’s Kaiser Wilhelm arbitrating, the San Juan Islands were granted to the United States. A fairy tale ending, perhaps, if only for Uncle Sam.
WEB EXTRAS
For our 360 video, recorded on location at English Camp, please click on through.
For a few more views of the San Juan camps, a couple of lighthouses, and a boat or two, see attached.
English camp:
A marker commemorating the decision of Wilhelm awarding the San Juan Islands to the U.S. – located on the hilltop above English Camp.
American Camp, overlooking Haro Strait.
Double click to see the perched eagle. Or scroll down for a close-up.
I loved this particular post. When I was in 8th grade, my science class went to San Juan Island to study birds of prey. We would lay out on Redoubt point at American camp I believe, though I didn’t see it in the pictures, at sunrise and watch the Eagles and Hawks feed. This was in the early ’70s. At night we would look for owl pellets at the base of evergreen trees and we usually found them and the owls. It was such a success that our counts were used by the Seattle mayor, Wes something (?)
Thank you for this great article.
And thus, Post 1859 of the Scottish American Military Society is the Pig War Post! https://pigwars1859.com/