THE PIG WAR

by Nichole Mitchell & Renee Bissell

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          The Pig War arose from a dispute over the Oregon Country between the British and America.  In 1818, they jointly occupied the territory.  By 1845 there was discontent within both parties.  The British felt that Americans were trespassing on territory that was rightfully theirs according to earlier treaties, explorations and trading activities by the Hudson’s Bay Company.  The Americans resented the British resistance to their expansion, which they justified by the theory of “manifest destiny.”  In 1846, the Oregon Treaty resolved this dispute peacefully.  America obtained possession of the Pacific Northwest south of the 49th parallel, extending the boundary "to the middle of the channel which separates the continent from Vancouver's Island; and thence southerly through the middle of the said channel, and of Fuca's straits to the Pacific Ocean."  The wording left the ownership of San Juan Island unclear.  It was not specified whether the line went through Haro Strait or Rosario Strait.  This oversight led to a war between the British and the Americans that involved many important personalities and whose only casualty was a pig. 
 

Lesson Objective: To provide information and understanding of the international conflict, its resolution, and the everyday lives of the people involved. 

 

Lesson Activity: Skit and tour of English Camp.  

   

 

  TIMELINE OF PIG WAR EVENTS

 

1843 – Hudson’s Bay Company set up at Ft. Victoria on Vancouver Island, 14 miles from San Juan Island. 

 

1845 – Hudson’s Bay Company places wooden plaque on San Juan Island claiming it for Great Britain. 

 

1853 – Washington Territory created; San Juan Islands part of Island County.  December 13, Charles Griffin sets up Bellevue Farm on southern end of island. 

 

1856 – International Boundary Commission set up, surveying begins the following summer. 

 

1858 – Gold in British Columbia, thousands of Americans come to area. 

 

1859

          April        -Lyman Cutlar settles north of Bellevue Farm on San Juan Island

May         -Hubbs writes to General Harney to request military protection from Indians

June        -After warning Griffin, Cutlar kills a pig from Bellevue Farm that was rooting in his garden

July         -Harney comes to the San Juan Islands and he hears of the pig incident.  He asks Hubbs to write a formal petition for protection.

          -On July 26th, Company D, 9th Infantry is dispatched to San Juan Island under the command of Captain Pickett.

          -The frigate Tribune was sent in response to US occupation, and was later joined by the Plumper and Satellite.

August    -Casey came to the island with 400 reinforcements.

October   -Lt. General Winfield Scott arrives by order of the president and negotiates a joint occupation.

              -Pickett is removed from command by Scott because of a request from Douglas.

 

1860 – Pickett returns to command because Captain Lewis Hunt, his replacement, can’t control the island residents

 

1861 – Pickett leaves to join the Southern Army

 

1871 – The US and Britain sign the Treaty of Washington, which settled issues left over from the Civil War and agreed on an outside arbitrator for the water boundary – Emperor William I of Germany

 

1872 – Arbitration board gives findings, William decides that the islands go to the US.  The Royal Marines leave English Camp for good and the US takes over both camps.

 

1875 – Both camps are abandoned and the property is turned over to civilians.

 

PERSONALITIES INVOLVED

 

United States:

 

General William S. Harney

Believed that the San Juan Islands belong to the US and that British laws and courts didn’t apply to American citizens.  He was not always completely truthful.

Captain George Pickett

Believed that the island should be defended against any British troops that landed.  He thought that only American laws applied to Americans.  Wanted to fight against all odds to protect American interests.

General Winfield Scott

Believed that the crisis could be settled without fighting.  Thought that a military joint occupation was the best solution until arbitration could decide who owned the islands.

  Lyman Cutler                      A farmer who shot Griffin’s pig and accelerated tensions

    in the area.

 

 

Great Britain

 

Governor James Douglas

Believed that San Juan Island belonged to Great Britain.  Thought that the Americans wanted Vancouver and the lands north of the 49th parallel as well.

Captain Geoffrey Hornby

Believed that Great Britain could afford to wait because it had superior forces.  Didn’t want to ruin his country’s reputation fighting over something that neither country could claim.

Rear Admiral R. L. Baynes

Was experienced and cal.  He felt that negotiation was the best solution, but that the royal Navy could certainly do a lot of damage to American forces.  He didn’t think that the island was worth fighting over at all.

 

                                                           

 

 

BIBLIOGRAPHY

 

Scott, Robert.  The Pig War; Conflict and Resolution in the Pacific Northwest.  2002.

 

San Juan Island National Historical Park.  Vouri, Mark. Online.  http://www.nps.gov/sajh/pig-war.htm. 2002