Pig War begins on San Juan Island

Background. The Oregon Treaty of 1846 established the 49th parallel as the border but failed to specify the channel separating the continent from Vancouver Island. This ambiguity led to conflicting claims over the San Juan Islands, with the U.S. favoring Haro Strait and Britain favoring Rosario Strait. By mid-1859, American settlers had arrived, creating a tense environment for potential conflict.

The Incident. On June 15, 1859, Lyman Cutlar shot a pig that was eating his potatoes. The pig belonged to Charles Griffin, a British employee of the Hudson's Bay Company. When British authorities threatened to arrest Cutlar, American settlers called for military protection from the U.S. Army, escalating the local dispute into an international confrontation.

Military Response. General William S. Harney dispatched Captain George Pickett and 66 soldiers to San Juan Island to prevent British landings. By August 10, 1859, American forces had grown to 461 men with 14 cannons, facing a British naval flotilla of five warships. This standoff defined the early phase of the Pig War.