The Pig War Standoff of 1859
In 1859, an American farmer shot a British pig on San Juan Island. That single gunshot almost started a war between America and Britain. The pig was eating potatoes, the farmer was protecting his crops, and suddenly two nations were pointing cannons at each other over a dead pig.
For twelve years, American and British soldiers shared the island in an armed standoff that became known as the Pig War.
Here’s the full story of this bizarre border dispute, now preserved at San Juan Island National Historical Park where you can walk the same ground where it all went down.
A Kentucky Farmer’s Temper Triggered An International Crisis
On June 15, 1859, Lyman Cutlar grabbed his rifle in anger. The Kentucky farmer found a big black pig digging up his potato patch on San Juan Island.
The animal had ruined his crops before. Cutlar, who settled there under the Donation Land Claim Act, shot and killed the pig on the spot.
The pig belonged to Charles Griffin, an Irishman working at the nearby Hudson’s Bay Company sheep ranch. Griffin wanted $100 for his dead pig.
Cutlar offered only $10, saying the pig shouldn’t have been on his land. Their argument quickly grew into something much bigger.
Hot-headed General Harney Jumped Into Action
General William S. Harney arrived at San Juan Island on the USS Massachusetts on July 8, 1859.
He saw an American flag flying on land both the United States and Britain claimed. The next day, Harney listened to American settlers complain about threats from the Hudson’s Bay Company.
They gave him a petition asking for military protection, mostly mentioning “Northern Indian” raids rather than the pig incident.
Harney, known for his strong anti-British views from past conflicts, took their concerns seriously. He decided to send in troops right away.
Tough-talking Captain Pickett Stood His Ground
General Harney sent Captain George Pickett and 66 soldiers to San Juan Island on July 27, 1859. They traveled on the steamer USS Massachusetts with clear orders to stop any British forces from landing.
Pickett, who later became famous as a Confederate general at Gettysburg, set up camp near the Hudson’s Bay Company’s Belle Vue sheep farm. His position sat right under the guns of the British warship HMS Satellite.
When British naval officers questioned him, Pickett boldly said, “We’ll make a Bunker Hill of it,” referring to the famous Revolutionary War battle.
Royal Navy Warships Surrounded The Tiny American Force
The British didn’t take the American military presence lightly. They sent three Royal Navy warships under Captain Geoffrey Hornby to face Pickett’s forces.
The situation grew more tense each day. By August 10, 1859, the standoff had grown to 461 Americans with 14 cannons facing five British warships carrying 2,140 men and 70 guns.
Governor James Douglas of British Columbia ordered the ships to remove the American troops while trying to avoid a fight. The Americans dug in on higher ground while British forces stayed offshore.
Common Sense Prevailed When An Admiral Refused Orders
Captain Geoffrey Phipps Hornby got orders from Governor Douglas on August 3 to land Royal Marines and confront the American troops. Hornby hesitated, questioning whether they should start a war over such a small matter.
When Pacific Station commander Rear Admiral Lambert Baynes returned to Victoria on August 5, he fully backed Hornby’s decision not to make things worse.
Admiral Baynes refused Governor Douglas’s orders, saying he would not “involve two great nations in a war over a squabble about a pig.
President Buchanan Nearly Fainted When He Heard The News
News of the standoff reached Washington D. C.
in September 1859. President James Buchanan felt horrified at the thought of war with Britain, especially with growing tensions between North and South threatening to split the United States.
Buchanan called on Lieutenant General Winfield Scott, head of the U. S.
Army, to fix the crisis. Scott had settled two earlier border fights with Britain during the 1830s.
The president told Scott to cut American troop numbers and allow British forces to land, going against Harney and Pickett’s aggressive approach.
Elderly General Scott Braved A Painful Journey For Peace
General Scott left New York on September 20 on a tough journey.
He traveled by steamer to Panama, crossed the isthmus, then sailed to San Francisco and finally to Fort Vancouver, arriving October 20.
The 73-year-old general could barely move because of bad gout and injuries from a recent fall from his horse.
Despite his physical problems, Scott started talks with British Columbia Governor James Douglas on Vancouver Island.
Scott’s past success fixing the Maine boundary dispute and the Caroline Affair made him perfect for preventing war over a dead pig.
Joint Occupation Created A Unique Military Arrangement
Scott sailed into San Juan Harbor on November 7, 1859, but stayed on his ship because of his poor health.
He sent helpers ashore with orders to set up a joint military occupation until diplomats could settle the border dispute for good. Both countries agreed to keep no more than 100 men each on the island.
The British set up camp on the north end of San Juan Island along the shore, while American forces stayed at their southern position.
The American ridge-top battery fired a 13-gun salute to General Scott, the only time artillery fired from that spot during the standoff.
Former Enemies Became The Best Of Friends
Royal Marines landed at Pe’pi’ow’elh (now called Garrison Bay) on March 21, 1860, setting up the northern British camp. What followed was a time of peaceful living together.
The small British and American units became friends over the years.
They visited each other’s camps to celebrate holidays like the Fourth of July and Queen Victoria’s birthday. They held sports competitions and parties.
Park rangers later noted that the biggest threat to peace during this time was “the large amounts of alcohol available” at these get-togethers.
Several soldiers died from accidents and sickness during the 12-year occupation, but not a single shot was fired in anger.
Germany’s Kaiser Stepped In As The Final Judge
The United Kingdom and United States signed the Treaty of Washington in 1871, agreeing to let an outside party settle the San Juan dispute. They picked German Kaiser Wilhelm I as the neutral judge.
The Kaiser gave the job to three experts: a German Supreme Court vice president, a Berlin University geography professor, and a German Supreme Court of Commerce member.
American representative George Bancroft made his case in fluent German, arguing that Haro Strait was the deepest, widest, and most obvious channel mentioned in the 1846 treaty. British Admiral James C.
Provost made a weaker argument that Rosario Strait was safer for ships.
Peaceful Resolution Ended The Pig War Without A Shot
Kaiser Wilhelm I announced his decision on October 21, 1872, ruling in favor of the United States. He decided that the boundary should follow the Haro Strait, giving the San Juan Islands to America.
The three-member commission wasn’t completely united, with two choosing Haro Strait and one refusing to pick a side.
British troops left their camp at Pe’pi’ow’elh for Esquimalt on November 24, 1872, sailing away on HMS Scout after a friendly goodbye ceremony with their American counterparts. American Camp closed as a military base on July 17, 1874.
San Juan County was officially created on October 31, 1873, bringing the 12-year military standoff to a peaceful end.
Visiting San Juan Island National Historical Park
San Juan Island National Historical Park is free to visit and tells the story of the 1859 Pig War standoff.
At American Camp, open Thursday-Monday from March to season end, you can see the bronze pig sculpture “Kaiser Wil-ham” that honors the famous pig.
English Camp has original buildings from the British occupation including a commissary, barracks, blockhouse and hospital. The formal garden there was planted in 1867 for a homesick captain’s wife.
English Camp Visitor Center is open daily except Wednesdays until September 5, but won’t reopen until May 2026.
This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.
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