The pig that nearly triggered a war between America and Britain in 1859

San Juan Island National Historical Park

A hungry pig wandering into an American garden sparked the last border crisis between the US and Britain.

On June 15, 1859, farmer Lyman Cutlar killed the pig destroying his potato patch. The British owner wanted $100 and arrest for the shooter. Soon warships faced off in island waters with troops ready to fight. The weird conflict lasted 13 years but killed only one pig.

Now it’s a national park where you can walk these historic grounds, but before that, here’s the bizarre part of its history.

When Lyman Cutlar Shot Charles Griffin’s Pig

On June 15, 1859, American farmer Lyman Cutlar found a large black pig digging up his potato garden. The pig had ruined his crops many times before. Fed up, Cutlar grabbed his rifle and shot the pig dead.

The animal belonged to Charles Griffin, an Irishman who worked for the British Hudson’s Bay Company on San Juan Island. This happened exactly thirteen years after the Oregon Treaty was signed, the very agreement that had created the border confusion.

The Failed Compensation Attempt

After killing the pig, Cutlar went straight to Griffin to explain. He offered $10 as payment for the dead animal. Griffin refused and demanded $100 instead. He said the pig was a valuable breeding boar worth much more than Cutlar offered.

Things got worse when Cutlar took back his offer completely. He argued he shouldn’t pay anything since the pig was on his land destroying his food supply.

British Threats to Arrest an American

Griffin told his bosses at the Hudson’s Bay Company about the shooting. British officials, including the governor’s son-in-law, confronted Cutlar. They threatened to arrest him and take him to Victoria for trial under British law.

American settlers saw this as an outrageous attempt to enforce British rule on what they thought was American soil. The Americans quickly wrote a petition asking for military protection from the United States against what they viewed as British bullying.

General Harney Sends Captain Pickett

The petition reached General William S. Harney, commander of U.S. forces in the region. Known for disliking the British, Harney took quick action. On July 18, 1859, he ordered Captain George Pickett to take soldiers to San Juan Island.

Pickett and 66 men from the 9th Infantry landed on July 27 near the British dock. Pickett posted a notice declaring American control over the island, stating only U.S. laws would be followed there.

British Warships Arrive at Griffin Bay

News of American troops on San Juan Island angered James Douglas, British Governor of Vancouver Island. He sent Captain Geoffrey Hornby with three warships to the island. The ships anchored in Griffin Bay with their guns pointed at the American camp.

Douglas told Hornby to land marines and remove the American forces. Hornby was also instructed to avoid fighting if possible, knowing a battle could spark a war between the two nations.

Pickett’s Defiant Stand

On August 3, 1859, British ship captains met with Captain Pickett. They asked the Americans to leave and suggested both sides share the island. Pickett refused to go.

When told about the powerful British fleet in the harbor, he reportedly said, “We’ll make a Bunker Hill of it,” referring to a famous Revolutionary War battle. Though greatly outnumbered, Pickett placed his men in strong positions and prepared to fight if the British tried to land.

Military Buildup on Both Sides

Both sides quickly sent more forces. American reinforcements arrived under Colonel Silas Casey, bringing their total to 461 soldiers with 14 cannon by August 10.

The British response grew to five warships with 2,140 men and 70 guns. These ships controlled the waters around the island. Americans built defenses including a gun position on high ground overlooking the bay.

Lieutenant Henry Martyn Robert, who later wrote “Robert’s Rules of Order,” supervised this work.

Admiral Baynes Refuses to Fight Over a Pig

British Admiral Robert L. Baynes arrived in early August to command the Royal Navy forces. Governor Douglas ordered him to land troops and confront the Americans.

Baynes refused the order. He saw how foolish it would be to start a war over such a small incident. The admiral famously said he would not “involve two great nations in a war over a squabble about a pig,” giving this bloodless conflict its memorable name.

General Scott’s Peace Mission

When news reached Washington D.C., President James Buchanan sent General Winfield Scott to solve the problem. Scott was the top general in the U.S. Army.

Scott, a 73-year-old war hero, arrived in October 1859 and began talks with Governor Douglas from his ship. Scott had fixed two other border disputes between the U.S. and Britain years earlier. This experience helped him handle this tense situation.

The Joint Occupation Agreement

Scott and Douglas agreed that both countries would share San Juan Island until they could settle the border dispute through proper diplomatic channels.

Each nation would keep no more than 100 troops on the island. This reduced the dangerous number of soldiers that had built up during the crisis. The British set up “English Camp” on the sheltered north end of the island. The Americans built “American Camp” on the open south end.

Visiting San Juan Island National Historical Park

You can visit both American Camp and English Camp daily from dawn to dusk. The visitor center at American Camp is open all summer and winter. Admission is free.

The park is located on San Juan Island, accessible by Washington State Ferry from Anacortes. Highlights include the formal garden at English Camp, hiking the 1.25-mile Bell Point Trail, and watching for orcas from South Beach.

Rangers offer guided tours between Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends. For current information, call 360-378-2240 or visit San Juan Island National Historical Park,

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