Pig War: The Northwestern Boundary Dispute

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From The Northwest Boundary: Discussion of the Water Boundary Question; Geographical Memoir of the Islands in Dispute; and History of the Military Occupation of San Juan Island; Accompanied by Map and Cross-Sections of Channels.

General Harney to the Adjutant General.

Headquarters Department of Oregon,

Fort Vancouver, W. T., August 7, 1859.

Colonel: I have the honor to enclose, for the information of the War Department, a copy of a proclamation of Governor Douglas, of Her Britannic Majesty's island of Vancouver, also a copy of my reply to the same, with a copy of a letter I have addressed to the senior officer of our navy on this coast, requesting him to send a proper force to observe the British vessels-of-war, which are being used to threaten, with attempts to intimidate, our people on the Sound.

I have also the honor to enclose a correspondence between Captain George Pickett, 9th infantry, commanding on San Juan Island, and Captain Hornby, the senior officer commanding her Majesty's ships Tribune, Plumper, and Satellite.

The threatening attitude the British authorities have seen proper to assume, has caused me to order Lieutenant Colonel Casey to re-enforce Captain Pickett with his three companies from Fort Steilacoom, which post will be occupied by four companies of the 3d artillery from Fort Vancouver until further orders.

In my report of July 19, 1859, to the headquarters of the army, I stated I had ordered the company from Fort Bellingham to San Juan Island to protect the American citizens residing on that island from the insults and indignities I which the British authorities of Vancouver's Island did not hesitate to offer them on every occasion. On my visit to San Juan Island, mentioned in that report, the United States inspector of customs on the island, Mr. Hubbs, made an official complaint in behalf of the American citizens of the outrages perpetrated upon them by the British authorities of Vancouver's Island, who are connected with the Hudson's Bay Company establishment, and who have a sheep farm on the island. This company pretend to own the whole island, which is some fifteen or twenty miles long, and five or six broad—while their improvements on the island are a few old houses, and some small fields under enclosure.

A week or ten days ago, before my arrival on that island, one of the Americans shot a pig belonging to the Hudson's Bay Company, after having been greatly provoked by the person in charge, to whom he had applied to have the pig secured, as it damaged his fields. This request was treated , with contempt, and the pig was shot, the American offering twice the value for the animal, which was refused. The next day the British ship-of-war Satellite, with Mr. Dallas on board, who is the chief factor of the Hudson's Bay Company, and a son-in-law of Governor Douglas, visited the island, and threatened to take the American to Victoria, by force, for trial. The American resisted, seized his rifle, and in return told Mr. Dallas he might take him, but he would kill him first. I was also informed that the Hudson's Bay Company had threatened, at different times, to send the northern Indians down upon them, and drive them from the island. This statement has since been confirmed to me by some of the most reliable citizens of the Sound. I felt it my duty, therefore, to give these citizens the protection they sought with such just and pressing claims.

Governor Douglas is the father-in-law of Mr. Dallas, and, having the local rank of vice-admiral, he commands the British navy in the Sound. This accounts, in some measure, for the use of the British ships of war in the supervision of the interests of the Hudson's Bay Company. To attempt to take, by an armed force, an American citizen from our soil, to be tried by British laws, is an insult to our flag, and an outrage upon the rights of our people, that has roused them to a high state of indignation. I, therefore, most respectfully request the President to consider the necessities for an increased naval force on this station, to give confidence to the people that their rights will be respected.

It would be well for the British government to know the American people of this coast will never sanction any claim they may assert to any other island in Puget Sound than that of Vancouver's, south of the 49th parallel, and east of the Canal de Haro; any attempt at possession by them will be followed by a collision.

I desire to assure the department that while there is no one more desirous than myself for an amicable settlement of the difficulties raised by the British authorities of Vancouver's Island, at this time, I shall use all the means at my command to maintain the position I have assumed in regard to San Juan Island, being fully convinced that whatever respect and consideration might have been yielded to the statements of a doubtful claim advanced in due form, have been forfeited by the overbearing, insulting, and aggressive conduct Her Majesty's executive officers have displayed, not only towards our citizens, but to the officer commanding our troops at San Juan.

I am, Colonel, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

W. S HARNEY,

Brigadier General, Commanding

United States Department of State. The Northwest Boundary: Discussion of the Water Boundary Question; Geographical Memoir of the Islands in Dispute; and History of the Military Occupation of San Juan Island; Accompanied by Map and Cross-Sections of Channels. Government Printing Office, 1868.

William Harney

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