Two Governors, One Island, and a War Called Off by Letter
Gen. W. S. Harney writes to Queen Victoria's man at Victoria to explain why United States infantry are dug in on San Juan; Gov. James Douglas writes back hoping no 'collision' follows. The boundary quarrel that became the Pig War, in the principals' own words.
HEADQUARTERS, DEPARTMENT OF OREGON, Fort Vancouver, W.T., Aug. 6th, '59.
To His Excellency James Douglas, C.B., Governor of Vancouver's Island, etc., and Vice-Admiral of the same.
Sir: I have the honor to inform you of the receipt of an official copy of a protest made by you to the occupation of San Juan Island, in Puget Sound, by a company of United States troops under my orders.
This protest (copy enclosed herewith) is referred by yourself, through the [British] Tribune, to the United States officer in command at San Juan Island, Capt. Geo. E. Pickett, of the 9th Infantry of the American Army, together with a communication threatening a joint occupation of the San Juan Island by the forces of the ships Tribune, Plumper and Satellite, now in the harbor of that island by your orders.
As the military commander of the Department of Oregon, assigned to that command by the orders of the President of the United States, I have the honor to state, for your information, that by such authority vested in me I placed a military command upon the island of San Juan to protect American citizens residing on that island from the insults and indignities which the British authorities of Vancouver's Island and the establishment of the Hudson's Bay Company have offered them, by landing a party from Vancouver's Island to carry the chief factor of the Hudson's Bay Company to San Juan, for the purpose of making an American citizen [submit] and forcibly [carrying him] to Vancouver's Island without trial by British [law]—to be reported [as] an outrage [which] my government [will not permit] ... I shall not permit [any force] ... upon San Juan ... to protect the citizens thereof of the United States, until further orders from [the President].
W. S. HARNEY, Brig. Gen. U.S. Army, Commanding.
—
GOVERNMENT HOUSE, VICTORIA, Vancouver's Island, Aug. 12th, 1859.
Sir: On opening your letter of the 6th instant, I had the honor of receiving your dispatch ... I [beg to] return thanks for the [promptness and] frank[ness] with which [you have] communicated to me your reasons for occupying San Juan ... [Her Majesty's Government has been] communicated with ... [and] the establishment which has been [made] ...
A collision between the [two] forces would be [the more to be deplored as it would occur] in a [remote] part of the world.
I have the honor to be, sir, Your most obedient servant, JAMES DOUGLAS.
“I placed a military command upon the island of San Juan to protect American citizens residing on that island from the insults and indignities which the British authorities of Vancouver's Island and the establishment of the Hudson's Bay Company have offered them.”
American and British troops glared at each other across San Juan Island for twelve years before the Kaiser arbitrated the boundary in 1872 — and the dispute had begun with the shooting of a Hudson's Bay Company pig. American Camp and English Camp are still standing on the island today, a short ferry ride from Steilacoom's old landing, and the question the two letters argue over is the one every border fight still asks: who owns the ground, and who gets to stand on it?
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