| What makes it historical? |
This is the site of the first war in history that was prevented by third-party arbitration! It all started with the Oregon Treaty of 1846, which split British and American land claims right down the middle of the channel. The only problem was, the treaty never specified which channel, which placed San Juan Island in disputed territory!
Both the British and the Americans set up camps on San Juan Island, and tensions on this remote and rainy island ran high very quickly! It came to a head when a pig wandered away from the British Camp and onto American property, where it was promptly shot by Lyman Cutlar!
The British sent Rear Admiral Robert L. Baynes and his marines to defend against American aggression, and the Americans sent Captain George Pickett and hisi infantry to defend against British overreach! The officers saw the foolishness in a war over a pig, so no shots were fired, and this first conflict was resolved by negotiation between General Winfield Scott and Governor James Douglas.
For 12 years, both British and American troops occupied San Juan Island together until Kaiser Wilhelm I of Prussia was selected as arbiter and ruled that San Juan Island belonged to the USA! |
