A War over a Pig

Kaptin Kurk

Banned
In June 1859, the United States and Great Britain almost went to war over a slaughtered pig: Cite, "A world on Fire" by Amanda Foreman.

"Ten mothes earlier, in June 1859, a domestic pig on San Juan Island in the Staits of Juan de Cuca had wandered from its enclosure into the patoto patche of a neighboring farm. The patch belonged to Luman Cutlar, one of twent-five Americans living on the rugged, tree-lined island. Cutlar was tired of having his potatoes raided by the pige, and he settled the matter for good with a bullet. The pig's owners happened to be British. They demanded comepnsation, and when Cutlar refused, they took their case to the governor of British Columbia. Unfortunatly, it was unclear where the exact boundary lay between Washington State and the province of British Columbia. The arrival in July of a company from the 9th US. Infantry under Captain Gerorge Pickette appeared to settle the question, but the British governor countered by dispatiching a magistrated, Major John Fitzroy De Courcy, to the island. The major was a decorated veteran of the Crimean War, and fighting - rathern than diplomacy - was his forte. He did not bother to hold a parley with Pickett, instead ordering him to leave the island or face arrest. Pickett refused and requested several hundred reinforcements. The governor sent several waships to reinforce De Courcy's authority. Pickett's men dug in, and the gunboats maneuvered into position"

Eventually the dimplomacy of the british legate, Lyons, and President Buchanan, averted war. Buy my question is this. This is the latest flashpoint between a united America and the British empire before the civil war. Say, something clamatous happens, and Pickett and the British exchange lethal blows, and honor becomes as stake. How would a ware between America, 1859, and England go?
 

Oba

I have been to the San Juan Islands of contemporary Washington State and to both the British and the American camps; it seemed quite comical at the time (I was 12.)

I think the British could win, given their superior navy and the fact that the USA at the time lacked a strong foothold on the Pacific Coast.
 

stevep

Kaptin Kurk

I vaguely remember reading a few years back that one of the Americans pushing a confrontation was I think a southern unionist who was thinking that a crisis with Britain [if not possibly a war] might divert both sides from the growing tension over slavery.

If a war did start it think it would be mainly local and quickly sat on by people in Washington and London, at least as soon as they hear about it. Neither side wants a war as it would be bad for business, as well as very costly.

Steve

Kaptin Kurk said:
In June 1859, the United States and Great Britain almost went to war over a slaughtered pig: Cite, "A world on Fire" by Amanda Foreman.

"Ten mothes earlier, in June 1859, a domestic pig on San Juan Island in the Staits of Juan de Cuca had wandered from its enclosure into the patoto patche of a neighboring farm. The patch belonged to Luman Cutlar, one of twent-five Americans living on the rugged, tree-lined island. Cutlar was tired of having his potatoes raided by the pige, and he settled the matter for good with a bullet. The pig's owners happened to be British. They demanded comepnsation, and when Cutlar refused, they took their case to the governor of British Columbia. Unfortunatly, it was unclear where the exact boundary lay between Washington State and the province of British Columbia. The arrival in July of a company from the 9th US. Infantry under Captain Gerorge Pickette appeared to settle the question, but the British governor countered by dispatiching a magistrated, Major John Fitzroy De Courcy, to the island. The major was a decorated veteran of the Crimean War, and fighting - rathern than diplomacy - was his forte. He did not bother to hold a parley with Pickett, instead ordering him to leave the island or face arrest. Pickett refused and requested several hundred reinforcements. The governor sent several waships to reinforce De Courcy's authority. Pickett's men dug in, and the gunboats maneuvered into position"

Eventually the dimplomacy of the british legate, Lyons, and President Buchanan, averted war. Buy my question is this. This is the latest flashpoint between a united America and the British empire before the civil war. Say, something clamatous happens, and Pickett and the British exchange lethal blows, and honor becomes as stake. How would a ware between America, 1859, and England go?
Click to expand...
 

Kaptin Kurk

Banned
Bump. Let's say a storm hits the region, cutting telegraph lines for a few days, and some hot head, flip a coin for which side, ends up shooting another. Maybe even over a poker game. (seemed kind of friendly till then.)
 

Alternatehistoryguy47

Depends on how long the war lasts. If it's long and drawn out, then the Civil War might be delayed, or even butterflied away altogether. If the war is quick, things could get worse. For instance, even if the US wins, the south would probably still secceed, and England might be more interested in aiding them for the sole purpose of exacting revenge on the US.
 

Dave Howery

anytime before the ACW is a bad time for the USA to take on the UK... the US army is small and not all that well equipped, and the RN can blockade the US coast at will.
 

Polish Eagle

I started a thread like this about a year ago, and I agree with one post that stands out in my mind clearly: "This can either save the Union or destroy it forever." Depending on how it's played, and Souther public reaction, and who wins the 1860 election, this could be the proper application of nationalism that could save the Union.

Probably not, though. If the South sees its cotton exports closed by "Yankee warmongering," they'll secede faster.

Leaving the South aside, I see this being a US victory on land and a British victory at sea. The US just had a higher population than Canada did, and I don't think the British had the capacity to land enough troops to compensate. According to Wikipedia, Canada had only 3.5 million people in 1867. This is compared to 31.4 million in all the US in 1860. Even subtracting 9.1 million for the confederacy, the US can bring to bear six soldiers for every armed Canadian.

So, I can see the US overruning the populated portions of Canada, but the US economy is shot by the British blockade, and the South might leave when the economic pinch of the blockade is felt.
 

Dangimill

This is a PoD I've been looking at ever since I visited the San Juans myself. I'd love to see a timeline that makes the Pig War escalate.
 

kent

No telegraph east to west until mid 1860's. Up to that time post riders, and sail/steam ships only way to get word back and forth. One of the only reinforcements that the US had in the area was at Fort Humbolt (Eureka CA) Some small units in Oregon. All a long way away from the action.


Kaptin Kurk said:
Bump. Let's say a storm hits the region, cutting telegraph lines for a few days, and some hot head, flip a coin for which side, ends up shooting another. Maybe even over a poker game. (seemed kind of friendly till then.)
Click to expand...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top
Top