The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-04-24

transactions, the normal organization of
the troops into companies and regiments,
etc.
In answer they were informed that the
secretary of state would appraise the
secretary of war of the acquisition of new
territory and request him to give the
necessary directions to the proper officers,
who would give the adjutant general the
instructions and he designate the officer
to carry out the commands. Then the
order goes from the general commanding
the division to the general commanding
the department, thence to the officer COM
handing the district and finally to the
executive officer; that the companies on
the Sound did not average fifty men, but
the president was empowered to increase
companies in district disturbed to 100
men.
All this, no doubt, seems like twaddle
to you who hear me, but the writer can
assure you this simple episode did much
to save this section OF our country from
the horrors and sufferings incident to war,
which must be endured even when con-
Quoted by the most, civilized nation on
earth. To illustrate this thesis, take for
example the burning of the great bridge,
one and one-quarter miles long, across the
Susquehanna river in Pennsylvania. con.
Meeting York and Lancaster counties.
Who today recollects the incident? Yet
it was one of the mercies of that war, for
General Gordon, of the Confederate army,
(now u. s. senator from Georgia) was
about to enter it and hold possession,
when he discovered it on fire be-
yond prevention. This on the
18th OF June, 1868, three
days before the battles of Gettysburg. 1t
prevented General Lee crossing his army
over it before General Meade's army of
the Potomac could overtake him, for the
OF cd orfln r1x oh Cat
burg in the afternoon of July /, 1868. The
burning of the bridge. after Lees army
had crossed, would have caused fatal
check to Meade's army overtaking them,
while the Confederates would have had
full sweep over the richest portions of
Pennsylvania.
We are indebted, the writer believes, to
Captain Richards suppostion that the
home offices had adjusted the boundary
question, more than all Captain Pickett's
threats for the conservative course of the
British officers after the meeting at Cap
tain Pickett's quarters, August 8, 1859. It
was the only rational conclusion at which
the British officers could arrive, to ex-
plain the anomalous position on the
American side, when they considered
the smallness of Captain Pickett's COM
mand. and the utter want of preparation
for the defense of Puget sound.
The official correspondence relating to
this San Juan island imbroglio was pub
Hshed by the United States Senate,
Fortieth congress. Second session, Execu-
tive Documents No. %. entitled: 1.-THE
Northwest Boundary. Discussions of the
Water Boundary Question: Geographical
Memoir of the Islands in Dispute, and
History of the Military Occupation of San
Juan Island"
REFLECTIONS.
1t is a noteworthy fact that Colonel
<1fD ID V~to To- Ill
from Pennsylvania, both born north of
Mason and Dixon's line, and both senior
in rank to Captain Pickett, were ignored
by the general commanding. That Cap
tain Pickett and Judge Fitzhugh, both
from Virginia, and both of whom went
over to the Confederate army at its organ
lzation, should have been, the one in
trusted and the other aiding to take charge
of the occupation fraught with peril. Gen.
eral Harvey. born in Louisiana, has
been charged with engaging in OBJ
scure speculations in disposing of lands
at Fort Smelling. in company with Gov
ernor Floyd, of Virginia, Mr.. Buchanan's
did receive the moral support of Governor
Floyd, even when his official support was
withheld. When General Scott had as
certained the facts of the occupa-
ton he removed General Harvey
from command of the department of Ore
ROu, anu, db UOVeTuOr DOugidS request,
Captain Pickett was superseded by Cap
tain Lewis C. Hunt, Fourth infantry; yet,
not long afterwards, General Harvey was
reinstated in his command by the secre-
tary, Floyd, and Captain Pickett was re-
stored to command on San Juan island.
In 1859, some of the Southern states
were securing arms, ammunition, etc., and
making preparations to withdraw from the
Union, which in 1861 was contaminated.
It is reasonable to suppose that if the
English officers had attempted what even
Captain Pickett expected that they would
do, viz: land on the island, blood-letting
would have ensued. A war in the North
west would have favored the Southern
states in any secession designs. No stone
was unturned by General Harvey to bring
on war in the Northwest. The French
have saving: "Man proposes, but God
dlsposes. Fortunately the war was
averted.
CONCLUSION.
However strong the presumption, from
the facts before US, that the occupation of
San Juan island was a covert attempt to
effect war with England, the friends of the
prominent persons connected with the
movement endeavor to explain their pro-
ceedings from patriotic standpoint. 1t
was intended to excite the cOuntryand draw
off the attention of both North and South
from the constitutional questions then
agitating congress and give employment
to many citizens. and engage the disturb
ing elements in providing for the dangers
impending from England, but why SO
secretly2
The unwritten portion of the San Juan
imbroglio is here attempted; the reader
has now the complete history within his
reach. Motive is to voluntary actions
what cause is to effects; if we can decipher
the motive, and believe it was from
pure patriotism, we may condone the at
tempt, however costly and fruitless may
have been the experiment.
GRANVILLE o. HALLER,
In 1859 Captain Commanding l Company,
Fourth Infantry Brevet Major U. S. Army.