LAST PHASE OF OREGON BOUNDARY 197
before the occupation was known in Victoria. Said Colonial Secretary Young:
"The Island of San Juan having been, and being still, considered and treated as part of Her Majesty's Domin- ions, you will warn off all persons who may attempt to assert any rights of occupation as against the British Dominion in the Island of Juan." 28 The good Justice might "warn off" but he was told:
"You must in particular be most careful to avoid giving any occasion that might lead to acts of violence." 29 On July 4, 1859, the Americans on the island celebrated Independence Day according to custom. As an important part of the proceedings the Stars and Stripes were hoisted, and the flag remained for several days, so that when General Harney visited San Juan on July 9, on a tour of inspection, it was still flying. The occasion of the visit was fully improved by the settlers in stating their case to the General, both with respect to the Indians and to the Company. As to the In- dians, Mr. Crosbie says 30 that the American settlers had peti- tioned as early as May for protection. They asked General Harney
"to give them a small force, say a detachment of twenty men, something that would give them a feeling of se- curity, as continued apprehension was equally as bad as actual danger: it had prevented the settlement of San Juan and the adjoining isolated islands for years." Murders were being committed, and instead of the occa- sional visitation of troops the farmers asked for permanent protection, their idea being, "Say a small detachment of twenty men." On July 18 General Harney ordered Captain Pickett to land with his company of sixty men, and Colonel Casey to be ready nearby with another company in the steamer "Mas- sachusetts." The General ordered that in the selection of a position Captain Pickett was to "take into consideration that future contingencies may require an establishment of from four to six companies retaining the command of San Juan harbor." It is not likely that he was thinking of Indians when he wrote
28 British Admiralty dispatch**. Copies consulted at British Columbia Archive*. Victoria, B. C
39 Ibid.
30 Ex. Doc. No. 77, 36th Cong., lit Sera. p. 4.
