The Pig War Escalation

This timeline speculates what would have happened if the events of the Pig War in 1859 had culminated into an actual war between the United States and the British Empire over the San Juan islands. The Pig War is so called because it began with the shooting of a pig on San Juan islands resulting in a buildup of US troops, Royal Marines as well as several warships in the area. For some time the Americans and the British would often come in contact with eachother but simply hurl insults at each other attempting to provoke them. The timeline diverges here when an accidental discharge from a British warship killed Captain George Pickett on August 10th 1859. The news spread to the Americans who were so enraged they razed several buildings of the Hudson Bay Company's sheep ranch to the ground. This prompted a landing of 1000 Royal Marines under the command of Captain Geoffrey Hornby to protect British interests on thee island. They soon came into contact with the 460 American troops on the island commanded by Colonel Silas Casey resulting in the Battle of Laughing Meadow on August 25th 1859. This led to a quick retreat from the Americans who then focused on keeping the British from entering San Juan valley by holding up at chokepoints between Mt Dallas and Mt Cady. Reinforcements and warships were sent to the San Juan islands resulting in the Battle of the Straight of Juan de Fuca.