THE INCIDENT
One of the Americans, Lyman Cutlar, had a garden and one day found a pig/boar rooting around in it and eating his potatoes. There was a man by the fence finding it all amusing. Cutlar grabbed a gun and killed the offending pig. The man by the fence ran away. He was an Irishman Charles Griffin who worked for the Hudson Bay Company on the sheep ranch and raised pigs on the side and allowed them to roam free.
Once he knew the situation, Cutlar offered to pay Griffin $10 (a lot back then), but Griffin insisted on $100. At which the American decided not to pay since the pig was clearly trespassing. Story has it that Cutlar said, "It was eating my potatoes." To which Griffin replied "It is up to you to keep your potatoes out of my pig."
Charles Griffin reported the incident to British authorities on Vancouver Island and they threatened to arrest Cutlar. American citizens appealed to Washington for protection.
To Oink, Or Not to Oink. That is A Question. --The Pig-Runner
The Battle of Fort Fisher, N.C.
