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11 of America’s shortest wars and strangest battles in history
Image: Chandler Cruttenden
Some of America’s most memorable conflicts weren’t long campaigns but rather quick clashes, odd standoffs, or brief fights that, for one reason or another, became well known. These short or unusual events often reveal how chaotic, improvisational, or downright strange these kinds of situations can be in real life. Take a look at 11 of these curious affairs involving our nation.
1
The Pig War (1859)
Image: Pascal Debrunner
A boundary dispute on San Juan Island nearly escalated into a U.S.-British war after an American farmer shot a British-owned pig that was rooting in his garden . Troops rushed in, tensions rose, and both sides came to the verge of open conflict.
Thankfully, the "war" ended without a single human casualty. Diplomacy prevailed, leaving history with a famously absurd standoff where the only fatality was the unfortunate hog that started it all.
2
The Toledo War (1835-36)
Image: Leo Escala
Believe it or not, Michigan and Ohio once squared off over a slim strip of land containing the city of Toledo . Militias mobilized, tempers flared, and political rhetoric soared past anything that the dispute really deserved.
The conflict produced only one injury: a sheriff was stabbed with a pocket knife. It ended with Michigan receiving the Upper Peninsula as compensation.
3
The Aroostook War (1838-39)
Image: Jason Abdilla
A mix of lumberjacks, militias, and confused officials sparked a border showdown between Maine and British Canada. Though the name sounds dramatic, the "war" consisted mostly of shouting, arrests, and paperwork .
Still, it lasted less than a year and recorded no combat deaths. Its odd blend of frontier folklore and diplomatic missteps gave it a reputation as one of America’s most harmless "wars."
4
Battle of Lake Erie (1813)
Image: National Historical Museum of Sweden (NHM)
In a fierce naval engagement that lasted only a few hours, Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry secured control of Lake Erie during the War of 1812 . His quick, decisive victory shifted momentum in the northern theater of the war.
The battle is remembered for its speed and for Perry’s bold message: "We have met the enemy, and they are ours."
5
Battle of Blair Mountain (1921)
Image: Art Institute of Chicago
For five tense days in West Virginia, thousands of coal miners armed themselves against hired gunmen, local law enforcement, and eventually federal troops . It became the largest labor uprising in U.S. history.
Despite its scale, the conflict ended quickly once the Army intervened. Its strange blend of union struggle, machine guns, and biplanes made it one of the most dramatic yet short-lived labor battles ever fought.
6
Battle of Athens, Tennessee (1946)
Image: Thi Nguyen Duc
World War II veterans took matters into their own hands and clashed with a corrupt county political machine after years of election wrongdoing. In a single night of gunfire and sieges, the veterans seized the jail and exposed the fraud .
By morning, order was restored and democracy reclaimed. The brief uprising became a legendary example of ordinary Americans pushing back against local tyranny.
7
Shelling of Fort Stevens (1942)
Image: Ray Graciano
During World War II, a Japanese submarine surfaced off the Oregon coast and fired on Fort Stevens for roughly fifteen minutes . The startled gunners held their fire to avoid revealing their positions.
No lives were lost, and damage was minimal. Still, the brief attack stands out as one of the only direct assaults on the U.S. mainland during the war.
8
Battle of Palmito Ranch (1865)
Image: Rosanne Rapata
Fought in Texas weeks after the Confederacy had effectively collapsed, this short skirmish featured U.S. and Confederate troops battling despite the war’s official end . Confusion and poor communication kept the fighting alive.
The engagement lasted only a few hours but became the Civil War’s final battle. Its odd timing makes it a historical footnote with a bizarre twist.
9
Battle of Ambos Nogales (1918)
Image: Art Institute of Chicago
A border misunderstanding escalated into a sudden firefight between U.S. and Mexican troops in the twin towns of Nogales, Arizona, and Nogales, Sonora. The shooting lasted only a few hours but drew civilians into chaos.
The brief clash prompted both governments to rethink border security. It remains the only World War I-era battle fought on U.S. soil involving foreign troops .
10
The Great Locomotive Chase (1862)
Image: Naveed Ahmed
Union raiders stole a Confederate locomotive and sparked a dramatic pursuit through northern Georgia. The "battle" unfolded across railroad tracks and small towns over the course of a few hours.
Though unconventional, it was officially a military operation and became legendary for its daring and scope. The episode showed how even a train theft could become an act of war.
11
Little Belt Affair (1811)
Image: The New York Public Library
This brief naval encounter between USS President and HMS Little Belt lasted less than an hour. Confusion over signals led to sudden gunfire and heavy damage to the British vessel.
The brief clash worsened tensions between the two nations and helped push the U.S. and Britain toward the War of 1812.
