Chicora incident

Chicora incident

Paddle steamer Chicora drawing, W. J. Thompson
Date	May 1870
Location	Sault Sainte Marie
Cause	Red River Rebellion Refusal to allow Chicora to pass through locks
Participants	United States Colonel Garnet Wolseley
Outcome	Chicora allowed to pass through canal Building of the Sault Ste. Marie Canal

The Chicora incident was an incident in May 1870 between the American government and an expeditionary force consisting of British and Canadian militia under the command of Colonel Garnet Wolseley in Sault Sainte Marie. US authorities blocked passage of the Chicora for several weeks, delaying Wolseley's response to the Red River Rebellion. The incident ultimately led to the construction of the Sault Ste. Marie Canal on the Canadian side of the river, allowing unfettered access to the Lake Superior.