Wednesday, July 31, 2019

Revenue Cutters And The Early US Coast Guard

By Karen Rogers


In 1915, a merger took place between the United States Revenue cutter Service and the United States Lifesaving Service. As a result, the us coast guard was born. Although, not known as the guard until much later in history, the roots of the guard go back to 1790. At which time, Alexander Hamilton ordered vessels back to the East Coast to collect and enforce tariffs.

The official birthday of the guard is considered to be August 4, 1790. After which, an act related to Tariffs was passed by Congress. As a result, ten cutters and one hundred recruits were put into a action. For, as the Navy had disbanded, the crews and vessels were the only naval force in the country. As a result, while hired to enforce and collect tariffs, the crews were also responsible for patrolling the eastern seaboard.

Originally the cutters were not part of the Navy or an organized service. Rather each cutter operated separately and independently while being assigned to patrol a specific area along the Eastern seaboard. Most often, the cutters were referred to as the "Revenue-Marine, " then later became recognized as Revenue Cutter Services once better organized.

Being the only established naval force, the crews took on a number of new responsibilities when the Navy was re-established in the late 1700s. Some of these duties included delivering mail, ferrying government officials, combating privacy and rescuing mariners in distress. As a result, while several cutters stayed on board, others left the service due to these changes in responsibility.

In 1794, the Revenue-Marine was given the order to prevent the trading of slaves from Africa to the United States. While the cutters captured and stopped between 400 and 500 slave ships, there were many whom made it through the waterways and onto land where many slaves were sold. Then, in 1808, the cutters and crews were given the responsibility to enforce President Jefferson's embargo, thus closing ports between the United States and Europe.

In 1822, the organization became known as an agent of environmental protection by participating and voting for the Timber Act. Whereas, during times of civil unrest or war, the cutters and crews were under the guise of the United States Navy. While this is the case, the cutters were only used in the War of 1812 and a quasi-war between France and the United States which took place between 1798 and 1799.

The first shots of the Civil War were fired by crews on the USRC Harriet. At which time, the cutters returned to the Atlantic Blocking Squadron. After which, some of the Revenue Marine Service members which had left the original service banded together and began a revenue cutter service which was part and parcel to the Confederacy.

While most noted as helping creating Alaska and supplying food to people in the area in the late 1800s, the Revenue Cutter Service and the United States Coast Guard both played a role in delivering food and supplies to areas in need. It is believed that the first life saving services occurred during what is believed to be one of the first relief expeditions when the group assisted whalers whom were trapped and starving off the Alaska coast. Whereas, in 1900, the crews helped destitute miners located in rural Alaska move to Seattle.




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