The War of 1812.— For the enforcement of the embargo laws of 1807, Congress by the Act of 6 Jan. 1809, and another enactment of the same date, made provision for additions to the fleet of revenue cutters of 42 vessels. Fol lowing the proclamation of the President order ing all British armed vessels to leave the ports of the United States, and laying the first em bargo in December 1807, to the close of the War of 1812, which ensued, the service bore an honorable and conspicuous part. Numerous and varied duties in the enforcement of the embargo laws up to the date of their repeal, and subsequently the non-intercourse act, fell to the revenue cutter service until the declara tion of war, 4 June 1812, when the service en tered upon an active career, to capture, burn, sink and destroy the commerce of the enemy in with the navy. The first prize in that war was the British trading schooner Patriot, with a valuable cargo, and was cap tured by the revenue cutter Jefferson, Capt. William Ham, 25 Juno 1812, just 21 days after the declaration of war. Following this the cut ters Madison and Gallatin made valuable prizes. The British privateer Dart, 14 guns, had been for some time cruising and committing depreda tions on our coast near Newport, R. I. On 4 Oct. 1813, the revenue cutter Vigilant, Capt. John Cahoon, having augmented his crew by a draft of some 20 men from the United States frigate President, Commodore John Rogers commanding, sailed from Newport in pursuit. Soon after coming up with the enemy he cap tured the vessel by boarding and conveyed the prize and prisoners to Newport. One of the most notable actions fought upon the water in the War of 1812 took place in York River, near Chesapeake Bay, on the night of 12 June 1813, when the cutter Surveyor, commanded by Capt. William Travis, succumbed after a desperate resistance to superior forces from the British man-of-war Narcissus.
During this war the revenue cutter service captured 10 merchantmen, three barges, three officers and 60 men; one privateer mounting 14 guns. The cutters Eagle, Mercury and Ac tive did duty as scouts and on blockade service. The cutters Commodore Barry, Surveyor and Eagle were captured by the enemy, but only after hard struggles and most gallant defenses.
Neutrality Laws.— The enforcement of the neutrality laws, during the European troubles from 1815 to 1823, engaged much of the atten tion of the service, but this duty has always been a part of the vigilant work of the service, and is no less true of the earlier years than in the operations of later times.
Nullification, 1832.— During the attempt to nullify the laws relating to the collection of rev enue from imposts, by the State of South Caro lina, five vessels of the revenue cutter service were ordered to Charleston Harbor, with in structions "to take possession of any vessel arriving from a foreign port, and defend her against any attempt to dispossess the customs officers of her custody until all the requirements of the law had been complied with.° The silent influence exerted by the presence of this fleet 'Was a large factor in the solution of the diffi culties which menaced peace.
Piracy.— During the early years of the last century, piracy which prevailed along the Gulf Coast of our possessions acquired from France and Spain, was suppressed, chiefly by the rev enue cutter service. That service waged re lentless war upon the corsairs, pursued them into every bay and bayou, broke up their resorts and rendezvous, attacked and dispersed them whenever found. While engaged in this work
the cutters Louisiana and Alabama were at tacked off the south coast of Florida by the pirate Bravo, commanded by Jean La Farm, a lieutenant of the notorious Jean Lafitte. The Bravo was signally defeated, and carried by boarding in a hand-to-hand struggle. The ren dezvous of the pirates on Breton's Islind, La., was attacked by the cutters Alabama, Cap tain Cartigan, and Louisiana, Captain Loomis, and the resort broken up. This practically put an end to organized piracy on our Gulf Coast, though piratical craft from Mexico, Central America and South America, subsequently made incursions on that coast. The pirate Bolivia with its prizes Antoinette and Isabella were .found by the cutter Louisiana, Captain Jackson, at the South West Pass of the Mississippi River. Jackson• attacked at once, captured the Bolivia and liberated the prizes, and carried his pris oners to New Orleans. The Bolivia carried three guns and 34 men ; the cutter Louisiana two guns and 16 men.
Seminole War, 1836-42.— During the Flor ida War for the suppression of Indian troubles in that region, the revenue cutters Dallas, Wash ington, Dexter, Jefferson, Jackson, Madison, Campbell and Van Buren rendered valuable and conspicuous service in Florida waters, co-oper ating principally with the army.
The Mexican War, 1845-47.— The revenue cutter service was represented in this war by the following named cutters: Schooners For ward, Ewing, Van Buren, Wolcott, Woodbury, Morris, and steamers McLane, Legare, Spencer, Bibb and Polk. They took an active part prin cipally in co-operation with the armies under Scott and Taylor. Some of these vessels, not ably the Forward and McLane, served in co operation with the navy, in the fleet commanded by Commodore Conner. In the squadron of Commodore M. C. Perry, at the capture of Frontera and Tabasco, the Forward took a brilliant part.
Paraguay Expedition.— In the naval ex pedition to Paraguay, in 1858, the steam revenue cutter Harriet Lane, seven guns, eight officers and 104 men, served in co-operation with the navy, and rendered valuable services.
Winter Cruising.— The Act of Congress, approved 22 Dec. 1837, now embodied in section 1536, Revised Statutes, requires that a suitable number of public vessels shall cruise upon the coast in the severe portion of the winter weather to afford aid to distressed navigators. The work outlined in the law, now undertaken by the coast guard and always effectively per formed by the revenue cutter service, is ener getically maintained. As a result of the work many hundreds of lives and many million dol lars' worth of property have been saved. Ves sels of commerce are frequently fallen in with at sea, with sails blown away, crews frost bitten and unable to respond to duty; they are taken in tow and to a harbor; others short of provisions and water are supplied, while others again, found stranded, are floated when possible. In short, everything possible is done for the relief and care of the distressed mariner of whatever nationality wherever found, during the hard weather on our storm-driven coast from December to April, and prompt response is always made by the service at the cry of. distress at all seasons and all hours.