Wednesday, May 8, 2019

Revenue Cutters And The Early US Coast Guard

By Karen Rogers


Originally, a group of revenue cutters and crews merged and established one group of crewman in 1915. The merger took place between the United States Lifesaving Service and the United States Revenue Cutter Service. While this is the case, the roots of the us coast guard go way back to the beginning days of the Republic. For, it was in 1790 in which a fleet of vessels to enforce and collect 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.

The cutters were not originally a part of the Navy, or any other organized force and operated independently. In most cases, each cutter, or a group of cutters were assigned stations on the Eastern seaboard. Whereas, the cutters were often referred to as Revenue Marine, only later becoming recognized as part of the official Revenue Cutter Services division of the Coast Guard.

Since the cutters were the only established naval force, when the Navy was re-established at the end of the 1700s, the crews of the cutters took on a number of different responsibilities beyond enforcing tariffs. For example, rescuing mariners in distress, combating piracy, ferrying government officials from one location to another and delivering mail.

It was in 1794 when the Revenue Marine was first ordered to prevent and stop the trading of slaves from Africa by holding slave ships at bay. While stopping between four and five hundred ships, the crews were often outnumbered by the captains and crews of the ships. As such, a number of ships still made it to the coast where many slaves were sold to farmers and plantation owners.

In 1822, the United States Coast Guard became known for efforts related to protecting the environment. Whereas, the cutters and crews were also used in the War of 1812 and what became a quasi-war between the United States and France at the end of the 1700s. After which, the organization began life saving rescues while continuing to promote protection of the environment.

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.

Most noted for the establishment of Alaska in the 1880s and 1890s, the Revenue Cutter Service played a major role in bringing reindeer to the area as a food source. After which, the reindeer and crews of the Revenue Cutter Service were part of a relief expedition to assist trapped whalers who were starving. During the 1900 Snake River Gold Rush, the service also worked to return destitute gold miners to Seattle from Alaska. Since that time, the U. S. Coast Guard has grown into an organization known for life saving rescues and services around the country.




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