USRC Eagle
Encyclopedia
USRC Eagle was one of the first ten cutters operated by the United States
' Revenue Cutter Service (later to become the US Coast Guard).
The Eagle has been often misidentified as the cutter Pickering, which was in fact not launched until 1798 (and so was not among the first ten cutters). Eagle was built in Savannah, Georgia
for service in that state's waters. Savannah remained her homeport throughout her career as a revenue cutter.
is a description written when she was sold in 1799:
and as such they carried out a myriad of tasks and Eagle was no exception. She was assigned to enforce the quarantine restrictions imposed during the outbreak of yellow fever
in Philadelphia in 1793. For that task she lay off Cockspur Island
and prevented any vessel carrying infected persons from entering Savannah Harbor.
There are glimpses in the records of some of her adventures as a revenue cutter. She had a small hand in the establishment of the United States Navy
when, in 1794, Eagle delivered woodcutting supplies to contractors on St. Simons Island. The contractors were to supply wood for the frigate
s recently authorized by the United States Congress
, an authorization that marks the birth of the nation's second oldest sea-going service.
, needed to transport a cargo of wool
to his plantation
on St. Simons Island and somehow convinced either Hendrick Fisher, the acting commanding officer of Eagle as Howell was not available - or the local customs collector - that Eagle should carry out this task. (According to some documentation discovered by Florence Kern, Eagles commanding officer "did not feel obliged to be at the helm of Eagle at all times," and therefore left her in the care of her first mate, Hendrick Fisher, on many occasions.)
Trouble appeared off Jekyll Island
, when the Royal Navy
sloop
of war , under the command of Captain John Poo Beresford
, fired a shot across the cutter's bow
. Fisher attempted to heave-to, but the Senator ordered him to sail on. Lynx then began to fire continuously as Eagle sailed towards the shoal
waters on the north point of Jekyll Island. As Lynx drew too much water to continue the chase, Beresford sent his pinnace
and cutter, under Lieutenant Alex Skene, in pursuit. They quickly overtook the schooner
and came on board, demanding to know why Eagle had not come about when fired upon by a vessel of His Majesty's navy. After learning the schooner was in fact a revenue vessel of the U.S. government, the Royal Navy lieutenant returned with his men to their boats and hence to their sloop.
In the ensuing international furor that this clash engendered, Beresford stated that Lynx was outside the 12 mile limit and noted that the schooner was not flying any flag. The national ensign was in fact not displayed on board Eagle for unexplained reasons but was instead stored in the captain's cabin. Eagle did apparently display some sort of small pennant
, but it was not visible to Lynx.
Hendrick Fisher, First Mate, 1793-1798 (?)
John Wood, Second Mate, 1793-1794.
James Christian, Second Mate, 1794 -1795.
Benjamin Forsyth, Second Mate, 1795–1798; promoted to First Mate in 1798 (?)
William Duncan (died while a seaman on Eagle in 1797).
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
' Revenue Cutter Service (later to become the US Coast Guard).
The Eagle has been often misidentified as the cutter Pickering, which was in fact not launched until 1798 (and so was not among the first ten cutters). Eagle was built in Savannah, Georgia
Savannah, Georgia
Savannah is the largest city and the county seat of Chatham County, in the U.S. state of Georgia. Established in 1733, the city of Savannah was the colonial capital of the Province of Georgia and later the first state capital of Georgia. Today Savannah is an industrial center and an important...
for service in that state's waters. Savannah remained her homeport throughout her career as a revenue cutter.
Description
The only surviving documentation regarding the cutter Eagles construction, dimensions, or her rigRigging
Rigging is the apparatus through which the force of the wind is used to propel sailboats and sailing ships forward. This includes masts, yards, sails, and cordage.-Terms and classifications:...
is a description written when she was sold in 1799:
...that the said ship or vessel has one deck and two masts, and that her length is fifty five feet ten inches, her breadth seventeen feet six inches, her depth six feet eight inches and that she measures fifty five 66/95 tons; that she is square sterned long quarter has Quarter Deck Badges and no Galleries and an Eagle head.
Operational service
Some documentation does survive that provides a glimpse at her duties, however. Cutters typically were assigned to duty by the local collector of customsCustoms
Customs is an authority or agency in a country responsible for collecting and safeguarding customs duties and for controlling the flow of goods including animals, transports, personal effects and hazardous items in and out of a country...
and as such they carried out a myriad of tasks and Eagle was no exception. She was assigned to enforce the quarantine restrictions imposed during the outbreak of yellow fever
Yellow fever
Yellow fever is an acute viral hemorrhagic disease. The virus is a 40 to 50 nm enveloped RNA virus with positive sense of the Flaviviridae family....
in Philadelphia in 1793. For that task she lay off Cockspur Island
Cockspur Island
Cockspur Island is an island in the south channel of the Savannah River near Lazaretto Creek, northwest of Tybee Island, Georgia, USA. Most of the island is within the boundaries of Fort Pulaski National Monument....
and prevented any vessel carrying infected persons from entering Savannah Harbor.
There are glimpses in the records of some of her adventures as a revenue cutter. She had a small hand in the establishment of the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
when, in 1794, Eagle delivered woodcutting supplies to contractors on St. Simons Island. The contractors were to supply wood for the frigate
Frigate
A frigate is any of several types of warship, the term having been used for ships of various sizes and roles over the last few centuries.In the 17th century, the term was used for any warship built for speed and maneuverability, the description often used being "frigate-built"...
s recently authorized by the United States Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
, an authorization that marks the birth of the nation's second oldest sea-going service.
The Lynx incident
In 1795, the cutter was on an "unofficial" mission; Senator Pierce Butler, from South CarolinaSouth Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
, needed to transport a cargo of wool
Wool
Wool is the textile fiber obtained from sheep and certain other animals, including cashmere from goats, mohair from goats, qiviut from muskoxen, vicuña, alpaca, camel from animals in the camel family, and angora from rabbits....
to his plantation
Plantation
A plantation is a long artificially established forest, farm or estate, where crops are grown for sale, often in distant markets rather than for local on-site consumption...
on St. Simons Island and somehow convinced either Hendrick Fisher, the acting commanding officer of Eagle as Howell was not available - or the local customs collector - that Eagle should carry out this task. (According to some documentation discovered by Florence Kern, Eagles commanding officer "did not feel obliged to be at the helm of Eagle at all times," and therefore left her in the care of her first mate, Hendrick Fisher, on many occasions.)
Trouble appeared off Jekyll Island
Jekyll Island
Jekyll Island is an island off the coast of the U.S. state of Georgia, in Glynn County; it is one of the Sea Islands and one of the Golden Isles of Georgia. The city of Brunswick, Georgia, the Marshes of Glynn, and several other islands, including the larger St. Simons Island, are nearby...
, when the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
sloop
Sloop
A sloop is a sail boat with a fore-and-aft rig and a single mast farther forward than the mast of a cutter....
of war , under the command of Captain John Poo Beresford
Sir John Beresford, 1st Baronet
Admiral Sir John Poo Beresford, 1st Baronet, GCH was an officer in the Royal Navy who rose to the rank of Second Sea Lord. He was a Tory politician in the United Kingdom.-Naval career:...
, fired a shot across the cutter's bow
Bow (ship)
The bow is a nautical term that refers to the forward part of the hull of a ship or boat, the point that is most forward when the vessel is underway. Both of the adjectives fore and forward mean towards the bow...
. Fisher attempted to heave-to, but the Senator ordered him to sail on. Lynx then began to fire continuously as Eagle sailed towards the shoal
Shoal
Shoal, shoals or shoaling may mean:* Shoal, a sandbank or reef creating shallow water, especially where it forms a hazard to shipping* Shoal draught , of a boat with shallow draught which can pass over some shoals: see Draft...
waters on the north point of Jekyll Island. As Lynx drew too much water to continue the chase, Beresford sent his pinnace
Pinnace (ship's boat)
As a ship's boat the pinnace is a light boat, propelled by sails or oars, formerly used as a "tender" for guiding merchant and war vessels. In modern parlance, pinnace has come to mean a boat associated with some kind of larger vessel, that doesn't fit under the launch or lifeboat definitions...
and cutter, under Lieutenant Alex Skene, in pursuit. They quickly overtook the schooner
Schooner
A schooner is a type of sailing vessel characterized by the use of fore-and-aft sails on two or more masts with the forward mast being no taller than the rear masts....
and came on board, demanding to know why Eagle had not come about when fired upon by a vessel of His Majesty's navy. After learning the schooner was in fact a revenue vessel of the U.S. government, the Royal Navy lieutenant returned with his men to their boats and hence to their sloop.
In the ensuing international furor that this clash engendered, Beresford stated that Lynx was outside the 12 mile limit and noted that the schooner was not flying any flag. The national ensign was in fact not displayed on board Eagle for unexplained reasons but was instead stored in the captain's cabin. Eagle did apparently display some sort of small pennant
Pennant (commissioning)
The commissioning pennant is a pennant flown from the masthead of a warship. The history of flying a commissioning pennant dates back to the days of chivalry with their trail pendants being flown from the mastheads of ships they commanded...
, but it was not visible to Lynx.
Crew
John Howell, Master; 1793-1799.Hendrick Fisher, First Mate, 1793-1798 (?)
John Wood, Second Mate, 1793-1794.
James Christian, Second Mate, 1794 -1795.
Benjamin Forsyth, Second Mate, 1795–1798; promoted to First Mate in 1798 (?)
William Duncan (died while a seaman on Eagle in 1797).