The Coast Guard Expands 1865-1915; New Roles, New Frontiers

xii, [2], 293, [5] pages. Illustrations. Map. Tables. Appendix A: Summary of Cutter Operations, 1880-1914. Appendix B: Equipment in Stations of the Life-Saving Service. Notes. Bibliography of Works Cited. Index. The story of the U.S. Revenue Cutter Service from the end of the Civil War to 1915. Irving Henry King was born on May 31, 1935 in Milo, Maine, United States. Son of Cornelius Michael and Ina Mary (Boyd) King. Bachelor in History and Government, University Maine, 1959. Master of Arts in History, University Maine, 1961. Doctor of Philosophy in History, University Maine, 1968. He was a professor, United States Coast Guard Academy, New London, Connecticut, since 1976; head department humanities, United States Coast Guard Academy, New London, Connecticut, 1985-1990. The United States Revenue Cutter Service was established by an act of Congress (1 Stat. 175) on 4 August 1790 as the Revenue-Marine upon the recommendation of Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton to serve as an armed customs enforcement service. As time passed, the service gradually gained missions either voluntarily or by legislation, including those of a military nature. It was generally referred to as the Revenue-Marine until 31 July 1894, when it was officially renamed the Revenue Cutter Service. The Revenue Cutter Service operated under the authority of the U.S. Department of the Treasury. On 28 January 1915, the service was merged by an act of Congress with the United States Life-Saving Service to form the United States Coast Guard. On 11 April 1861, the USRC Harriet Lane fired the first shots of the maritime conflict in the American Civil War of 1861-1865. The cutter fired a shot across the bow of the civilian steamship Nashville as it tried to enter Charleston Harbor during the bombardment of Fort Sumter because Nashville was flying no identifying flag. The civilian ship then promptly raised the U.S. standard, and Harriet Lane broke off. President Abraham Lincoln issued the following order to Secretary of the Treasury Salmon P. Chase on 14 June 1863: "You will co-operate by the revenue cutters under your direction with the navy in arresting rebel depredations on American commerce and transportation and in capturing rebels engaged therein." Revenue cutters assisted U.S. Navy operations throughout the war. The increase in coastal trade along the Atlantic seaboard after the civil war and the purchase of Alaska in 1867 had a significant impact on the development of the Revenue Cutter Service.[18] Demands by the public to do something about losses in lives and property at sea prompted Secretary of the Treasury George S. Boutwell, under President Ulysses S. Grant, to reorganize the service. With the outbreak of the Spanish-American War in 1898, the Revenue Cutter Service saw plenty of action in both the Cuban and Philippine theaters. Many revenue cutters were assigned to the blockade of Havana Harbor. During the Battle of Manila Bay on 1 May 1898, USRC Hugh McCulloch fought with the American squadron under Commodore George Dewey. President Woodrow Wilson signed into law the Coast Guard Act on 28 January 1915. This act combined the U.S. Revenue Cutter Service with the United States Life-Saving Service to form the new United States Coast Guard. The U.S. Coast Guard assumed the responsibilities of the United States Lighthouse Service in 1939 and the Navigation and Steamboat Inspection Service in 1942.…