USRC General Green: History, Patrols, Crews

Commissioning

The USRC General Green was one of the first ten revenue cutters (hence the RC in the “USRC” acronym) authorized by the infant United States Congress to patrol the coasts of the new nation in August 1790. The 10 cutters were to be fast enough to overtake ships at sea, able to endure foul weather off the coast and be able to pursue ships up rivers, but was not to cost more than $1,000.

The General Green was named in honor of Gen. Nathaneal Greene, but for reasons unknown, his name was misspelled. The cutter was originally to have been named for Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton, but was abruptly changed. She was launched on July 7, 1791, making her one of the first revenue cutters to take to the seas.

Underway

The General Green, under the command of Capt. James Montgomery, was assigned with enforcing federal laws and patrolling the waters around the Port of Philadelphia. Montgomery was an experienced captain, having served as the commanding officer of a privateer and as an officer in the Pennsylvania State Navy during the American Revolution.

Unlike some of his counterparts commanding other cutters, Montgomery played an active part in the General Green’s activities and kept her at sea most of the time. One of her primary tasks was enforcing the Neutrality Act, declared by President George Washington in an attempt to keep the young United States out of the war between England and France. Many Americans were strongly in favor of supporting France, remembering her support of American during the revolution and noting its installation of a republican government; some went so far as to attempt to outfit privateering ships to raid British shipping. In December 1794, the French privateer Les Jumeaux, which was outfitted in Philadelphia, left port against government orders. The General Green gave chase and caught her 40 miles off the coast of Wilmington, Del., and seized the ship.

Decommissioning

It was quickly determined the cutters were too small and lacked enough firepower to be effective and were rapidly removed from service. The General Green was decommissioned in December 1797 and sold to William Moodie of Philadelphia.

Career:

Name: General Green
Operator: Revenue Cutter Service
Launched: 7 July 1791
Commissioned: 1791
Decommissioned: 1797
Fate: Sold December 1797

General characteristics:

Class and type: Schooner
Displacement: N/A
Length: N/A
Beam: N/A
Draft: N/A
Propulsion: Sail
Complement: 4 officers
Crew: 4 crewmen, 2 boys
Armament: Ten muskets with bayonets; twenty pistols; two chisels; one broad axe.

Timeline:

August 1790: USRC General Green ordered
July 1791: USRC General Green launched
December 1794: USRC General Green seizes French privateer Les Jumeaux
December 1797: USRC General Green decommissioned

Links:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USRC_General_Green

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