- USRC General Green
USRC "General Green" was one of the first ten cutters operated by the US
Revenue Cutter Service . She was named for theRevolutionary War hero Major GeneralNathanael Greene and note that her name was misspelled, probably by the man who oversaw her construction, the Collector of Customs inPhiladelphia , Sharp Delany. Apparently the cutter was to have been originally named for theSecretary of the Treasury ,Alexander Hamilton , but Delany changed the name for reasons unknown.Operational history
There is little or no information on her original design and unfortunately her monthly journals have not survived but some correspondence regarding her has, particularly the exchange of letters between her master, James Montgomery, and Delany. Indeed, there is a letter dated 23 July 1791 from the collector at
Boston , Benjamin Lincoln, to Hamilton that states the General Green left Adam Foulk's wharf in Philadelphia, completely outfitted, on 7 July of that year, making her one of the first of the cutters to actually enter into service. Isaac Roach was appointed as thefirst mate and Benjamin Rue was appointed as thesecond mate in March, 1791.Montgomery was the commanding officer of the Collector's
barge in Philadelphia and so had some experience in revenue work prior to hiscommission as the master of the new cutter. He had also seen service during the Revolution as an officer in thePennsylvania State Navy and later saw action as the commanding officer of aprivateer .The cutter had an active career patrolling the waters off Philadelphia and carrying out the federal laws of the land as instituted during President
George Washington 's administration. WhenGreat Britain andFrance went to war in 1793, Washington declared the neutrality of theUnited States and the cutters acted as the government's law enforcement arm at sea. Her most exciting mission was undoubtedly when she was ordered to seize the French privateer "Les Jumeaux", which was outfitting in Philadelphia, in direct violation of the neutrality laws. The privateer got underway in December 1794 and the "General Green" overtook her 40 miles off Wilmington, Delaware. The Deputy Collector, Robinett, sailed on board the cutter and was in overall command of this seizure."General Green" was sold in 1798 to William Moodie of Philadelphia.
Commanding officers
James Montgomery, Master; 1791-1797
References
* [http://www.uscg.mil/history/WEBCUTTERS/General_Green_1791.html"General Green", 1791] , US Coast Guard website.
*Canney, Donald, 1995: "U.S. Coast Guard and Revenue Cutters, 1790-1935". Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press.
*Stephen H. Evans, 1949: "The United States Coast Guard, 1790-1915: A Definitive History" (With a Postscript: 1915-1950). Annapolis: The United States Naval Institute, 1949.
*Kern, Florence, 1977: "A Boat in Our Bay": James Montgomery's U.S. Revenue Cutter General Green, 1791-1797", Washington, DC: Alised Enterprises.
*U.S. Coast Guard, 1934: "Record of Movements: Vessels of the United States Coast Guard: 1790 - December 31, 1933", Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office (reprinted 1989).
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