USRC Hudson (1893)

USRC "Hudson", known for her service during the Battle of Cárdenas, was the United States Revenue Cutter Service's first vessel to have a steel hull and triple-expansion steam engine.

The "Hudson" was assigned to New York harbor before coming under naval direction for the Spanish-American War. On 11 May 1898 the cutter "Hudson", along with the Navy warships USS "Winslow" (TB-5), USS "Machias" (PG-5), and USS "Wilmington" (PG-8), had pursued three Spanish gunboats into the bay of Cardenas, Cuba. There, shore batteries fired on the U.S. vessels and disabled the "Winslow", knocking out her steering and a boiler, thereby putting "Winslow" adrift. The accurate Spanish fire wounded the "Winslow"s commanding officer and killed another officer and many of the crew.

Although under fire from the Spanish guns for over thirty minutes, the "Hudson", commanded by First Lieutenant Frank H. Newcomb, sailed into the bay to save the disabled "Winslow". Newcomb kept the "Hudson" positioned in shoal waters near the "Winslow", until a line was passed to the Navy warship and made fast. The "Hudson" then towed the "Winslow" out of danger. During the time in the bay, both vessels continually fired on the Spanish positions.

The "Hudson" carried the bodies of those killed as well as the wounded, along with the dispatches of the squadron off Cardenas, to Havana, arriving there on 14 May 1898. She remained there on blockade duty for a short time before departing to Key West. Another period of patrol ended 10 July as she returned to the blockading fleet with further dispatches. "Hudson" captured two fishing vessels that attempted to run the blockade off Havana. She then departed for Norfolk, via Key West and Savannah, and arrived there on 21 August 1898 where she returned to service with the Treasury Department out of New York.

She continued with her traditional duties and was once again taken into the Navy for service during World War I beginning on 6 April 1917. She continued her service with the Navy until returned to Treasury Department control on 28 August 1919. She returned to service with the Coast Guard until she was decommissioned in 1935.

References

* [http://www.uscg.mil/History/webcutters/Hudson1893.html USCG Webcutters - "Hudson", 1893]
*DANFS|http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/h8/hudson-ii.htm