Revenue Cutters and the War Of 1812

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Revenue uniforms circa 1812

Official caption: "Newport News, VA: Members of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Historical Ships Company participated in a living history program displaying sailors items from the 1800's at the Mariner's Museum Monday, Feb. 27, 2012. 
 The USCGAUXHSC is comprised of military, historians and educators throughout the Virginia tidewater region.  U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Walter Shinn."  Photo No. 120227-G-RT555-399.

A Mariners Museum painting depicting the capture of the Revenue Cutter Surveyor in the War of 1812

"Capture of the [Revenue Cutter] SURVEYOR, 12 June 1813"
A watercolor by Irwin John Bevan;
from the Mariners' Museum Bailey collection (QW 328). 

The cutter is incorrectly portrayed as flying the national ensign when in fact, as per Treasury Department regulations, it flew the Revenue ensign (as all cutters did).

Courtesy of the Mariners' Museum.


 Painting depicting the capture of the USRC Surveyor

"The Gallant Defense of Cutter Surveyor"
against barges and Royal Navy personnel from HMS Narcissus, Gloucester Point, VA, 12 June 1813.

U. S. Coast Guard Collection.


 Revenue Cutter Surveyor

Deck plan of the Revenue Cutter Surveyor.

Drawn by Dr. John Tilley.


 A painting of the Revenue Cutter Commodore Barry being captured by the British

"Capture of the [Revenue Cutter] COMMODORE BARRY"
A watercolor by Irwin John Bevan;
from the Mariners' Museum Bailey collection (QW 280). 

Courtesy of the Mariners' Museum.

Revenue Cutter Surveyor

The Revenue Cutter Surveyor.

Artist: George N. Payne.
The artist donated the painting to the Coast Guard in 1990
"in honor of its 200th Anniversary."


 Painting of the action between the Revenue Cutter Vigilant versus the British Dart

Revenue Cutter Vigilant vs. British privateer Dart, 4 October 1813.


 A painting of the Revenue Cutter Vigilant attacking the British privateer Dart

Revenue Cutter Vigilant vs. British privateer Dart, 4 October 1813.

Painting by Dean Ellis presented to the Coast Guard by the Coast Guard Academy Class of 1958.


 A drawing of the Revenue Cutter James Madison

Revenue Cutter James C. Madison, 1813.

Image taken from a watercolor by C. J. A. Wilson.  Image scanned from H.R. Kaplan's & James F. Hunt's This Is the Coast Guard
(Cambridge, MD: Cornell Maritime Press, 1972), p. 6.


 A painting depicting the USRC James Madison capturing the British brig Shamrock.

"Cutter James Madison captures the armed British Brig Shamrock, 23 July 1812."
Artist: Peter Rindlisbacher.
U.S. Coast Guard Collection.


Lines of the Cutter James Madison


Lines incorrectly purported to be the Revenue Cutter James Madison that were drawn by Smithsonian maritime historian Howard I. Chapelle.
Although not the Madison these lines do represent a vessel with a hull design similar to contemporary cutters of the period.
Published in his The History of The American Sailing Navy: The Ships and Their Development (New York: Bonanza Books, 1949), p. 247.

 PDF


 A model of the Revenue Cutter James Madison

 A scale model of the Revenue Cutter James Madison.


A drawing of a 33 foot revenue boat as used on the Great Lakes

33-foot Revenue Boat as used on the Great Lakes


 A painting of the Revenue Cutter Eagle on patrol during the War of 1812 by artist Patrick O'Brien

"Revenue Cutter Eagle on Patrol During the War of 1812."

Artist: Patrick O'Brien
U.S. Coast Guard Collection


 A Works Project Administration painting of the defense of the grounded Revenue Cutter Eagle

"Defense of the Cutter Eagle."

Artist: Aldis B. Browne, II
One of the murals depicting various incidents in Coast Guard history organized by the Works Progress Administration
for the Coast Guard Academy.


 Another painting of the defense of the Revenue Cutter Eagle

"Defense of the Revenue Cutter Eagle".

Coast Guard Academy Art Collection.


 A print of a Revenue Cutter and a Brig under sail

"'Cutter (rt.) and English Brig, War of 1812 period (From a painting by an unknown artist.  Official Coast Guard Photo.)'";
as printed on inset of page 19, Stephen Evans, The United States Coast Guard 1790-1915: A Definitive History
(Annapolis: United States Naval Institute, 1949).

A painting of the Revenue Cutter Thomas Jefferson's capture of three Royal Navy armed barges near Hampton Roads, 1813.

"Revenue Cutter Thomas Jefferson Captures Three Royal Navy Barges and Personnel in Hampton Roads, 11 April 1813."

Artist: Patrick O'Brien
U.S. Coast Guard Collection

A flag of the U.S. Revenue Marine

U.S. Revenue Marine's original commissioning pennant, 1799

A flag of the U.S. Revenue Marine

A close-up of the U.S. Revenue Marine ensign canton, 1799

A flag of the U.S. Revenue Marine

A close-up of the U.S. Revenue Marine ensign canton, 1799

A flag of the U.S. Revenue Marine

U.S. Revenue Marine commissioning pennant, 1815 variant

A flag of the U.S. Revenue Marine

U.S. Revenue Marine ensign, war-time variant, 1815

A flag of the U.S. Revenue Marine

A close-up of the U.S. Revenue Marine ensign canton, war-time variant, 1815

The above images of Revenue Marine/Revenue Cutter Service flags were provided to this office by Ray S. Morton.


 Revenue Captain Frederick Lee

Revenue Captain Frederick Lee

Coast Guard Academy Art Collection.


British forces burning Washington City, 1814

"British Burn the Capitol, 1814," a painting by Allyn Cox.
The painting is in the Hall of Capitols in the House side of the United States Capitol.

Video: U.S. Coast Guard presents The U.S. Revenue Marine and the War of 1812

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Last Modified 5/6/2013