USS Eagle (1798)

For other ships with the same name, see USS Eagle and USS Eaglet.
History
United States
NameUSS Eagle
Cost$32,200
Launched1798
AcquiredJuly 1798
Commissioned5 July 1798 in the USRC Service. Transferred officially to US Navy 20 May, 1799
FateSold, 17 June 1801
General characteristics
TypeSchooner
Displacement187 long tons (190 t)
Length58 ft (18 m)
Beam20 ft (6.1 m)
Draft9 ft (2.7 m)
PropulsionSail
Complement70 officers and enlisted
Armament• 14 × 6-pounder guns

The first USS Eagle, a schooner, was built at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1798, and commissioned in the Revenue Cutter Service under the command of Captain Hugh G. Campbell, USRCS.

Quasi War

She placed under control of the Navy in July 1798 for service in the undeclared naval war (Quasi-War) with France.

From October 1798 Eagle patrolled off the coast of South Carolina and Georgia protecting American shipping from French privateers. Ordered to the West Indies, she arrived at Prince Rupert's Bay, Dominica, 14 March 1799, to hunt French ships, and to convoy merchant vessels on the Guadeloupe Station until late in June, when she sailed for New Castle, Delaware. Sometime in early 1799 she and USRC Diligence captured French ship Reynard.[1] On 5 April, 1799 she captured French privateer sloop "Bon Pere", Bon Pere was taken into USRC Service under same name that year.[2][3] In late April or before 6 May 1799, Eagle, USS Richmond and USRC Virginia captured the French ship Louis.[4]

In a letter dated 20 May, 1799 Navy Secretary Benjamin Stoddert notified the Treasury Secretary that he should consider Eagle to be officially transferred to the U.S. Navy.[5]

Sometime just before 11 June, 1799 she and USS Baltimore captured a prize, probably French ship "Siren".[6][7]

On 27 July 1799 the Secretary of the Navy sent a letter with Campbell's commission as a U.S. Navy officer, rank of master commandant.[8]

She returned to the Caribbean in August 1799 for similar duty. In early November she recaptured a brig that was being towed by a privateer, the privateer was forced ashore but got off and got away. She later captured a French sloop, and with USS Ganges captured a French Letter of Marque.[9] In December recaptured brig "George".[10] In February she recaptured schooner "Benevolence".[11] In March she recaptured schooner "Three Friends".[12] In April she captured schooner "Favorite".[13] On 2 May, 1800 captured French schooner "La Magdelaine" (15 tons).[14] On 25 June, captured French merchantman "Dolphin".[15] On 10 September 1800 she set sail for St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, with the sloop-of-war USS Maryland, escorting a convoy of 52 ships. On unknown date she and USS Maryland recaptured brig "Mahitable".[16] After arrival at New Castle on 28 September, Eagle proceeded to Philidelphia and was laid up for repairs. On 19 November 1800 Lt. Tho. Calvert was ordered to take command of her.[17] On 8 December 1800 Lt. M. Simmones Bunbury was ordered to take command.[18] Eagle's third cruise to the West Indies extended from January to June 1801, when she returned to Baltimore.

During her career in the United States' navy, she captured or assisted in the capture of 22 French vessels which had been preying on American ocean commerce. Eagle was sold 17 June 1801 at Baltimore for $10,585.73.[19][20]

References

  1. ^ "Early history of the U. S. Revenue Marine Service or (U.S. Revenue Cutter Service) 1798 to 1854 page 19" (PDF). R. L. Polk printing via Media.defence.gov. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  2. ^ "Early history of the U. S. Revenue Marine Service or (U.S. Revenue Cutter Service) 1798 to 1854 page 18" (PDF). R. L. Polk printing via Media.defence.gov. Retrieved 14 April 2024.
  3. ^ Naval Documents related to the Quasi-War Between the United States and France (PDF). Vol. VI Part 2 of 4: Naval Operations June to November 1800, July-August 1800. U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 565. Retrieved 13 September 2024 – via Ibiblio.
  4. ^ "Naval Documents related to the Quasi-War Between the United States and France Volume 3 Part 2 of 4 Naval Operations April 1799 to July 1799, May, 1799 Pg. 143" (PDF). U.S. Government printing office via Imbiblio. Retrieved 6 April 2024.
  5. ^ "Naval Documents related to the Quasi-War Between the United States and France Volume 3 Part 2 of 4 Naval Operations April 1799 to July 1799, May, 1799 Pg. 220" (PDF). U.S. Government printing office via Imbiblio. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
  6. ^ "Early history of the U. S. Revenue Marine Service or (U.S. Revenue Cutter Service) 1798 to 1854 page 18" (PDF). R. L. Polk printing via Mediadefence.gov. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  7. ^ "Naval Documents related to the Quasi-War Between the United States and France Volume 3 Part 2 of 4 Naval Operations April 1799 to July 1799, May, 1799 Pg. 327" (PDF). U.S. Government printing office via Imbiblio. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  8. ^ "Naval Documents related to the Quasi-War Between the United States and France Volume 2 Part 4 of 4 Naval Operations April 1799 to July 1799 July Pg. 555" (PDF). U.S. Government printing office via Imbiblio. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
  9. ^ "Naval Documents related to the Quasi-War Between the United States and France Volume Part 2 of 3 Naval Operations August 1799 to December 1799, October to November Pg. 432" (PDF). U.S. Government printing office via Imbiblio. Retrieved 28 May 2024.
  10. ^ "Naval Documents related to the Quasi-War Between the United States and France Volume Part 3 of 4 Naval Operations January to May, 1800, April 1800-May 1800 Pg. 563" (PDF). U.S. Government printing office via Imbiblio. Retrieved 21 July 2024.
  11. ^ "Naval Documents related to the Quasi-War Between the United States and France Volume Part 3 of 4 Naval Operations January to May, 1800, April 1800-May 1800 Pg. 563" (PDF). U.S. Government printing office via Imbiblio. Retrieved 21 July 2024.
  12. ^ "Naval Documents related to the Quasi-War Between the United States and France Volume Part 3 of 4 Naval Operations January to May, 1800, April 1800-May 1800 Pg. 563" (PDF). U.S. Government printing office via Imbiblio. Retrieved 22 July 2024.
  13. ^ "Naval Documents related to the Quasi-War Between the United States and France Volume Part 3 of 4 Naval Operations January to May, 1800, April 1800-May 1800 Pg. 563" (PDF). U.S. Government printing office via Imbiblio. Retrieved 22 July 2024.
  14. ^ "Naval Documents related to the Quasi-War Between the United States and France Volume Part 3 of 4 Naval Operations January to May, 1800, April 1800-May 1800 Pg. 469-470" (PDF). U.S. Government printing office via Imbiblio. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
  15. ^ Naval Documents related to the Quasi-War Between the United States and France (PDF). Vol. VII Part 1 of 4: Naval Operations December 1800-December 1801, December 1800-March 1801. U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 373. Retrieved 2 October 2024 – via Ibiblio.
  16. ^ Naval Documents related to the Quasi-War Between the United States and France (PDF). Vol. VI Part 2 of 4: Naval Operations June to November 1800, July-August 1800. U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 563. Retrieved 13 September 2024 – via Ibiblio.
  17. ^ Naval Documents related to the Quasi-War Between the United States and France (PDF). Vol. VI Part 2 of 4: Naval Operations June to November 1800, July-August 1800. U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 539. Retrieved 13 September 2024 – via Ibiblio.
  18. ^ Naval Documents related to the Quasi-War Between the United States and France (PDF). Vol. VII Part 1 of 4: Naval Operations December 1800-December 1801, December 1800-March 1801. U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 21. Retrieved 15 September 2024 – via Ibiblio.
  19. ^ Naval Documents related to the Quasi-War Between the United States and France (PDF). Vol. VII Part 1 of 4: Naval Operations December 1800-December 1801, December 1800-March 1801. U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 258. Retrieved 26 September 2024 – via Ibiblio.
  20. ^ Naval Documents related to the Quasi-War Between the United States and France (PDF). Vol. VII Part 1 of 4: Naval Operations December 1800-December 1801, December 1800-March 1801. U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 307. Retrieved 29 September 2024 – via Ibiblio.



On 27 July 1799 the Secretary of the Navy sent a letter with Campbell's commission as a U.S. Navy officer, rank of master commandant.[1]

  1. ^ "Naval Documents related to the Quasi-War Between the United States and France Volume 2 Part 4 of 4 Naval Operations April 1799 to July 1799 July Pg. 555" (PDF). U.S. Government printing office via Imbiblio. Retrieved 1 May 2024.