USRC Ingham (1832)
History | |
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United States | |
Namesake | Samuel D. Ingham |
Builder | Webb and Allen, New York |
Laid down | 1830 |
Launched | 1832 |
Commissioned | 1832 |
Decommissioned | 10 January 1836 |
Homeport |
|
Nickname(s) | Semper Paratus |
Fate | transferred to the Texas Navy renamed Independence |
General characteristics | |
Class and type | Schooner |
Displacement | 112 tons |
Length | 73.4 ft (22.4 m) |
Beam | 20.6 ft (6.3 m) |
Draught | 9.7 ft (3.0 m) |
Propulsion | wind |
Complement | 20-24 |
Armament | 6-9 pndrs |
Notes |
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The United States Revenue Cutter Ingham was one of the 13
History of the cutter
The Morris-Taney class cutters were the backbone of the
Career
The Ingham was initially stationed at
The revenue cutters in New Orleans were increasingly monitoring the situation in
The Ingham, under Captain Ezekiel Jones, was dispatched to the Texas coast to monitor the situation and on 14 June, near Brazos Santiago, Montezuma fired on Ingham and the fire was returned. There is some discrepancy as to whether the Mexican warship was trying to evade battle once she realized the identity of the ship she had fired on, but Captain Jones did not allow Montezuma to evade the battle. Eventually the Mexican schooner ran aground and Ingham broke off the battle, having fired 13 guns. These became the first conflict between Mexican and United States forces and are considered by some historians as the first broadside of the
In January 1836 the Ingham was sold to the Republic of Texas for $1,710 and Captain Jones was duly transferred to another command within the Revenue Service. The newspaper, the New Orleans Bee wrote about Jones, "his prompt and efficient action in the affair of the Montezuma, has taught a neighboring state a valuable lesson of respect for our flag..." and concerning the Ingham, the paper wrote, "the vessel is entitled to bear the best motto for a military public servant—SEMPER PARATUS."[2] The United States Revenue Cutter Service would adopt Semper Paratus (always ready) as their motto in 1896.[citation needed]
Subsequent career
Ingham became the Independence in the Texas Navy, and was later captured by the Mexicans and renamed the Independencia.
Commanders of the vessel
- James Nicholson 1832-1834
- Ezekiel Jones 1834-1836
References
- ^ "Ingham, 1832" (PDF). U.S. Coast Guard Cutter History. 2012. Retrieved 2 July 2012.
- ^ a b c Wells II, William R. (Fall 1998). ""Every Protection That Was Asked for..." The United States Revenue Cutter Ingham, Texas Independence and New Orleans, 1835" (PDF). Louisiana History. XXXIX (4). Lafayette, LA: Louisiana Historical Association. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 March 2007. Retrieved 4 November 2007.