USRC Forward (1842) facts for kids
| History | |
|---|---|
  United States |
|
| Namesake | Walter P. Forward, 15th United States Secretary of the Treasury |
| Operator | United States Revenue Marine |
| Awarded | 7 December 1841 |
| Builder | William Easby, Washington, D.C. |
| Cost | US$3,786.75 |
| Launched | 1842 |
| Acquired | 23 April 1842 |
| Commissioned | 23 June 1842 |
| Decommissioned | 30 November 1865. |
| Stricken | 1865 |
| Honors and awards |
U.S. Navy commendation for service in the Mexican-American War |
| Fate | Sold on 30 November 1865 in Baltimore, Maryland |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Topsail schooner. |
| Displacement | 139 tons. |
| Length | 89 ft (27 m) |
| Beam | 21 ft 2 in (6.45 m) |
| Draft | 8 ft 6 in (2.59 m) |
| Propulsion | Sail. |
| Sail plan | Topsail. |
| Armament | 2 × 18-pounder; 4 × 9-pounders(1845) |
The USRC Walter Forward was a special type of sailing ship called a schooner. It was built for the United States Revenue Cutter Service, which was like an early version of today's Coast Guard. Most people just called her USRC Forward.
Forward was an important ship during the Mexican–American War. She worked with both the U.S. Army and the U.S. Navy in Mexico. She even received a special award from Commodore Matthew C. Perry for her brave actions during a battle on the Tabasco River.
After the war, she briefly worked for the U.S. Coast Survey. Then, she returned to the Revenue Marine. She continued her service through the 1850s and even during the American Civil War.
Contents
Building and Starting Service
The ship Forward was built in Washington, D.C. It cost about $3,786.75 to build. William Easby was the builder, and Captain Henry Prince oversaw the work.
Forward was a topsail schooner. This means she was a sailing ship with two or more masts and specific types of sails. She was made of wood and had a copper bottom to protect it. The ship was about 89 feet (27 m) long and weighed 139 tons. Her main job was to make sure customs laws were followed and to help sailors who were in trouble. The ship was named after Walter Forward, who was an important government official.
Early Adventures
Forward officially started her service on June 23, 1842. Her first job was to patrol the waters near Baltimore, Maryland. In 1843, she moved to Wilmington, Delaware.
In 1846, she was sent to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania for repairs. This was to get her ready for a big mission. She was going to help the U.S. Army and Navy during the Mexican–American War.
Mexican–American War Missions
Helping the U.S. Army
On May 23, 1846, Forward sailed to the Gulf of Mexico with another ship, USRC Ewing. They arrived in June. General Zachary Taylor ordered Forward to block off a part of the Mexican coast. Her job was to stop any ships from trading with the enemy.
Forward and her group helped by scouting, protecting other ships, towing, and blocking enemy access. She also helped move soldiers and supplies for the Army. This kept her busy during the summer of 1846.
On August 23, 1846, Forward was ordered to join Commodore David Conner's naval group near Tampico, Mexico. She then joined the blockade of Veracruz, Veracruz.
In October 1846, she joined a force led by Commodore Matthew C. Perry. On October 15, Perry's group tried to cross a river bar at Alvarado. Forward was being towed by another ship, USRC McLane. McLane got stuck, and the mission had to be called off.
The next day, Forward sailed for a more successful mission at the Tabasco River. On October 23, 1846, they successfully crossed the river bar. They quickly captured the town of Frontera, Tabasco and took several enemy ships. Forward and other small ships then sailed 74 miles (119 km) up the river. They went through enemy territory to the town of Tabasco.
Forward sent some of her crew to join a landing party with Marines. They helped capture the town of Tabasco. The group captured 10 enemy ships before returning to the ocean. Forward stayed at Frontera until late November, destroying captured ships and keeping the river blocked.
In December 1846, Forward carried important messages to Belize City and New Orleans, Louisiana. She returned to blockade duty off Veracruz in February 1847. She continued these duties until April 1847.
After repairs, Forward received a special commendation from Commodore Perry for her part in the Tabasco River landings. He praised the ship's valuable service and the skill of her officers and crew.
Working with the U.S. Coast Survey
On October 30, 1847, Forward was moved to the United States Coast Survey. This group maps coastlines and waterways. However, she didn't stay there long. On December 16, the Revenue Marine traded another ship for Forward. So, Forward returned to the Revenue Marine on March 6, 1848, based in Wilmington.
Service from 1848 to 1861
In 1854, Forward was one of several ships sent to search for a missing steamer called San Francisco near Bermuda. They couldn't find the ship, and the search ended on January 18.
She went for repairs at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard in 1856 and again in 1857. By 1861, as the country moved closer to war, she was ordered to Philadelphia to get more weapons. She was told to work with the U.S. Navy.
American Civil War Service
On May 4, 1861, Forward sailed to Annapolis, Maryland. She was ordered to keep Chesapeake Bay open for ships carrying soldiers. Her job was to "capture or sink any unfriendly craft." This was a tough job for a sailing ship, and sometimes Forward needed a tow from passing steamers.
Later, she moved to Baltimore and then to the mouth of the Severn River. On October 1, Forward returned to the Revenue Marine's control. She went to Philadelphia for repairs and then to New York City, New York in February 1862.
She resumed duties in Wilmington until June, when she was sent to help with blockade duties at Beaufort, North Carolina. She stayed there for a long time. In January 1863, she even helped put out a fire on a large sailing ship called Joseph Gilchrist in New York.
End of Service and Sale
Forward arrived in Baltimore on November 29, 1865. The very next day, November 30, she was officially taken out of service and sold for about $5,000.
