Defense of the cutter Eagle

Defense of the cutter Eagle
Part of the War of 1812
Defense of the Cutter Eagle, a painting by the Works Progress Administration
Date October 10–13, 1814 Location Long Island, United States 40°58′39″N 72°35′46″W / 40.97750°N 72.59611°W / 40.97750; -72.59611 Result British victory
Belligerents
United States	United Kingdom
Commanders and leaders
Frederick Lee[1] John Davis[1]	Royal Navy J.R. Lumley[1]
Units involved
United States Revenue Marine USRC Eagle Connecticut State Militia Detached troops Irregular forces Villagers of Wading River Long Island Sea Fencibles (unconfirmed)	Royal Navy HMS Narcissus HMS Dispatch Liverpool Packet
Casualties and losses
1 injured USRC Eagle captured	1 injured
1 cow
Defense of the Cutter Eagle class=notpageimage| Location of the battle off of Long Island, New York

The defense of the cutter Eagle was a battle on and around Long Island New York, that took place from October 10 to 13, 1814, between the British Royal Navy and the United States' Revenue Marine. Early on in the engagement, the United States' only involved vessel, USRC Eagle, was beached near Negro Head. Despite the loss of their ship, her crew continued fighting the Royal Navy vessels from shore using cannon recovered from their wrecked vessel. Eagle's crew was ultimately able to repair and refloat her, but unsuccessful in their attempts to drive the British ships away. Once more she was beached, but after exhausting their ammunition over three days of fighting, the Eagle's crew was unable to prevent her from being towed off by the Royal Navy, which then sailed her back past the shoreline for a victory lap. Though there were no fatalities on either side in the battle, a cow grazing in the area died after being hit by a 32-pound (15 kg) round shot fired by one of the Royal Navy ships.

USRC Eagle, along with two of the involved British ships HMS Narcissus and HMS Dispatch, are among six vessels celebrated in the lyrics of "Semper Paratus", the service march of the Revenue Marine's successor force, the U.S. Coast Guard.