The Defense of the Cutter Eagle is a battle on and around Long Island that took place from October 10 to 13, 1814, between the United Kingdom's 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 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.
The Defense of the Cutter Eagle is a battle on and around Long Island that took place from October 10 to 13, 1814, between the United Kingdom's 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 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.
Defense of the Cutter Eagle