# USRC Reliance

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{{short description|Revenue cutter of the U.S. Revenue–Marine}}

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|section2={{Infobox ship/career
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 |country=United States
 |flag={{shipboxflag|United States|1865}} {{shipboxflag|Confederate States of America|naval}}
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 |laid_down=1860
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 |acquired=7 May 1861
 |commissioned=13 May 1861
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 |out_of_service=28 August 1863
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 |struck=est. 1863
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 |captured=*By Confederate forces,
           *23 August 1863
 |fate=*Destroyed by Confederate forces
       *to prevent recapture
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 |class=
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 |displacement=90 tons
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 |length={{convert|88|ft|2|in|m|abbr=on}} 
 |beam={{convert|17|ft|m|abbr=on}} 
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 |armament=*one 24-pounder [howitzer](/source/howitzer),
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'''USRC ''Reliance''''' was a [steamer](/source/Steamboat) acquired by the [United States Revenue-Marine](/source/United_States_Revenue_Cutter_Service) for use during the [American Civil War](/source/American_Civil_War). Her duties included river patrols and bombarding with her howitzers.<ref>{{Cite book|last=King, Irving H.|title=The Coast Guard under sail : the U.S. Revenue Cutter Service, 1789-1865|date=1989|publisher=Naval Institute Press|isbn=0-87021-234-6|location=Annapolis, Md.|oclc=19981299}}</ref>

== Construction and acquisition ==
''Reliance'', a wooden screw steamer built in 1860 at [Keyport, New Jersey](/source/Keyport%2C_New_Jersey), was purchased by the U.S. Revenue-Marine at [New York City](/source/New_York_City) on 7 May 1861; and commissioned there on 13 May 1861, Acting Lt. Jared P. K. Mygatt in command.

== Assigned to the Potomac Flotilla ==

Assigned to the [Potomac Flotilla](/source/Potomac_Flotilla), she began her active service by blockading the [Virginia](/source/Virginia) side of the [Potomac River](/source/Potomac_River). From 29 May to 1 June 1861, she joined in attacks against [Confederate](/source/Confederate_States_of_America) positions at [Aquia Creek](/source/Aquia_Creek), Virginia. On 20 June she engaged Rebel batteries at [Marlborough Point](/source/Marlborough_Point), Virginia; and a week later she fought Confederate forces at [Mathias Point, Virginia](/source/Mathias_Point%2C_Virginia).<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=U.S. Revenue Cutters and Lighthouse Service in the Civil War|url=https://media.defense.gov/2017/Jun/25/2001768450/-1/-1/0/USRMCIVILWARCHRONOLOGY.PDF|access-date=|website=}}</ref>

''Reliance'' patrolled the river, searching for smuggled supplies, runaway slaves, and deserting Confederate soldiers. On 12 August 1862, she captured the [sloop](/source/sloop), ''Blossom'', and sent a boat expedition into [Sturgeon Creek](/source/Sturgeon_Creek%2C_Virginia). She seized the sloop ''Painter'' off [Alexandria, Virginia](/source/Alexandria%2C_Virginia), 30 October and took the longboat, ''New Moon'', on 24 November carrying [contraband](/source/contraband) cargo.

== ''Reliance'' is captured by Confederate raiders ==

Along with other boats of the Flotilla, she cooperated in operations with troops of the [Army of the Potomac](/source/Army_of_the_Potomac) along the [Rappahannock River](/source/Rappahannock_River). During these operations, ''Reliance'' service was ended by a daring Confederate raid. On 12 August 1863, Lt. [John Taylor Wood](/source/John_Taylor_Wood), CSN, led 80 Rebel troops with six boats loaded on wagons secretly overland to the Rappahannock; concealing themselves by day, the raiders searched the river by night and found ''Reliance'' and {{USS|Satellite|1854|6}} anchored off [Windmill Point](/source/Windmill_Point) at the mouth of the river. On 23 August, Wood's men surprised, boarded, and captured the two Federal gunboats.

== ''Reliance'' is destroyed to prevent its recapture by the Union Navy ==

The Southerners took their two prizes to [Port Royal, Virginia](/source/Port_Royal%2C_Virginia). There they were destroyed on 28 August to prevent their recapture by approaching Union [cavalry](/source/cavalry) under Gen. [Hugh Judson Kilpatrick](/source/Hugh_Judson_Kilpatrick).{{Citation needed|date=October 2014}}

==See also==
{{Portal|American Civil War}}
*[Union Blockade](/source/Union_Blockade)
*[U.S. Revenue Cutter Service](/source/United_States_Revenue_Cutter_Service)

== References ==
{{DANFS|https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/r/reliance-i.html}}
{{reflist}}

{{coord|40.440|-74.197|type:landmark_globe:earth_region:US-NJ|display=title}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Reliance}}
Category:Ships of the Union navy
Category:Ships built in Keyport, New Jersey
Category:Steamships of the United States Navy
Category:Gunboats of the United States Navy
Category:American Civil War patrol boats of the United States
Category:1860 ships
Category:Shipwrecks of the American Civil War
Category:Maritime incidents in August 1863

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [USRC Reliance](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USRC_Reliance) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USRC_Reliance?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.