US Cutter Service, 2nd Seminole War

[BillK]

All, looking for any/all good uniform and equipment references for US Revenue Cutter Service troops that served in support of US Army and Navy troops during the 2nd Seminole War. Also interested in reports of their actions; memoirs and historical non-fiction books or other writings.
Thanks in advance, Bill

[bulldogger2000]

It has been a while since I researched the Cutter Service, but as I recall their uniforms were largely identical to the US Naval Uniform.
You can find a few books on Amazon for the 2nd Seminole War that do not deal exclusively with the Cutter Service, but they do include Cutter Service involvement.  You may want to stay away from the 3rd Seminole War as it was very lopsided and boring. 

[BillK]

Thanks Bob, followed up on some of your earlier suggestions; back at the point I began this project. Now I am looking for things that someone may have that are off the beaten path, or at least the paths I have been treading.

Seminoles are all done. I think. Have OG MexAm Naval Landing Party to use as Revenue Cutter Service troops and am just looking for additional references to add to my knowledge. Like... did they typically have bayonets fixed or sheathed? Thinking sheathed would have been most likely given terrain and circumstances... but before I cut and file the figs it can't hurt to check around.

Cheers

[Florida Tory]

Have you read George Buker's Swamp Sailors in the Second Seminole War? The book covers the maritime operations, including involvement of the the Navy, Marine Corps and Revenue Service.

FYI, there is a photograph captioned "US sailors and marines operating in the Everglades" that clearly shows fixed bayonets.

Rick

[BillK]

@Rick, thanks. I have not read it. Noticed it during my last browse thru Amazon. I was wondering if the US Revenue Cutter Service had been lumped-in under the navy and marine topic that is noted as the book's focal point.

[dglennjr]

Technically not a photograph in the book (No photos around yet), but rather an artistic rendering of the navy in the swamps.  Though, I agree that if they had bayonets, they would have had them fixed.  The Army had adapted to using a bayonet charge after a volley or two to chase the Seminoles away. It was a sound tactic.  The Seminoles did not take very good of their weapons and usually after firing a time or two, the guns would be fouled and they would retire.  By trained troops charging with fixed bayonets towards the Seminoles, that might have had fouled guns with no bayonets, they would run that much faster away from the battle and the U.S. troops would take the field.   For the navy, they never knew who might pop up and shoot or attack them from behind any nearby bush or tree.  I'd move through the bush with fixed bayonet too.