USRC ''Woodbury'', also referred to as Levi Woodbury, the first marine cutter to bear the name, was a schooner-rigged

revenue cutter A cutter is any of various types of watercraft. The term can refer to the rig (sail plan) of a sailing vessel (but with regional differences in definition), to a governmental enforcement agency vessel (such as a coast guard or border force cut ...

built for the

United States Revenue Cutter Service The United States Revenue Cutter Service was established by an Act of Congress () on 4 August 1790 as the Revenue-Marine at the recommendation of the nation's first U.S. Secretary of the Treasury, Alexander Hamilton. The federal government bod ...

. ''Woodbury'' was authorized on 8 November 1836, and

Revenue-Marine The United States Revenue Cutter Service was established by an Act of Congress () on 4 August 1790 as the Revenue-Marine at the recommendation of the nation's first U.S. Secretary of the Treasury, Alexander Hamilton. The federal government body ...

Captain H. D. Hunter was assigned to supervise construction. ''Woodbury'' was built at

Baltimore, Md Baltimore is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Maryland. With a population of 585,708 at the 2020 census and estimated at 568,271 in 2024, it is the 30th-most populous U.S. city. The Baltimore metropolitan area is the 20th-larges ...

, by L. H. Duncan, and was launched on 27 March 1837. The cutter was a 120-ton topsail schooner mounted with four 12-pound and one 6-pound cannon. After being made ready for sea. ''Woodbury'' set sail for

New Orleans New Orleans (commonly known as NOLA or The Big Easy among other nicknames) is a Consolidated city-county, consolidated city-parish located along the Mississippi River in the U.S. state of Louisiana. With a population of 383,997 at the 2020 ...

to relieve the revenue cutter ''Campbell'' in Gulf of Mexico patrols. By 28 March 1838, ''Woodbury'' was operating in the

Gulf of Mexico The Gulf of Mexico () is an oceanic basin and a marginal sea of the Atlantic Ocean, mostly surrounded by the North American continent. It is bounded on the northeast, north, and northwest by the Gulf Coast of the United States; on the southw ...

in cooperation with the

United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the naval warfare, maritime military branch, service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is the world's most powerful navy with the largest Displacement (ship), displacement, at 4.5 millio ...

. Orders from the Collector of Customs at New Orleans to the Woodbury commanding officer, '' "You will proceed to sea forthwith, taking your cruising ground from Chandalier Islands to the mouth of the Sabine River, and in the event of any vessel sailing under our flag, being in your presence unlawfully attacked, by an armed force, you will render such aid and protection as may be in your power." ''. The ship was damaged by a French warship and was allowed to go to

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, for repairs, was detained, and was there to witness the French bombardment of the fortress at San Juan de Ulua and the surrender. Released 29 November 1838, ''Woodbury'' sailed for New Orleans where she was refitted to resume patrolling the Gulf of Mexico. Ordered to Baltimore the Woodbury arrived there 26 August 1839, and after refitting departed for New Orleans 23 September 1839, for continued patrols also running dispatch during the war with Mexico. On Feb. 17, 1845, the Republic of Texas cutter Santa Anna ordered 2 schooners loading cotton to stop at Sabine Pass and pay tonnage fees and waited at the custom's house. When the schooners began sailing through the pass they were escorted by ''Woodbury'' and was allowed to pass without incident. On 2 March 1846, ''Woodbury'' arrived at Aransas Pass, Texas. Captain Winslow Foster placed his ship at the disposal of General

Zachary Taylor Zachary Taylor (November 24, 1784 – July 9, 1850) was an American military officer and politician who was the 12th president of the United States, serving from 1849 until his death in 1850. Taylor was a career officer in the United States ...

and escorted transports moving troops to Point Isabel.USRC Woodbury; Navy history
Retrieved 2013-09-13 After more than ten years of service, ''Woodbury'' was decommissioned on 14 September 1846 and sold on 1 June 1847.

References

1837 ships {{US-mil-ship-stub