This Day in Coast Guard History – April 12

1808- Subsistence for Army officers fixed at 20 cents per ration, later that year applied to all officers of the revenue cutters.

1843- Captain Alexander V. Fraser, Revenue Cutter Service, appointed Chief of newly-created Revenue Marine Bureau of Treasury (he was, in effect, the service's first "Commandant").

1861-The Revenue cutter Harriet Lane fired the first shot from a naval vessel in the Civil War.  The cutter fired across the bow of the merchant vessel Nashville when the latter attempted to enter Charleston Harbor without displaying the national flag.

1900- An Act of Congress (31 Stat. L., 77, 80) extended the jurisdiction of the Lighthouse Service to the noncontiguous territory, of Puerto Rico and adjacent American waters.

1902- Congress authorized the retirement of officers at 3/4 pay for incapacity.  Congress also made all promotions subject to examinations (mental and physical).  Additionally, commissioned officers of the Revenue Cutter Service were granted the same pay and allowances "except forage" as officers of corresponding rank in the Army, including longevity pay.

1979- LTJG Beverly Kelley assumed command of the CGC Cape Newagen, thereby becoming the first woman to command a U.S. warship.

(Source: USCG Historian’s Office)