In December 1834, John S. Darcy, U.S. marshal for New Jersey, had entered Barnegat Inlet aboard the armed revenue cutter Alert for the purpose of arresting dozens of people accused of being the infamous Barnegat Pirates who had looted three stranded vessels. Darcy’s raid was successful in capturing many, but the supposed ringleader, William Platt, a Monmouth County judge, had escaped into the Pines.