Beagle was purchased by the Navy on 20 December 1822 in Baltimore, Maryland, and commissioned early in 1823, Lieutenant John T. Newton in command.

On 15 February 1823, the schooner put to sea from Hampton Roads, Virginia, in company with Commodore David Porter's squadron, bound for the West Indies.

Late in October, she was at St. Thomas when some pirates from Fajardo, Puerto Rico, stole about 5,000 dollars worth of merchandise from an American-owned store.

The next morning, 27 October 1824, Platt and a party of men from Beagle went ashore, in civilian garb, after having identified himself and his ship to local authorities.

At mid meal, summoned back to the mayor's office, Platt soon learned that the mood of the Spanish authorities had changed markedly.

Platt returned to Beagle and immediately set sail for St. Thomas to report this affront to the American flag and to the Navy to Commodore Porter.

Porter then sent Lieutenant Cornelius Stribling and a small advance party under a flag of truce to deliver a letter to the Spanish authorities demanding a suitable public apology.

When he arrived near the town, he drew up his force and moved forward alone to confer with the officer in charge of an advance party of his marines.

After some heated haggling in which the mayor indicated that he had been coerced by the pirates and factions favorable to them, he and the captain of the port finally made acceptable apologies to Lt. Platt.

On 24 November 1824 the French ship Calypso, Ducourmier, master, arrived at Key West with a full cargo of coffee.