Isabella Carter
The USS Constitution, also known as Old Ironsides, is a three-masted wooden-hulled heavy frigate of the United States Navy and the oldest commissioned naval warship still afloat in the world. During the American Civil War, the USS Constitution served as a training ship for the United States Naval Academy. The ship was launched in 1797 and has a rich history, including its notable actions during the War of 1812 with the United Kingdom, where it captured several British warships and earned its famed nickname, Old Ironsides.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Role in the Civil War | Training ship for the US Naval Academy |
| Retirement from active service | 1881 |
| Post-retirement role | Housed sailors at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery, Maine |
| Year of becoming a museum ship | 1907 |
| Year of completing a 90-port tour | 1931 |
| Year of sailing under her own power for her 200th birthday | 1997 |
| Year of sailing to commemorate the 200th anniversary of her victory over Guerriere | 2012 |
| Current status | Fully-commissioned Navy ship |
| Current location | Charlestown Navy Yard in Massachusetts |
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What You'll Learn
The USS Constitution's role in the Civil War
The USS Constitution, also known as Old Ironsides, is a three-masted wooden-hulled heavy frigate of the United States Navy. It is the world's oldest commissioned naval warship still afloat.
During the Civil War, the USS Constitution served as a training ship for the United States Naval Academy. At the outbreak of the Civil War in April 1861, the Constitution was at Annapolis and under threat of Confederate seizure. The ship was ordered to relocate further north after threats were made against her by Confederate sympathizers. Several companies of Massachusetts volunteer soldiers were stationed aboard for her protection. She was then towed to New York City, where she arrived on 29 April.
Except for a troubled cruise to France for the 1878 Paris Exposition, the USS Constitution spent the remainder of the 19th century as a floating training and accommodation ship. She continued to serve as a training ship for the US Naval Academy and retired from active duty in 1881. After retiring, the ship housed sailors at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery, Maine until she was designated a museum ship in 1907.
The USS Constitution was one of six ships commissioned by President George Washington to help defend American merchant ships under threat from French privateers. She was built at Edmund Hartt's shipyard in Boston, Massachusetts, and launched in 1797. The ship's copper bolts and fittings were forged by Paul Revere. The ship gets its iron-like strength from the triple layers of dense pine and oak used in the construction of the ship's hull.
The USS Constitution is a national treasure, offering a tangible link to the early years of the Navy and the United States.
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Threats from Confederate sympathizers
The USS Constitution, also known as Old Ironsides, was launched in 1797 and is the world's oldest commissioned naval warship still afloat. During the Civil War, she served as a training ship for the US Naval Academy.
At the outbreak of the Civil War in April 1861, the USS Constitution faced threats from Confederate sympathizers. As a result, she was ordered to relocate further north for her protection. Several companies of Massachusetts volunteer soldiers were stationed aboard to ensure her safety. The ship was towed to New York City, arriving on April 29, 1861, and later relocated to Fort Adams in Newport, Rhode Island, where she remained for the duration of the war.
The USS Constitution's sister ship, the United States, was abandoned by the Union and captured by Confederate forces at the Gosport Shipyard. This left the USS Constitution as the only remaining frigate of the original six. The Confederate sympathizers' threats against the USS Constitution highlight the dangers faced by Union forces and sympathizers during the Civil War.
The USS Constitution played a crucial role in training sailors during the war, and her protection was of utmost importance. The relocation to Rhode Island ensured her safety and allowed her to continue her service as a training ship away from the immediate dangers posed by Confederate sympathizers.
The threats from Confederate sympathizers against the USS Constitution demonstrate the divided loyalties and tensions that existed during the Civil War. The relocation of the ship and the presence of volunteer soldiers for her protection reflect the measures taken to safeguard Union assets and personnel.
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Protection by US Army and Navy
The USS Constitution, also known as Old Ironsides, is a three-masted wooden-hulled heavy frigate of the United States Navy. It is the world's oldest commissioned naval warship still afloat.
During the Civil War, the USS Constitution was under threat of Confederate seizure. It was protected by US Army and Navy personnel, who towed it north to Rhode Island, where it spent the war training sailors. Several companies of Massachusetts volunteer soldiers were stationed aboard for her protection.
The Constitution was ordered to relocate further north after threats were made against her by Confederate sympathizers. R. R. Cuyler towed her to New York City, where she arrived on 29 April 1861. The Constitution had been in Annapolis when the war broke out, and her relocation ensured her safety from Confederate forces.
The Constitution's protection by the US Army and Navy was crucial to her survival and subsequent role in training sailors during the Civil War. She served as a training ship for the United States Naval Academy, carrying out her duties with distinction despite the challenges posed by the ongoing conflict.
The Constitution's history during the Civil War exemplifies the efforts of the US Army and Navy to safeguard their naval assets and maintain operational capabilities through innovative utilisation, in this case, training new sailors to contribute to the war effort.
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Training ship for the US Naval Academy
The USS Constitution, also known as Old Ironsides, is a three-masted wooden-hulled heavy frigate of the United States Navy. It is the world's oldest commissioned naval warship still afloat. The ship was launched in 1797 and was built at Edmund Hartt's shipyard in Boston, Massachusetts.
During the Civil War, the USS Constitution served as a training ship for the United States Naval Academy. At the outbreak of the Civil War in April 1861, the Constitution was ordered to relocate further north due to threats made against her by Confederate sympathizers. Several companies of Massachusetts volunteer soldiers were stationed aboard for her protection. The ship was then towed to New York City, where she arrived on 29 April.
During the Civil War, the USS Constitution played a crucial role in training sailors for the Union Navy. With the protection of US Army and Navy personnel, she spent the war years training sailors in Rhode Island, safe from the threat of Confederate seizure. The Constitution's role as a training ship was particularly important given the growing need for naval officers to lead and crew the Union's expanding fleet.
The Constitution's service as a training ship during the Civil War was just one chapter in her long and illustrious career. She is most noted for her heroic actions during the War of 1812 with the United Kingdom, capturing numerous British merchant ships and five warships, including HMS Guerriere, Java, Pictou, Cyane, and Levant. The capture of Guerriere earned her the nickname "Old Ironsides", reflecting the ship's sturdy construction and resilience in battle.
After the Civil War, the Constitution continued to serve as a training ship and accommodation vessel for the US Navy. In 1878, she underwent a troubled cruise to France for the Paris Exposition. In 1881, she retired from active service and was designated a museum ship in 1907, opening to the public in Boston. The USS Constitution remains a fully commissioned US Navy warship and continues to make occasional trips into Boston Harbor, offering a living connection to the early history of the US Navy and the nation.
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Retirement from active duty
The USS Constitution, nicknamed "Old Ironsides", is the oldest commissioned warship in the world still afloat. The ship was launched in 1797 and is most noted for its actions during the War of 1812 with the United Kingdom, where it captured numerous British ships and five warships.
During the Civil War, the USS Constitution served as a training ship for the US Naval Academy. It was relocated to the north after threats were made against it by Confederate sympathizers. It was protected by several companies of Massachusetts volunteer soldiers who were stationed aboard. The Constitution was then towed to New York City.
The USS Constitution retired from active duty in 1881. After retiring, the ship housed sailors at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery, Maine, until 1907 when it was designated a museum ship. The ship has since sailed on special occasions, such as its 200th birthday in 1997 and the 200th anniversary of its victory over Guerriere in 2012. It also completed a three-year, 90-port tour of the nation in 1934.
Today, the USS Constitution remains in commission as a US Navy warship and is open to the public for free guided tours in Boston. It is a national treasure, offering a tangible link to the early history of the US Navy and the nation.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, the USS Constitution was used as a training ship for the US Naval Academy during the Civil War.
After the Civil War, the USS Constitution retired from active duty in 1881. The ship housed sailors at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery, Maine, until she was designated a museum ship in 1907.
The USS Constitution is the oldest commissioned warship in the world still afloat and is known as "America's Ship of State".
