Omar Bennett
The USS Constitution, also known as Old Ironsides, is a three-masted wooden-hulled heavy frigate of the United States Navy and the world's oldest commissioned naval warship still afloat. It was launched in 1797 and saw action in one undeclared war and two official wars. The USS Constitution is best known for its involvement in the War of 1812, during which it engaged in a naval battle with HMS Guerriere, a British ship. This battle took place on August 19, 1812, about 400 miles southeast of Halifax, Nova Scotia. The USS Constitution emerged victorious, boosting American morale and patriotism.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 19th August 1812 |
| Location | 400 miles (640 km) southeast of Halifax, Nova Scotia |
| Participants | USS Constitution, HMS Guerriere |
| Crew | 451 men and boys, including 7-14% free black men |
| Armament | USS Constitution: 44-55 guns; HMS Guerriere: 38-49 guns |
| Outcome | USS Constitution victory; HMS Guerriere surrendered |
| Casualties | HMS Guerriere masts felled, ship reduced to sinking condition |
| Impact | Boosted American morale and patriotism during the War of 1812 |
| Subsequent Events | USS Constitution returned to Boston; HMS Guerriere set on fire |
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What You'll Learn
USS Constitution's victory over HMS Guerriere
On August 2, 1812, the USS Constitution, under the command of Captain Isaac Hull, sailed from Boston towards Halifax, Nova Scotia. On August 19, Hull and his crew sighted the British frigate HMS Guerriere, commanded by Captain James Richard Dacres. As the Guerriere closed in on the Constitution, the British hoisted their colours and fired a broadside, but the cannonballs fell short. The USS Constitution, a bigger, stronger-manned, and better-armed ship, returned fire. Its thick hull, composed of white oak planking and live oak frames, proved resilient to the enemy's cannonballs. During the engagement, an American sailor exclaimed, "Huzza! Her sides are made of iron! See where the shot fell out!".
The USS Constitution and HMS Guerriere then engaged in a fierce battle, exchanging broadsides. The Guerriere's masts were felled, and the ship was left in a sinking condition. The USS Constitution's crew took the British sailors on board, and set the Guerriere on fire. The battle lasted for about an hour and marked a significant victory for the American Navy, boosting morale. The USS Constitution sailed to Boston, arriving on August 30, and the news of its victory spread, causing rejoicing among the Americans.
During the battle, Lieutenant William Sharp Bush, commander of the Constitution's Marine detachment, was killed by a musket ball to the cheek. First Lieutenant Charles Morris, who attempted to take his place, was also seriously wounded with a ball in the abdomen. Captain Dacres of the Guerriere was gravely wounded by an American musket ball that struck him in the back. Lieutenant John Cushing Aylwin was commended for his bravery during the battle, as he gallantly faced the enemy and refused medical attention until each of his men had been treated. However, Aylwin later succumbed to his injuries.
The defeat of the HMS Guerriere showcased Captain Isaac Hull's skills as a naval officer and marked the pinnacle of his military career. Hull continued serving in the Navy until his retirement in 1841. He died in 1843. The USS Constitution's victory over the HMS Guerriere was a significant event in the War of 1812, demonstrating the United States' ability to compete with the world's largest navy at the time.
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Guerriere's failed attempt to capture Constitution
The USS Constitution, also known as Old Ironsides, is a three-masted wooden-hulled heavy frigate of the United States Navy and the world's oldest commissioned naval warship still afloat. The ship was launched in 1797 and was one of six original frigates authorized for construction by the Naval Act of 1794. It was built in Boston, Massachusetts, and designed by Joshua Humphreys to be larger and more heavily armed than standard frigates of the period. The USS Constitution was developed to protect American merchant shipping during the Quasi-War with France and to defeat the Barbary pirates in the First Barbary War.
The battle between the USS Constitution and HMS Guerriere took place on August 19, 1812, about 400 miles southeast of Halifax, Nova Scotia. The HMS Guerriere, a 38-gun frigate, was proceeding to Halifax for a refit when it encountered the USS Constitution, a 44-gun frigate with a larger crew and better armament. Despite the power imbalance, Guerriere's Captain James Richard Dacres engaged confidently. However, in the exchange of broadsides, Guerriere's masts were felled, and the ship was left in a sinking condition.
During the battle, Constitution's hull withstood the onslaught of British shot. Seaman Moses Smith recalled that a large enemy shot struck their ship, but the plank was so hard that it fell out and sank into the water. The cry of "Huzza! Her sides are made of iron!" arose from the crew, and Constitution earned the nickname "Old Ironsides."
After the battle, the USS Constitution took the British sailors on board and set the HMS Guerriere on fire before returning to Boston with news of their victory. This victory proved pivotal for American morale and patriotism, especially after the unsuccessful American land campaign against Canada, which had resulted in a loss of public support for the war. The capture of HMS Guerriere demonstrated the USS Constitution's ability to defeat British men-of-war without sustaining significant damage, solidifying its reputation as a powerful arm of the United States military.
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USS Constitution's strong structural advantage
The USS Constitution, also known as Old Ironsides, is a three-masted wooden-hulled heavy frigate of the United States Navy and the world's oldest commissioned naval warship still afloat. It was launched in 1797 and was one of six original frigates authorized for construction by the Naval Act of 1794.
The USS Constitution's strong structural advantage was evident in its design and construction. The frigate was designed by Joshua Humphreys to be larger and more heavily armed than standard frigates of the period. The ship was built with stronger structural elements, also known as scantlings, and featured a thick oak hull. The hull was constructed using oak and pine, with southern live oak sourced from Gascoigne Bluff and milled near St. Simons Island, Georgia. The hull was built to be 21 inches (530 mm) thick, ensuring that the ship could withstand the onslaught of enemy fire.
The structural advantage of the USS Constitution was crucial in its naval battles. During its engagement with HMS Guerriere, the Constitution's hull withstood the British shot, with some of the largest enemy rounds falling harmlessly off the thick oak hull. This durability led to the famous cry of "Huzza! Her sides are made of iron! See where the shot fell out!" The Constitution's ability to withstand damage without sustaining significant casualties gave it a decisive advantage in battle and contributed to its reputation as a powerful warship.
The superior construction of the USS Constitution extended beyond just its hull. The ship was also built with stronger masts and rigging, which allowed it to manoeuvre effectively during battles. The use of high-quality materials and attention to detail in its construction contributed to its structural integrity and overall performance. The Constitution's sturdy design and construction played a crucial role in its success during naval engagements, solidifying its place in American naval history.
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Guerriere's surrender
The USS Constitution, also known as Old Ironsides, is a three-masted wooden-hulled heavy frigate of the United States Navy and the world's oldest commissioned naval warship still afloat. It was launched in 1797 and was one of six original frigates authorized for construction by the Naval Act of 1794.
The USS Constitution vs HMS Guerriere was a battle between an American and British ship during the War of 1812, about 400 miles southeast of Halifax, Nova Scotia. It took place on 19 August 1812, a month after the war's first engagement between British and American forces.
Guerriere, a 38-gun frigate, was proceeding to Halifax for a refit, having been detached from a squadron that had earlier failed to capture the Constitution. When the two ships encountered each other, Guerriere's Captain James Richard Dacres engaged, confident of victory despite facing a bigger, stronger-manned, and better-armed U.S. ship.
In the exchange of broadsides, Guerriere's masts were felled, and the ship was reduced to a sinking condition. The Constitution's hull stood up to the onslaught of British shot. Seaman Moses Smith recalled, "One of the largest [shots] the enemy could command struck us, but the plank was so hard it fell out and sank in the waters." The Constitution earned the nickname "Old Ironsides" after this battle.
Guerriere attempted to set sail on the bowsprit to bring his ship before the wind, but it had been damaged and broke. The Constitution ran downwind for several minutes, repairing damage to the rigging, before beating upwind to return to battle. As the Constitution prepared to renew the action, Guerriere fired a shot in the opposite direction. Sensing that this was an attempt to signal surrender, Hull ordered a boat to take a lieutenant over to the British ship. When the lieutenant boarded Guerriere and asked if they were prepared to surrender, Captain Dacres responded:
> Well, Sir, I don't know. Our mizzen mast is gone, our fore and main masts are gone - I think on the whole you might say we have struck our flag.
The Constitution's crew took the British sailors on board, set Guerriere on fire, and returned to Boston with news of the victory, which proved important for American morale.
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Boost in American morale
The naval battle between the USS Constitution and the HMS Guerriere was a pivotal moment in American naval history, providing a significant boost to American morale and patriotism. The USS Constitution, a 44-gun frigate, was launched in 1797 and was one of the six original frigates authorised by the Naval Armament Act of 1794. The battle took place on August 19, 1812, during the War of 1812, about 400 miles southeast of Halifax, Nova Scotia.
The USS Constitution, commanded by Captain Isaac Hull, encountered the HMS Guerriere, a 38-gun frigate under the command of Captain James Richard Dacres. Despite the HMS Guerriere's advantages in terms of experience and speed, the USS Constitution had a larger crew, more guns, and stronger structural elements. In the exchange of broadsides, the HMS Guerriere's masts were felled, and the ship was left in a sinking condition. The USS Constitution's crew took the British sailors on board, set the HMS Guerriere on fire, and returned to Boston with news of their victory.
The victory was important for American morale, especially given the prior lack of success in the American land campaign against Canada, which had resulted in a loss of public support for the war. The American public's enthusiasm for the victory was described as "a nation hungry for martial glory." The USS Constitution's ability to defeat a British warship without sustaining much damage herself earned her the famed nickname "Old Ironsides." This nickname was derived from the battle, during which the USS Constitution's hull withstood the onslaught of British shot, with several shots bouncing off harmlessly.
The USS Constitution's victory over the HMS Guerriere was the first in a series of American victories in single-ship encounters during the early stages of the War of 1812. This led to a shift in the Royal Navy's tactics, as they abandoned the practice of one-on-one encounters between their frigates and larger American ships. The USS Constitution's success in defeating four frigates of the British navy, including two in one day, further contributed to her reputation and the boost in American morale. The ship's perfect battle record, including numerous bloodless victories, secured her place in American naval history as a powerful symbol of American firepower and seapower.
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Frequently asked questions
The USS Constitution was a three-masted wooden-hulled heavy frigate of the United States Navy. It was launched in 1797 and was one of six original frigates authorized for construction by the Naval Act of 1794.
The USS Constitution and HMS Guerriere were involved in a battle during the War of 1812, about 400 miles southeast of Halifax, Nova Scotia. The battle took place on August 19, 1812, and resulted in a victory for the USS Constitution, which was a pivotal moment in American naval history.
During the battle, the HMS Guerriere's masts were felled, and the ship was left in a sinking condition. The USS Constitution's hull was able to withstand the onslaught of British shot, and the ship gained the nickname "Old Ironsides". The USS Constitution's crew took the British sailors on board, set the Guerriere on fire, and returned to Boston with news of their victory.
The battle had a significant impact on American morale and patriotism, as it was a rare victory against the Royal Navy in a "fair" fight. It also marked a turning point in the War of 1812, as the Royal Navy was forced to abandon the practice of one-on-one encounters between their frigates and larger U.S. ships.
