Jonah Patel
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, having been launched in 1797. The USS Constitution's last prize was the HMS Cyane, which was defeated in February 1815, marking the last time the USS Constitution fired a round in combat.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of USS Constitution's last prize | HMS Guerriere |
| Date of capture | August 19, 1812 |
| Captain of USS Constitution | Isaac Hull |
| Number of sails | 44 |
| Number of cannons | 55 |
| Crew members | 480+ officers, sailors, and Marines |
| Length | 207 feet |
| Mainmast height | 210 feet |
| Year launched | 1797 |
| Place of construction | Boston, Massachusetts |
| Type of ship | Three-masted wooden-hulled heavy frigate |
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What You'll Learn
USS Constitution's interception of the ship Niger
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, having been launched in 1797.
On 8 September 1798, the USS Constitution intercepted the ship Niger off the coast of Charleston, South Carolina. Niger was a 24-gun ship sailing with a French crew en route from Jamaica to Philadelphia. Captain Samuel Nicholson of the USS Constitution had the crew of Niger imprisoned, perhaps misunderstanding his orders. He then placed a prize crew aboard Niger and brought her into Norfolk, Virginia.
However, it was later determined by Secretary of the Navy Benjamin Stoddert that Niger had indeed been operating under British orders, as claimed by the crew. As a result, the ship and her crew were released to continue their voyage, and the American government paid restitution of $11,000 (equivalent to $207,933 in 2024) to Britain. This incident highlighted the complexities and challenges of naval warfare during that time, where misunderstandings and misinterpretations of orders could lead to significant consequences and diplomatic tensions.
The USS Constitution played a crucial role in protecting American merchant shipping during the Quasi-War with France and in defeating the Barbary pirates in the First Barbary War. Its duties included patrolling the Eastern seaboard between New Hampshire and New York, as well as escorting merchant convoys. Despite facing challenges, such as damage during a gale that required repairs in Boston, the USS Constitution continued to serve and protect American interests at sea.
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The capture of four British merchant vessels
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, having been launched in 1797.
During the War of 1812, the USS Constitution captured four British merchant vessels. This was part of a broader campaign to raid British merchant ships off Halifax and the mouth of the St. Lawrence River. The USS Constitution had evaded a potential blockade in port by sailing without orders on 2 August 1812, heading northeast towards British shipping lanes.
Over the next two weeks, Captain Isaac Hull drilled his crew at the guns. During this time, the USS Constitution captured three British merchantmen, which Hull burned rather than risk taking them back to an American port.
On 16 August, Hull learned of a British frigate 100 nautical miles to the south and sailed in pursuit. Three days later, on 19 August, the USS Constitution met and defeated the British frigate HMS Guerriere. This was a significant victory, establishing the USS Constitution as a household name.
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The battle between USS Constitution and HMS Guerriere
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. On 2 August 1812, the USS Constitution, under the command of Captain Isaac Hull, sailed from Boston towards the waters southeast of Halifax, Nova Scotia.
For two weeks, Captain Hull drilled his crew at the guns, and the Constitution captured four British merchant vessels. On 19 August, the crew of the Constitution sighted the British frigate HMS Guerriere, under the command of Captain James Richard Dacres. The Guerriere was one of the ships in a British squadron that Hull and his crew had outrun a few weeks earlier.
As the Guerriere closed in on the Constitution, the British hoisted their colours and released a broadside, but the cannonballs fell short. Soon, the Constitution slid alongside the Guerriere and fired its own broadside. The Constitution's thick hull, composed of white oak planking and live oak frames, proved resilient to enemy cannonballs. In the exchange of fire, the Guerriere's masts were felled, and the ship was left in a sinking condition. The Constitution's crew took the British sailors on board, and the Guerriere was set on fire.
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 by a musket ball to the abdomen. Captain Dacres was gravely wounded by an American musket ball that struck him in the back. The two locked ships slowly rotated clockwise until they broke free. The severely damaged Guerriere was forced to surrender, and the Americans tended to the wounded and dead throughout the night, ferrying the British prisoners of war and their possessions across to the Constitution.
The next morning, it was clear that the Guerriere could not be saved, and Captain Hull made the difficult decision to scuttle the ship by igniting the warship's powder in the magazines. The Constitution and the prisoners sailed for Boston, arriving on 30 August. The victory over the Guerriere established the Constitution as a household name, and the ship earned the nickname "Old Ironsides".
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The scuttling of HMS Guerriere
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.
On August 19, 1812, USS Constitution met and defeated the British frigate HMS Guerriere. The battle took place about 400 miles southeast of Halifax, Nova Scotia, and was a decisive victory for the Americans. The USS Constitution, commanded by Captain Isaac Hull, had been patrolling the area for a British frigate for two weeks, capturing four British merchant vessels. On the afternoon of August 19, the sought-after HMS Guerriere appeared.
HMS Guerriere, commanded by Captain James Richard Dacres, was a 38-gun frigate originally of the French Navy, but had been captured by the British in 1806. Despite facing a bigger, stronger, and better-armed American ship, Captain Dacres was confident of victory. However, in the exchange of broadsides, Guerriere's masts were felled, and the ship was left in a sinking condition. The American crew took the British sailors on board, set Guerriere on fire, and returned to Boston. This victory was important for American morale and established the Constitution as a household name.
Lieutenant John Cushing Aylwin was commended for his bravery during the battle, as he gallantly faced the enemy and refused medical attention until his men had been treated. Unfortunately, Aylwin later succumbed to his injuries. Captain Dacres was tried by a court-martial after being released in a prisoner exchange, as was customary for the loss of a Royal Navy ship. He defended himself by citing the material state of Guerriere, arguing that as a French-built ship captured by the British, it was not as sturdy as British-built ships. He also mentioned that Guerriere was badly decayed and on its way to Halifax for a refit.
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USS Constitution's pursuit by British ships
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, having been launched in 1797.
During the War of 1812, the USS Constitution was pursued by British ships on multiple occasions. One notable pursuit occurred in July 1812, when Captain Hull and the crew of the USS Constitution sighted an unknown ship, which was later joined by additional British vessels. Outnumbered, Hull employed various tactics to escape, including ordering his crew to discharge thousands of gallons of drinking water and wet the sails to take advantage of the wind. The British ships also attempted to use the kedge anchors to tow their ships forward, but the USS Constitution managed to pull ahead and eventually arrived safely in Boston.
Another pursuit took place in December 1814, when the USS Constitution, under the command of Charles Stewart, escaped from Boston Harbor and set course for Bermuda. The British squadron, led by Captain George Collier of the Royal Navy, consisted of the Leander, Newcastle, and Acasta. Despite their efforts, they were unable to overtake the USS Constitution.
In February 1815, the USS Constitution, still under the command of Charles Stewart, encountered two British ships, the HMS Levant and HMS Cyane, off the coast of Portugal. The British vessels attempted to gain the weather gauge advantage, but the superior sailing capabilities of the USS Constitution foiled their plans. The USS Constitution engaged in a battle with the British ships, ultimately capturing both as prizes.
The USS Constitution also faced pursuits by British ships during the Quasi-War with France (1798-1801) and the Barbary Wars (1801-1805). In one instance, the USS Constitution intercepted the English merchant ship Spencer, which had been taken as a prize by the French. In another incident, the USS Constitution pursued and captured the British merchant vessel Niger, which was later released when it was determined to be operating under British orders.
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Frequently asked questions
The last prize of the USS Constitution was the HMS Guerriere, a French-built, British-captured, 38-gun frigate.
The USS Constitution captured the HMS Guerriere on August 19, 1812.
The USS Constitution, under the command of Captain Isaac Hull, raced away from the Guerriere at 11 knots, almost its top speed. The USS Constitution then answered Guerriere's invitation to fight by hoisting four American ensigns.
Lieutenant George Campbell Read, who spent a night on the Guerriere, reported that the prize had five feet of water in the hold, and the prisoners on board refused to help pump the ship. Captain Hull decided to scuttle the Guerriere, and the ship blew up, presenting a magnificent sight.
