New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-05-07
THE FRIGATE CONSTITUTION.

To ne Editoy Of tie n. " Tribune
SIR: There having appeared many contradictory
reports in the papers regarding this ship while at An
napos, Of them doing great injustice 10 the
officer midshINen aud crew. by stating that she mao
leen captured by the SecessioDiss and recaptured oy
| the Massachusetts Volunteers the officers deem IL
their duty to make the following statement The Con
stitution never at any tine in the hands OF 'ne
Ss,essonists Tor was any attack made upon her oy
them: nor were they at any time on board, except
while behaving in an orderly and respectful manner
Some tine previous to the passage Of the ordi-
nance OF seceesion by Virginia, 1t became the
opinion Of many that upon the passage oil that ACT,
| the same state Of affairs would be inaugurmed
in Maryland 10y the capture OF the CONSTITUTION
Feeling convinced Of this the greatest vigilance was
exercised by the officers and midshpmen OF the Aeade'
N.Y. which was II possible redoubled upon seeing TIE
excitement and applause created throughout Mary land
by the action of The Virginia Convention The OIL
Gers, mdshipmen aud crew RENAMED Ut Their quarters
during several nights, with guns loaded i'm shot or
shell.
Large parties Of Secessioniss around the chip
every day noting her assaahlo ponts. The militia II
the County being drilled IN siSht OF the emp IN
the daytime. Dufbg tire TiIht siyIals were beng
exchanged along the banks and across the river, but
the character Of tie preparation aud The danger TO tbe
town Ia Of attack, Us one OF the batteries Of
the ship was pointed directly upon IL, GetcrIeu lbeIh
from carrying out their lluus.
During this tine The COnsu n bad crew Of about
IS men bni ~ OF tie youngest LASS OF milshipDen on
board. The sLp drawing Two feet more wSter than
there WIS the tar tie Seces 0nlsis tuought sue
would be III their power whenever they should De IN
sufficient force to take her. This state Of tLins con-
tinUr until the mOruiug Of the 2lt ApuI when ten
Il irr, who had arrived from HAVE de Grace "a o. e
MAfyland-tLe only steamer then ~ The ntIRh0oihnOa
kindly cOns, ned t. tow us oui-a tie same uAe
placing Oh board some ~ or 100 men, TO Assist
he crew in working tie ship, part OF them
warued. At q. m. the order received 10
Get the ship outside. The Cnains weU shPped
lie an,hof WAS r8fcd, and az "A. m. tie ship was
under WY, in tow OF the steamboat. AFTER the
most Teiescut Efforts, the ship wa forced nearly over
the bar by rundown. The steamer az this time Neht
ahead % tow and after having Intentionally parted
our hay-et scriortly njgring ore Of tie crew, and
run the ship ashore the Captain backed u. own We eel
ashore that be might not toe OF Buy idrh-r service
Durirg the night infornrilon WIS received thst Oh
srnrtious were 20 be laced in tie channel outside OF
tue sLiy; al hands were called, and commenced TO
kedle ont. Willie this Was going on, squlli came
up and drove The sliy ASHORE again. AZ carly daJ ght
q TO boat hove IN eight, bringing bearer OF cls-
PATCHES from Hayrc de Grace. This heat was taken 20
tow the slip out Auch0filg in the Roads It > d. H.,
tie Al 10 remained outside for several days. keepA
surveillance upon Ill vessels approaching TIE haIOor
aftor which order received 10 proceed 70 New
York which .he did il tow OF the steamer X X. tuY-
leF, General Butler kinoly couyenlng TO h,low Ll'
men 10 remain on boaid 10 a-iis In working the ship
IN case We rhoud have TO cat oil from tie steamer
10 General BUilrr, whose gall ntry III pushing on 70
Annapolis Nth the troops under his eoninnd u wen
AnowD 60 the country, We are much ln"-nted loi VIC
trsis auce he rendered Ia towing The sup out lend
ing ~ men to assist ia working Der, and II had been
necessary 10 asist IN defending her the officers aud
men Lending pronpt and oueeriul assistance III all tie
WIT" ''"' THF q oFfiCfRs or THE CONSTITUTION
L. s. Frzas COhiilHJ4. Bf1n, hlyy Yard May ., 1901