Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1882-01-05
AN OLD SEA-DOG.

The frigate Constitution, which ar
rived at the Brooklyn Navy Yard re,
Gently, has now been pronounced un-
seawortuy and incapable of repairs
Nearly fifty years ago an order was is
sued from the Navy Department direct
ing that she be broken up. DR.. Oliver
Wendell Holmes took poets view of
the matter and wrote his well-knOwn
lyric, beginning. "Ay, tear her tattered
ensign down." His verses had an excel
lent effect, and the order was recalled.
All such ships have history, and the
history of this one is exceptionally in
teresting. If it were a matter of wri-
ting her obituary, there would be no de-
fault of detail. She was one of the six
frigates ordered in 1794 by Congress to
be completed, launched and put into
commission. 1t is curious fact that
when Cooper wrote bis Naval History,
three of these ships, viz: the United
States, the Constellation and the Consti-
tuition, were still afieat and in the SER
vice, neither having been long out of
commission. She with the other ships
had got afloat the year previous. She
was large vessel, with batteries OF
thirty twenty-four Founders on her gun
deck-such a ship as the English were
then in the habit of rating as thirty
eight. She went into the West India
Squadron under the command of Capt.
Samuel Nicholson, and under the flag
of Commodore Barry, then senior officer
of the service, with general rendez-
vous at Prince Rupert's Bay. Her con-
sorts made several important captures
from the French, but there is no special
mention of her own. Her crew were
engaged in the cutting out of French
letter of marque at Port au Platte. un-
der the command of Mr.. Hull, an officer
afterward to be distinguished. The Con-
stitution did not emerge into her pri-
vate and personal glory until some time
after. Congress, in 1901, saved her from
the ignominy Of being disposed of. In
1904 she was in the squadron operating
against Tripoli under Preble, and dis
tInguiShed herself by her fierce attack
upon the town, batteries and castle. 1t
was remarked at the time that though
she was long within the reach of the en-
emy's grape, many of which hit her, she
had not a man hurt. In fact, she was
always lucky ship. In this action she
had several of her shrouds. back-stays,
trusses, spring-stays, chains, lifts and a
great deal of her running rigging shot
away, and yet her hull was hardly
touched.
The Constitution won no more espe-
cial laurels until the war with Great
Britain in 1912; but then the days of her
great glory were at hand. She had just
before been sent to Europe, under the
command of Captain Hull, having on
board specie for the payment of the in
terest on the debt due in Holland. Aft
er short stop, having fulfilled her COM
mission, at Portsmouth, England, she
sailed, and outsailed several English
men-of-war sent in pursuit of her, as
there had been some difficulty while she
was in port about deserters. The OPEN
ing of the war found her at home. On
the 18th of July, 1912, still under COM
mand of Captain Hull, she sailed from
Annapolis and stood to the northward.
On Friday, July II, she discovered a
sail to the northward and eastward.
which subsequently proved to be the
Guerriere. But the Constitution was
soon encountered by British feet, and
then began that chase, unexampled in
naval annals, which redounded so much
to the glory of the officers and men of
the Constitution. She had sailed proud
ly into Boston with record of seaman
ship which has never been surpassed,
and never will be. and which places
Captain Hull among the first of naval
| commanders of any age. But the Con-
stitution was not kept idle at Boston.
Sailing from that port on the 10th of
August, Captain Hull sighted and soon
encountered his old enemy the Guer-
riere. The particulars Of the action
have been q hundred times related and
need not be told again. No victory ev.
er made deeper impression. There
was no talk Of absolute British supre