Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1892-04-16
GID IIE.U7SSiDES.
HISTORY OF ONE OF TIE OLD SHIPS
in THE AMERICAN NAVY.

IN IL NHt-tiOfhN
Dismantled IN n Modern Navy Yard, She
Is the objcct.of Profound ycneration
on thc Part of Patriotic People of To-
day. Who arc Proud of Ter.
Not many people may know that tho
old frigate Constitution, so renowned III
our annals, is still included among the
vessels of the navy. siho is dismantlcd,
as might be expected at her age, and Is
kept in that condition at Portsmouth,
n. II. She is a craft of s,20O tons ds-
placement, and now carries no battery
in place of the forty-four guns OF the
days of her glory.
1t was the Constitution that, after the
inauspicious opening on land Of our war
with Great Britain, eighty years ago,
led of series of splendid victories on
the sea. The honor Of the first capture
OF British war vessel undoubtedly be-
longs to the Essex, Captain David Por-
ter, whose defeat of the Alert occurred
SIX days before the Constitution de-
stroyed the Guerrero.
But the Essex carried thirty-two 30
Founders and tie Alert only twenty IS
Founders. SO that yecy soon after open
ing fire tho crew OF the little British
craft, which, having captured one of our
transports had made up to the Essex,
taking her to be merchantmen. were
compelled to gait their guns and within
eight minutes to strike their flag. This
conquest, though gratifying. was in
evitable. whereas that of the Constltu-
ton was gained over u craft nearer her
own size and strength.
But while yielding the laurels of prior
ity to the gallant Essex on this score,
the Constitution, under Captain Isaac
Hull. can claim them again for success
in a trial of sea.nanship between herself
and British squadron Till then af-
fairs We're looking gloomy for us at sea
as well as on land. The British friSate
Belvidere, while convoying 4 feet of
merchantmen, had escaped from a
whole squadron our warships, where
as orr Nautilus had struck to an
English squadron, being the first war
ship captured on either side. Under
these untoward circumstances the Con-
stitution, returning from. Europe, fell in
with a British squadron led by the
Africa, /, G.-sun ship.
During four days she was chased by
this squadron Through calm and
through breeze the fight and pursuit
went on. At one time she had boats out
towing her; at another her crew We're
hauling upon Q kedSe anchor that had
been carried out and dropped long dis
lance ahead. On the fourth day the
longed for wind came, and with every
sail set the Constitution drew away from
her pursuers. the scene when five frig-
ates were standing on the same tack and
the Constitution was showing her heels
to her enemies being often recounted
eighty years ago. Some Of the historians
describe this as the first OF our triunphs
on the sea in that war.
But in our time, of course. the fame
of the Constitution is more familiarly
associated with her capture of the Guer-
riere. 1t was on Aug. 10, 1872, that the
two vessels met, both eager for fight.
The scene was OF the coast of Massachu-
sets. The British craft, commanded
by the gallant Dacres, was first TO open
fire, but Hull unanswered his vessel into
the right position before he replied. The
eneuy's mizzenmast soon went by the
board, followed by her mainmast. When
she struck she was, in fact. SO complete
ly used up that she could rot be taken
into port and had to be blown up.
The Constitution was superior in tom
mage aud complement, carried more
guns and threw a much heavier weight
of metal in her broadsides: still the YES
sells were ncar enough matched for the
victory to producea tremendous impress
sion On both sides OF the ocean. Alison
describes the "shcck of this unwonted
naval disaster" in England, where the
belief that Britannia ruled the waves
was so profound that the American navy
had seemed to be a mere ncrthful for
her.
That same year the Constitution, I'M
der cambridge, gained another great
victory over the Java. of the coast of
Brazil. The Java, like her predecessor,
was SS-gun ship. a:ld i'll the battle she
lost foremost and miz=en,nast, besides
part Of lor bowsplit; while, 10 complete
the parallel, like the Guerriere, she was
so wrecked in the fight that she had to
be blown up. 1t was a great exhibition
of good scalnanship and superior gun
merry on The part OF the American vessel;
for, as Cooper says the Java had Geen
literally picked to pieces by shot, spar
following spar until she had not one
left" Her loss il killed and wounded
was very heavy.
Finally, i'll 1915, under command of
Commodore Stewart, the famous old ship
made double capture Of the British
frigate Cyane and sloop Levant.
Old ironsitles, as she had come to he
called during tie WIZ, was launched ut
Boston III 1881; and who knows but
when the h::ndredth anniversary of that
event comes around she may again be
put into commission, so rs to receive cen
tennial honors?-New York Sun.
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