The frigate _Constitution_, captained by Isaac Hull, already had a
distinguished history when the War of 1812 began. She had been built in
Boston during the trouble with France in 1797 and had taken part in the
war with the Barbary pirates. The peace treaty with Tripoli had been
signed in the captain’s quarters on the gun deck. A trim, fast, graceful
ship, the frigate had been made from timbers of solid live oak, hard
pine, and red cedar. The bolts, copper sheathing, and brass-work had
been supplied by Paul Revere. This ship now is preserved as a museum at
the Boston Navy Yard.
Congress declared war on England in June, 1812, and the next month Capt.
Hull sailed from Chesapeake Bay. In August he encountered the British
ship _Guerrière_, and the action that followed he reports in his
dispatch to the Secretary of the Navy. Thus, the war began with a
resounding sea victory.
Sir,
I have the honour to inform you, that on the 19th instant, at 2 P.M.
being in latitude 41, 42, longitude 55, 48, with the _Constitution_
under my command, a sail was discovered from the masthead bearing E.
by S. or E.S.E. but at such a distance we could not tell what she was.
All sail was instantly made in chase, and soon found we came up with
her. At 3 P.M. could plainly see that she was a ship on the starboard
tack, under easy sail, close on a wind; at half past 3 P.M. made her
out to be a frigate; continued the chase until we were within about
three miles, when I ordered the light sails taken in, the courses
hauled up, and the ship cleared for action. At this time the chase had
backed his main top-sail, waiting for us to come down.
As soon as the _Constitution_ was ready for action, I bore down with
an intention to bring him to close action immediately; but on our
coming within gunshot she gave us a broadside and filled away, and
wore, giving us a broadside on the other tack, but without effect; her
shot falling short. She continued wearing and maneuvering for about
three-quarters of an hour, to get a raking position, but finding she
could not, she bore up, and ran under top-sails and gib, with the wind
on the quarter.
I immediately made sail to bring the ship up with her, and 5 minutes
before 6 P.M. being along side within half pistol shot, we commenced a
heavy fire from all our guns, double shotted with round and grape, and
so well directed were they, and so warmly kept up, that in 15 minutes
his mizen-mast went by the board, and his main-yard in the slings, and
the hull, rigging, and sails very much torn to pieces. The fire was
kept up with equal warmth for 15 minutes longer, when his main-mast,
and fore-mast went, taking with them every spar, excepting the
bowsprit; on seeing this we ceased firing, so that in 30 minutes after
we got fairly along side the enemy she surrendered, and had not a spar
standing, and her hull below and above water so shattered, that a few
more broadsides must have carried her down.
After informing you that so fine a ship as the _Guerrière_, commanded
by an able and experienced officer, had been totally dismasted, and
otherwise cut to pieces, so as to make her not worth towing into port,
in the short space of 30 minutes, you can have no doubt of the
gallantry and good conduct of the officers and ship’s company I have
the honour to command. It only remains, therefore, for me to assure
you, that they all fought with great bravery; and it gives me great
pleasure to say, that from the smallest boy in the ship to the oldest
seaman, not a look of fear was seen. They all went into action, giving
three cheers, and requesting to be laid close along side the enemy.
Enclosed I have the honour to send you a list of killed and wounded on
board the _Constitution_, and a report of the damages she has
sustained; also, a list of the killed and wounded on board the enemy.