When the U. S. Frigate Constitution (44) left Boston on 2 August 1812, her prospects were far from good. On her first cruise of the war, she had been chased away from her intended port of New York by a British squadron and was nearly captured. She had shipped a new crew at Annapolis in June, many of whom had never before served in a warship. Worst of all, she had sailed without orders. Foiled in her attempt to join Commodore John Rodgers at New York, she had entered Boston on 27 July where she remained less than a week—just long enough to learn that Commodore Rodgers had left no orders at New York. She departed one day ahead of a letter from the Navy Department ordering her to remain in port.
Captain Hull had originally intended to await orders at Boston, as shown by his letter to the Secretary of the Navy on 20 July. But after conferring with First Lieutenant Charles Morris, he concluded that the risk of being blockaded in Boston by all or part of the British squadron was great enough to justify an early departure.
Isaac Hull was 39 years old in 1812. He had been a captain for six years and commander of Constitution for two. He was a bachelor who enjoyed nothing so much as a party with plenty of ladies. But he also was devoted to his profession and to the ship about which he wrote jocularly: “I have now one of the best ships in our Navy and a crew of 430 men, which you will think a large family it’s true, but being a good housekeeper I manage them with tolerable ease. I however scold sometimes and now and then get angry.” He “got angry” very seldom and punished very mildly; and since he was also a consummate seaman, he inspired a solid devotion from his crews. He risked a great deal in sailing thus without orders, for he had no private financial resources and could suffer severely from a professional disgrace. But he had great confidence in his ship and officers and even in the green crew that had served so steadily under the guns of the pursuing squadron.
Constitution ran to the northeastward in the hope of capturing vessels bound to Halifax, but by 15 August she had taken only two small prizes, both of which she burned. On that day, near Cape Race, she sighted five ships, one of which was a sloop-of-war. The sloop cut loose and set fire to a brig she had in tow and made sail to windward as the other ships scattered. Constitution overhauled and spoke one of these, a prize of the privateer Dolphin of Salem, which had nearly been recaptured by the sloop. Having lost some time in boarding this ship, Constitution was able to catch only one other of the original five, the American brig Adeline, which had been taken by the British. Hull removed the prize crew and substituted one of his own and ordered the ship to the nearest port. Then—having learned from his prisoners that the squadron which had chased him off New York was in the vicinity—he changed course to the southward, intending to pass near Bermuda and cruise off the southern coast of the United States.
At 9 P.M. on the 18th, a brig was discovered nearby which was brought to after a two-hour chase. This was the privateer Decatur of Salem; in her effort to escape she had thrown overboard 12 of her 14 guns. Her captain, chagrined at the loss of his guns and relieved at having saved his ship, told Captain Hull that he had seen a lone warship standing southward the day before which could not be far away. Decatur then stood in for Cape Race to take ships by boarding, and Constitution continued her course southward in search of the promised frigate.
Wednesday, 19 August, was a remarkably beautiful day.* Constitution, standing before a fresh breeze from the northwest and carrying a press of sail, mirrored the white clouds which filled the sky. It was not an ideal day for a fight, for the fresh breeze was ca using a heavy sea. At 2 P.M., in latitude 41° 42’ North, longitude 55° 48’ West, a large ship was sighted from the masthead, bearing east-southeast and close-hauled on the starboard tack. Captain Hull altered course to south-southwest to cross her bow. By 3:30, it was apparent that the chase was a frigate and 15 minutes later, she backed her main topsail and waited for Constitution to come on. Hull ordered the light sails taken in and royal yards sent down. He then gave orders to haul up the courses and double-reef the topsails, clear for action and beat to quarters. Constitution again bore away for the enemy. Her crew gave three cheers and asked to be laid close alongside. At this moment the stranger bore up and hoisted British colors at each masthead.
The enemy frigate was HMS Guerriere (38) and her captain was James Richard Dacres. She was a French ship captured in 1806; hence she was larger and heavier than most British ships of her class. At this time she was en route to Halifax for overhaul after a long sea service. She had been part of the squadron which chased Constitution off New York. Her foremast was damaged and her crew depleted from sending in prizes, but her eagerness to fight a Yankee was undiminished. An officer in the squadron had written two weeks before: “We have the Africa of 64 guns, Aeolus, Belvidera, Guerriere and Shannon frigates, as fine vessels as ever swam, particularly the Guerriere.”
While Constitution was clearing for action, Guerriere was making similar preparations. Ten Americans in the crew declined to fight—and Captain Dacres permitted them to go below. He also ordered his American prisoners into the cockpit. One of these, Captain William B. Orne, formerly of the brig Betsy, wrote of his interview with Dacres: “While the Constitution was reefing to windward Dacres called me aft and ordered me into the cockpit and asked me if I knew the frigate. I told him that I thought her a Yankee. He said she acted most too bold to be an American, but that he hoped she would act bravely as he should acquire more honor in taking her, adding that by taking the first American frigate on the station he should be made an Admiral of—that he should be made for life.”
At 5:05 Guerriere fired a single shot to try the distance (about two miles), then opened fire with her starboard battery. All the shots flew over Constitution. Guerriere wore and fired her larboard broadside; two shots struck the American frigate. Now the 15-striped flag blossomed from Constitution’s mastheads; she yawed to avoid a raking fire and fired several shots from her bow guns. This cautious approach continued for about 45 minutes: Guerriere wearing and firing broadsides; Constitution yawing, returning a few shots, then resuming her course. Finally, seeing he could neither rake the American frigate nor achieve a windward position (the much-coveted weather gauge) without himself being raked, Dacres ordered the helm put up and Guerriere ran off before the wind, while Constitution set her main topgallant sail to bring her alongside more quickly.
As Constitution ranged up on Guerriere’s larboard quarter, Captain Hull stationed himself on an arms chest for a good view of the ships’ relative positions. Guerriere continued to fire whatever guns could be brought to bear, but Constitution’s fire was withheld. Seeing the execution done by Guerriere’s shot and the eagerness of the American crew to reply, Lieutenant Morris a t length asked whether he might open fire. In this moment of tension, the normally affable Captain Hull spoke with some asperity: “Mr. Morris, I’ll tell you when to fire, so stand ready and see that not a shot is thrown away.” As Constitution’s bow began to double on Guerriere’s quarter a t half-pistol shot (about 25 yards), Hull ordered Morris to open fire with the first division. Then as he saw the effect of this, “The next, Sir! Pour in the whole broadside!” For the first broadside—reserved until the moment it would do most execution—he guns were double-shotted with round and grape; and as the shot struck Guerriere, a cloud of splinters rose as high as the mizzen-top. The English frigate reeled and Hull—still standing on the arms chest—cried: “By heaven that ship is ours!” According to legend, he bounced so hard in his elation that his tight breeches split from waist to knee.
Both ships kept up a furious cannonade for about 15 minutes, as Constitution drew alongside Guerriere. The English guns were firing at a more rapid rate—about four broadsides to the Americans’ three. But their aim was poor, and as the guns were fired on the rising swell, the shot flew over Constitution, cutting her rigging and sails but doing no major damage. Constitution’s guns fired on the falling swell with such deadly accuracy that Guerriere received more than 30 shot in her hull, a number of them at or below the waterline. At about 6:20, her mizzenmast, which had received the brunt of the attack as Constitution ranged alongside, crashed over the starboard quarter. The drag of the mast slowed the ship and drew her head to starboard. As Constitution began to draw a head, Captain Hull ordered the helm to port to cross the Guerriere’s bow.
Constitution poured in two raking broadsides as she luffed, and the riflemen in her tops swept Guerriere’s deck. But the effect of Guerriere’s shot on her rigging told at this point, for with so many braces cut, she was difficult to maneuver. Her head rounded too far into the wind, and she was caught aback as Guerriere threatened to cross her stern and take a raking position. Hull ordered the yards braced around. Constitution’s bow swung back to port too slowly, for as she came around, the bowsprit of the oncoming enemy jabbed over her larboard quarter, and the two ships came together with a grinding crash, lying almost in a line with one another.
Both ships called for boarders, and as they crowded the upper decks, the riflemen found their work made easier. It was at this time that most of the casualties on both sides occurred. Constitution’s fire was far deadlier; Guerriere was short of men and her captain had sent the Marines to help work the guns on the gun deck. When boarders were called, they returned to the upper deck, but they numbered only about 35, while Constitution had 12 men in each top and 50 or 60 Marines on the gangway.
The bright-braided coats of the officers offered splendid targets for the sharpshooters. Captain Dacres was wounded in the back, Second Lieutenant Ready received a mortal wound, and Sailing Master Scott was shot through the knee. On board Constitution, Lieutenant Morris was shot through the body as he stood on the taffrail, but he kept the deck until the end of the action. Sailing Master Aylwin was wounded in the shoulder, and First Lieutenant William S. Bush of the Marines was shot through the head as he stood on the taffrail, sword in hand, crying: “Shall I board her?”
Captain Dacres, because of the greater number of men on Constitution, had little hope of boarding; he assembled his men on deck chiefly to repel an attack. Constitution might have tried boarding, but the sea was running so high that it was found impossible. Guerriere’s bowsprit lunged wildly up and down over the quarterdeck; Lieutenant Morris, before he was wounded, had attempted to secure it to the mizzenmast, but could not. Meanwhile, Guerriere’s bow guns were pouring a devastating fire into Constitution’s stern at such close range that the flaming wads set fire to the cabin. None of Constitution’s guns could be brought into action in this position; she was receiving punishment without being able to return any. Captain Hull ordered the sails filled for a run ahead, and just as the ships parted—about 6:30 P.M.—Guerriere’s fore- and mainmasts crashed over the side, leaving her a hopeless wreck.
Constitution stood off a short distance to repair her cut rigging. The fire in the cabin was extinguished and all necessary repairs made within about half-an-hour. Meanwhile Guerriere’s officers and crew strove mightily to get their ship under command. By that time, most of the standing rigging had been shot away. The foremast had fallen across the mainmast and carried the mainmast, also stripped of its rigging, with it. Guerriere, with not a spar remaining, fell into the trough of the sea and lay helpless, rolling the muzzles of her guns under. The wreck of the masts lay over the starboard side, and the crew took 45 minutes to cut it away. A final effort was made to get her before the wind by means of a spritsail rigged on the stump of the bowsprit. (The foremast in falling had even snapped the jib boom.) But the sail was barely set when it carried away, just as Constitution made sail once more for Guerriere. When she arrived within long-gun shot, Guerriere fired a gun to leeward in token of surrender, and hauled the jack from the stump of the mizzen.
Third Lieutenant George C. Read of Constitution was sent to inquire whether Guerriere had surrendered and if she needed assistance. In about 20 minutes, he returned with Captain Dacres. Seeing that the British captain was wounded, Hull hurried to the gangway to help him gain the deck. Then followed the stiff little ceremony of surrender: Dacres proffered his sword; Hull refused to accept it from so gallant an opponent.
Lieutenant Read reported that Guerriere had a great number of killed and wounded (although the final tally of 15 killed, 63 wounded was probably not yet known). Since Constitution’s 14 casualties had already been attended, Hull dispatched a surgeon to assist with the wounded Britishers.
Read’s report of Guerriere’s condition was a tribute to American gunnery, but did not offer much hope of saving the captured frigate. She was found to have many shot “between wind and water,” and six feet of the plank below the bends completely shot away. When going into action, her carpenter reported, she had 19 inches of water in the well. Now it was up over the two-foot mark and the water gained on the pumps at a rate of about a foot every two hours. This, plus the helpless condition of the vessel with all her masts shot away, determined Captain Hull to destroy his prize. Constitution’s boat worked all night taking out wounded men and prisoner. Their labor was interrupted about 2 A.M. when a large ship appeared on the larboard beam, standing to the southward. Constitution made ready for another fight, but at 3 A .M. the stranger stood off again. The tired crew returned to the business of clearing out the ship, which they finished about 3 P.M., 20 August. Great care was taken to see that none of Guerriere’s men lost any of their personal belongings. Hull is said to have asked Captain Dacres if he had left anything behind which he particularly valued. When Dacres said yes, a Bible given him by his mother, Hull ordered an officer to find and bring it to Captain Dacres, which was done. He also took care to preserve a jack which was found in one of Guerriere’s lockers (all the others had been lost overboard with the fall of the masts).
Shortly after 3 P.M., the prisoners and baggage having been removed, Lieutenant Read set fire to the former HMS Guerriere in her store rooms, and at about 3:30 she blew up. Crowded with prisoners, Constitution shaped a course for Boston, where she arrived on Sunday, 30 August, to receive the plaudits of the nation.
More than enough has been written about the relative forces of the combatants; certainly Constitution was more powerful, a fact which should be regarded as a tribute to American design, especially when it is noted that her opponents also spoke of her “superior sailing.” Certainly she should have been expected to defeat Guerriere—but the fact remains that she was not. Only after the battle was it noted that the Americans had the advantage. Beforehand it was considered impossible that a British frigate should be defeated in single combat. During the whole of the long war with France, England had never lost a frigate in that manner.
But Isaac Hull wrote a few weeks after the battle: “I have indeed been fortunate but not more so than I am confident my brother officers will be if they fall in with the enemy. Where there is anything like equal force you will find that they are not invincible. They are not now fighting Frenchmen and Spaniards.” Because he believed this, he had sailed without orders, risked his reputation, his livelihood, his life, and the lives of his officers and crew. In the space of 30 minutes on that August afternoon, he had broken a moral barrier. The thing which could not be—because he had the courage to believe that it could be done. The lesson has never been more valid than it is today.
He Put on a Good Show
COMMANDING OFFICERS of the smaller LST’s are young lieutenants and statistics show that only ten per cent of the lieutenants in the Navy may expect a command. These commanding officers, therefore, represent a select group of imaginative and enterprising young men capable of showing much ingenuity.
From time to time, the LST’s are scheduled for public visiting in San Diego. Normally, this is scheduled after a period of relative inactivity, so that the ship may look her best while on display. This is not always possible, however.
Following a week of hard operations with Marine LCT’s, my flagship was scheduled for “open house.” As usual, the lugs of the LVT’s had made quite a mess of the tank deck paint-work. During the open house, I went down to see how the problem had been handled.
The skipper had found time to have one section of the tank deck painted. Another section had the primer coat applied, while the rest of the deck was a rusty, paint-scarred mess. Presiding over it all was a boatswain’s mate, superintending one seaman who was busy scraping paint and another who was painting.
The boatswain’s mate proudly explained to each group of fascinated visitors the problems and techniques used in the preservation of metal decks on board ship. It was a most impressive display.
—Contributed by Commander W. A. Morgan, U. S. Navy
(The Naval Institute will pay $10.00 for each anecdote accepted for publication in the PROCEEDINGS.)
* It should be stated that the times given for the various events of the day by British and American officers are absolutely irreconcilable. Both give the time of sighting as 2 P.M. and that of the final surrender as 7 P.M., but the intervening times are completely at variance. I have generally used the American schedule as it seems more credible. Of course, it was to the advantage of the victors to make the engagement as short as possible, and for the vanquished to make it as long as possible.