„n-'-* "-,*l €mml\ Urnvmitg ^ihOTg BOUGHT WITH THE INCOME FROM THE SAGE ENDOWMENT FUND THE GIFT OF 189Z mmi *: i^ti/mi 5474 Cornell University Library E 182.H74 3 1924 028 732 208 The original of tliis book is in tlie Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924028732208 '-— '- .r-'J-VS^T' '• 'WRtiSS!.',.-- -• r.rrV.;^*?! Cui.jrigtit. ie%, bj A. \V. El,uii .t Co. THE FRIGATE CONSTITUTION THE PEIGATE CONSTITUTION THE CENTRAL FIGURE OF THE NAVY UNDER SAIL BT lEAN. HOLLIS BOSTON AND NEW YORK HOUGHTON, MIFFLIN AND COMPANY 1901 3 COPYRIGHT, 1900, BY IRA N. HOLLIS ALL RIGHTS RESERVED PEEFACE The history of the Frigate Constitution is un- dertaken in order to bring within the pages of one volume all the events which go to make a long and interesting career upon the sea. It is the outgrowth of a short article for the " Atlantic Monthly " to commemorate the hundredth anniversary of the vessel's launch. She has so long been a favorite topic for stoiytellers and writers that nothing new remains to be told. It is rather a case for recall- ing much that has been forgotten. As the forma- tion and service of the sailing navy supply the background which brings our ship into stronger perspective, all the circumstances which had an in- fluence upon her design, construction, and employ- ment are given. WhUe, therefore, in no sense a history of the Navy, it forms* a reasonably con- nected narrative of naval events, and particularly of our good old frigate. The principal authorities for the whole career of the Constitution are the American State Papers, the ship's logbooks, the reports of commanding officers, and various naval iv PREFACE biograpliies. Cooper's " History of the Navy," Goldsborough's "Naval Chronicle," Koosevelt's " History of the War of 1812," and several admi- rable articles by Mr. J. R. Soley have been con- sulted and used. It hardly seems necessary to acknowledge indebtedness for tales and minor details which have been common property for half a century. This volume was prepared during the summer of the Spanish War, when the writer watched vrith pride and solicitude the service of his former comrades who have worthily main- tained the traditions of the Old Navy. With the hope of making clearer the relation of the sailor to the country and of stimulating the interest in rebuilding the ship, it is now given to the public. IRA N. HOLLIS. CAUBBiDaB, September 19, 1900. CONTENTS CHAP. PiOT I. Inteoddction — Fbigateb as the Cecisebs op THE Saildig Navies 1 II. The Establishment of the United States Navy 24 m. Description, Akmament, and Crew of the Con- stitution 34 IV. CONSTEUCTION AND FlRST SeEVIOE OF THE CON- STITUTION 47 V. War with Tbipoli — Edward Preble .... 71 VL Conclusion of the War with Tbipoli — Seb- viOB IN the Mediterranean 93 VII. Outbreak of the War of 1812 121 VIII. Escape of the Constitution from a Bkitish Squadron 141 IX. Destruction of the Frigate Gueebiehe . 166 X. Destruction of the Java — Cruise under Stew- art 177 XI. Captuee of the Ctane and Levant .... 196 XII. Cruises and Incidents Subsequent to the War OF 1812 216 XIII. What we owe to the Constitution .... 241 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS PAOB The Fbigate Constitution. After the paintiDg by Mar- shall Johnson, published and copyrighted in 1896 by A. W. Elson & Co., Boston Frontispiece A SLOOP-or-WAB. From Miles's Epitome 4 British Line-of-Battle-Setip. From Finoham's History of Naval Architecture 10 Ordnance op 1800 20 Brass howitzer captured from Tripoli, now in Annapolis. From Maclay's History of the Navy. Long Gun. From Lloyd and Hadcock's Gunnery. Carronade from the Constitution. From Spear's History of our Navy. Deck-Plan of a Ship on Starboard Tack 23 Gun-Drill on Board Ship 30 Training. From Jemingham's Ships' Broadsides. Firing. From Robinson's British Fleet. Sections op War-Vessels 38 Sloop-of-War. From Roosevelt's The Naval War of 1812. Frigate. From Charnock's History of Marine Archi- tecture. The Model op the Constitution. From a photograph copyrighted in 1897 by Martha H. Harvey. The model was given by Commodore Hull in 1813 to the Museum of Peabody Academy of Sciences, Salem, Mass 44 Sail-Plan of the Frigate Constitution, 1817. By per- mission of "The Rudder" 52 viii LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS The Constitution Ready for Launching. From a photo- graph 68 The Launching op the Constitution. From a photo- graph 64 William Bainbridge. After the painting by J. W. Jarvis 72 Edwakd Feeble. After the painting in Faneuil Hall, Boston 80 Meditekbanean Pobts 87 lUTERIOB op the FkIGATE CONSTITUTION, 1900 .... 88 Ward-Room. 6un-Deok. Berth-Deck. The above three illustrations are from photographs from the Bureau of Construction and Repair, Navy Depart- ment, Washington. Tripoli Harbor 97 Attack on Foetipications and Gunboats at Tripoli. From the painting at the U. S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, Md 100 Medal voted by Congress to Commodore Edwaed Peeele, to oommemoeate the Naval Opeeations against Tripoli. From Loubat's MedaUic History of the United States 108 Tripoli Foetipications. From a sketch by Henry Wads- worth, in possession of Mrs, Annie L. Wells Ill Man-op-Wae Ketch. From Old Sea-Wings 113 CoESAiE. From Spear's United States Navy 119 Charles Moeeis. From the original painting by Ary Soheffer 130 Isaac Hull. From the painting in the rooms of the Bos- tonian Society, Old State House, Boston, owned by Parker C. Chandler, Esq 140 Location of Battles between the Constitution and Bbitish Frigates, and the Escapes feom pursuino Fleets 146 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS ix Escape of the Constitution oit the New Jebset Coast. After a painting. A photograph is in the Ward- Eoom of the Frigate Constitution 148 Constitution afpboaching the Guereiere before the Action. From the painting at the U. S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, Md 156 Diagram op Action between the Constitution and the guebbieee 159 Handing up Powder. From Donglaa's Naval Gnnnery . 161 Action between the Constitution and the GuerbiSre. From the original painting by Marshall Johnson, in posses- sion of Benjamin F. Stevens, Esq 162 Action between the Constitution and the GcERRii:RE (the end). From the painting at the tJ. S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, Md 170 Medal voted by Congbess to Captain Isaac Hull, to commemorate the Capture of the Guebbiebe. From Loubat'a Medallic History of the United States .... 174 Diagram of Action between the Constitution and THE Java 179 Action between the Constitution and the Java (after one hour) 186 Escape of the Constitution into Marblehead Habbob 191 Action between the Constitution and the Java (near the end). From an engraving in the Kooms of the Military Historical Society of Massachusetts. The above two pictures were drawn and etched by Pocock from sketches by Lieutenant Buchanan, and dedicated by permission to the Right Honorable The Lords Com- missioners of the Admiralty 194 Medal voted by Congbess to Captain William Bain- BEDJGE, TO commemorate THE CAPTURE OF THE JaVA. From Loubat's Medallic History of the United States . 198 DiAGBAM OP Action between the Constitution and THE Cyane and Levant 199 X LIST OF ILLUSTKATIONS Chables Stewabt. From the painting in U. S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, Md 204 DiAGEAM OF THE EsCAPE OF THE CONSTITUTION FKOM British Fleet AT Port Pbata 211 Medal voted by Cokgbess to Chables Stewabt, to com- memorate the Captube of the Cyane and Levant. From Lontat's Medallio History of the United States . 214 Figitbeheads of the Frigate Constitution 222 Andrew Jackson, and a Billet, at Naval Academy, Annapo- lis, Md. The Frigate Constitution at the Boston Navy Yard, 1900 (stem view) 232 Gun-Deck op the Fbiqate Constitution, 1900 .... 236 Fbigate Constitution at the Boston Navy Yabd, 1900 (bow view) 240 The ahove three illustrations are from photographs from the Bureau of Construction and Repair, Navy Depart- ment, Washington. The Constitution in a Gale off the Island op Tbistan d'Acunha. From the painting hy Marshall Johnson, in the possession of Benjamin F. Stevens, Esq 248 THE FRIGATE CONSTITUTION CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION — FRIGATES AS THE CRUISERS OF THE SAILING NAVIES The events connected with the life of a nation are often intimately associated with objects and places. These have a permanent value, preserv- ing for us, if we do not neglect them, the out- ward semblance they presented to the men and women who gave them their places in history. The importance of Bunker Hill, of Independence Hall, and, more recently, of Gettysburg, as sources of inspiration to the youth of this republic can hardly be overestimated. They express the true spirit of liberty and the love of country even better than the noblest writings. Among the objects that must always be dear to the American people is the old ship Constitution, now lying neglected under a temporary roof at the Boston Navy Yard. Her career, outside of its historic value, is eventful and 2 THE FRIGATE CONSTITUTION romantic. No ship has ever seen more life and action. The first twenty years of her existence were filled with events of the greatest importance to the new nation formed on this side of the Atlantic. She came at a period when we sorely needed a strong arm to vindicate for the second time our right to independence and to the untrammeled development of our own institutions. Her victories did much to teach a few scattered colonies, or states, respect for themselves and faith in their own united strength.