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Sunday, August 19, 2012
"Huzzah! Her Sides Are Made of Iron"...
On this date, two hundred years ago, the USS Constitution battled and defeated the British warship HMS Guerrierre. It was during this battle that the USS Constitution is said to have received her famous moniker..."Old Ironsides"...
At 2.00 p.m. on August 19, the USS Constitution sighted a large ship to leeward, and bore down to investigate. The weather was cloudy, and the wind was brisk. The strange ship proved to be the British warship, HMS Guerriere, whose crew recognised Constitution at about the same moment. Both ships prepared for action. As the Constitution closed, the Guerrierre slowed as best they could to fire a broadside, which fell short, and then ran before the wind for three quarters of an hour with the Constitution on her quarter. The British warship then yawed several times to fire broadsides at the Constitution, but the Guerrierre's broadsides were generally inaccurate. The Constitution fired back, and a give and take of cannon fire resulted; many of which hitting their intended targets. During this fight, a sailor aboard the Constitution witnessed the Guerrierre's cannon balls bouncing harmlessly off the thick wooden sides of the American ship, and is said to have joyously exclaimed, "Huzzah! Her sides are made of iron!" This is the instant when the the Constitution received her famous moniker, "Old Ironsides".
Once the range had closed to within a few hundred yards, the Constitution's Captain Isaac Hull ordered extra sail (the foresail and main topgallant sail) to be set, to close the distance quickly. The Guerrierre's Captain James Richard Dacres ordered his ship toward the American ship as well. Now the two ships began to exchange broadsides at "half pistol-shot",with the Constitution to starboard and Guerriere to port.
After fifteen minutes of this exchange, during which Guerriere suffered far more damage than the Constitution due to the American frigate's larger guns and thicker hull, Guerriere's mizzenmast fell overboard to starboard, acting like a rudder and dragging her around. This allowed Constitution to cross ahead of Guerriere, firing a raking broadside which brought down the main yard. Hull then brought the ship to cross Guerriere's bow again, firing another raking broadside, but the manoeuvre was cut too close and the Guerriere's bowsprit became entangled in the rigging of the Constitution's mizzenmast. On both ships, boarding parties were summoned, while musket fire broke out from each ship, however, only the narrow bowsprit provided a way to cross between the ships, and in the heavy sea, neither side could venture across it.
Some of the gunners aboard Guerriere fired at point-blank range into Hull's stern cabin, setting the American ship on fire briefly, but the flames were soon extinguished. The two locked ships slowly rotated clockwise with the current until they broke free. Not soon after, The Guerriere's foremast and mainmast both snapped off at deck level, leaving her helpless and rolling heavily in the churning sea. Captain Dacres attempted to set sail using only the bowsprit to bring his ship before the wind, but it too had been damaged and broke. The Constitution meanwhile ran downwind for several minutes, repairing damage to the rigging, before once again wearing and beating upwind to return to battle.
As the Constitution prepared to renew the action, the Guerriere fired a shot in the opposite direction of the Constitution. Sensing that this was an attempt to signal surrender, Captain Hull ordered a boat to take a Lieutenant over to the British ship. When the Lieutenant walked onto the Guerriere and asked if Guerriere was prepared to surrender, Captain Dacres responded "Well, Sir, I don't know. Our mizzen mast is gone, our fore and main masts are gone-I think on the whole you might say we have struck our flag."
Captain Dacres was escorted aboard the Constitution. Captain Hull refused to accept Dacres' sword of surrender, saying he could not accept the sword from a man who had fought so gallantly. Hull wanted the Guerriere towed in as a prize ship. The Constitution lay by the Guerriere during the night but at daybreak it was obvious that the Guerriere could not be salvaged. The prisoners and the American salvage parties were brought aboard Constitution and at three o'clock in the afternoon, the Guerriere was set on fire, and soon blew up.
At 2.00 p.m. on August 19, the USS Constitution sighted a large ship to leeward, and bore down to investigate. The weather was cloudy, and the wind was brisk. The strange ship proved to be the British warship, HMS Guerriere, whose crew recognised Constitution at about the same moment. Both ships prepared for action. As the Constitution closed, the Guerrierre slowed as best they could to fire a broadside, which fell short, and then ran before the wind for three quarters of an hour with the Constitution on her quarter. The British warship then yawed several times to fire broadsides at the Constitution, but the Guerrierre's broadsides were generally inaccurate. The Constitution fired back, and a give and take of cannon fire resulted; many of which hitting their intended targets. During this fight, a sailor aboard the Constitution witnessed the Guerrierre's cannon balls bouncing harmlessly off the thick wooden sides of the American ship, and is said to have joyously exclaimed, "Huzzah! Her sides are made of iron!" This is the instant when the the Constitution received her famous moniker, "Old Ironsides".
Once the range had closed to within a few hundred yards, the Constitution's Captain Isaac Hull ordered extra sail (the foresail and main topgallant sail) to be set, to close the distance quickly. The Guerrierre's Captain James Richard Dacres ordered his ship toward the American ship as well. Now the two ships began to exchange broadsides at "half pistol-shot",with the Constitution to starboard and Guerriere to port.
After fifteen minutes of this exchange, during which Guerriere suffered far more damage than the Constitution due to the American frigate's larger guns and thicker hull, Guerriere's mizzenmast fell overboard to starboard, acting like a rudder and dragging her around. This allowed Constitution to cross ahead of Guerriere, firing a raking broadside which brought down the main yard. Hull then brought the ship to cross Guerriere's bow again, firing another raking broadside, but the manoeuvre was cut too close and the Guerriere's bowsprit became entangled in the rigging of the Constitution's mizzenmast. On both ships, boarding parties were summoned, while musket fire broke out from each ship, however, only the narrow bowsprit provided a way to cross between the ships, and in the heavy sea, neither side could venture across it.
Some of the gunners aboard Guerriere fired at point-blank range into Hull's stern cabin, setting the American ship on fire briefly, but the flames were soon extinguished. The two locked ships slowly rotated clockwise with the current until they broke free. Not soon after, The Guerriere's foremast and mainmast both snapped off at deck level, leaving her helpless and rolling heavily in the churning sea. Captain Dacres attempted to set sail using only the bowsprit to bring his ship before the wind, but it too had been damaged and broke. The Constitution meanwhile ran downwind for several minutes, repairing damage to the rigging, before once again wearing and beating upwind to return to battle.
As the Constitution prepared to renew the action, the Guerriere fired a shot in the opposite direction of the Constitution. Sensing that this was an attempt to signal surrender, Captain Hull ordered a boat to take a Lieutenant over to the British ship. When the Lieutenant walked onto the Guerriere and asked if Guerriere was prepared to surrender, Captain Dacres responded "Well, Sir, I don't know. Our mizzen mast is gone, our fore and main masts are gone-I think on the whole you might say we have struck our flag."
Captain Dacres was escorted aboard the Constitution. Captain Hull refused to accept Dacres' sword of surrender, saying he could not accept the sword from a man who had fought so gallantly. Hull wanted the Guerriere towed in as a prize ship. The Constitution lay by the Guerriere during the night but at daybreak it was obvious that the Guerriere could not be salvaged. The prisoners and the American salvage parties were brought aboard Constitution and at three o'clock in the afternoon, the Guerriere was set on fire, and soon blew up.
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| The USS Constitution and the HMS Guerrierre Engaging in Battle |
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
"Then...A Patriot I'll Be" Facebook Page Has Been Started...
If you find this blog enjoyable, please take a look at my facebook page I designed as a forum to discuss the novel, as well as other postings and rantings about important events in early American History...
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Precursor To The Purple Heart...
On this day in 1782, George Washington creates the "Badge For Military Merit", a decoration consisting of a purple heart shaped piece of silk, edged with a binding of silver. The word "Merit" was stitched across the front of the heart. The badge was awarded to a soldier for any "singularly meritorious action". The wearer of the badge was permitted to pass by any guard or sentry without being challenged. The soldier that received the badge also had their name and regiment entered into a "Book of Merit". It is possible that this was the precursor to today's modern Purple Heart...
Sunday, August 5, 2012
Admiral Richard Howe Lives No More...
On this day, 1799, Great Britain mourned the loss of Admiral of the Fleet Richard Howe, 1st Earl Howe. Admiral Howe was the commander of the British Navy in the North American theatre during the American Revolutionary War, until his resignation in 1778. We was the brother of the British General Sir William Howe, commander of the British Army in the colonies during the American Revolutionary War. Both considered themselves members of the Whig party, the Howe brothers considered themselves agents of peace appointed by the crown to achieve a peaceful resolution to the war, and as such were both respected by the American colonists for their semi sympathetic stances. Admiral Howe was present at the famed peace talks with American delegates for the Second Continental Congress in 1776, although a peaceful
resolution was not agreed upon.
resolution was not agreed upon.
Friday, August 3, 2012
Smuggling Could Prove A Profitable Business...
The following passage is from the novel, "Then...A Patriot I'll Be". It is a first hand account of how even the "loyalist" population in the American colonies benefited from the "vile" practice of smuggling goods against the strict shipping policies of England...
Big business at the time for Boston merchants and ship owners was of course moving their cargoes at will, unfettered by scrupulous laws from the motherland. At one time, shipping was as wide open and as free as the sea itself, though that was no longer the fact. As the royal noose tightened, and more and more duties and taxes were placed on their precious cargoes, it was getting much harder for these honest businessmen to make their livings, and of course, increase their fortunes. A plan would have to be devised, and in a hurry, if business was going to go on as usual.
Smuggling had been occurring for some time throughout the colonies. Between colonial officials collecting payment for turning a blind eye to the trade or owning stakes in smuggling vessels themselves, and Britain not having the resources in place to effectively stop this business, smugglers went about their trade, and much money was made. This practice had steadily increased as more and more duties and taxes were placed on the backs of honest merchantmen. I could tell you first hand that these smugglers were very much welcomed by some. Even the “loyalist” Crane family was supportive of this silent trade. The vessels would come in to harbor late in the evening under cover of darkness, or simply unload their illegal cargoes on an empty beach near the cape and disperse the contents from there. Not subject to the fines and taxes of the legal ships, these goods could be purchased cheaper than goods rightfully brought into port. No one was innocent from playing a part in this most “wicked practice”. As much of a loyalist as my grandfather was, even he couldn’t resist purchasing “tax free” rum, and unaccounted for crates of tea for use in the tavern. He did preach his love for king and country, but he was a businessman first, and profits were his driving force. Not to mention, chocolate was expensive if purchased legitimately, and grandfather (as well as the rest of my family) did enjoy sitting around the table at home eating those sweet brownish shavings.
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| Shop Owners Wait On Shore For Smuggled Goods To Arrive |
Thursday, August 2, 2012
USS Constitution's Maiden Voyage...
200 years ago today, the USS Constitution left Boston Harbor for the first time...
In Boston, Captrain Isaac Hull takes Constitution to sea, intending to cruise off Nova Scotia and Newfoundland. Ship's Surgeon Amos Evans records in his journal: "Got under weigh [sic] at 5 o'clock A.M. and passed the light house about 6. Stood N.E., wind S. & W. and pleasant. Saw at one time 50 sail of vessels, most of them small. Lost sight of land in the afternoon. Spoke a ship from Ireland with passengers."
In Boston, Captrain Isaac Hull takes Constitution to sea, intending to cruise off Nova Scotia and Newfoundland. Ship's Surgeon Amos Evans records in his journal: "Got under weigh [sic] at 5 o'clock A.M. and passed the light house about 6. Stood N.E., wind S. & W. and pleasant. Saw at one time 50 sail of vessels, most of them small. Lost sight of land in the afternoon. Spoke a ship from Ireland with passengers."
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