USS CONSTELLATION - A HISTORY

The name Constellation is one of the most famous in U.S. naval history. It was the first ship to be commissioned in the United States Navy; the first put to sea; and the first to engage, defeat, and capture an enemy vessel. She was a three-masted, square-rigged frigate which combined the power of some of the world's finest gunships with a speed unheard of at the time.

The origins of this great ship's legacy began on March 27, 1794, when a special act of Congress provided for the building of the first ships for the newly created U.S. Navy. The six new frigates were given symbolic names that the countrymen of this new nation could proudly rally around: CONSTITUTION, CONGRESS, CHESAPEAKE, UNITED STATES, and PRESIDENT. But the first to be commissioned was to receive the name held in the highest esteem by the fledgling Congress. It was to be named for that ring of white stars, encircled in a blue field, on the new American flag:

Betsy Ross flag "CONSTELLATION".

The U.S. Frigate CONSTELLATION was built at the Harris Creek and Sterrett Shipyards in Baltimore Maryland's Fells Point. The ship's original design by naval constructors, J. Humphreys and J. Fox, it was altered in it's execution by shipbuilder, D. Stodder, under the supervisor of construction, Captain Thomas Truxtun.

She was designed with a main battery of 38 guns, a crew compliment of 340 men, and displaced 1,265 tons with a beam of 41 feet and length of 164 feet.

The historic launching of the United States of America's first naval battleship occurred in Baltimore on September 7, 1797, almost three and a half years after the new Congress had commissioned her construction. The time span for the construction of a vessel of this magnitude, especially for a new and inexperienced government, drew respect from the major naval powers of the era. The timing of her launch proved to be a godsend for the young nation.

For Constellation's first cruise (June- August 1798), she convoyed merchant ships to sea. The ship showed many admirable qualities, especially a sailing speed of thirteen knots, which would soon win her the nickname "Yankee Race Horse," and ensure her a long and outstanding career of service.

Constellation's launch was just in time, as the United States was about to enter its first naval war. The "Quasi War" with France (1798-1801) proved to be remembered historically, as largely "Constellation's War". On February 9, 1799, CONSTELLATION fought and captured the 40-gun frigate "L’INSURGENTE", the fastest ship in the French Navy. Under the command of the legendary Captain Thomas Truxtun, it was the first battle engagement by one of the U.S.'s original six frigates. This great achievement for the young United States Navy was the first major victory by any American designed and built warship. The morale of the new nation was raised immeasurably and it's effect on US history cannot be ignored.

                                           USS Constellation Engages FS La' Insurgent
                                            off the island of Nevis on February 9, 1799
                                                                            Artist: Louis Dodd, oil

The famed battle proved to be the first of many more victories to follow. CONSTELLATION found herself embroiled in a second single-ship battle in February, 1800. In a late night encounter with France's 54-gun frigate "LA VENGEANCE" , CONSTELLATION was again victorious, handedly winning the bloody and violent 5-hour battle. French sailors, amazed at her expert sailing ability, attaining the unbelievable speed of 13 knots while sailing under nearly an acre of canvas sails, were the ones who first nicknamed her "Yankee Racehorse."

Both battles were cause for rejoicing throughout the new republic. CONSTELLATION had aggressively defended America's right of safe passage on the seas for its merchant ships. These first naval victories served notice to the world that the United States would defend her honor and freedom at all costs.

While these victories were important to the nation, Capt. Truxtun and CONSTELLATION made an even greater contribution to the infant United States Navy. It was the system of conduct, discipline, gunnery signals and naval operations put into effect by Truxtun while in command, that has set the pattern of success and efficiency that is the basis of U.S. Naval procedure to this day.

* When the USS Constellation triumphantly returned home for repairs after the legendary February, 1800 naval victories, the harbor was overcrowded with enthusiastic US citizens joyously cheering her victories over the powerful French Navy. Among the throngs of well-wishers were three of Lewis Eastwood's young sons, Asa, John, and Enos. The boys were eager to enlist in the new U.S. Navy, go to sea, and experience the adventure aboard this fine ship. Asa had turned 19 just weeks prior and John was two years his senior. Sadly, Enos was only 17 and declared ineligible for enlistment at the time. He would be forced to spend the next year anticipating the return of his brothers and the Constellation, awaiting the tales of their exploits,

The Constellation was now called to duty to halt the rampant piracy and seizure of American merchant ships throughout the Caribbean. As British colonists before 1776, American merchant vessels had enjoyed the protection of the English Royal Navy. During the American Revolution, American ships came under the aegis of France, due to a 1778 Treaty of Alliance between the two countries. By 1783, however, with the end of the Revolution, America became solely responsible for the safety of its own commerce and citizens. Without the means or the authority to field a naval force necessary to protect their ships, the new government was at the mercy of the pirates who were free to exploit the defenseless Americans. Awaiting completion of construction of the additional six man of wars, the Constellation sailed south to remedy the lawless situation in the region. The famed frigate which had been victorious over two of France's finest battleships, found the "Pirates of the Caribbean" to be less of a challenge. The world was beginning to acknowledge the existence of a new naval power.

When the USS Constellation returned to New York Harbor, another hero's welcome awaited. Not only were the "Eastwood Boys" now naval heroes; Asa, barely out of his teens, had been commissioned a naval officer. Though John Eastwood was ready to resign his maritime commitment, little brother, Enos, was eager to fill his position as a Navy seaman. Asa took the opportunity of the ship's return to marry his beloved Mary Doxsey, on Sept. 28, 1801, in Hempstead Village, Long Island, New York. *

The USS Constellation was now assigned to aid the USS Philadelphia, USS Chesapeake, and to be completed sister ships in the blockade of Barbary Ports in the Mediterranean. Since the 17th century, Algiers, Tunis, and Tripoli, although nominally governed by the Ottoman Empire, had been largely independent states, run by military strongmen and financed by plunder, tribute, and ransom.

The monarchy of Morocco, which, by this time, was equally well-known for supporting piracy. The nations of Britain and France had come to uneasy ententes with the Barbary pirates; a combination of military might, diplomacy, and under-the-counter payments had kept ships flying the Union Jack or French flag more or less safe from attack. By 1783, America was solely responsible for the safety of its own merchant vessels. Years before the fledgling nation was able to establish a naval force to protect their ships in the Mediterranean, the nascent U.S. government took a pragmatic, but ultimately self-destructive route. In 1784, the United States Congress allocated money for payment of tribute to the pirates. Over the next six years, 20% of the annual federal budget went to the Barbary States as either ransom or "tribute". US Ambassador to France, Thomas Jefferson, was vigorously opposed to this practice but Presidents Washington and Adams saw no alternative method to secure the safety of the commerce required to sustain the new nation's fragile economy. On Jefferson's inauguration as President in 1801, Yussif Karamanli, the Pasha (or Bashaw) of Tripoli demanded $225,000 from the new administration. Now able to put his long-held beliefs into practice, Jefferson refused the demand. Consequently, in May, 1801, the Pasha declared war on the United States, not through any formal written documents, but by cutting down the flagstaff in front of the U.S. Consulate. Barbary allies, Morocco, Algiers, and Tunis soon followed Tripoli's declaration. In response, Jefferson sent the group of frigates to defend American interests in the Mediterranean, and informed Congress of such. Although Congress never voted on a formal declaration of war, they did authorize the President to instruct the commanders of armed vessels of the United States to seize all vessels and goods of the Pasha of Tripoli "and also to cause to be done all such other acts of precaution or hostility as the state of war will justify."

Algiers and Tunis immediately withdrew upon the show of force by America, but Tripoli and Morocco remained committed. The American Navy was now unchallenged in the sea, but in the Mediterranean the question remained undecided. Jefferson was now confronting the issue head-on with the increase in military force and deployment of many of the navy's best ships to the region throughout 1802. The USS Constitution, USS Argus, USS Syren (later "Siren")and USS Intrepid all joined the three frigates during the war under the overall command of Commodore Edward Preble. Throughout 1803, Preble set up and maintained a blockade of the Barbary ports and executed a campaign of raids and attacks against the cities' fleets.

The USS Constellation would continue to serve with distinction in the Barbary Wars against Tripoli, and also, the War of 1812 against Great Britain. In 1840, CONSTELLATION completed a historic voyage around the world, which included being the first U.S. warship to enter the inland waters of China.

After more than 50 years of extraordinary service, the U.S. Frigate CONSTELLATION was thoroughly worn out. In 1853 she was assigned to be broken up at the Gosport Navy Yard.

The historic legacy of "Constellation" continued in US Naval history after the demise of the famed frigate in 1853. Plans for a new state-of -the-art sloop bearing the name "Constellation" were completed in May, 1853 and the keel was laid on June 25, just before steam propulsion was adopted as auxiliary power for all new warships, The new Constellation was the last all sail ship designed by the Navy, as well as the largest "sloop" built to that date.

Designed by John Lenthall, Chief Constructor of the Navy (1851-1871) as a "sloop-of-war," she was much larger than most other ships of that category. Being closer in size to a second class frigate enabled Constellation to carry a heavier battery of guns than conventional sloops. Launched on August 26, 1854 at the Gosport Navy Yard in Virginia, Constellation was commissioned on July 28, 1855. Once again, construction on a US Constellation warship was completed in time for an important US war, this time, America's bloodiest, the Civil War. The new sloop, like her esteemed predecessor, was more than up to her assignment. The ship continued to proudly serve the United States up to the outbreak of WW II.

Following World War II Constellation left her berth in Newport for the last time, and was towed to the Boston Navy Yard to be placed in "ordinary" (the equivalent of a steel ship being put in "mothballs'). In 1954, Constellation, thought by many to be the namesake frigate, was moved to Baltimore in a "floating dry-dock" for restoration and preservation as an historic shrine by a private, non-profit patriotic organization.