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==[[War of 1812]]==  

==[[War of 1812]]==  

In August 1809 she was recommissioned and became flagship of the North Atlantic Squadron, and in 1810 [[Isaac Hull]] was appointed her captain. The following year she carried U.S. Minister, Joel Barlow, to France and returned to Washington in March 1812 for overhaul. War with Britain impended and ''Constitution'' was readied for action. On June 20, 1812 the declaration of war was read to her assembled crew and on July 12 she took the sea rejoin the squadron of Commodore John Rodgers.

In August 1809 she was recommissioned and became flagship of the North Atlantic Squadron, and in 1810 [[Isaac Hull]] was appointed her captain. The following year she carried U.S. Minister, Joel Barlow, to France and returned to Washington in March 1812 for overhaul. War with Britain impended and ''Constitution'' was readied for action. On June 20, 1812 the declaration of war was read to her assembled crew and on July 12 she took the sea rejoin the squadron of Commodore John Rodgers.

On July 17 ''Constitution'' sighted five ships in company; supposing them to be Rodger's squadron, Hull attempted to join up. By the following morning, however, the group was identified as a powerful British squadron which included the frigates ''Guerriere'' and ''Shannon''. The wind failed, becalming within range of the enemy who opened fire. Disaster threatened until Captain Hull astutely towed, wetted sails, and kedged to draw the ship slowly ahead of her pursuers. For 2 days all hands were on deck in this desperate and successful attempt at escape, a splendid example of resolute command, superior seamanship, and indefatigable effort.

While approaching her destination during the afternoon of 17 July, she encountered a large group of unknown warships that was eventually determined to be British. This squadron, under the command of Captain Philip Vere Broke, included the small ship of the line ''Africa'' and the frigates ''Shannon'' (Broke's flagship), ''Belvidera'', ''Guerriere'' and ''Aeolus'', clearly a force much superior to ''Constitution''.

 

Through the night of 17-18 July, the British and American ships maneuvered for advantage in the continuing light breeze. At about 5:30 in the morning the wind failed completely. ''Constitution'' put out her boats, which towed her ahead of the enemy while four long 24-pounder guns were shifted to allow fire directly astern. The British also had their boats in the water, concentrating most of them to try and pull ''Shannon'' within gunfire range. At the suggestion of Lieutenant Charles Morris, Captain Hull had anchors dropped ahead for kedging, allowing the power of of her capstan to pull her more rapidly.

 

All through the 18th and well into the following day, this effort of towing and kedging continued, with occasional use of sails when a small wind blew up. Though shots were exchanged the range was always too great to allow hitting, and ''Constitution'' slowly moved away from her pursuers. By late afternoon on the 19th the nearest British ship, ''Belvidera'', was some four miles astern. A few hours later, as a rain squall approached, Hull promptly got up his sails and greatly increased his lead. The chase continued through that night in slight and shifting winds, with ''Constitution's'' crew keeping their sails wet to enhance their effectiveness, and by daylight the enemy was so far astern that they soon gave up the pursuit. Realizing that the presence of the strong British squadron would keep him out of New York, Hull sailed instead for Boston, where he arrived on 26 July to begin preparations for another cruise.

===HMS ''Guerriere''===  

===HMS ''Guerriere''===  

[[Image:Cornepainting.jpg|right|200px|thumb|''In Action'', depicting the battle between USS ''Constitution'' and HMS ''Guerriere'', by Michel Felice Corne (1812).  This painting was one of four of the battle done under the direction of Captain Isaac Hull.]]

[[Image:Cornepainting.jpg|right|200px|thumb|''In Action'', depicting the battle between USS ''Constitution'' and HMS ''Guerriere'', by Michel Felice Corne (1812).  This painting was one of four of the battle done under the direction of Captain Isaac Hull.]]

During the war, ''Constitution'' ran the blockade at Boston on seven occasions and made five cruises ranging from Halifax, Nova Scotia, south to Guiana and east to [[Portugal]]. She captured, burned, or sent in as prizes nine merchantmen and five ships of war. Departing Boston on August 2 she sailed to the coast of Nova Scotia, where she captured and destroyed two British trading ships. Cruising off the Gulf of St. Lawrence on 19 August, she caught sight of ''Guerriere'', one of the ships which nearly captured her several weeks before. ''Guerriere'' opened the action, pouring out shot which fell harmlessly into the sea or glanced ineffectively from the hull of ''Constitution''; one of the cheering crew was heard to exclaim "Huzzah! Her sides are made of iron!"  As the ships drew aside each other, Hull gave the command to fire and successive broadsides razed ''Guerriere's'' mizzen mast, damaging her foremast, and cut away most of her rigging. ''Guerriere's'' bowsprit fouled the lee rigging of ''Constitution'', and both sides attempted to board, but the heavy seas prevented it. As the ships separated ''Guerriere'' fired point blank into the cabin of ''Constitution'' and set it on fire, but the flames were quickly extinguished. ''Guerriere's'' foremast and mainmast went by the board and she was left a helpless hulk.

Departing Boston on August 2 she sailed to the coast of Nova Scotia, where she captured and destroyed two British trading ships. Cruising off the Gulf of St. Lawrence on 19 August, she caught sight of ''Guerriere'', one of the ships which nearly captured her several weeks before. ''Guerriere'' opened the action, pouring out shot which fell harmlessly into the sea or glanced ineffectively from the hull of ''Constitution''; one of the cheering crew was heard to exclaim "Huzzah! Her sides are made of iron!"  As the ships drew aside each other, Hull gave the command to fire and successive broadsides razed ''Guerriere's'' mizzen mast, damaging her foremast, and cut away most of her rigging. ''Guerriere's'' bowsprit fouled the lee rigging of ''Constitution'', and both sides attempted to board, but the heavy seas prevented it. As the ships separated ''Guerriere'' fired point blank into the cabin of ''Constitution'' and set it on fire, but the flames were quickly extinguished. ''Guerriere's'' foremast and mainmast went by the board and she was left a helpless hulk.

The flag of ''Guerriere'' was struck in surrender and when the Americans boarded her they found her in such a crippled condition that they had to transfer the prisoners and burn her. Rather than accept his sword, Hull asked Captain James Dacres to call in a friendly bet they had made some years before when both ships lay in at Madiera, and Dacres gave him his hat.  It was a dramatic victory for America and for ''Constitution''. In this battle of only half an hour the United States "rose to the rank of a first-class power"; the country was fired with fresh confidence and courage, and ''Constitution'' gained her sobriquet "Old Ironsides".

The flag of ''Guerriere'' was struck in surrender and when the Americans boarded her they found her in such a crippled condition that they had to transfer the prisoners and burn her. Rather than accept his sword, Hull asked Captain James Dacres to call in a friendly bet they had made some years before when both ships lay in at Madiera, and Dacres gave him his hat.  It was a dramatic victory for America and for ''Constitution''. In this battle of only half an hour the United States "rose to the rank of a first-class power"; the country was fired with fresh confidence and courage, and ''Constitution'' gained her sobriquet "Old Ironsides".