Another Victory for Old Ironsides
On December 29, 1812, the USS Constitution scored another American victory at sea in the War of 1812.
Named for the document that established our nation’s laws, the USS Constitution was built in a Boston shipyard between 1794 and 1797. Its massive 204-foot-long oak hull was made from trees from Massachusetts, Maine, and Georgia. The Constitution was launched on October 21, 1797.
The ship fought in battles against the Barbary pirates in 1803-4 and emerged undamaged. Shortly after the start of the War of 1812, the Constitution fought against the British warship Guerriere. During the fighting, a sailor saw British shots bouncing off the side of the ship and exclaimed that it had “sides of iron.” “Old Ironsides” became the ship’s popular name.
Later that year, the Constitution was sent to patrol the South Atlantic, where the British had considerable trade. Commodore William Bainbridge’s mission was to torment the British and draw their stronger forces away from the US coast.
On December 29, 1812, the Constitution, met the HMS Java, commanded by Henry Lambert near Brazil. The Constitution had a superior crew and weaponry, but both ships suffered substantial damage. However, they continued firing on each other, at one point becoming entangled. The Java’s captain was also killed in the fighting.
After taking an hour off from the battle for repairs, the Constitution returned to the Java. However, the British ship was in shambles, and its badly wounded crew surrendered. Bainbridge saw that the Java was too damaged to keep as a prize and ordered it be burned. However, he first salvaged its helm and installed it on the Constitution.
This battle marked the third time in as many months that a British warship was captured by the United States. In response, the British Admiralty ordered its frigates not to engage the larger American ships one-on-one.
The victory stunned the world and inspired national pride across America. In Britain, the London Times opined, “It is not merely that an English frigate has been taken… but that it has been taken by a new enemy… unaccustomed to such triumphs… how important this triumph is in giving a tone and character to the war. Never before in the history of the world did an English frigate strike to an American.”
Click here to see what else happened on This Day in History.
Most know, of course, that the USS Constitution is still a commissioned U.S. warship and is still afloat in Boston Harbor. It was nearly decommissioned several times to be dismantled for scrap, but was always saved so that “Old Ironsides” could be a reminder of its proud past.
Good old Ironsides. An important part of American history.
Every year on the 4th of July it leaves its dock and goes into the harbor where it turns around and comes back to the dock to be moored on the opposite side. Saw it do that once back in 1980.
They turn it every year so it weathers evenly.
In 1812 we invaded Canada and were repelled. Last and only time we attacked our best friend.
Yes, knowing the history of each stamp is great fun. Wouldn’t it be nice to be able to buy a yearly booklet that gives the history of each stamp in that year. They could even have detachable pages with holes (2 or 3) to put in our albums.
Recall, as a child collector in Wellesley, MA, the 3-cent USS Constitution stamp being issued. Every student gave 10 cents for the stamp and for the restoration of Old Ironsides.