"Now, boys, pour it into them!"
Capt. Issac Hull
When I first started this site, I had always planned to do a column on the War of 1812. As time went on, I figured to slim that down to an article on the U.S.S. Constitution, centering on the Battle of the Constitution vs. the Guerrière. But because of my keen interest making me more detail-minded (as well as an excellent Constitution site by someone else), I've found that to do justice to such a very important moment in time, I need to concentrate on the naval battle itself, with some brief background on the War and the U.S.S. Constitution. I certainly plan to do future articles on aspects of the War of 1812, and perhaps try an overview (for you students too lazy to pick up the Cliff Notes). There are so many fascinating aspects to that war: disgraceful land battle losses (including the only surrender of a U.S. city to a foreign power); the salvation of our forces by the Navy (more on that in a moment); the burning of our nation's capital, and much more. If you want to learn about these thrilling adventures & don't want to wait for me, go visit your local library and read on, MacDuff!
The U.S.: New Kid On The Block
World powers France and England had been warring for top dog for awhile, with the United States being caught in the middle (although sometimes to its advantage), with both France and England continually violating neutral rights. France seized ships even after the Non-Intercourse Act (think nice), and England continued with impressment.
Who To Fight? The War of 1812
America was politically split in various factions between wanting war with France, or with England, with both, or with reopening trade with both. Some thought that the appointment of Anglophile James Monroe as Secretary of State would reach out to England, but London was proving too antagonistic.
The real tipping of the scales between England and France were the real culprits of the War of 1812: the trappers, hunters, and settlers expanding onto Native-American land. Although many of the chiefs had given away land for baubles and pensions, it reached such a point that some Natives could not take it anymore, and some (most notably Tecumseh) rose up and fought. Most of the Westerner's felt that the Natives were being supplied with guns and ammunition by England. The Westerner's were determined to take land, targeting first and foremost Canada. When newly elected Speaker of the House Henry Clay was in the Senate, he so much as said,
"The conquest of Canada is in your power....I verily believe that the militia of Kentucky are alone competent to place Montreal and Upper Canada (Western) at your feet".
As Speaker, Clay pressed on for war.
But who to take Canada from? English Canada or French? Combined with the recent history of hostilities with England (uhhhh...the Revolution?), and France being an ally during that time period , it was decided: the war would be with England. Along sectional lines, West and South vs. North and East, the war bill passed in Congress (Most of Republicans for, most of Federalists against).
Now that I've laid a (very) rough outline of some of the events leading up to the War of 1812, I'm thinking "...Man, am I tempted to do the whole war!" No, no, I'm always giving in to that urge, and you folks deserve a break from my long narratives. As I said before, perhaps another time....
Due to disgraceful organization (or lack thereof), political appointments to command positions , and other shortcomings, all land campaigns for America during 1812 were disastrous. Not only without a victory, but the level of defeat was quite demoralizing for the United States (not to mention for President Madison, who, politically speaking, needed military victories in an election year).
The American Navy
The young American Navy had first been built up when hostilities loomed with France around the turn of the 19th Century, and might have been mightier in numbers were it not for Jefferson's pacifistic tendencies (although many felt Jefferson was not as much a pacifist as not wanting to arm itself for fear of war). At the start of the war, American had 16 seagoing vessels and around 200 gunboats, while the massive British Navy, "the proud ruler of the seas" since the Spanish Armada of 1588 had 600 (one source claims 1048) ships, of which included 120 ships of the line and 116 frigates. Ships of the line had 50-74 guns, while frigates had 32-44 guns. But since many of the British ships were tied in with hostilities against France, only one ship of the line and 7 frigates were near the American coast.
The American Navy was well-trained, as well as experienced (both ships and its captains) through the fighting with French ships and the many battles during the Tripolitan War (a future article). The ships were well built; they were fast yet durable; they were able to throw heavier broadsides than the British frigates, yet heavily timbered to withstand enemy shots. Among the most able of these ships was the U.S.S. Constitution.
The U.S.S. Constitution
Authorized in 1794 and first put to sea in 1798, her first mission was guarding American commerce against the French at the turn of the century. She also helped to bomb Tripoli among its five different attacks in 1804 during the Tripolitan (or Barbary Coast) War, and the treaty to end that war was signed upon the ship. After returning to the United States, the Constitution was named flagship of the North Atlantic Squadron. Although most American frigates had 44 guns, the Constitution had 54.
In July of 1812, Captain Issac Hull took on supplies and equipment at Annapolis and headed for New York. Near the New Jersey coast, the Constitution was spotted and chased by four British frigates (a fifth was following but out of sight), including the Guerrière. Four against one...as the Constitution wasn't Jackie Chan, Hull prepared to withdraw while fighting as the four ships closed in. Even though the fifth ship later joined in the chase, Hull proved his great skill and seamanship and stayed away from the British ships, as he did all he (and his crew) could do as the ships came closer on the second day of chase, both days windless. Around noon the wind began to pick up, and the Constitution pulled away, doing 13 knots within a couple of hours.
The Guerrière
The captain of the Guerrière, James Dacres, was repeatedly challenging the Americans to fight ("Nyah nayh..I dare ya'"...Okay, so he didn't put it quite like that). Hull responded ("I double dare ya'" or maybe something like that), by first reconditioning the ship and setting sail on August 2nd to battle the Guerrière. On August 19th, Hull caught sight of the Guerrière, 750 miles east of Boston, while Hull was watching for British merchantmen on their way between Halifax and Bermuda.
The Battle
Both ships immediately sought to gain the same position in relation to each other (windward). The object was to "rake" (to fire guns along the length of a ship) the other without being raked. Neither could gain that position through the skill of both captains. The Guerrière, with its 38 guns (one source says 49) opened with a volley from long range, falling short with a starboard broadside (remember that Milton Bradley game Broadside? That was great, but my brother Steven beat me every time). Dacres then turned in a half-circle, to bring his left-hand guns (port) to approach the Constitution rapidly, with his cannon balls flying high over the Constitution's sails. Hull set an extra sail, catching the wind, and quickly closed on Dacres. Hull waited until he was about 50 feet away and yelled to his crew "Now, boys, pour it into them!"
The Constitution fired with double grapeshot's (a cluster of small cast-iron balls), severing the rigging to support the Guerrière's sails, tearing apart the sails themselves as well as knocking a hole in the stern, with the accumulating dead upon the Guerrière turning her decks red. Both ships now side-by-side exchanging fire, with the superior numbers of the Constitution's guns, as well as the fighting abilities of its gunners, taking its toll on the Guerrière. In 15 minutes, the Guerrière was crippled. The Constitution took advantage of the Guerrière's lack of sailing power (due to her tattered sails) and steered across the Guerrière's bow into the "raking" (lengthwise) position, blasting away, with both the starboard (right-hand) guns as well as the port battery, while Marine sharpshooters from the top of the Constitution fired down into the Guerrière's decks (and killing officers in each ship). As the two ships came close part of the Guerrière caught in the rigging of the Constitution. Both ships tried to board the other.
The Marine Lieutenant leading the Constitution's men was shot through the head while about to board the Guerrière. At the same time, the Constitution broke free, and the sharpshooters picked off the Guerrière's men who were in the open getting ready to board the Constitution. The sharpshooters also cut down the Guerrière's foremast (cutting down the British flag), which fell upon the mainmast, causing that to fall.
Pouring blood, Dacres put up a new flag on the stump of a foremast, but the battle was over. The Guerrière's mast was already chopped down by bullets, the canvas gone, the rigging shredded, its gunports under water, the hull riddled, and blood all over the deck, to the point of making it slippery. Dacres fired a surrender shot and lowered his flag.
The Guerrière was so damaged that Hull had to burn it the next day, and return to Boston without his prize.
The British losses in this battle were 23 dead and 56 wounded, while the Americans lost 7, with 7 wounded.
A Myth?
We have always been taught that it was this battle where the Constitution received her nickname "Old Ironsides". As the story goes, when a seaman saw a shot rebound from its hull, he shouted, "Huzzah, her sides are made of iron". Perhaps this is just another of those stories that becomes part of our American Folklore without basis in truth. To be fair, perhaps a seaman did say that during the battle, but in my research, I've found that the ship was already called "Old Ironsides" due to the fact that its live-oak planks had been forcefully bent into place instead of the usual steaming process which was believed to weaken the wood. Ah, but maybe it's just as well to leave it as it is.
Impact
Particularly due to the failures of the land battles, this victory for the young Navy gave a renewed sense of hope to the military. For the first time, a British frigate had surrendered to an American. Even those quite dissatisfied with the prospect of the war, much less how it was going (such as New England) were quite impressed. The Times of London reported:
"The loss of the Guerrière spread a degree of gloom through the town that was painful to observe."
The Navy continued with several more impressive victories during the war, and many memorable heroes (Captain Lawrence, "Don't Give Up the Ship"--now the Navy motto, and Commodore Perry, "We have met the enemy, and they are ours"). Unfortunately, for reasons a lengthier view of the War of 1812 could only explain, despite what we are taught in school about Jackson's victory at the Battle of New Orleans, the war ended in a draw (despite what Bill Murray claimed in Stripes). Without the heroics of the American Navy coming of age, our future as a nation would have been altered beyond comprehension.
Let me know what you think at americanhistory.guide@about.com
Till next week...
David
Additional Resources:
As a result of a commercial relationship between About.com, its Guides and Amazon.com online booksellers, these titles can be purchased directly from Amazon.com by following the links below. (Note: Amazon.com is solely responsible for fulfillment of book orders placed through these links.)
Wars of America, The, by Robert Leckie (1968)
Vineyard of Liberty, The by James MacGregor Burns (1982)
Military History of the United States, The by Cristopher, Chant (1992)
Dictionary of American History , published by Charles Scribner's Sons