8. Old Ironsides
Katherine D. Bennett
Recently I received and e-mail about the USS Constitution that I found thought provoking. I love to study the odds and ends of history, and this is an odd end to be certain.
Apparently the USS Constitution was an amazing ship, and after I received this e-mail, I felt compelled to read up on its history. I was truly impressed with what I discovered. The USS Constitution is an authentic American ship. It is constructed out of 2000 Southern live oaks milled in Georgia. Paul Revere forged the copper spikes and bolts that held the planks in place. Additionally, he manufactured the copper sheeting that protected the hull of the ship. Just these facts are amazing. Although our country was new, it was resourceful enough to begin manufacturing. Talent was allowed to blossom. It was a vital environment for growth.
The ship was constructed in an original way, and was the benchmark for technology for its day. It was larger than most frigates of its time, and was more fully armed than what was considered standard for the day. The hull of the ship was so strong that it was said that cannon balls bounced harmlessly off her sides, earning her the nickname “Old Ironsides”. Those that designed the ship were allowed to think in original ways and try new things. Trusting the creative is a hard thing for authorities, but the authorities in our early years trusted their best and brightest.
From the time she was launched in 1797 her performance record has been exemplary. She began her career patrolling the southeast coast of our fledgling country during the Quasi-War with France, protecting the coast from French privateers, entrenched pirates and other ne’er-do-well members of the French Revolution. It is hard to imagine how dangerous this had to have been. Pirates were violent sociopaths, and their cunning and ruthlessness is hard to imagine. Soon after helping to route the privateers and pirates, the Constitution was sent to the Barbary Coast to protect shipping interests from local rulers that demanded unlawful tribute from American merchants sailing in coastal waters. She patrolled the coast for two years and then returned to Boston for repairs and refitting. In 1807 she was recommissioned as a flagship of the North American Atlantic Squadron. In 1812, when the war began with the United Kingdom, her orders were to prevent blockades, and she battled and sank two British ships, the HMS Guerriere, and the HMS Java. Old Ironsides was a great boost to the morale of the average American, proving to the public Americans had the capacity to protect themselves from the superpower of the day. After having to be docked for repairs, the USS Constitution accomplished eight more captures of a variety of British merchant ships before the war was over in 1815. The story goes on with the ship serving the country’s interests in a variety of capacities, and amazingly, the ship is still commissioned today.
Now, here is where the e-mail that inspired me comes in. The e-mail tells of how the USS Constitution set sail in July of 1798 and spent approximately seven months in constant raids and skirmishes against Britain and British interests. The e-mail lists the ship’s complement as including 48, 000 gallons of fresh water and 79, 400 gallons of rum among the list of provisions. Then the message continues, detailing the ship’s exploits, always mentioning the provisions that were taken aboard, including 64,300 gallons of Portuguese wine, all the rum off of twelve English merchant ships, and 40,000 gallons of Scottish whiskey. According to the e-mail, the ship returned to America in February of 1799, empty of all provisions except for 38,000 gallons of stagnant water.
I have to admit the story fascinated me, and it was written in a way to show how gutsy and bad-boy our early sailors were. I mean, harassing superpowers and espionage colonial-style took a rare kind of bravery, especially if the crew was never entirely sober.
Unfortunately, the story is an urban legend, even though it has made it onto several reputable web-sites. There are no records to validate the information. During this time frame, the United States and Great Britain had established an uneasy trade alliance and it would be unlikely the Americans would attack British ships. During this time frame, the Americans were very busy fighting the Quasi-War with France. This undeclared war with France’s Revolutionary government was fought entirely at sea, and it is doubtful any ship would be spared to harass British ships at this time. I would imagine fighting privateers would take quite a bit of effort and time. Finally, for the sailors to sail back into port with no alcohol would require that each crew member drink at least two gallons of liquor a day. I don’t know if that is possible and still manage a ship. Of course, if the sailors were drinking two gallons of rum or whiskey a day, perhaps they could end up in the Azores while they were supposed to be near the southeast coast of the United States. I don’t drink alcohol and don’t know what feats being tipsy could get accomplished. (Well I did get tipsy that one time on my first anniversary when I ended conceiving my daughter, so maybe a tipsy person can accomplish great things while under the influence, but I digress.) I do still have to doubt that the USS Constitution was involved in the particular deeds described in the e-mail, reality being as it is. It doesn’t really matter, though, that the story is an urban legend. It’s a great story and I enjoyed it very much, but taking it out of the truth mix doesn’t take anything away from history. It is hard to embellish a story that is already so great. Old Ironsides still has an amazing history with or without the wild one about half drunk sailors sailing about whacking all things British. Go Navy!