Old Ironsides is Commissioned

     The U.S.S Constitution was one of six frigates ordered for construction by an act of Congress in
1794. Joshua Humphreys made the Constitution to be more heavily armed than the standard run of frigate.
     Built in Boston of oak, the Constitutions planks were up to seven inches thick. Once she was armed she was immediately put out to sea in July 1798 and saw her first live action defending the southeast coast of the United States during Quasi-War with France.
     In 1803 she was first repaired, and then became designated flagship for the Mediterranean squadron during the Barbary War under Captain Edward Preble.
     After a combative campaign against Tripoli the Constitution guarded the North African coast for two
years to enforce the terms of the treaty.

     By early 1812, relations with Great Britain had transformed and the Navy began planning for war.
July 17 the Constitution sighted five ships off the coast of Egg Harbor, New Jersey. The lookouts on the Constitution sighted a British squadron that was giving chase. Hull and his crew, finding themselves becalmed, put boats over the edge to tow their ship out of range. Using every ounce of wind Hull made progress against the pursuing British. Two days later Constitution finally dodged her pursuers.
     About one month later Constitution encountered the Guerriere. The British ship fired the first shot
of this legendary battle. 20 minutes later the Guerriere was dismantled and so badly damaged she was not worth towing to port. To the British's astonishment their shot seemed to harmlessly rebound
off the Constitution's hull-giving her the nickname "Old Ironsides".
     Four months later the Constitution met Java, another British ship. Three hours later after
encountering the British frigate, she was unfit for repair so she was burned.
     After all the years and all the repairs she never lost a battle of the forty she fought. To this day
she is the oldest ship afloat.

Matt Eakin & Josh Cowen