USS Constitution to Commemorate Its Last two Captures-- Part 2

The battle in which the Constitution captured the HMS Cyane and HMS Levant took place February 20, 1815 near the Portuguese archipelago of Madeira in the Atlantic Ocean.  The Constitution was commanded by Charles Stewart (who was the senior flag officer in the U.S. Navy when the Civil War broke out and placed on the retired list on December 21, 1861, at the age of 83).

The Treaty of Ghent had been ratified by the U.S. three days earlier so the war was officially over, but a clause in the treaty allowed hostilities to continue until news of it reached all parties concerned.  As a result, the Constitution was able to keep its prizes.

The HMS Cyane later served in the U.S. Navy.  The HMS Levant was recaptured by the British Navy.

The USS Constitution is the world's oldest commissioned warship and actively served from 1797 to 1855.  Today it is manned by U.S. Navy personnel and a part of Boston's famous "Freedom Trail."  Some 500,000 visitors see the ship a year. and it is scheduled to be drydocked at Charlestowne Navy Yard this spring for a three-year restoration.

I saw the ship once, but the line to go aboard was too long.

--Brock-Perry