Newly Acquired Documents Relating to the Early Years of the USS Constitution to Be Unveiled-- Part 1

 From the October 21, 2020, Boston 25 News  "Papers shed light on early years of 'Old Ironsides,' Navy" by Marl Pratt, AP.

The collection was revealed on a Facebook Live celebration of the ship's 223rd birthday.

One of the documents shows the private signals used between the U.S. Navy and that of the United Kingdom.

The USS Constitution Museum has acquired 150 documents, including correspondence between George Washington's Secretary of War and the leader of the Haitian Revolution, that shed light on the ship's early history.  Most people know a lot about the ship in the War of 1812, but not much else.  The Haitian revolution was the United States' first international conflict.

The collection had been in private hands for more than 225 years, but was obtained at auction.  It is the largest collection the museum has gotten in more than a decade.

The cost of the documents was not disclosed, but they were paid for by a group of museum supporters called the Commodores.

Thanks Commodores.  --Brock-Perry