First Woman to Command the USS Constitution

From January 7, 2022, California Times.

The U.S. Navy announced January 4,  that a woman would take command of the USS Constitution, also known as the "Old Ironsides."  This will be the first time in the vessel's 224-year history that a woman has commanded the ship.

Commander Billy J. Farrell will take over from Commander John Vendor,  who has been in charge since February 2020.  She is from Paducah, Kentucky, and graduated from the Naval Academy in 2004 and most recently was executive officer on the USS Vicksburg.

The first woman to serve on the crew was sailor Rosemary Lanham in 1986.  The first woman to serve as an appointed officer on the Constitution was Lieutenant Commander  Claire V. Bloom, an executive officer and  head of the 1997 sail when the ship sailed under her own power for the first time since 1881.

Today, more than  one third of her 80 person crew is female.

You've Come a Long Way.  --Brock-Perry

USS Constitution Continues Tradition; Names Gun 'Beat Army'

From the December 9, 2021, Charlestown Patriot-Bridge.

The USS Constitution named one of its 24-pound long guns "Beat Army" in support  of the U.S. Naval Academy Midshipmen as they take on the U.S. Military Academy's Black Knights in the  2021 annual Army-Navy game on December 11.

"Beat Army" was chosen  after they named one of their guns "Go Navy" for the 2020 matchup.

Historically, 24-pounder long gun teams consisted of up to 14 men operating two guns on opposite sides of the ship.

When paired in a gun team, the two guns would read "Go Navy, Beat Army."

The official "Beat Army" unveiling can be seen December 11 on the USS Constitution's Facebook, Instagram and Twitter pages.

And, by the way, we watched the game at the McHenry, Illinois, American Legion and there was a whole lot of rivalry there, as well as a chili cookoff.  What a great way to spend a Saturday afternoon with all that tradition and good eating.

And, by the way, Navy won 17-13, in a close game.

Go Navy, Beat Army.

About Seaman Ortiz-Lopez's Ship, the USS Constitution

But, you probably already knew.

The USS Constitution is the world's oldest commissioned warship afloat and played a crucial role in the Barbary Wars and especially the War of 1812.

The ship was undefeated in battle and captured 33 enemy ships in its career.

For many years it served as a dormitory for U.S. Navy midshipmen at the U.S. Naval Academy.

The ship got its nickname, "Old Ironsides" after it was seen that British cannonballs bounced off its wooden sides during the War of 1812.

An ironclad built during the Civil War, made of iron, had the name "New Ironsides."

--Brock-Perry

Descendants of Christopher R. Perry-- Part 1: Oliver, Matthew, Alexander and Raymond

From Wikipedia.

To say the family of this man was important in U.S. Naval and Military History is an understatement.  Besides his children, of whom all five sons were in the Navy and one daughter married a Navy man, he had many others descendants who served their country.

SONS:  The best known are, of course, Oliver Hazard Perry and Matthew Calbraith Perry.

OTHERS:

Brevet Brig. Gen. Alexander James Perry (1828-1913)  Career Army officer, West Point graduate and served in the Civil War.

Rear Admiral Christopher Raymond Perry Rodgers (1819-1892).  Served in Mexican War and Civil War,  Was Superintendent of the USNA and Commander of the Pacific Squadron.

Rear Admiral Raymond Perry Rodgers (1849-1925), son of the above, Spanish-American War.

And, We're Just Beginning.  --Brock-Perry

British Flag Captured in War of 1812 On Display at USNA Museum

From the April 6, 2018, Annapolis (Md) Patch  "British Flag Captured In War Of 1812 To Go On Display"

Viewing of a British Royal Standard flag will take place at the United States Naval Academy (USNA) Museum in Dahlgren Hall April 7.  It flew over York (now Toronto) Canada and was captured by U.S. forces during the War of 1812.

Both Congressional and Presidential Directives require the USNA to preserve and exhibit captured flags.

This will be the first time this particular flag has been seen by the public since the 1880s when it was "lost,"  The flag is 35' by 25' in size.

The museum has over 60,000 items and several War of 1812 flags.  Among its flag collection are 200 battle flags and over 600 flags altogether.

--Brock-Perry

Preble's Flag-- Part 1: Recently Rediscovered at Annapolis

From the January 2018, War On the Rocks:  Preble's Flag:  An Emerging Navy Fights Chinese Pirates" by Claude Berube.

In December last year, the staff at the USNA Museum in Annapolis rediscovered quite a few flags from the 18th century that were thought to have been lost, including ones from the Spanish-American War and the Korean Expedition of 1871.

One of particular interest was a flag captured by George Henry Preble, a young Navy lieutenant in his first command.  It was from a largely-forgotten fight with Chinese pirates in 1854.

This story is a bit beyond the scope of this War of 1812 blog, but quite a few of the ships and people in the story were involved with the war, so I will write about it.

--Brock-Perry

Government Shutdown Closes Fort McHenry

The ridiculous standoff between Republicans and Democrats in Congress has struck the War of 1812 in that Fort McHenry is closed as is the museum at the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, though you can still stroll the grounds.

In Boston, the "Old Ironsides" remains open but Charlestown Navy Yard is closed.

Also, the Bunker Hill Monument is closed, but you can still stroll the grounds.

The John F. Kennedy Presidential Library is closed.

What would Old Hickory have done?

Dumb Congressmen.  The British Couldn't, But ...  --Brock-Perry

The USS Constitution Is Back In the Water Again

From the July 24, 2017, USA Today  "The USS Constitution -- 'Old Ironsides' -- is back afloat again" by Matthew Diebel.

The world's oldest commissioned warship, launched in 1797, is afloat again after a $12 million project which replaced most of its copper cladding with 2,200 sheets, repairing outside wooden planks and rebuilding its 42 gun carriages.

Refurbishing of the rigging and masts will be done before the ship reopens for visitors in August.  The ship received its name from George Washington and won three major ship-to-ship victories in the War of 1812.

It remained on active duty until 1855.  After that it became a training ship for the USNA then a touring national landmark.  Since 1934 it has been based at Charleston Navy Yard in Boston.

One Hell of A Ship.  --Bock-Perry

Fort Madison: Lost and Found?

From the April 25, 2012, Military Times "Possible remains of Army fort found at USNA" by Tina Reed.

There is a giant slab of marble in the middle of the firing range at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.  It is a piece of a fort long buried.  Records show Fort Madison was built of 100,000 bricks and likely had a dry moat around it.

Today, it is completely flattened with just that slab of marble to show its former existence.  Nearby Fort Severn is much-better known even though today it is beneath a wing of Bancroft Hall of the Academy.

Fort Madison was built at the request of President Thomas Jefferson and among 62 forts built along the US Atlantic coast between Maine and Florida.

It was razed in the 1930s for the firing range.

So, That's What Happened to It.  --Brock-Perry