From Wikipedia
Yesterday, I mentioned the USS Constitution entering Marblehead Harbor and the guns of Fort Sewall protecting the ship from British pursuit. Here's a follow-up.
At the time, the Constitution was under the command of Captain Charles Stewart who took command of the ship in Boston in 1813 and made two cruises.
On the first, the ship sailed from Boston Decemeber 31st for the West Indies and captured five merchant ships and the 14-gun HMS Pictou. It chased the HMS Columbine and Pique, but both ships got away.
Off Bermuda, it was discovered that the mainmast had split and in need of immediate repair. The ship headed for Boston. On April 3rd, two British frigates, the HMS Junon and Tenedos sighted the Constitution and gave chase.
To gain speed, Stewart had the drinking water and food thrown overboard as he redirected the ship to Marblehead The very last item thrown overboard were the ship's spirits.
The citizens of Marblehead assembled what cannons they had at Fort Sewall and the British ships withdrew. Two weeks later, the Constitution made its way to Boston where it was blockaded for eight months.
Back on July 21, 1997, the USS Constitution sailed for the first time to Marblehead Harbor.
A Close-Call for the Constitution. --Brock-Perry
2012 marks the 200th anniversary of America's "Forgotten War," the War of 1812 that took place over three years, 1812 to 1815.
Battle of New Orleans.
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