From the August 23, 2012, Manchester (Ct) Patch by Philip R. Devlin.
This was certainly a sight to see back a year ago when the oldest commissioned warship sailed under its own power for a short distance. Made me proud to be an American even as we appraoch this year's Fourth of July.
This ship is based in Massachusetts, but has Connecticut connections as it were.
The ship's first War of 1812 commander, Isaac Hull of Derby, took command on June 18, 1810 and served as captain until September 15, 1812. He and the ship made its name when on August 19, 1812, it engaged the British frigate HMS Guerriere, a captured French ship whose name means "Warrior."
The outmatched Guerriere was dismasted and forced to surrender after several boradsides in which close to 40% of its crew were killed or wounded. The crew was transferred to the Constitution and the ship set afire.
It was at this battle that the Constitution got its nickname, "Old Ironsides" as British cannonballs bounced off the sides of its extra thick hull. The ship had been constructed of the densest of all oak trees, the Southern Plantation Oak from Georgia.
The Constitution's hull was 21-inches thick, three times thicker than the hulls of most warships. Plus, the Constitution mounted heavier and more cannons than the Guerriere which also helped immensely inthe battle.
More to Come. --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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