Constellation (CV 64) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 10 text:

ci yanglfjee Racehorse . . -A - . . - A EEEEEEE eeeeeeeet-.easeseeeeeeet-.eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeseeseeeeeeeeeegsaassig if-2522 EE is 7 - ' J . , -iff' kv flklhvi fide' 4 .V X,-'I :- f 1-'sg J . 1. f- ' ' il ' ' 12- L-, .-.Ai I - ' ju. ,fi -4 I' ,f.,,Lx., A-4, .-a, .4 , - - A , - . -,,.,,N-, ,, V. 'r ' . . NP- 1' lm' ' 1' s ' . .- v Q . , .A ' . 2--si . - ff' - '--'S-5. A ' -fi I. . n ,D -. -. A A A A . Z gag-V A I .-T .ii-,-. 1 X-6 . --sw . -. 7 'x gg-, g 'X . ' . , Y f 5,-,X U ' Q P V I u 14 1 i?'iJt'Q,'F-.---!7 li, QZLQRT V . A L 'i :G 1, 51' Q-by-.' fm, 1 sfik .4 15121: ' . X V 1' :wi ' T .- V ,gg - :A , , -Y A -..-Q . .-.-,mi ,t x ,L Y . iv I kf 1 X . -:f,35,' ' ' 7' ' , 1 N , 1 1 I it U.S. Frigate Constellation's spirit endures for 190 years Byggg Bi11Mi1e5 Constellation in several significant ways. He incorporated a 'l ' The first ship to be commissioned in the United States Navy, the first to put to sea and the first to engage, defeat and capture an enemy vessel was the three-masted, square-rigged U.S. Frigate Constellation. From the undeclared naval war against France in 1798 through World War ll. the Constellation, America's oldest float- ing warship, has for more than 190 years and five wars survived the tempers of the sea and the wiles of belligerent nations. It all started on March 27. 1794. when a special act of Congress provided for the formation of the United States Navy and for the building of six frigates. The ships were given symbolic names which the new country could rally around: names such as Constitution. Congress, Chesapeake, United States and President But the first to be commissioned received the name held in highest esteem by the fledging Congress: the name for that ring of stars, white in a blue field, on the new American flag: Constellation. Her name is one of pride that emerged as evidence of a new spirit in a growing na- tion. She was built by master designer David Stoddard. The wood for her construction was live oak from Georgia and the Carolinas. and work began in late 1795 at the Harris Creek ship- yard in Baltimore. Stoddard changed the War Department's plans for 6 1987 Cruisebook much sharper bow as well as constructing the ship to carry 33 cannons instead of the 36 she was designed for. From the peak of her skyscraping mainmast to the solid construction of her wooden deck was a distance of 180 feet. Her length was five feet less. Her crew consisted of 309 adventurous men. On Sept. 7, 1797, Constellation slid down the ways into the Patapsco River, launching a career that would span 157 yea1'S- Her reputation for speed, resulting from her clipper lines, earned her the nickname of 'Yankee Racehorse. On a day of open w1ndS and calm seas she could attain the thrilling speed of 13 liflots while sailing under nearly an acre of canvas sail. In addition to her sleekness and speed, she was also classified as an excellent sailer, particularly in heavy weather. The construction of the Yankee Racehorse was completed just in time, because in June 1798, the United States was alreadl' involved in its first naval war, undeclared with France. I The outstanding American achievement in this quasi-wat' came on Feb. 9, 1799 in West Indian waters when Constellation. under the command of Capt. Thomas Truxton, fought and captur- ed the 40-gun French frigate L'Insurgente, which at the time WHS reputed as being the fastest ship in the French Navy the World. It was the first battle fought by one of the original SIX ffl' gates. In the battle which lasted 75 minutes, 29 Frenchmerl were killed and 41 wounded, compared to only one dead and three

Page 9 text:

9, ,I vw- Z A-fav ,gm-V A 8

Page 11 text:

EEESEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE wounded on the Yankee Racehorse. When news of this victorious battle reached America. there was celebration everywhere, and the battle tested crew and their fearless leader were given heroes' welcomes. After his triumph over L'Insurgente, Truxton and Constellation fought a second single-ship action in February 1800, a night encounter with Frances La Vengeance of 54 guns. The battle lasted for tive hours, and so violent was the fighting that La Vengeance struck her colors in signal of surrender three times and no one noticed. She finally managed to escape only be- cause Conste11ation's mainmast snapped and went over the side, allowing the French warship to slip away into the darkness. Even though Truxton was robbed of a second prize. he emerg- ed safely With enhanced credit and a victory from his encounter with a ship of superior force. La Vengeance suffered about 50 dead and more than 100 wounded while the Yankee Racehorse only suffered 14 dead and 25 wounded. Both battles were indeed cause for rejoicing. Constellation had agressively defended America's right of safe passage on the seas for its merchant ships. These first naval victories served no- tice to the world that impressment, imprisonment and harass- ment of American merchant seaman and their vessels would no longer be tolerated. While the victories of Tnxxton and Constellation were most important, they also together made another. even greater contri- bution to the infant United States Navy. This was the system of conduct, discipline, gunnery, signals and naval operations put in- to effect by Truxton while in command of Constellation. His sys- tem set a pattern of success and efficiency that is the basis of U.S. .Naval procedure to this day. By 1800, Truxton had left, but his discipline and tradition had started the Yankee Racehorse on one of the greatest sagas of the sea. The saga continued as Constellation fought with honor in :Q- the Barbary wars and the War of 1812, helping to prevent an im- posing British Fleet and invasion forces from landing at Hampton Roads, Va. In the 1840s she circumnavigated the globe and served as flagship of the East India Squadron for Commodore Lawrence Kearny. Under his command, Constellation became the first United States ship-of-war to enter the inland waters of China. Kearny's success on Constellation opened Chinese ports to Opposite page: The U.S. Frigate Constellation, nicknamed 'Yankee Racehorse. with nearly an acre of canvas sail filled with the wind, as painted by Co. Phillips Melville. Below: The USF Constellation lrightl and the French frig- ate La Vengeance engaged in a spirited single-ship duel. fl? ,. ,. . W, ,V , . ,, gr-, ,A . 2' e Wwffip, . A .W ' fy fi. aligiiv? .ra jf N 4 , M f -5 , , . - -V ,,, -1- r f , . .::..5-I-.TFP-,Y ., . I ,,- f l, af S2 cgi. it -in in 1 A 'w. , 7 'i'f' sen:-L , .l .,,.y. , g , 1, 4 Q' 4 4 v f of .-.1 1 as , ig , N ,s x .,. K V . . , H ,. .-an-.-5'-' , 1 L. , - - - - , ns- - Q ' - . -' ' l V V' ,V 1 - - . df,-XJ - -- f - ' -...:.....-.i-..---:--4.2- -- '