In 1794, Congress and President George Washington recognized the need for the United States to have a naval presence on the Atlantic. Most of the population lived near the ocean, and with miles of coastline, this left the United States vulnerable to attack.
So that year, Congress enacted the Naval Act of 1794, which approved the construction six frigates that would serve as the first navy of the United States of America. Included in those ships would be the USS Constellation, a 38-gun frigate that would be the first American Naval vessel to face the enemy in open battle.
The Design
Congress appointed a Philadelphia shipbuilder named Joshua Humphreys to design and build the frigates. Looking at the world’s navies, Humphreys had a choice between the strong, sturdy but slow ships of the British Navy, or the quick, maneuverable but less robust ships of the French Navy.
Humphreys decided to split the difference and build his frigates to be quick but strong. In order to accomplish this, Humphreys was very adamant about the materials used in construction, including the use of American Live Oak.
American Live Oak, found only in the southeastern United States, is a very dense and heavy wood. So dense and heavy that cutting through it was an extremely difficult task as it was said a blow with an axe would simply bounce off the board.
First To Sea
The difficulties working with the wood and gathering supplies meant the first of the ships would not be ready for launch until 1797. But that year, Humphreys launched the USS United States, a 44-gun frigate that he personally oversaw construction of in Philadelphia. Upon the launch of the United States, however, the ship struck the bottom of the riverbed and needed extensive repairs before it could be put to sea.
That left the Constellation, which was built in Baltimore, as the first U.S. Naval vessel to be launched and successfully deployed into action.
And the launch did not come any to soon as the United States was heading into its first international conflict of its young life.
Quasi-War
In 1797, the French were at war with Britain and other monarchies in Europe as part of the French Revolution. The United States, who had received aid from France in the American Revolution, had chosen to stay neutral in the conflict; rightfully assuming the country was not ready for war.
This coupled with a view in France that the Americans actually were more sympathetic to the British, sparked an undeclared war in late 1798 on American shipping on the high seas. Called the Quasi-War because no state of war actually existed, it mainly consisted French privateers raiding American merchant ships in the Caribbean.
After its launch, the Constellation was sent to the Caribbean to protect American shipping. Under the command of Captain Thomas Truxton, the Constellation was under orders to attack any French privateer or ship of war.
Constellation Battles L’Insurgente
Constellation got is first taste of battle in early 1799 when it came across the French commerce raider L’Insurgente off the coast of the island of Nevis. L’Insurgente, a 40 gun frigate, had recently been involved in the capture of the United States vessel the Retaliation.
Not knowing it was a French ship in his spy glass, Truxton moved to with hailing distance of the unknown vessel and first flew the private British signal and then the private American signal. Receiving no response from the enemy ship, Truxton took the stranger to be French and began the pursuit.
As was custom for commerce raiders, the L’Insurgente tried to outrun the pursuing American ship. During the chase, a squall blew up and both commanders needed to a make a choice, either pull in the sails or risk losing a mast.
Truxton decided to continue the pursuit and Humphrey’s sturdy design held strong, while the French ship lost its top mast and was forced to fight the American vessel. The engagement lasted about an hour with the American boat pounding the French vessel's hull and severely damaging the L’Insurgente. Seeing he was out gunned and beaten the French captain struck his colors. Truxton and his men boarded the ship, took the officers prisoner and claimed the L’Insurgente as a prize.
Aftermath
Constellation followed up its victory over L’Insurgente with a victory over the larger 54-gun French ship, L’Vengeance in 1800 and captured several smaller privateers and French raiders.
Constellations victories did much to end the Quasi War with France and gave the United States Navy a proud start. Constellation would serve in the coming years in Mediterranean, battling pirates and in the War of 1812.
The ship was decommissioned in 1853.
Source:
Toll, Ian W., Six Frigates: The Epic History of the Founding of The U.S. Navy (W.W. Norton, 2006)
Bryan Rose - I have always had a passion for sports and history. Basically they were the two things that got me through high school and ...
Join the Conversation