Constellation USS
Posted: Sat Aug 30, 2008 3:39 pm
U.S.S. Constellation by de Simone appears on the lr. stamp. She was built by Samuel and Joseph Sterrett, at Baltimore, Maryland, and was the first of the 36-gun frigates, being launched on September 7, 1797. David Stodder was the naval constructor in charge of her building. In 1805-12 she was rebuilt and was widened 14 ins. Again rebuilt in 1854, she was lengthened and cut down one deck, each time her lines being altered to some extent. As first built her gun deck was 163 ft. 7 in.; moulded beam 40 ft. and depth of hold 13 ft. 6 in. and she was a sister-ship to the Congress. Built as 36's, they were raised to 38's, as they were sufficiently large to carry the increased battery. The Constellation had a distinguished career. On February 9; 1799 she fought and captured the 40-gun frigate L `Insurgente and captured two French privateers. On February 1, 1800, she fought the 52-gun frigate Vengeance, which struck but later escaped in darkness. She recaptured three American merchantmen in May 1800 and was active in the Mediterra¬nean from 1802-1805, blockading, bombarding hostile ports and protecting American shipping. She was blockaded in Hampton Roads during much of the 1812 war. Again in the Mediterranean from 1815-17, she captured the Algerian frigate Mashuda. Until 1865 she was consistently at sea, principally protecting American shipping and putting down the slave trade. She was recommissioned in 1840, and at present is a public memorial at Baltimore.