USS Constitution Launches – “A Magnificent Spectacle!” – Part II

Editor’s Note: On May 10, 2022, Naval History and Heritage Command began commemorating the 225^th anniversary of the launch of the first of the U.S. Navy’s six frigates (United States), which began the new United States Navy. The launch of the frigates is a significant moment in both U.S. Navy and American history, and the U.S. Navy’s earliest heroes, achievements, and traditions are part of the six frigates story. 
 
 
 
When we left USS Constitution, the huge warship had twice failed to launch and was stuck between Edmund Hartt’s shipyard and the waters of Boston Harbor. Months before the September 20, 1797 first attempt, George Claghorn, Constitution’s constructor, in a congratulatory letter after the launch of the United States, expressed the hope that he would “give the same pleasing Account of the Frigate Constitution some time in August….”[1]
 
Despite Claghorn’s hopes and preparations, Constitution failed to launch. On September 26, 1797 the Norwich Packet published Boston news dated September 23: “We this day were in hopes to have announced to the public, the launch of the frigate Constitution: -- But after two attempts to set her afloat, she remains in perfect safety, on the ways where she was constructed. However mortifying the circumstances may be…there cannot be the least imputable blame attached to the Constructor….”[2]
 
Joshua Humphreys, the frigates’ principle designer, added thoughts on the failed launches, “I have seen M^r William Penrose and conversed with him on the subject of the Frigate at Boston, [and] he is of opinion the Ship was laid with too little descent, which was the principle cause of her stoping [sic], that she has not settled not more than an inch or two, and in his opinion has not received any injury, and that she is in as good a situation for Launching as before they attempted it, that by taking up, the Launching ways and cutting the wharf down at the outer end, so as to give the ways more descent the Frigate may be Launched with safety – “[3]
 
Claghorn made a similar determination. “On examining the ways…, I find they have both settled abaft about one and five-eighths of an inch; which circumstance, as it could not have been foreseen, the descent of the ways was not calculated to overcome, and which solely occasioned her to stop.
            I had formed the inclined plane upon the smallest angle that I conceived would convey the ship into the water, in order that she might make her plunge with the least violence, and thereby prevent any strain or injury; I must now give the ways more descent which will remedy the defect occasioned by the settling of the new wharf [built after the September 20 launch]; and I am fully confident that the next trial, at the high tides in October, will be attended with success….”[4]
 
The October tides coincided with the new moon on Friday, the 20th. Claghorn, however, chose Saturday, the 21st as his third (and what, we can only imagine, he hoped would be his final) attempt to launch Constitution. Why didn’t he choose the 20th, the date of the new moon and the highest tides? While we don’t know for certain, it may be that Claghorn took no chances and as the ancient superstition dictated that it was bad luck to launch or send a vessel to sea on a Friday.[5]
 
As the old saying goes, “third time’s the charm” – and so it was with Constitution. The Columbian Centinel described the Boston waterfront on the morning of October 21st, “…Col. Claghorn, anxious to give as early information of the intended operation, as possible, directed a gun to be fired, at day-light on Saturday morning last, as a signal, that at full sea, he should move her into her destined element.” As twice before, Bostonians gathered for the event and “Before noon, a very numerous and brilliant collection of citizens assembled at the spectacle….” But there was no President John Adams in attendance as at the first launch and neither did Salem’s inveterate chronicler, the Reverend William Bentley attend. In fact, Bentley, who had witnessed both failed launches, didn’t even mention the October 21st event in his diary. On schedule, “at 15 minutes after 12 – at the first strokes at the spur-shores [removal of supporting timbers], she commenced a movement into the water, with such steadiness, majesty and exactness as to fill almost every breast with sensations of joy and delight, superior by far, to the mortification they had before experienced.”[6] The Norwich Courier trumpeted the success: “THE LAUNCH – A MAGNIFICENT SPECTACLE!” and described the frigate as “an elegant and supurb [sic] specimen of American Naval Architecture, strength and beauty.”[7]
 

Constitution, once launched, rode “at her mooring in the harbour, a pleasing sight, to those who contemplate her as the germ of a naval force, which in no remote period of time, will protect the flag of the United States from the depredations of piratical marauders.”[8]
 
According to a local newspaper, all who helped build the huge warship took great pride in their affiliation with the project. “The best judges have pronounced the CONSTITUTION, like her archetype to be a perfect model of elegance, strength, and durability:  -- And every individual employed in her construction appears to pride himself in having assisted at the production of chef-d’ouvre of Naval Architecture.”[9]
 
And what of Colonel George Claghorn? “Too much praise cannot be given to Col. CLAGHORN, for the coolness and regularity, displayed in the whole business of the Launch; and the universal congratulations he received were evidences of the public testimony, of his skill, intelligence and circumspection.”[10]
 
Successfully launching the nearly empty hull of Constitution was just the beginning of the end of the frigate’s construction. The next nine months were consumed with finishing and outfitting the ship with the thousands of items needed for a crew of over 400 that would remain at sea for several months at a time. The masts, yards, and miles of rigging had been manufactured and assembled months before and were now to be installed. Thousands of gallons of water and tons of preserved foods were stowed in barrels in the ship’s hold. And all the accoutrements of a warship were assembled and brought on board. Included were 60 muskets for the Marine detachment, 200 cutlasses and 100 pairs of pistols for boarding, 3000 flannel cartridges for the 24-pound long guns and 1400 flannel cartridges for the 12-pound long guns, and 1750 round shot, to name some of the materiel needed for battle.[11]
 
Less than one year after the launch and even before Constitution had embarked on its first deployment, George Claghorn’s duties as the Boston naval constructor were terminated. Secretary of War McHenry wrote, “The duties of the constructor having for some time past ceased to have any subject to act upon, you will consider your Salary to have ceased and determined [?] on the first of april [sic] ultimo.”[12]
 
USS Constitution first put to sea on July 21, 1798 but did not, in fact, sail to the Mediterranean against Algerine corsairs.  Instead, the big frigate was deployed to the Caribbean Sea to protect U.S. merchant vessels from the French Navy and privateers in the un-declared naval war with France.
 
Within weeks of leaving Boston, a dispatch was published noting Constitution’s excellent sailing qualities, “the frigate answers every expectation, and sails, in the opinion of every officer, superior to any ship they ever saw. – She is an excellent sea-boat, our crew all well and happy….”[13]
 
Thus began the storied 225-year career of the U.S. Navy’s oldest commissioned warship afloat, USS Constitution.