Show HUISTIATtON IY THEOOOftf C EWEN This frigate fought some of our ' " greatest navalbattles then sank into obscurity nowAmericans - ' ' 'v- i - are restoring her as another link with our proud past " y t By ADM ARTHUR W RADFORD Admiral Arthur W Radford now retired served in three wart during hit 45 yearn of active naval duty and woe the Pentagon's chairman of the Joint Chieft of Staff on Me re--y tirenient in 1957 Bom in he hae been oaaociatcd with two fhrmt at a consultant and three as a director since his retirement Admiral Radford lives in Washington-D- $ - Chi-ca- po ach teas thousands of persons dimb aboard the UJ5S Constitution (“Old Ironsides”) in Boa-to- n They pause to admire her cannon look skyward along her majestic masts and feel a surge of patriotic pride Meanwhile some 400 miles southwest a sister craft— older than Ac Constitution and now the Navy's oldest warship— floats in relative obscurity its stirring history unknown to most of us The name of the gallant ship that 162 years ago was winning the US Navy's first great sea victory is the UJ5J9 Constellation Her commander was Thomas Truxtun often called “The Father of the US Navy” How did he and the Constellation come to win one of the first of our Navy’s notable triumphs? After the American Revolution the few war- shipa we owned had been sold or scrapped And as inevitably happens when defenses are weak other powers began humiliating our young nation and exploiting its interests abroad President George Washington asked for authority to form a navy and in 1797 three frigates were launched: the United States the Constellation and last by six weeks the Constitution Truxtun himself had helped supervise the Constellation’s construction Short stocky one of the most respected sailors in the world he had gone to sea at 12 served briefly in the British navy cap- tabled an American merchant ship during the Revolution and later formulated navigational train- -' ' ing and command procedures which were the basis for our navy’s greatness His ship 170 feet long with three masts square-riggand 38 guns was far from being a giant of the sea Britain and France had several 'sailing dreadnoughts But the Constellation was speedy maneuverable and solidly built On her first cruise Truxtun molded his 360- man crew into a skilled fearless fighting team Late in 1798 orders came to venture into the Caribbean where dozens of French privateers were intercepting our ships and seizing their cargoes On Feb 9 1799 while cruising just oft the small islands southeast of Puerto Rico Truxtun sighted an unidenti- £ as told to Alfred Balk fied vessel some 15 miles away-- 1 “Hoist all sail!” he commanded our opportunity” un “Ibis may be r” half-centu- T Tinmna or ova most distinguished naval T ‘ was unattended— At 4: 30 her captain made his decision “Strike the coins!” he ordered “The Americans have won!” j Txcxtujc learned only later the true of his victory Not only had he and his crew outmaneuvered seamen of a power that ranked alongside Britain in that day but they had captured what was considered the fastest and one of the most feared ships in 'the world the formidable L’lusurpeute Three weeks elapsed before courier ships carried the news to the United States For days it overshadowed all other topics in every community In Boston citizens celebrated for an entire day A special play and song were introduced in Philadelphia Congress created a special gold medal for hero Truxtun Thomas 40-g- un ry de en ed 100-g- American trade again began to thrive ship in-surance rates were reduced to reasonable levels the French government and others began to receive U£ diplomats with new respect TUs however was only the first chapter of the Constellation epic She went on to capture other privateer ships fought heroically in the War of 1812 and sailed around the world to help inaugurate the “Open-Doopolicy in China after her launching More than a she was capturing illegal slave-traships off Africa During the Civil War she was on blockade duty in two hemispheres— and today is the only sea survivor of action in that war The Constellation's speed already had won her the name "Yankee Race Hone” At first she gained little ground in the chase Then the gap began dosing The mystery ship Truxtun concluded was not only a French privateer but speedy and well- -' armed at that “Battle stations!” he commanded from the quarter-dec- k Immediately seamen raced up from the frigate’s interior: "tqpmen” swarmed aloft into the rigging marines mustered to prepare for sharpshooting duty and possible boarding of the enemy gunners edged their stubby cannon through open ports A fresh wind began whipping up spray But the Constellation her sails bulging pressed the pursuit to within a mile of the other ship which did turn out to be French sea shook Then a squall hit The storm-drivthe Constellation to her innermost beams Wind made her sails snap like pistol shots But the ship weathered it The French craft however responded too late The sea broke heavily over her wood decks Then with a splintering snap her main topmast crashed down fend into the heaving waves Truxtun pressed his advantage Soon the Constellation pulled almost abmst of the enemy Not a shot had been fired When the ships were little more than 100 yards apart Trux tun’s order crackled across die Constellation’s gun depk: "Fire!" Smoke flame and iron balls erupted in a shattering broadside The French began returning the fire But the Constellation’s gunners were smashing at the enemy frigate’s hull while the French cannonades went higher into the sails and rigging For more than an hour the two ships sent shots crashing toward one another Then one sail fell from the French ship in tatters followed by another Her mizzen topmast was splintered At least 70 casualties lay on the decks and her wheel now n ficers including Admirals William Leahy and nest J King underwent part of their training aboard this grand old ship In World War II because President Franklin D Roosevelt remembered her so fondly the Constellation was recomissioned as auxiliary flagship of Admiral King’s Atlantic Fleet She has taken part in famine relief in Ire- land four world fairs the centennial celebration of the writing of “The Banner” and in many other historical events Five years ago it appeared that her last battle had begun— the battle for survival— and that it might be lost Still sound of beam but without masts and critically in need of repair she lay neglected in Boston alongside her handsomely restored sister ship the Constitution But citizens of Baltimore where she was built towed her home: Now the nonprofit Banner Flag House Inc already with some funds in hand hopes to raise $200000 needed for her restoration Admiral Nimitz in retirement in California is honorary chairman To everyone contributing $1 or more the sponsors are offering medals made of copper from the Constellation's original spikes and a lifetime boarding pass (The address: “Constellation” Dept FW Baltimore 2 Md) The Constellation may even become flagship of Civil War Centennial a floating mu- the seum of aUUS history to date It would be sent to Atlantic Coast and possibly Mississippi River ports before permanent berthing alongside Fort McHenry in Baltimore home of “The Banner”— for whose constellation of stars she was named To those of us who have devoted our lives to naval service nothing would seem more fitting Decades from now youngsters may dimb aboard our oldest ship feel her planking explore her decks and say: “Here was courage and dedication' when our na- tion needed it most' May we all be worthy of the freedom the Constellation to gallantly helped to preserve and extend” Star-Spangl- ed Star-Spangl- - of-- ed 1961-19- 65 Star-Spangl- IMI Weekly February S Iff 1 ed IT |