Communication Aboard USS Constitution
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Students view and discuss four objects that were used for communicating on USS Constitution.
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Students view and discuss four objects that were used for communicating on USS Constitution.
Make an 1812 officer’s hat out of paper and view an original hat that belonged to a USS Constitution midshipmen.
A ship’s bell played a crucial role for timekeeping on board a ship and was rung every half hour to mark the passage of time in each four-hour watch (shift). Students view two actual bells associated with the USS Constitution.
View an 1812 poem/song set to the tune of “Yankee Doodle” that celebrates USS Constitution’s victory over HMS Guerriere. Students then write their own lyrics to the same tune.
A sample list of early 19th century rules from the United States Navy.
Make hot chocolate as a sailor would have made it in the early 1800s, using a primary source recipe.
Students view and discuss a primary source logbook showing the crew’s positions up in the sails.
Each gun on Constitution was manned by the same gun team in practice and in battle. These teams developed their own identity and named their gun to unify them. In this activity, students view an 1812 object that belonged to a gun team and discuss their own experience bonding over a shared team identity.
Using a list of primary source quotes, students write an historical fiction short story or skit about the battle between USS Constitution and HMS Guerriere.
Students view and discuss two primary source political cartoons about the War of 1812.
Read regulations from 1802 to learn about the role of a U.S. Navy captain.
Students view an original speaking trumpet and make one out of paper.
Read these primary and secondary source quotes about the sailor chore of holystoning: cleaning the floors of the Ship.
Two primary source quotes about discipline and flogging on board a U.S. Navy ship. Flogging was a severe form of corporal punishment reserved for the most serious offenses.
John Lord’s engraved powder horn was designed to carry gunpowder, but was also a special memento of his service. In this activity, students engrave a bar of soap inspired by this primary source object.
This short, handwritten letter is a poignant firsthand account of one officer’s bravery and sacrifice during USS Constitution‘s first battle in the War of 1812. The letter, from Marine Lieutenant John Contee to Lewis Bush, recounts the death of Lewis’ brother, Lt. William Sharp Bush, on August 19, 1812 during the battle with HMS Guerriere. Lt. Bush was the first United States Marine Corps officer to be killed in combat.
This June 22,1812 supplement to the Connecticut Mirror, a Hartford newspaper, broke the news about a new war for the United States with Great Britain. The congressional votes show the ambivalent feelings of many New Englanders toward this new conflict.
This certificate was a form of ID for American sailors in the early 1800s. It provided proof of their United States citizenship and was intended to help protect them from the British practice of impressment, or the seizing of men and sailors for service in the Royal Navy.
This is an allotment receipt, a form authorizing a Boston Navy Agent to pay one half of USS Constitution seaman Jesse Cole’s monthly wage to his wife Tabitha – eight dollars per month for ten months. It speaks to the emotional and financial bond that tied together a sailor and his wife in 1800.
In his speech to Congress on June 1, 1812, President James Madison explained the several injustices and wrongs committed by Great Britain against the United States, including the impressment of American sailors into the Royal Navy, the harassment of merchant vessels, and the blockading of commerce. Click on “More Details” below to view the entire 12-page pamphlet on the Digital Public Library of America (DPLA), via our website.
In 1813, the U.S. Congress approved the commissioning of a Congressional gold medal to Commodore William Bainbridge of USS Constitution for his defeat of the British frigate HMS Java. Beginning in 1776, the United States Congress began awarding gold medals to distinguished military figures who served in the American Revolution, and later the War of 1812 and the Mexican-American War, as expressions of appreciation for their achievements and contributions.
Broadsides are oversized printed sheets containing proclamations, announcements, or advertisements. They were publicly posted or distributed door to door. This broadside with a six-stanza poem commemorates USS Constitution‘s arrival in Boston Harbor on April 17, 1814 after its recent War of 1812 exploits.
Broadsides are oversized printed sheets containing proclamations, announcements, or advertisements. They were publicly posted or distributed door to door. This broadside is a statement of patriotic pride. It displays a 14-stanza poem which commemorates one of the most famous engagements in American naval history, USS Constitution’s victory over the British frigate HMS Guerriere in August 1812.
This wooden and brass telescope was owned by purser Thomas Chew. It represents the type used by mariners during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. It is a personal telescope, small enough to be slipped into a pocket, and was perhaps used by Chew to detect enemy ships on the horizon.
There were no radios or loud speakers on board USS Constitution in the War of 1812. Instead, speaking trumpets like this one were used to amplify sailors’ voices. Officers could use them to communicate orders during battle, and when two ships encountered each other, captains would use them to have a conversation that carried across the sea.
This portable writing desk belonged to USS Constitution’s second captain, Silas Talbot. Desks like this were common among naval officers, because they were easy to transport between ship and shore, provided a convenient writing surface, and served as secure storage for important documents and letters.
This is a ship’s biscuit from 1861. A sailor aboard USS Constitution kept it as a souvenir. Discuss with your students: why would a sailor save this biscuit? Can you imagine saving a piece of bread today? Can you think of other food or personal items people might save as souvenirs?
A sextant was an essential navigation tool. It was used for determining a ship’s position at sea. It measured the angles between the horizon and the sun at noon to determine the ship’s latitude.
This seabag is a rare surviving example of a once common, utilitarian item. Seabags were issued to United States Navy sailors as a means of storing clothing. Navy-issued bags were painted black to waterproof them. Personal bags, like this one, were often richly decorated by their owners. This bag belonged to John Lord, a gunner on Constitution from 1824-1828.
During the War of 1812, powder horns were used to carry the finer gun powder used in the Ship’s long guns. This horn is uniquely decorated with militaristic themes by John Lord, a gunner on USS Constitution from 1824-1828.
This birds-eye diagram shows how hammocks were arranged on the berth deck for sleeping. It is from David Steel’s 1794 book, The Elements and Practice of Rigging and Seamanship.
This instrument was used to communicate orders to the Ship’s crew, such as calling them to battle. Fife music also gave rhythm to heavy work such as raising an anchor. The fife was played by the Marines musicians on board.
This object was used for pouring wine in ships’ wardrooms, the place where officers ate on board. Early frigates had a lot of tableware like this decanter, but few shipboard objects as fragile as this survive today. This decanter is exceptionally rare as it was used in the wardroom of USS Constitution.
USS Constitution’s boatswain’s mate would use a cat of nine tails, a whip with nine knotted cords, to flog sailors that needed to be punished for a serious offense. Flogging was a brutal but effective way to ensure that sailors obeyed orders on board Navy ships in the early 1800s.
The boatswain’s pipe (pronounced “bosun”) was used for communication on a ship. Its loud and piercing sound woke up sailors and called them to duties throughout the day. It was the job of the ship’s boatswain to play it, and he traditionally carried it on a lanyard around his neck.
This King James Bible was removed from HMS Java after the British ship’s capture by USS Constitution on December 29, 1812. Following a ship’s surrender, it was common practice for the captors to scour the enemy’s decks for battle souvenirs to take home.
USS Constitution became a patriotic symbol after its victories during the War of 1812. Images of the Ship, like this detailed engraving, were popular among the public in the country at the time. This engraving is especially notable for the accurate depiction of the rigging and sails.
This collapsible silk hat, also known as a chapeau bras, belonged to Surgeon William Swift. Naval officers in the early 1800s typically wore hats like this to mark their rank among the crew.
In 1813, the U.S. Congress approved the commissioning of a Congressional gold medal to Commodore William Bainbridge of USS Constitution for his defeat of the British frigate HMS Java. Beginning in 1776, the United States Congress began awarding gold medals to distinguished military figures who served in the American Revolution, and later the War of 1812 and the Mexican-American War, as expressions of appreciation for their achievements and contributions.
This set of stays belonged to Thomas Chew, who was USS Constitution’s purser during the War of 1812. Stays were a corset that helped fashionable men achieve the popular narrow-waisted look in the 1820s. Surviving portraits of Chew suggest that he was fashion-conscious, and he was certainly wealthy enough to afford the latest trends.
Thomas Chew served on USS Constitution at the beginning of the War of 1812. His job was the purser, making him responsible for keeping the Ship’s pay and muster rolls, accounting for supplies, running the Ship store, and keeping detailed account books. Chew resigned from the U.S. Navy in 1821, around the time that this portrait was created.
This is a portrait of George Sirian, who was orphaned as a boy in 1824 while escaping war in his home of Psara, Greece. The young refugee joined USS Constitution‘s crew in May of 1827 at nine years old. He served first with the rank of boy, and then ordinary seaman. A lieutenant took Sirian under his wing and later sponsored his education and naval career. While portraits of captains and officers were more commonplace, this portrait of a ship’s boy is a rare historical glimpse of the enlisted crew.
William Bainbridge became a national hero after USS Constitution, under his command, defeated the British frigate HMS Java in December 1812. This portrait, painted by famed artist Gilbert Stuart, has a funny story. Bainbridge sat for Stuart in the artist’s Boston studio, but the two did not get along. Stuart refused to finish the portrait. Ultimately, though, Bainbridge acquired his portrait, had it altered and finished, and it descended through his family.
This impressive portrait of Captain Isaac Hull was completed by Gilbert Stuart, a renowned American portrait artist, in Boston, Massachusetts in 1807. Hull is wearing the traditional uniform of early U.S. Navy officers and looks every bit the confident captain in this painting.
A decorative weapon such as this sword would not be used in actual combat. Instead, it was worn as a ceremonial piece, or a fashionable accessory indicative of rank. It belonged to Pardon Mawney Whipple, who served as a midshipman on USS Constitution during the War of 1812.
This cocked hat was worn by Pardon Mawney Whipple after his promotion to lieutenant in 1820. At that time, the hat was in fine form with gold lace and shiny silk. Stripped of its decoration and worn thin over time, the hat remains a relic of a U.S. Navy officer who witnessed his fair share of sea fights and stormy weather.
It was common in the 19th century to give a lock of hair to family members as a memory of a loved one. Hair, which does not decompose quickly, was often braided, tied with ribbon, or incorporated into jewelry. This lock of hair belonged to Pardon Mawney Whipple, who served as a midshipman on USS Constitution during the War of 1812.
This miniature watercolor portrait depicts John Lord, who served as gunner on USS Constitution between 1824 and 1828. Before photography, miniature portraits were popular keepsakes for remembering a loved one at sea.
John Cushing Aylwin was 5th lieutenant and sailing master aboard USS Constitution during the battle against HMS Java in December 1812. Aylwin took a musket ball through his shoulder at the height of the battle, but continued at his station until the conflict was over. He died on board the ship on January 29, 1813, after a month of struggling to recover from his wound. This Congressional silver medal, accepted after his death by his family, honors his role in the victory.
This wax seal, featuring an image of the Ship and his name, was owned by Isaac Hull, one of USS Constitution’s most famous captains. Hull would have pressed this fob into melted wax, which created a personalized seal when dry. The seal certified documents and emphasized his status as an influential captain of “Old Ironsides.”
On July 2, 1931, USS Constitution and a crew of 81 sailors, officers, and Marines set off on a three-year tour around the United States. This National Cruise was a “thank you” to the men, women, and children who donated money and materials to support the Ship’s 1927 restoration. Frank Prusz was on board during the cruise, and kept memories of the adventure, including photos of his shipmates and mementos from ports around the country, in this scrapbook. To view its contents, click on ‘More Details’ below and view the PDF download.
This set of coral jewelry belonged to Abigail Chew, wife of USS Constitution’s War of 1812 purser, Thomas Chew. While away from his family for his naval service, Chew frequently sent gifts home to them as tokens of his affection. It is likely that this set of coral jewelry was one such gift brought home after a long voyage to the Mediterranean.
In the 19th century, canes were a symbol of power and importance, not just aids for walking. This cane had extra prestige, being made of wood from the famous ship USS Constitution. After the ship had major restoration work done in 1857, souvenir hunters scooped up the removed wood to use in making mementos.
This ceramic pitcher depicts two of USS Constitution‘s exploits during the War of 1812. It is an example of the many pitchers, plates, bowls, mugs, and vases that glorified the accomplishments of the new United States, motifs which were popular among Americans.
A ship’s bell played a crucial role for timekeeping on board a ship, and was rung every half hour to mark the passage of time in each watch. This bell was purportedly removed from HMS Guerriere and used as a substitute for Constitution‘s bell, which was destroyed during the battle on August 19, 1812. The story of the bell as a prize from Guerriere dates only to 1897 and is not confirmed by firsthand accounts.
This is an example of the type of powder horn used by United States Marines in the early 19th century. The hollowed-out horn carried gunpowder that could be poured out with one hand into a rifle.
This 24-pound iron ball was a form of ammunition fired from a cannon, or gun, by warships like USS Constitution in the late 18th and 19th centuries. It could cause great damage to wooden decks and hulls. In this example, a broad arrow marks it as British, otherwise it would have looked the same if it were on an American ship.
Muskets were carried by all Marines who served on USS Constitution and other United States Navy ships in the early 19th century. This musket is a standard U.S. Navy issue for the period.
This framed display contains four fragments of flags captured during American naval victories in the War of 1812. Flags captured from enemy vessels were often cut up and distributed or sold as souvenirs.
This ornate dinner plate was retrieved from HMS Guerriere following its defeat by USS Constitution on August 19, 1812. It was common for fine items like this to be taken from a defeated ship.
Some of USS Constitution’s crew were listed as “boarders” during battle. They used this weapon to attempt to force their way onto enemy decks when the hulls of their warships intentionally or accidentally crashed together. Pikes were also used defensively to repel enemy boarders.
This detailed ink and watercolor diagram of the battle between USS Constitution and HMS Java on December 29, 1812 was drawn by Charles Frederick Waldo. He was Constitution’s assistant sailing master stationed on the main fighting top during the battle. This bird’s eye view presented an excellent perspective from which to understand and describe the movement of the ships throughout the battle.Bat
Grapeshot was a form of ammunition fired by USS Constitution’s long guns. Take a behind-the-scenes look inside our vault to view this handmade artifact that’s rarely on view.
What “school supplies” did midshipmen use when learning to become naval officers in the 1800s? Find out in this video.
Pay allotments were a way for sailors to provide a small but steady income to their families until their return home. Learn more in this video.
Bibles were often found on 19th century naval vessels, since Bible societies gave out cheap editions of the religious work. In this video, learn more about two Bibles from the USS Constitution Museum collection.
USS Constitution sailors received 14 ounces of “bread” per day during the War of 1812. But it wasn’t like the bread we know today! Learn more in this video.
When the hulls of sailing warships intentionally or accidentally crashed together in early 19th century battles, some of the crew who were listed as “boarders” jumped into action. They would attempt to force their way onto the enemy’s decks, armed with boarding pikes, axes, and cutlasses. Learn more in this video.
This video shows how one couple, Purser Thomas Chew and his wife, Abigail, endured the stress of wartime separation while he was away at sea.
“Day or night” telescopes were commonly used aboard ships in the early 1800s. The large objective lens was designed to increase the amount of light allowed in, making dim images at night appear visible from a distance. Learn more in this video.
Decanters–for pouring wine–were often found in the wardrooms of well-to-do officers on early 19th century ships, along with other fancy tableware. Learn more in this video.
How did sailors in the Age of Sail figure out a ship’s position in the open ocean? They used a sextant, a navigational tool that measures the angles between the horizon and the sun at noon to determine a ship’s latitude. Learn more in this video.
Speaking trumpets helped captains and officers communicate aboard naval warships in the 1800s. Learn more in this video.
Watch, quarter, and station bills showed the names of individual sailors and all their assignments on board a ship. Learn more in this video.
Flogging was a form of severe corporal punishment on board vessels in the United States Navy through the first half of the 19th century. Offenders were tied to the ship’s rail and whipped with nine knotted cords, known as a cat o’ nine tails. Learn more in this video.
Cannon locks for carronades, and powder horns with spring-operated closing levers, represent advancements in the technology of war in the early 19th century. In this video, learn more about how these advancements affected sailors on USS Constitution in the War of 1812.
Naval surgeons in the early 19th century were responsible for tending to sick and injured sailors while at sea. They carried kits with them filled with the best surgical tools of the era. In this video, learn more and hear from a modern hospital corpsman serving on USS Constitution today.
Ship operations at sea continued 24-hours a day, 7-days a week. A ship’s bell, tolling every half-hour, day and night, marked the passage of time for the crew. Learn more in this video.
In this video are key highlights from the James Sever Collection, a rare and meaningful assemblage of materials related to the construction, launch, original outfitting, and initial manning of the United States Navy’s original six frigates.
Following USS Constitution’s first victory in the War of 1812, Captain Issac Hull and his crew returned to praise and adulation. This video looks at some of the gifts he received as a thank-you from a grateful nation.
In 1776, the U.S. Congress began awarding congressional gold and silver medals to distinguished military figures as expressions of appreciation for their achievements and contributions. Learn about some of the medals awarded to USS Constitution’s crew in this video.
Letter writing was an essential form of communication in the 19th century, and wax seals were a way to authenticate correspondence and ensure that letters remained unopened and unread in transit. Learn about Captain Isaac Hull’s gold fob and personal seal in this video.
After serving in the War of 1812, Pardon Mawney Whipple was promoted to lieutenant in 1820. Learn about his officer’s cocked hat and pommel sword in this video.
Midshipmen were the young officers-in-training in the US Navy. Pardon Mawney Whipple, a midshipman on USS Constitution, kept a letterbook to remember his time at sea from 1813 to 1820.
Imagine going to sea for two years and everything you needed had to fit in a single sea bag. In this video, learn about navy sea bags, including one owned by Thomas Chew, a purser aboard USS Constitution in the War of 1812.
Learn about USS Constitution crew member Richard Dunn, who was struck in the leg by enemy fire during the battle with HMS Guerriere during the War of 1812. His leg was hastily amputated by the ship’s surgeon, and he later received a prosthetic.
Learn about two portraits and the stories they tell: Captain John Gwinn and his wife Caroline. Gwinn commanded USS Constitution from 1848 until his untimely death in 1849.
This poem, sung to the tune of “Yankee Doodle,” captures Bostonians’ excitement about USS Constitution’s victory over HMS Guerriere in 1812.
This short, handwritten letter from 1812 is a poignant firsthand account of one officer’s bravery and sacrifice during USS Constitution‘s battle with HMS Guerriere. William Bush was the first US Marine Corps officer killed in combat during the War of 1812.
This letter from Royal Navy Captain John Marshall to his friend William Phillips presents a first-hand account of the battle between USS Constitution and HMS Java from the British perspective.
USS Constitution, under the command of Commodore William Bainbridge, defeated the British frigate HMS Java in December 1812 in its second victory of the War of 1812. In this letter, Bainbridge discusses a medal he received in honor of this victory. Bainbridge was dissatisfied with the design on the back, which showed HMS Java‘s flag flying. He asked that the flag instead be shown as lowered, to indicate the British ship had surrendered. What does the flying of Java‘s flag symbolize to Bainbridge and why would he want to change it?
This list itemizes the arms and armament ordered to be transported to Boston to outfit USS Constitution around the time of its launch. USS Constitution carried a hefty load of weapons to support her crew of 450-500 men during battle.
Thomas C. Byron served as a Marine fifer on USS Constitution and composed this narrative in 1861 as an older man, looking back on the ship’s actions during the War of 1812. He was present for Constitution’s three major battles, which he describes, as well storms, visits to foreign ports, brief political commentaries, and his opinion of “Old Ironsides” and his shipmates.
This ceremonial silver urn was a gift from the merchants of Philadelphia to Captain Isaac Hull in honor of USS Constitution‘s defeat of HMS Guerriere during the War of 1812. The urn was created as a symbol of gratitude, pride, and patriotism following America’s early naval successes. However, the merchants who contributed to the payment of the urn also sought to enhance their own reputations by association with a famous Navy captain.
Pardon Mawney Whipple joined USS Constitution’s crew in 1813, at age 22. His letters offer a unique and intimate view of the events aboard USS Constitution during the War of 1812. He describes both the excitement and horrors the men felt during battle, as well as the protocols followed after a battle was over. Not every moment was spent fighting other ships, however, and Whipple provides a glimpse into the other activities that occupied Constitution and her crew during these times.
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