Frigate Duels of the War of 1812 - USS Constitution vs HMS Guerriere

Pinned post for Q&A :)

I love the intro. It's rare that Drach makes videos about ships. Hope he makes more naval videos in the future.

As a former educator at the USS Constitution Museum, I find this presentation excellent. Many important little details about the battle that are often glossed over or forgotten are nicely brought up here, showing that while Capt. Dacre and HMS Guerriere were outmatched by Capt. Hull and USS Constitution, Dacre knew that and took proper steps to try and make the best of a bad situation. He simply had the misfortune that Joshua Humphreys (The designer and builder of Constitution) had created a ship that was nearly immune to long range fire. Also, an interesting side note that few folks would know: one of the American fatalities in the battle was actually (and likely accidentally) self inflicted. As part of a task I was given while working at the Museum, I ended up going through the ship's entire medical records from 1797 to 1858. One account made it clear that this unfortunate sailor was putting a powder charge into a 24 lber long gun (probably during the time of close range broadside action). In his eagerness to keep the gun firing quickly he did so before it had been swabbed and the charge detonated in the barrel while his head was still in front of the bore. Poor man had his head blasted clean off his shoulders and out the gun port - possibly striking the Guerriere as a rather macabre projectile.

I recall reading in one book that Capt Dacre was very impressed by the curtesy that he was shown by Captain Hull and the Americans, up to and including the retrieving of his Bible, which had been passed down on his mothers side of the family. Also when he was brought abord Dacre tried to surrender his sword and Hull wouldn't hear of it. He also made his own surgeon available to help to tend to British casualties. Hull and Dacre being lifelong friends after the war and traded letters for many years.

You have to love Drachinifel's hat tip to Teddy Roosevelt. Compared to the standards set by him most modern presidents are pretty much only suitable to be his toilet paper. He won the Medal of Honor and the Nobel Peace Prize (legitimately I think). He wrote a number of books that I believe are still considered worth reading. And after he was finished as President he went on a trip up the Amazon river, which was still fairly dangerous in those days. That was how he relaxed after the stresses of being President. And he wrote a book about that too.

Supposedly, Hull was so overjoyed when the Guerriere ("Warrior") hauled down her colors he danced a jig so energetically, he split the seat of his trousers. He also gained Dacre's dress hat as the later had boasted that he would bet his hat he could defeat an American vessel.

I always got the feeling that US captains in 1812 were more like claymore mines, or Viking berserkers, just point them in the general direction of the enemy and stand back, lest you get cought up in the chaos. Barring obviously overwhelming odds US frigates seemed frightfully happy to give action.

50 years ago I came across a a book in the school library that covered the exploits of USS Constitution during the war of 1812, and it not only hooked me into a lifelong love of naval history but of history in general. I'm very pleased that you plan a series of videos covering the naval engagements of this war. Thanks Drach!

Old Ironsides is really something. Boston's only undefeated team!

As of about 30 years ago, Constitution's sea anchor from the slow-motion kedging race with the British squadron was preserved at the US Naval Academy museum in Annapolis, Maryland. It's probably still there. Kedging is the process of moving the umbrella-like sea anchor some distance forward of the ship in a boat, dropping it, and then getting a few dozen men on the ship's capstan to winch in the line. Repeat until the wind comes back or you've moved a sufficient distance.

I watched this video today in a hotel room with a print of the USS constitution on the wall, then went to see the boat. 10/10 good boat.

I'm going to love this series. When I was growing up, I read a book about Old Ironsides that, IIRC, was written for boys, and was very inspired by it. Later when I visited Annapolis and then Constitution herself, I had a deeper perspective of what I was seeing. Sadly, I'm not sure how many younger Americans (or of any age for that matter) are aware of this ship and its relevance to US history, but anyone who enjoys films like Master and Commander, pirate stories, Hornblower books, etc., would probably love to know the real stories about age of sail warfare.

I'm not sure that it was present at this battle, but at times, Constitution mounted "Chambers guns" in her fighting tops. This was a muzzle loading multi barrel flintlock that fired a 2 minute burst of over 200 shots on one trigger pull. Forgotten weapons has a video of one in a Dutch museum.

In addition to this 1812 series, I'd love to see your coverage of the USS Constellation's career fighting in the Quasi War against the French.

The invasion of Canada is a fascinating episode. America was determined to march north and liberate the poor Canadians from the chafing yoke of monarchical tyranny. Unfortunately, nobody had asked the Canadians about this plan, so it was only when the Army got there that they discovered the Canadians weren’t particularly troubled by living under the chafing yoke of monarchical tyranny and had no real desire to be liberated. However, they were very troubled by their southern neighbor showing up in their colony uninvited, and so went about removing the offending Americans in a way that made certain that they wouldn’t return unless invited.

Do not forget the HMS Endymion, HMS Shannon and HMS Phoebe that in turn defeated the USS President USS Chesapeake and USS Essex. The R/N always had a go regardless of the disparity in size

My favourite book about this war and its naval actions is The Age of Fighting Sail, by C.S. Forester. In fact, it's one of my favourite books, period. Can hardly wait for the next video. Many thanks, Drachinifel!

Theodore Roosevelt did a great job of describing this battle by quoting reliable sources, very glad you referenced his book. You're videos is simply outstanding, and I have no idea why you don't have more subscribers.

At 13-20, the Constitution is flying the wrong flag, the 13 stars in a circle of the War of Independence. By 1812, Kentucky, Tennessee and Ohio had joined the Union and the flag had 15 stars in a rectangular pattern and 15 stripes (which would later revert to 13). Yes, it's a small thing, but it is not up to the attention to detail we expect of Drach. Twelve lashes at the gangway !

I grew up in Erie Pennsylvania (now live near Gettysburg), visiting Misery Bay, the Perry Monument and Put-in-Bay Ohio. I can hardly wait for Drach’s take on the Battle of Lake Erie!