As the USS Constellation prepared to engage Fort McHenry for Defender?s Day, museum director Christopher Rowsom said the annual sail-out to the entrance of the harbor can be thrilling.
“One of the neat things is when you?re on board and seeing things from a different perspective. You?re 30 feet up in the air,” Rowsom said. “When you?re on a historic ship and you see a historic fort, it?s a lot of fun.”
This Defender?s Day, the USS Constellation is just as fit as ever. The last ship from the Civil War still afloat, the Constellation will cruise across the harbor to Fort McHenry on Saturday.
“It represents the American sailing Navy. That?s what makes it special,” said Ordinary Seaman Paul O?Neil. “The ship is doing what it was meant to do.”
At the fort, the last all-sail battleship built by the United States Navy will fire on the base, while a host of shore batteries return the rounds. Following this bombardment, there will be a ceremonial dipping of the flags.
One of three USS Constellations built by the Navy, Baltimore’s Constellation began her service in 1855. Designed as the biggest ship in her class, the Constellation carried many more guns than the conventional “sloop.” According to constellation.org, she was first launched in August 1854, and fully commissioned July 28, 1855. The original Constellation carried a crew of 220 sailors, 45 marines and 20 officers. Today, she would not sail with fewer than 120 hands “to be on the safe side,” Rowsom said. That?s how many sailors took the Constellation across the Atlantic for the last time in 1892.
Serving three years active duty in the Mediterranean Squadron, the Constellation helped patrol those waters until her overhaul in 1858. The Constellation also served as flagship to the American slave trade blockade along the African coast and returned to military service during the Civil War, protecting northern vessels.
The bombardment will be one of the highlights of the three-day Star-Spangled Banner Weekend celebrations. More than 100 War of 1812 re-enactors, parades and military bands will also be present. The Star-Spangled Banner Weekend celebrations will last through Sunday. For more information, please visit nps.gov/fomc/index.htm.
