The Constitution took a long rest after this battle. The Java’s shot had discovered some rotten spots in her sides. A long overhaul was required to make her again ready for sea. Meanwhile the Navy had won many a victory and had suffered some defeats. Our little sloops-of-war won a long succession of splendid successes. Gallant James Lawrence, hero of the Hornet-Peacock fight, lost the Chesapeake to the British frigate Shannon—crying, as he lay dying, “Don’t give up the ship!” Sewing this motto on his blue battle flag Perry annihilated the British squadron on Lake Erie. Macdonough saved the northern frontier with a complete victory on Lake Champlain, which a British marine thought more desperately fought than Trafalgar. Our privateers were gathering in their prizes on every sea in constantly increasing numbers and sending the insurance rates three times higher than all previous levels.
But the war could not well end without a third victory by the Constitution. Now she was commanded by Charles Stewart, a worthy successor to Hull and Bainbridge. On February 20, 1815, north of Madeira, the American frigate came in contact with the British corvette Cyane, thirty-four guns, and the sloop Levant, twenty-one. Their fifty-five guns threw a slightly heavier weight of metal, but their armament consisted mostly of short-range carronades which could not be compared with the terrible long 24’s which filled the Constitution’s gun-deck ports. Still the two Britons formed column and accepted Stewart’s challenge.
Stewart might have fought at long range where the British carronades could not have reached him. But night was coming on, and, if he were to take both ships, there was no time to waste. “At five minutes past six,” he wrote, “ranged up on the starboard side of the sternmost ship, about three hundred yards distant, and commenced the action by broadsides, both ships returning our fire with the greatest spirit for about fifteen minutes.” Stewart’s tactics have a lesson: When you are anxious to engage and night is approaching, do not try to get all the conditions in your favor. Take things as they are and fight in the most decisive manner. Otherwise you will never capture your Cyane and Levant. Perhaps we have here a lesson for the battles of peace as well as those of war.
After this first engagement smoke clouds obscured the range and fire ceased. But not for long, for now the Constitution began a series of beautiful maneuvers—raking each enemy ship in turn. They separated and made off. Stewart hung close to the Cyane and soon forced her to surrender. By eight o’clock she had been manned by a prize crew. Stewart started in search of the Levant.
Captain Douglass of the Levant had now repaired his damages. Instead of trying to escape, he sailed back to assist his comrade. But he was too late. At eight-thirty he ran into the Constitution. Attempts to escape proved futile and at ten the second prize was made. “At 1:00 A.M.,” Stewart reported, “the damages to our rigging had been repaired, sails shifted, and the ship in fighting condition.” The price of this double victory was only fifteen casualties.
The Cyane safely reached home. The Levant was recaptured by a British squadron in a neutral port. The Constitution received her last battle triumph in New York many months after peace had been signed. She had fought her last fight. But for many long years she served her country well by showing the flag in every part of the world. After that she trained many classes of midshipmen at the Naval Academy. Now her useful labors are ended but she serves a still more important purpose. For this old hulk, whose iron sides protected iron men, is an inspiration to every officer and man in the naval service—and to every American.
Courtesy U. S. Naval Academy From an engraving by Sartain, after the original painting by Thomas Birch The Night Battle Between the U.S.S. Constitution and H. M. Ships Cyane AND Levant
On the left is the corvette Cyane, in the center the frigate Constitution, and on the right the sloop Levant. The Constitution captured both vessels.
