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USS CONSTITUTION v RMS GUERRIERE War of 1812 Scene Painting on Glass

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:750.00 USD Estimated At:1,200.00 - 2,400.00 USD
USS CONSTITUTION v RMS GUERRIERE War of 1812 Scene Painting on Glass
War of 1812
USS CONSTITUTION v HMS GUERRIERE War of 1812 Decorative Reverse Painting on Glass
c. 1840 Vintage Hand-Painted, USS CONSTITUTION v HMS GUERRIERE War of 1812 Naval Battle Scene, Decorative Reverse Painting on Glass, Framed, Choice Very Fine.
This historic theme antique Reverse Painting on Glass measures about 13” x 17.5” (by sight), and is framed to an overall size of 14.5” x 19.25”. This decorative historic painting features the USS Constitution battling the British HMS Guerriere in the famous War of 1812 naval engagement. This was one of the most famous and successful naval battles of early American history. USS Constitution vs HMS Guerriere was a single ship action between the two ships during the War of 1812, approximately 400 miles southeast of Halifax, Nova Scotia. It took place shortly after war had broken out, and would prove to be an important victory for American morale. The central portion displays the event, having a 1.5” wide outer surrounding border that is highly decorated. There is some minor scattered paint flaking and loss commensurate to its age. Both painted ships are well defined, showing cannon, sails, and many deck hands and soldiers engaged in the fight. The USS Constitution is shown flying three main large American Flags of the period, along with a long American banner. The HMS Guerriere is displayed in some distress, having one large Flag atop a mast that is about to crash, its base broken from a likely cannonball strike. Overall, this impressive Reverse Painting on Glass is highly colorful and attractive, making it a nice example for display.
USS CONSTITUTION v HMS GUERRIERE War of 1812 Naval Battle:

At 2:00 p.m. on 19 August, Constitution sighted a large ship to leeward, and bore down to investigate. The weather was cloudy, and the wind was brisk. The strange ship proved to be Guerriere, whose crew recognised Constitution at about the same moment. Both ships prepared for action, and shortened sail to "fighting sail", i.e. topsails and jibs only. As Constitution closed, Dacres first hove to to fire a broadside, which fell short, and then ran before the wind for three quarters of an hour with the Constitution on Guerriere's quarter. Dacres yawed several times to fire broadsides at Constitution, but Guerriere's broadsides were generally inaccurate, while the few shots fired from Constitution's foremost guns had little effect. After one cannonball bounced "harmlessly" off the side of Constitution, a crew member is said to have yelled "Huzzah! Her sides are made of iron!"

Constitution fires into the burning hulk of Guerriere, now badly damaged. Once the range had closed to within a few hundred yards, Captain Hull ordered extra sail (the foresail and main topgallant sail) to be set, to close the distance quickly. Dacres did not match this maneuver, and the two ships began exchanging broadsides at "half pistol-shot", with Constitution to starboard and Guerriere to port.

After fifteen minutes of this exchange, during which Guerriere suffered far more damage than Constitution due to the latter's larger guns and thicker hull, Guerriere's mizzenmast fell overboard to starboard, acting like a rudder and dragging her around. This allowed Constitution to cross ahead of Guerriere, firing a raking broadside which brought down the main yard. Hull then wore ship to cross Guerriere's bow again, firing another raking broadside, but the maneuver was cut too close and Guerriere's bowsprit became entangled in the rigging of Constitution's mizzenmast.

On both ships, boarding parties were summoned and musket fire broke out. Aboard Constitution, Lieutenant William S. Bush was killed and Lieutenant Charles Morris wounded by musket shots, as was Captain Dacres. Only Guerriere's narrow bowsprit provided a way between the ships, and in the heavy sea, neither side could venture across it. Some of the gunners aboard Guerriere fired at point-blank range into Hull's stern cabin, setting the American ship on fire briefly.

The two locked ships slowly rotated clockwise until they broke free. Guerriere's foremast and mainmast both then fell "by the board" i.e. snapped off at deck level, leaving her helpless and rolling heavily. Dacres attempted to set sail on the bowsprit to bring his ship before the wind, but it too had been damaged and broke. The Constitution meanwhile ran downwind for several minutes, repairing damage to the rigging, before once again wearing and beating upwind to return to battle.

As Constitution prepared to renew the action, Guerriere fired a shot in the opposite direction to Constitution. Sensing that this was an attempt to signal surrender, Hull ordered a boat to take a Lieutenant over to the British ship. When the Lieutenant boarded Guerriere and asked if Guerriere was prepared to surrender, Captain Dacres responded, "Well, Sir, I don't know. Our mizzen mast is gone, our fore and main masts are gone - I think on the whole you might say we have struck our flag.