aug 19, 1812 - Constitution vs Guerriere
Description:
A naval battle between the USS Constitution and the HMS Guerriere as part of the War of 1812. The Constitution, a much larger and more well-armed ship, outmatched the Guerriere and defeated it. After the first cannonball fired at the Constitution failed to inflict any damage, one of its crew members claimed its sides were made of iron, giving the ship the nickname "Old Ironsides." The loss was fairly inconsequential for the British, but it proved to be a huge rallying point for the Americans in terms of war morale. The public became energized in a spirit of nationalism, believing their modestly sized navy had crushed the all-powerful Royal Navy in a fair fight.
Casualties:
7 US soldiers killed
7 US soldiers wounded
15 British soldiers killed
78 British soldiers wounded
257 British soldiers captured
Added to timeline:
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An outline of major events from (mostly early) US history.
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Date:
