USS Constitution vs HMS Guerriere

USS Constitution vs HMS Guerriere
Part of the War of 1812

USS Constitution vs HMS Guerriere by Michele Felice Cornè
Date19 August 1812
Location41°42′N 55°33′W / 41.700°N 55.550°W / 41.700; -55.550
Result American victory
Belligerents
United States United States United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland United Kingdom
Commanders and leaders
United States Isaac Hull United Kingdom James Richard Dacres Surrendered
Strength
44-gun Frigate
56 guns
754lb broadside weight
480 U.S. Navy Sailors and U.S. Marine infantry[1]
38-gun Frigate
44 guns
526lb broadside weight
272 Royal Navy Sailors and Royal Marine infantry
Casualties and losses
7 killed
7 wounded[2]
Frigate sunk
15 killed
78 wounded
257 captured

USS Constitution vs HMS Guerriere was a battle between an American and British ship during the War of 1812, about 400 miles (640 km) southeast of Halifax, Nova Scotia. It took place on the 19th of August 1812, one month after the war's first engagement between British and American forces. Guerriere was proceeding to Halifax for a refit, having been detached from a squadron which had earlier failed to capture Constitution. When the two ships encountered each other on August 19th, Guerriere's Captain James Richard Dacres engaged, confident of victory despite facing a bigger, stronger-manned, and better-armed U.S. ship. However, in the exchange of broadsides, Guerriere's masts were felled, and the ship reduced to a sinking condition. Constitution's crew took the British sailors on board and set Guerriere on fire, then returned to Boston with news of the victory, which proved to be important for American morale.

  1. ^ Borneman p. 81
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference Borneman2 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).