Frigate Uss Constitution Paul Revere Bolt Relic - Mar 18, 2017 | Early American History Auctions In Ca
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Frigate USS CONSTITUTION PAUL REVERE BOLT Relic

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Frigate USS CONSTITUTION PAUL REVERE BOLT Relic
Frigate USS CONSTITUTION PAUL REVERE BOLT Relic
Item Details
Description
Post-Revolutionary War to Civil War
Commemorative Paul Revere Supplied Copper Bolt a Relic of the Frigate USS CONSTITUTION a.k.a “Old Ironsides”
(1927 - Not Dated), Comemorative Display with a Piece of Paul Revere supplied thick Copper Spike/Bolt, taken from the Frigate USS CONSTITUTION, a.k.a “Old Ironsides,” Choice Very Fine.
The American Frigate USS Constitution was launched in 1797 as one of the original ships of the United States Navy. In 1927 it underwent a major renovation, and materials that were replaced were sold to raise money for the effort. This item is a 3" long segment of a 3/4" copper spike/bolt used to hold the ships planking in place. Paul Revere forged these copper spikes and bolts that held the planks in place and also supplied the copper sheathing that protected the hull under contract, although the copper in not marked or otherwise specifically identified as Revere. Copper bolts were used in place of iron, which would rapidly rust in sea water. These thick Copper Bolts were originally supplied by the foundry owned by none other than Paul Revere!

The Copper Spike/Bolt is mounted on an oak display as a relic on a stand measuring 8" long x 3.5" deep x 1.5" high. There is a 2.5” long brass plaque with the engraved name "Old Ironsides" attached just in front of the Copper Bolt, being the beloved nickname of the USS Constitution. The wood itself shows well with just slight signs of age or use. There are two tiny holes placed in the rear of the base, which would be unseen apparently to display mount. This is the very first such commemorative display with a Paul Revere Supplied Copper Bolt from the Frigate USS CONSTITUTION a.k.a. “Old Ironsides” we have offered.
USS Constitution was one of six frigates authorized for construction by an act of Congress in 1794. Joshua Humphreys designed them to be the United States Navy's capital ships. Larger and more heavily armed than the standard run of frigate, USS Constitution and her sisters were formidable opponents even for some larger ships of the line.

The USS Constitution was built in Boston of resilient live oak, Constitution's planks were up to seven inches thick. Paul Revere forged the copper spikes and bolts that held the planks in place and the copper sheathing that protected the hull. Thus armed, she first put to sea in July 1798 and saw her first service patrolling the southeast coast of the United States during the Quasi-War with France.

In 1803 she was designated flagship for the Mediterranean squadron under Captain Edward Preble and went to serve against the Barbary States of North Africa, which were demanding tribute from the United States in exchange for allowing American merchant vessels access to Mediterranean ports. Preble began an aggressive campaign against Tripoli, blockading ports and bombarding fortifications. Finally Tripoli, Tunisia and Algeria agreed to a peace treaty. Constitution patrolled the North African coast for two years after the war ended, to enforce the terms of the treaty.

She returned to Boston in 1807 for two years of refitting. The ship was recommissioned as flagship of the North Atlantic Squadron in 1809 under Commodore John Rodgers.

By early 1812, relations with Great Britain had deteriorated and the Navy began preparing for war, which was declared June 20. Captain Isaac Hull, who had been appointed Constitution's commanding officer in 1810, put to sea July 12, without orders, to prevent being blockaded in port. His intention was to join the five ships of Rodgers' squadron.

USS Constitution in battle

Constitution sighted five ships off Egg Harbor, N.J., July 17. By the following morning the lookouts had determined they were a British squadron that had sighted Constitution and were giving chase. Finding themselves becalmed, Hull and his seasoned crew put boats over the side to tow their ship out of range. By using kedge anchors to draw the ship forward, and wetting the sails down to take advantage of every breath of wind, Hull slowly made headway against the pursuing British. After two days and nights of toil in the relentless July heat, Constitution finally eluded her pursuers.

But one month later, she met with one of them again -- the frigate Guerriere. The British ship fired the first shot of the legendary battle; 20 minutes later, Guerriere was a dismasted hulk, so badly damaged that she was not worth towing to port. Hull had used his heavier broadsides and his ship's superior sailing ability, while the British, to their astonishment, saw that their shot seemed to rebound harmlessly off Constitution's hull -- giving her the nickname 'Old Ironsides'.

Under the command of William Bainbridge, 'Old Ironsides' met Java, another British frigate, in December. Their three-hour engagement left Java unfit for repair, so she was burned. Constitution's victories gave the American people a tremendous boost to morale, and raised the United States to the rank of a world-class naval power.

Despite having to spend many months in port, either under repair or because of blockades, Constitution managed eight more captures, including a British frigate and sloop sailing in company which she fought simultaneously, before peace was declared in 1815. After six years of extensive repairs, she returned to duty as flagship of the Mediterranean Squadron. She sailed back to Boston in 1828.

An examination in 1830 found her unfit for sea, but the American public expressed great indignation at the recommendation that she be scrapped, especially after publication of Oliver Wendell Holmes' poem 'Old Ironsides'. Congress passed an appropriation for reconstruction and in 1835 she was placed back in commission. She served as flagship in the Mediterranean and the South Pacific and made a 30-month voyage around the world beginning in March 1844.

In the 1850s she patrolled the African coast in search of slavers, and during the Civil War served as a training ship for midshipmen.

After another period of rebuilding in 1871, she transported goods for the Paris Exposition of 1877 and served once more as a training ship. Decommissioned in 1882, she was used as a receiving ship at Portsmouth, N.H. She returned to Boston to celebrate her centennial in 1897.

In 1905, public sentiment saved her once more from scrapping; in 1925 she was restored, through the donations of school children and patriotic groups. Recommissioned in 1931, she set out under tow for a tour of 90 port cities along the Atlantic, Gulf and Pacific coasts of the United States.

Now the oldest U.S. warship still in commission, Constitution remains a powerful reminder of the nation's earliest steps into dominance of the sea.
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Frigate USS CONSTITUTION PAUL REVERE BOLT Relic

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Starting Price $650
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