Editing USS Constitution (section)

===HMS ''Cyane'' and HMS ''Levant''===
{{Main|Capture of HMS Cyane}}

Captain [[Sir George Collier, 1st Baronet|George Collier]] of the Royal Navy received command of the 50-gun {{HMS|Leander|1813|6}} and was sent to North America to deal with the American frigates targeting British shipping.<ref name="Gardiner170-1">Gardiner (2006), pp. 170–171.</ref> Meanwhile, Charles Stewart saw his chance to escape from Boston Harbor and made it good on the afternoon of 18 December, and ''Constitution'' again set course for Bermuda.<ref name="Martin191-192">Martin (1997), pp. 191–192.</ref> Collier gathered a squadron consisting of ''Leander'', {{HMS|Newcastle|1813|2}}, and {{HMS|Acasta|1797|2}} and set off in pursuit, but he was unable to overtake her.<ref name="Tracy">Tracy (2006), p. 89.</ref> On 24 December, ''Constitution'' intercepted the merchantman ''Lord Nelson'' and placed a prize crew aboard. ''Constitution'' had left Boston not fully supplied, but ''Lord Nelson''{{'}}s stores supplied a Christmas dinner for the crew.<ref name="Martin191-192"/>

''Constitution'' was cruising off [[Cape Finisterre]] on 8 February 1815 when Stewart learned that the [[Treaty of Ghent]] had been signed. He realized, however, that a state of war still existed until the treaty was ratified, and ''Constitution'' captured the British merchantman ''Susanna'' on 16 February; her cargo of animal hides was valued at $75,000.<ref>Martin (1997), pp. 193–195.</ref>

On 20 February, ''Constitution'' sighted the small British ships ''Cyane'' and {{HMS|Levant|1813|2}} sailing in company and gave chase.<ref name="Abbot XVI" /> ''Cyane'' and ''Levant'' began a series of broadsides against her, but Stewart outmaneuvered both of them and forced ''Levant'' to draw off for repairs. He concentrated fire on ''Cyane'', which soon struck her colors.<ref name="Abbot XVI" /> ''Levant'' returned to engage ''Constitution'' but it turned and attempted to escape when it saw that ''Cyane'' had been defeated.<ref>Hill (1905), p. 172.</ref> ''Constitution'' overtook her and, after several more broadsides, it struck her colors.<ref name="Abbot XVI" /> Stewart remained with his new prizes overnight while ordering repairs to all ships. ''Constitution'' had suffered little damage in the battle, though it was later discovered that it had twelve 32-pound British cannonballs embedded in her hull, none of which had penetrated.<ref>Martin (1997), p. 200.</ref> The trio then set a course for the [[Cape Verde|Cape Verde Islands]] and arrived at Porto Praya on 10 March.<ref name="Abbot XVI" />

The next morning, Collier's squadron was spotted on a course for the harbor, and Stewart ordered all ships to sail immediately;<ref name="Abbot XVI">Abbot 1896, Volume II, Part II, Chapter XVI</ref> he had been unaware until then of Collier's pursuit.<ref>Toll (2006), p. 450.</ref> ''Cyane'' was able to elude the squadron and make sail for America, where it arrived on 10 April, but ''Levant'' was overtaken and recaptured. Collier's squadron was distracted with ''Levant'' while ''Constitution'' made another escape from overwhelming forces.<ref name="Hill175"/>

''Constitution'' set a course towards [[Guinea]] and then west towards Brazil, as Stewart had learned from the capture of ''Susanna'' that {{HMS|Inconstant|1783|6}} was transporting gold bullion back to England, and he wanted her as a prize. ''Constitution'' put into [[Maranhão]] on 2 April to offload her British prisoners and replenish her drinking water.<ref>Jennings (1966), p. 244.</ref> While there, Stewart learned by rumor that the Treaty of Ghent had been ratified, and set course for America, receiving verification of peace at San Juan, Puerto Rico, on 28 April. He then set course for New York and arrived home on 15 May to large celebrations.<ref name="Abbot XVI" /> ''Constitution'' emerged from the war undefeated, though her sister ships ''Chesapeake'' and ''President'' were not so fortunate, having been captured in 1813 and 1815 respectively.<ref name="Chesapeake">{{cite DANFS | title = Chesapeake
| url = http://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/c/chesapeake-i.html
| access-date =4 April 2011|link=off}}</ref><ref name="President">{{cite DANFS | title = President | url = http://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/p/president-i.html| access-date =4 April 2011|link=off }}</ref> ''Constitution'' was moved to Boston and placed in ordinary in January 1816, sitting out the [[Second Barbary War]].<ref name="Hill175">Hill (1905), p. 175.</ref>