Editing USS Constitution (section)

==Quasi-War==
{{See also|Quasi-War}}

President John Adams ordered all Navy ships to sea in late May 1798 to patrol for armed French ships and to free any American ship captured by them. ''Constitution'' was still not ready to sail and eventually had to borrow sixteen 18-pound (8.2&nbsp;kg) cannons from [[Castle Island (Massachusetts)|Castle Island]] before finally being ready.<ref name="Jennings36"/> The ship put to sea on the evening of 22 July 1798 with orders to patrol the Eastern seaboard between New Hampshire and New York. it was patrolling between Chesapeake Bay and Savannah, Georgia, a month later when Nicholson found his first opportunity for capturing a [[Prize (law)|prize]]. They intercepted ''Niger'' off the coast of Charleston, South Carolina, on 8 September, a 24-gun ship sailing with a French crew en route from Jamaica to Philadelphia which claimed to have been under British orders.<ref name="Jennings44">Jennings (1966), p. 44.</ref> Nicholson had the crewmen imprisoned, perhaps not understanding his orders correctly. He placed a [[prize crew]] aboard ''Niger'' and brought her into Norfolk, Virginia.

''Constitution'' sailed south again a week later to escort a merchant convoy, but her bowsprit was severely damaged in a gale and it returned to Boston for repairs. In the meantime, Secretary of the Navy [[Benjamin Stoddert]] determined that ''Niger'' had been operating under British orders as claimed, and the ship and her crew were released to continue their voyage. The American government paid a restitution of $11,000 ({{Inflation|US|11000|1798|fmt=eq}}) to Britain.<ref name="Martin2426">Martin (1997), pp. 24–26.</ref><ref name="Allen09-6971">Allen (1909), pp. 69–71.</ref>

''Constitution'' departed Boston on 29 December. Nicholson reported to Commodore [[John Barry (naval officer)|John Barry]], who was flying his flag in ''United States'' near the island of Dominica for patrols in the [[Caribbean|West Indies]]. On 15 January 1799, ''Constitution'' intercepted the English merchantman ''Spencer'', which had been taken prize by the French frigate [[USS Insurgent|''L'Insurgente'']] a few days prior. Technically, ''Spencer'' was a French ship operated by a French prize crew; but Nicholson released the ship and her crew the next morning, perhaps hesitant after the affair with ''Niger''.<ref name="Martin33">Martin (1997), p. 33.</ref><ref name="Allen09-105">Allen (1909), p. 105.</ref> Upon joining Barry's command, ''Constitution'' almost immediately had to put in for repairs to her rigging due to storm damage, and it was not until 1 March that anything of note occurred. On this date, it encountered {{HMS|Santa Margarita|1779|6}},<ref name="Colledge306">Colledge and Warlow (2006), p. 306.</ref><ref name="Winfield213">Winfield (2007), p. 213.</ref> whose captain was an acquaintance of Nicholson's. The two agreed to a sailing duel, which the English captain was confident he would win. But after 11 hours of sailing, ''Santa Margarita'' lowered her sails and admitted defeat, paying off the bet with a cask of wine to Nicholson.<ref Name="Hollis6465">Hollis (1900), pp. 64–65.</ref> Resuming her patrols, ''Constitution'' managed to recapture the American sloop ''Neutrality'' on 27 March. On 4 April 1799 it recaptured His Majesty's Packet ''Carteret'' that had been captured by the French on 29 March.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://ibiblio.org/anrs/docs/E/E3/nd_quasiwar_v03p01.pdf |title=Naval Documents related to the Quasi-War Between the United States and France Volume 3 Part 1 of 4 Naval Operations April 1799 to July 1799 Pg. 16 |publisher=U.S. Government printing office via Imbiblio |access-date=30 March 2024}}</ref> Secretary Stoddert had other plans, however, and recalled ''Constitution'' to Boston. It arrived there on 14 May, and Nicholson was relieved of command.<ref name="Martin3840">Martin (1997), pp. 38, 40.</ref>

===Change of command===

Captain [[Silas Talbot]] was recalled to duty to command ''Constitution'' and serve as Commodore of operations in the West Indies. After repairs and resupply were completed, ''Constitution'' departed Boston on 23 July with a destination of Saint-Domingue via Norfolk and a mission to interrupt French shipping. The ship departed Norfolk on 14 August. It recaptured the Hamberg ship ''Amelia'' from a French prize crew on 15 September, and Talbot sent the ship back to New York City with an American prize crew. The ship was sold but the Court ordered the money returned to her owners.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://ibiblio.org/anrs/docs/E/E3/nd_quasiwar_v05p03.pdf |title=Naval Documents related to the Quasi-War Between the United States and France Volume  |volume=V: Part 3: Naval Operations January to May, 1800, April 1800-May 1800 |page=399 |publisher=U.S. Government printing office |via=Imbiblio |access-date=14 July 2024}}</ref> ''Constitution'' arrived at Saint-Domingue on 15 October and rendezvoused with {{USS|Boston|1799|2}}, {{USS|General Greene|1799|2}}, and {{USS|Norfolk|1798|2}}. No further incidents occurred over the next six months, as French depredations in the area had declined. ''Constitution'' busied herself with routine patrols, and Talbot made diplomatic visits.<ref name="Jennings60">Jennings (1966), p. 60.</ref> On 2 February 1800 put men aboard an unidentified American schooner and had it sent to New York for possible illegal trading.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://ibiblio.org/anrs/docs/E/E3/nd_quasiwar_v05p02.pdf |title=Naval Documents related to the Quasi-War Between the United States and France Volume Part 2 of 4 Naval Operations January to May, 1800, February, 1800-March, 1800 Pg. 180 |publisher=U.S. Government printing office via Imbiblio |access-date=7 June 2024}}</ref> It was not until April 1800 that Talbot investigated an increase in ship traffic near [[Puerto Plata (city)|Puerto Plata]], Santo Domingo, and discovered that the French [[privateer]] ''Sandwich'' had taken refuge there. On 8 May the squadron captured the sloop ''Sally'', and Talbot hatched a plan to capture ''Sandwich'' by utilizing the familiarity of ''Sally'' to allow the Americans access to the harbor.<ref name="Jennings70">Jennings (1966), p. 70.</ref> On 9 May her Tender "Amphitheatre" engaged a French privateer schooner that, after a short action, was run aground and abandoned by her crew. The privateer was captured and refloated and her two prizes, brig "Nymph" and schooner "Esther", were recaptured.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://ibiblio.org/anrs/docs/E/E3/nd_quasiwar_v05p03.pdf |title=Naval Documents related to the Quasi-War Between the United States and France Volume Part 3 of 4 Naval Operations January to May, 1800, April 1800-May 1800 Pg. 495-496 |publisher=U.S. Government printing office via Imbiblio |access-date=17 July 2024}}</ref> First Lieutenant [[Isaac Hull]] led 90 sailors and Marines into Puerto Plata without challenge on 11 May, capturing ''Sandwich'' and spiking the guns of the nearby Spanish fort.<ref name="Allen09-184185">Allen (1909), pp. 184–185.</ref> However, it was later determined that ''Sandwich'' had been captured from a neutral port; it was returned to the French with apologies, and no [[prize money]] was awarded to the squadron.<ref Name="Quasi">{{cite web|title=A Cutting-Out Expedition, 1800 |publisher=Naval History & Heritage Command |date=25 October 1999 |url=http://www.history.navy.mil/docs/war1812/const2.htm |access-date=17 September 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111006001745/http://www.history.navy.mil/docs/war1812/const2.htm |archive-date=6 October 2011 }}</ref><ref Name="Hollis66-68">Hollis (1900), pp. 66–68.</ref>

Routine patrols again occupied ''Constitution'' for the next two months, until 13 July, when the mainmast trouble of a few months before recurred. The ship put into [[Cap-Haïtien|Cape François]] for repairs. While leaving the roads of Cape Francois on 22 July it struck a reef and was pulled off 45 minutes later.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://ibiblio.org/anrs/docs/E/E3/nd_quasiwar_v06.pdf |title=Naval Documents related to the Quasi-War Between the United States and France |volume=VI Part 2 of 4: Naval Operations June to November 1800, July-August 1800 |pages=169 |publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office |via=Ibiblio |access-date=14 August 2024}}</ref> With the terms of enlistment soon to expire for the sailors aboard her, it made preparations to return to the United States and was relieved of duty by ''Constellation'' on 23 July. ''Constitution'' escorted 12 merchantmen to Philadelphia on her return voyage, and on 25 August arrived in [[President Roads]], off Boston, and put in quarantine.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://ibiblio.org/anrs/docs/E/E3/nd_quasiwar_v06.pdf |title=Naval Documents related to the Quasi-War Between the United States and France |volume=VI Part 2 of 4: Naval Operations June to November 1800, July-August 1800 |pages=285 |publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office |via=Ibiblio |access-date=25 August 2024}}</ref>  The ship received new masts, sails, and rigging. Even though peace was imminent between the United States and France, ''Constitution'' again sailed for the West Indies on 17 December as squadron flagship, rendezvousing with {{USS|Congress|1799|2}}, {{USS|Adams|1799|2}}, {{USS|Augusta|1799|2}}, {{USS|Richmond|1798|2}}, and {{USS|Trumbull|1800|2}}. Although no longer allowed to pursue French shipping, the squadron was assigned to protect American shipping and continued in that capacity until April 1801, when {{USS|Herald|1798|2}} arrived with orders for the squadron to return to the United States. ''Constitution'' returned to Boston. Captain Talbot resigned his Commission 8 September, 1801 and Lt.[[Isaac Hull]] was ordered to take command in a letter dated 21 September, 1801.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://ibiblio.org/anrs/docs/E/E3/nd_quasiwar_v07.pdf |title=Naval Documents related to the Quasi-War Between the United States and France |volume=VII Part 1 of 4: Naval Operations December 1800-December 1801, December 1800-March 1801 |pages=285 |publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office |via=Ibiblio |access-date=28 September 2024}}</ref> It was finally scheduled for an overhaul, Captain [[Samuel Nicholson]] was ordered to supervise the work in a letter dated 1 April, 1802.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://ibiblio.org/anrs/docs/E/E3/nd_barbarywars_v02p01.pdf |title=Naval Documents related to the United States Wars with the Barbary Powers Volume II Part 1 of 3 January 1802 through August 1803 |pages=100 |publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office |via=Ibiblio |access-date=3 November 2024}}</ref> It was canceled in a letter dated 18 June with the crew ordered discharged, Capt. Nicholson was relieved by her Sailing Master Nathaniel Harden.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://ibiblio.org/anrs/docs/E/E3/nd_barbarywars_v02p01.pdf |title=Naval Documents related to the United States Wars with the Barbary Powers Volume II Part 1 of 3 January 1802 through August 1803 |pages=179 |publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office |via=Ibiblio |access-date=3 November 2024}}</ref> It was placed [[Reserve fleet|in ordinary]] on 2 July 1802.<ref name="Martin6366">Martin (1997), pp. 63–66.</ref>