Editing USS Constitution (section)

===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>