Combat· War of 1812
Constitution vs HMS Java
The Constitution's second great victory of the war, off Bahia, Brazil.
Captain William Bainbridge fought the British frigate HMS Java in a long action of nearly two hours, in which the American main-top Marines mortally wounded Java's captain, Henry Lambert. The Marine officers were Lieutenants John Contee and William Freeman. The fighting cost the Constitution's detachment dearly: Private Thomas Hanson was killed and Privates Anthony Reaver, John Elwell, and Michael Chesley were wounded. The Java was so thoroughly wrecked that Bainbridge could not save her as a prize and ordered her burned. Coming after the Guerriere, the destruction of a second British frigate by the same ship sealed the Constitution's reputation as the most famous fighting ship in the navy and deepened the shock in Britain that its frigates were losing to the Americans ship for ship.
Podcast episodes on War of 1812
Record no. 220