Commemorating Constellation's Leathernecks

April 23, 11:11 AM

by Mark Newgent, Baltimore History Examiner

At a ceremony beginning at 10 am on Saturday April 26 at the Inner Harbor, the United States Seagoing Marine Association (USSMA) will present a commemorative plaque honoring all the United States Marines who served on board the USS Constellation. Constellation is the last all-sail warship built by the United States Navy. It was not however, the first ship to bear that name. Built in Baltimore and launched in September 1797, a smaller frigate named Constellation in honor of the constellation of stars on the American flag saw duty in battle against the French and against the British in 1812. Builders laid the keel for the new USS Constellation in 1853. She entered active service in 1854. From 1859-1861, Constellation served as the flagship of the African squadron, which operated anti-slavery patrols off the coast of Africa.

Constellation capturing the slave ship Cora

In 1808, the United States banned the importation of slaves and considered slave traders to be engaged in acts of piracy. The US Navy ran interdiction operations off the coast of Africa to halt the flow of slaves into the western hemisphere. In April 1859, the Constellation was designated flagship of the African squadron, which patrolled the mouth of the Congo River. From1859-1861 under the command of Flag Officer William Inman, Constellation captured three slave ships.

During the Civil War, the Constellation protected Union shipping from Confederate raiders and served blockade duty. After the war, she operated as a receiving ship, delivered relief supplies to help Irish famine victims, served as a training vessel for the United States Naval Academy, until arriving at her final berth at the Inner Harbor here in Baltimore. You can read more about Constellation’s anti-slavery mission here and her Civil War service here and here.

Constellation at her final berth

Throughout Constellation’s history, there has been one constant. She always sailed with a detachment of United States Marines. In fact, Marines, since the genesis of our nation, have always served on American naval vessels. One thing left out of HBO’s phenomenal miniseries John Adams was that Adams was instrumental in the birth of the United States Marine Corps. Adams led the Maritime Commission Meetings in Philadelphia, which in turn led to the November 10, 1775 resolution of the Continental Congress:

“Resolved that two Battalions of Marines be raised consisting of one Colonel, two Lieutenant Colonels, two Majors & Officers as usual in other regiments, that they consist of an equal number of privates with other battalions; that particular care be taken that no person be appointed to office or inlisted (sic) into said battalions, but such are good seamen, or so acquainted with maritime affairs as to be able to serve to advantage by sea, when required."

This resolution marked the birth of the United States Marine Corps., and its first duty. Marines enforced discipline aboard ship, led sailors in combat, commanded boarding and landing parties, and provided musket fire from on high during close-quarter ship-to-ship combat. Constellation had her own band of leathernecks. Captain Isaac T. Doughty led the Constellation’s Marine detachment during her anti-slavery patrols.

Capt. Isaac T. Doughty USMC

Marines served as crewmembers on US Navy vessels from 1775 until 1998 when the Marine Corps. disbanded Marine detachments to navy ships. The USSMA serves as an organization to help commemorate historical events from 223 years of service and preserve the bonds of among sea going Marines across the country.

Joe Rumenap is one “Salty Seadog”—the name the seagoing Marines are sometimes called—who will be there on Saturday. Joe is a Baltimore native and the local contact for the USSMA. Born and bred in Brooklyn Park, Joe enlisted in the Marines in 1943. He served on the aircraft carrier USS Langley and saw most of the major battles in the Pacific. Joe is a Purple Heart recipient. Off the coast of Okinawa, he severely injured his hand when a bomb from a Japanese kamikaze hit Langley’s focsile, where Joe was manning one of its anti-aircraft guns.

There is not enough space in this post to give Joe and his experiences proper justice. I will do that later. However, if you are down by the Inner Harbor on Saturday morning stop by the ceremony, look for Joe he has some great stories to tell.

Topics: local history , USS Constellation , United States Marine Corps.

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