Thursday 12 January 2023

Dreams overnight about the USS Constitution. I was taken back in time to when Constitution was being built, probably 1796, at the shipyard in Boston. The mainmast was being stepped, and there was a massive wooden frame built in order to use block and tackle to raise the long, heavy timber into place. Shipfitters and carpenters all around were dressed in woolen trousers, suspenders over workshirts. With commands and shouts ringing out, they slowly raised the mast into position, and lowered it towards the step.

There was a solemn stop as they allowed the sailors to place some coins under the mast, and then they finished the placement. There were smells of pine and tar and paint. There was a shift in time, and I was in the water, diving under her to inspect the hull and rudder.

In another blink of time, I was onboard as Constitution got underway and began to shake everything down. The atmosphere was charged, for everyone knew they were getting ready for fighting action. I was in the main gun-deck, for training and test-firing the big 32-pound cannons. An officer gave the command: “Fire!” and with a deafening roar the guns let loose. The entire boat shook and there was smoke and sparks everywhere. The deck officers were evaluating the shots fired, instructing their gun crews about aiming, timing, and reloading.