"To provide and maintain a navy." Article I, Section 8, of the
United States Constitution grants this authority to Congress, and
the Third Congress acted on this power with the Naval Act of 1794.
This act created the U. S. Navy, authorizing the construction or
purchase of six ships. On October 21, 1797, one of these ships, the
IX-21, was brought into active service. That ship was known as the
USS Constitution.
The USS Constitution was built using trees from states
from Maine to Georgia, and was clad in copper provided by Paul
Revere. After serving along the coast of Africa fighting the
Barbary States, she was again called to action in the War of 1812.
In that conflict, the Constitution engaged in combat with the HMS
Guerriere of the British Royal Navy. In that encounter, the
Guerrier's cannonballs were seen to bounce off the hull of
the Constitution, earning her the nickname "Old Ironsides,"
despite the fact that her hull was entirely wooden, with copper
sheathing.
Today, the USS Constitution serves as a naval history
museum, where thousands of visitors learn about and interact with
the ship. It currently stands as the oldest warship still floating
on the sea, and is one of only two active service vessels in the U.
S. Navy that have been confirmed to have sunk enemy ships.
Your task fortunately does not take you to the USS
Constitution itself, which is docked in Boston, although it
would be well worth a visit to it if you are in the area. Rather,
you will be searching for a small container that makes use of its
old iron sides. While you're there, you may also want to look
around at the other items nearby. Many of them are made of iron,
and almost all of them are old.
Old Ironsides by Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.
Ay, tear her tattered ensign down!
Long has it waved on high,
And many an eye has danced to see
That banner in the sky;
Beneath it rung the battle shout,
And burst the cannon's roar;
The meteor of the ocean air
Shall sweep the clouds no more.
Her deck, once red with heroes' blood,
Where knelt the vanquished foe,
When winds were hurrying o'er the flood,
And waves were white below,
No more shall feel the victor's tread,
Or know the conquered knee;
The harpies of the shore shall pluck
The eagle of the sea!
Oh, better that her shattered bulk
Should sink beneath the wave;
Her thunders shook the mighty deep,
And there should be her grave;
Nail to the mast her holy flag,
Set every threadbare sail,
And give her to the god of storms,
The lightning and the gale!
This cache was part of the 2007 San Antonio First to Find
Challenge. For more information, complete rules and the current
scoreboard, go to http://www.sanantoniogeocachingassociation.com/contest/2007FTFC