In all her service, her success was remarkable. She never lost her
masts, never went ashore, and though so often in battle, no very serious
loss of life ever occurred on her decks. Her entire career was that of
what is called in the navy "a lucky ship."
Perhaps this may be explained by the fact that she always had excellent
commanders, and that she probably possessed as fine a ship's company as
ever manned a frigate.
In 1829, the Government ordered the Constitution to be dismantled and
taken to pieces, because she had become unfit for service.
At that time, Oliver Wendell Holmes, who has since become famous as a
writer, was a young man twenty years of age, about completing his
studies at Harvard College.
When he heard of the intended destruction of "Old Ironsides," he went
directly to his room, and, inspired by patriotic feelings, wrote the
following poem.
OLD IRONSIDES.
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 cannons' roar:
The meteor of the ocean air
Shall sweep the clouds no more.
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