Video: 'Famous Naval Battle War of 1812 USS Constitution vs HMS Guerriere'

(Wednesday, August 19, 1812, 2:00 p.m. local time; during the USS Constitution vs HMS Guerriere, part of the War of 1812) — The USS Constitution defeated the British frigate HMS Guerriere today in a furious engagement off Nova Scotia during the War of 1812, earning the nickname “Old Ironsides.”

Video: 'USS Constitution vs HMS Guerriere machinima short'

Guerriere was proceeding to Halifax for a refit, having been detached from a squadron that had earlier didn’t capture Constitution.

When the two ships encountered each other, Guerriere‘s Captain James Richard Dacres engaged, confident of victory against the larger, better-armed U.S. ship. Witnesses said British shots seemed to bounce off the Constitution.

Video: '19th August 1812: USS Constitution earns the nickname 'Old Ironsides' after defeating HMS Guerriere'

The exchange of broadsides felled Guerriere‘s masts and reduced the ship to a sinking condition.

Constitution‘s crew took the British sailors on board and set Guerriere on fire, then returned to Boston with news of the victory, which proved to be important for American morale.