On this day, 213 years ago, USS Constitution completed one of the most dramatic naval pursuits in American history—an event now known as the “Great Escape.” In the early days of the War of 1812, Constitution encountered a powerful British squadron off the coast of New Jersey. Outnumbered and outgunned, the American frigate found herself pursued by five British warships: HMS Aeolus, HMS Belvidera, HMS Guerriere, HMS Shannon, and HMS Africa. Over the course of nearly three days—July 16 to 19, 1812—Captain Isaac Hull and his crew demonstrated extraordinary seamanship and tactical ingenuity to evade capture. With little wind in the sails, they lightened the ship by pumping out excess water, soaked the canvas to catch any breeze, and employed the labor-intensive process of kedging—using small boats to carry anchors ahead of the ship, which were then hauled in to drag Constitution forward. As the chase wore on, ominous clouds of a squall gathered on the horizon. Knowing the British had ...