Constellations Captains

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Charles H. Bell – Served as first CO. He commanded her for her sea trials and took her on her first assignment to patrol the Mediterranean and show the US flag. The idea was to discourage any European or North African country from meddling with the United States. Bell served as Midshipmen in the War of 1812 aboard USSMacedonian. In 1824, Lieutenant Bell took USS Ferret as his first command. In 1835, he became executive officer aboard the USS Vincennes which was flagship of the US Pacific Squadron and he also served several years in the US African Squadron (beforeConstellationjoined the squadron). In 1854 he was promoted to Captain and took command of the newly built USSConstellationin 1855. After his command ofConstellation, he commanded the Naval Station at Norfolk, VA. During the Civil War, he became a Rear Admiral and led the Pacific Squadron until 1864. He retired in 1868 as commander of the New York Navy Yard. He died, aged 77 in 1874. Henry Knox Thatcher - Capt. USS Constellation 1862-63. Commanded Constellation for the first half of her Civil War Mediterranean patrol. Thatcher was the grandson of Maj. Gen Henry Knox, 1st Secretary of War, and commander of artillery in the Continental Army. Thatcher was a native of Thomaston, ME and became a midshipmen in 1823. He served in various squadrons throughout his career and by 1855, he reached the rank of Commander serving as executive officer of the Boston Navy Yard. Capt. Thatcher and Constellation joined USS Kearsarge on station at Spain in 1862, and joined USS Tuscarora in blockading the CSS Sumpter in Gibralter. Thatcher transferred to USS Colorado in 1863 to command the North Atlantic Blockading squadron. He participated in the Battle of Fort Fisher in 1865 and after the war, he commanded the Gulf Squadron. His last command was the USS Vanderbilt from which he commanded the North Pacific Squadron until May 1868. Henry S. Stellwegan- Stellwagen replaced Commodore Thatcher in 1863 when the latter returned to the United States. He was more popular with the crew than the stern disciplinarian Thatcher had been. His tenure aboardConstellationremained relatively quiet. While searching for the reported Confederate cruiserSoutherner, Constellation’screw, Stellwagen included engaging is sightseeing around the Mediterranean and exchanging visits with US and foreign ships.Southernerwas never located. Stellwagen was a native of Philadelphia who entered the Navy as a midshipman in 1828. He was prominent in the survey of the Atlantic coastline and discovered an underwater plateau off the north tip of Cape Cod. “Stellwagen Bank,” named after the Captain, is now a National Marine Sanctuary. He also invented the “Stellwagen Cup,” a device for retrieving sediment samples from the sea floor. Stellwagen served in Commodore Matthew Perry’s fleet during the Mexican war, and at the outbreak of the Civil War, he commanded USSMercedita. On Jan 31st, 1863, the blockade runner CSSPalmetto Statecaught Stellwagen by surprise and rammedMercedita, ripping a hole in her keel, piercing her boiler, and leaving her in a sinking condition. His crew made emergency repairs and barely made back into port. Some speculate that his subsequent transfer to the more quiet and out-of-the-wayConstellation,may have been a sort of punishment duty for being rammed by the enemy. Stellwagen served out the war in command ofConstellation, and later died in 1866 at the age of 56 in Philadelphia. VADM Royal E. Ingersoll-(excerpt from US Naval History and Heritage Command) 1 January 1942, with the rank of Vice Admiral, he [Ingersoll] was designated Commander in Chief, US Atlantic Fleet. He was advanced to the rank of Admiral the following 1 July. Having organized the movements of the thousands of ships across the Atlantic in order to have men and supplies on hand at the precise hour for the North African landings in November 1942, to him fell the responsibility of planning the composition of the naval escort forces which ensured the troop convoys' safe arrival, and the old Navy tradition of 'having never lost a troop ship' remained true. Following the African invasion, the Atlantic Fleet was employed in running troop convoys, transporting stores, munitions and fuel of every character to the United Kingdom and the Mediterranean. As a side issue, it ran the convoys on the coast of Brazil, and continuously waged the anti-submarine war which had been a matter of primary concern since the outbreak of hostilities. Admiral Ingersoll is generally credited with whipping the U-boat menace and with solving the vast Atlantic logistics problem. In addition he had the responsibility of defense of the Western Hemisphere by our Naval forces, and of changes in the disposition of air and surface forces stationed at various points in North and South America. For his services in this tremendously important command, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal and cited as a '... forceful and resolute leader under the critical conditions existing throughout a period of approximately three years...against a determined and ruthless enemy intent on world domination...'

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