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Known as the Yankee Race Horse, USS Constellation was the second frigate completed under the Congressional authorization of 1794. Built in 1853, she was the last all sail warship built by the US. She first saw action during the Quasi-War with France as part of the West Indies Squadron under Captain Thomas Truxton. On February 9, 1799, she captured the frigate L'Insurgente (40 guns) in an hour-long engagement off Nevis. Her next major contest was against Vengeance (52) in a five-hour night action off Guadeloupe (February 1, 1800) during which the French frigate struck her colors twice but eventually escaped the partially dismasted Constellation under cover of darkness. During the Barbary Wars, in 1802, Constellation was assigned to the Mediterranean Squadron and took part in the evacuation of Derna and in actions against Tunis in 1805. Blockaded in the Chesapeake during the War of 1812, she returned to the Mediterranean as part of Stephen Decatur's Mediterranean squadron and took part in the capture of the Algerian frigate Mashuda in June 1815. From 1819 to 1845 Constellation served on a variety of stations, including Brazil, the Pacific, the Mediterranean, the West Indies, and last, as flagship on the East India Squadron during the War. Constellation was in ordinary from 1845 to 1853. 
There is a great deal of confusion as to Constellation's subsequent fate. It is quite clear that the Navy establishment felt Constellation ought to be maintained in some form, and it is possible that some timbers from the ship of 1797 were incorporated in the construction of the sloop of war Constellation in 1854. But as early as 1872 the historian Admiral George H. Preble wrote that the original Constellation was "now represented by a new ship bearing the same name. " Until recently the Navy unofficially regarded the Constellation of 1854 as a rebuilt version of the frigate of 1797. 
Dunne, "Frigate Constellation Clearly Was No More: Or Was She? " Randolph, "Fouled Anchors? Foul Blow"; "USS Constellation, 1797-1979. " Wegner, "An Apple and an Orange. " Wegner et al. , Fouled Anchors.