Ship's Crew

Birdsall joined the Constitution ’s crew as an ordinary seaman on August 18, 1813. He was assigned to gun no. 8 as fireman and sail trimmer as a part of the quarterdeck division.

Among the enlisted men, ordinary seamen stood in the middle of the lower-deck hierarchy. These men had typically sailed one or two voyages and knew basic seamanship. Like the able seamen, they too could “hand, reef, and steer,” but some of the more complicated maneuvers were foreign to them. Many ordinary seamen would have been numbered among the topmen, the young and agile crewmembers who were responsible for working aloft on the masts and yards. The ordinary seaman made $10.00 per month.

Battles and Engagements

He fought in the battles with HMS Cyane and HMS Levant and received $22.19 in prize money.

Birdsall deserted the Constitution on July 10, 1815. His place and date of death are unknown.