Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History
Benson Lossing, Ed.

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United States, the frigate

A frigate of the American navy, built in Philadelphia, Pa. in 1797. On Oct. 10, 1812, Commodore Rodgers sailed from Boston in the President, accompanied by the United States, forty-four guns, Captain Decatur, and the Argus, sixteen guns, Lieutenant-commandant Sinclair, leaving the Hornet in port. the President parted company with her companions on Oct. 12, and on the 17th captured a British packet. the United States and Argus also parted company, the former sailing to the southward and eastward in search of British West Indiamen. At dawn, on Sunday morning, the 25th, the watch at the maintop of the United States discovered a sail to windward—an English ship-of-war. Decatur spread all his sails and gave chase, and, as the United States drew nearer and nearer the British ship, such loud shouts went up from her decks that they were heard on board the vessel of the enemy. At about 9 A. M. Decatur had got so near that he opened a broadside upon the strange vessel, with much effect. It was responded to in kind, both vessels being on the same tack. They continued the fight by a heavy and steady cannonade with the long guns of each, the distance being so great that carronades and muskets were of no avail.

In the course of half an hour the British vessel was fearfully injured, and her commander, perceiving that her only safety from destruction was to engage in close action, drew up to the United States for that purpose. The latter, with splendid gunnery, sent shots which cut her enemy's mizzen-mast so that it fell overboard. Very soon her main and fore top-masts were gone and her fore-mast was tottering. No colors were seen floating over her deck. Her main-mast was severely damaged, [157] while the United States remained almost unhurt. Decatur bore away for a while, and his antagonist, supposing his vessel, badly crippled, was withdrawing, set up an exulting shout. To their astonishment the United States tacked and brought up in a position of greater advantage than before. The British commander, perceiving that longer resistance would be useless, struck his colors and surrendered.

The captured vessel was the British frigate Macedonian, thirty-eight guns, Capt. J. S. Carden. She had received no less than 100 round-shot in her hull, many of them between wind and water, and she had nothing standing but her fore and main masts and fore-yard. All her boats were rendered useless but one. Of her

Decatur's medal.

officers and men—300 in number—thirty-six were killed and sixty-eight were wounded. The loss of the United States was five killed and six wounded. the Macedonian was a new ship, and though rated at thirty-eight, carried forty-four guns. The action occurred not far from the island of Madeira. After the contest Decatur returned to the United States, arriving off New London Dec. 4, 1812. the Macedonian, in charge of Lieutenant Allen, arrived at Newport Harbor at about the same time. At the close of the month both vessels passed through Long Island Sound, and, on Jan. 1, 1813, the Macedonian was anchored in the harbor of New York, where she was greeted as “a Newyear's gift.” “She comes with the compliments of the season from old Neptune,” said one of the newspapers. The boys in the streets were singing snatches of a song:

Then quickly met our nation's eyes,
The noblest sight in nature,
A first-rate frigate as a prize,
Brought home by brave Decatur.

Legislatures of States gave Decatur thanks, and two of them each gave him a sword. So, also, did the city of Philadelphia. The authorities of New York, in addition to a splendid banquet to Hull, Jones, and Decatur (Jan. 7, 1813), gave the latter the freedom of the city and requested his portrait for the City Hall. The national Congress thanked him and gave him a gold medal.