CAPTAIN STEPHEN DECATUR.
[Capture of the Macedonian.]
STEPHANUS DECATUR NAVARCHUS, PUGNIS PLURIBUS, VICTOR. (Stephen Decatur, a naval captain, conqueror in many battles.) Bust of Captain Decatur, in uniform, facing the right. FÜRST. F. (fecit).
OCCIDIT SIGNUM HOSTILE SIDERA SURGUNT. (The enemy's standard falls, the stars arise.) Naval action between the United States frigate United States, of forty-four guns, Captain Decatur, and the British frigate Macedonian, of forty-nine guns, Captain Carden; the United States, to leeward, is firing her port broadside; the Macedonian has lost her mizzenmast, her fore and main-topmasts, and her mainyard. Exergue: INTER STA. UNI. NAV. AMERI. ET MACEDO. NAV. ANG. DIE XXV OCTOBRIS MDCCCXII. (Inter United States navem Americanam et Macedonian navem Anglicanam, die 25 Octobris, 1812: Between the American vessel United States and the English vessel Macedonian, October 25, 1812.) On the platform, FÜRST. F. (fecit).
Stephen Decatur was born in Sinnepuxent, Worcester County, Maryland, January 5, 1779. He was appointed a midshipman, 1798; a lieutenant, 1799; served in the Mediterranean under Commodore Dale, 1801, and under Commodore Preble, 1803; and, while in command of the Intrepid, destroyed the Philadelphia, off Tripoli, February 15, 1804. For this gallant deed he was immediately promoted to the rank of captain. He commanded a division of gunboats under Preble in the subsequent attacks on Tripoli. On October 25, 1812, when in command of the frigate United States, he captured the British frigate Macedonian, Captain John Carden, for which action Congress gave him a vote of thanks and a gold medal. In January, 1815, he left New London as commodore, having his flag on the President, but was soon afterward captured by an English fleet. The same year he sailed for the Mediterranean in command of a squadron, and made treaties with Algiers, Tunis, and Tripoli. On his return home he became a member of the Naval Board. He was shot in a duel by Commodore Barron, at Bladensburg, Maryland, March 22, 1820, and died the same evening.
ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS.[79]
Captain Decatur to the Secretary of the Navy.
United States ship United States,
at Sea, October 30, 1812.
To the Honourable
Paul Hamilton,
Secretary of the Navy, Washington, D. C.
Sir: I have the honour to inform you, that on the 25th instant, being in the latitude 29°, N., longitude 29°, 30', W., we fell in with, and, after an action of an hour and a half, captured His Britannic Majesty's ship Macedonian, commanded by Captain John Carden, and mounting 49 carriage guns (the odd gun shifting). She is a frigate of the largest class, two years old, four months out of dock, and reputed one of the best sailors in the British service. The enemy being to windward, had the advantage of engaging us at his own distance, which was so great, that for the first half hour we did not use our carronades, and at no moment was he within the complete effect of our musketry or grape: to this circumstance and a heavy swell, which was on at the time, I ascribe the unusual length of the action.
The enthusiasm of every officer, seaman, and marine on board this ship, on discovering the enemy; their steady conduct in battle, and precision of their fire, could not be surpassed. Where all met my fullest expectations, it would be unjust for me to discriminate. Permit me, however, to recommend to your particular notice my first Lieutenant, William H. Allen. He has served with me upwards of five years, and to his unremitted exertions in disciplining the crew, is to be imputed the obvious superiority of our gunnery exhibited in the result of this contest.
Subjoined is a list of the killed and wounded on both sides. Our loss, compared with that of the enemy, will appear small. Amongst our wounded, you will observe the name of Lieutenant Funk, who died in a few hours after the action: he was an officer of great gallantry and promise, and the service has sustained a severe loss in his death.
The Macedonian lost her mizzen-mast, fore and main-top-masts and main yard, and was much cut up in her hull. The damage sustained by this ship was not such as to render her return into port necessary, and had I not deemed it important that we should see our prize in, should have continued our cruize.
With the highest consideration, I am, yours, etc.,
Stephen Decatur.
| Killed | 5 | |
| Wounded | 7 | —1 since dead. |
| — | ||
| 12 |
macedonian.
| Killed | 36 | |
| Wounded | 68 | |
| — | ||
| 104 |
December 29, 1812.
Gulielmus Bainbridge patria victisque laudatus. ℞. Pugnando.