“At about nine o’clock that morning Decatur opened a broadside upon the British ship, but his balls fell short. However, he was soon so near that a second broadside from the United States took effect. The two vessels were on the same track, and now fought desperately with long guns, the distance being so great that carronades and muskets were of no avail.
“The shot of the United States told fearfully on her antagonist, and she presently perceived that the only way to save herself from utter destruction was to come to close quarters with her foe. So when the contest had lasted half an hour, riddled and torn in hull and rigging, she bore up gallantly for close action.
“Very soon her mizzen-mast was cut by the shot of the United States and fell overboard. Then shortly after, her main-yard was seen hanging in two pieces; her main and foretopmasts were gone; her foremast was tottering, and no colors were seen flying. Her mainmast and bowsprit were also badly shattered.
“The United States was yet unhurt. Decatur tacked and came up under the lee of the English ship. The commander of that vessel was astounded by the movement, for when the American vessel bore away he supposed she was seriously injured and about to fly. The blaze of her cannon had been so incessant that, seen through the smoke, the English captain thought she was on fire. It seems his crew thought so also, for they gave three cheers; but when the United States tacked and came up in a position to do more serious damage the British commander saw that further resistance was vain, struck his colors and surrendered.
“As the United States crossed the stern of her vanquished foe, Decatur called through his trumpet, ‘What is the name of your ship?’ ‘His Majesty’s frigate Macedonian,’ replied J. S. Carden, her captain.”
“Was she a nice ship, papa?” asked Ned.
“She was before the battle, a new ship and a very fine one of her class. She was rated at thirty-six guns, but carried forty-nine. But in this fight she was terribly bruised and cut up; most of her rigging was gone, all her boats were shattered into uselessness. She had received no less than one hundred round shot in her hull, many of them between wind and water. Of her officers and crew, three hundred in number, many were killed and wounded.”
“What did Decatur do with her, papa?” asked Elsie.
“He gave up his cruise and returned to New England with his prize. He went into the harbor of New London, and Lieutenant Allen took the Macedonian into Newport harbor about the same time. Soon afterward both vessels sailed for the harbor of New York, where the Macedonian was first anchored on New Year’s Day, 1813. One of that city’s newspapers said of her, ‘She comes with the compliments of the season from old Neptune.’
“A splendid banquet had just been given in that city to Hull, Decatur and Jones, and all over the Union people were sounding their praises.”