144 Naval War of 1812 



recognizing- her foes, hauled up on the starboard 

 tack to escape. The American frigates made all 

 sail in chase, and continued beating to windward, 

 tacking several times, for about three hours. Seeing 

 that she was being overhauled, the Galatea now 

 edged away to get on her best point of sailing; at 

 the same moment one of her convoy, the Argo, bore 

 up to cross the hawse of her foes, but was inter 

 cepted by the Congress, who lay to to secure her. 

 Meanwhile the President kept after the Galatea; 

 she set her topmast, topgallant mast and lower stud 

 ding-sails, and when it was very dusk, the President 

 lost sight of the chase, and, toward midnight, hauled 

 to the wind to rejoin her consort. The two frigates 

 cruised to the east as far as 22 W., and then ran 

 down to 17 N. ; but during the month of Novem 

 ber they did not see a sail. They had but slightly 

 better luck on their return toward home. Passing 

 120 miles north of Bermuda, and cruising a little 

 while toward the Virginia capes, they re-entered 

 Boston on Dec. 3ist, having made 9 prizes, most of 

 them of little value. 



When four days out, on Oct. I2th, Commodore 

 Decatur had separated from the rest of Rodgers' 

 squadron and cruised east ; on the 25th, in lat. 29 

 N., and long. 29 30', W., while going close-hauled 

 on the port tack, with the wind fresh from the 

 S. S. E., a sail was descried on the weather beam, 

 about 12 miles distant. 55 This was the British 38- 

 gun frigate Macedonian, Captain John Surnam Car- 



65 Official letter of Commodore Decatur, Oct. 30, 1812. 



