On the Ocean 145 



den. She was not, like the Guerriere, an old ship 

 captured from the French, but newly built of oak, 

 and larger than any American i8-pounder frigate; 

 she was reputed (very wrongfully) to be a "crack 

 ship." According to Lieut. David Hope, "the state 

 of discipline on board was excellent; in no British 

 ship was more attention paid to gunnery. Before 

 this cruise the ship had been engaged almost every 

 day with the enemy ; and in time of peace the crew 

 were constantly exercised at the great guns." 56 

 How they could have practiced so much and learned 

 so little is certainly marvelous. 



The Macedonian set her foretopmast and top 

 gallant studding-sails and bore away in chase, 57 

 edging down with the wind a little aft the star 

 board beam. Her first lieutenant wished to con 

 tinue on this course and pass down ahead of the 

 United States, 58 but Captain Garden's over-anxiety 

 to keep the weather-gage lost him this opportunity 

 of closing. 59 Accordingly he hauled by the wind 

 and passed way to windward of the American. As 

 Commodore Decatur got within range, he eased off 

 and fired a broadside, most of which fell short; 60 

 he then kept his luff, and, the next time he fired, 

 his long 24*5 told heavily, while he received very 

 little injury himself. 61 The fire from his main-deck 



M Marshall's "Naval Biography, " vol. iv, p. 1018. 

 " Capt Garden to Mr. Croker, Oct. 28, 1812. 

 M James, vi, 166. 



89 Sentence of Court-martial held on the San Domingo, 74, 

 at the Bermudas. May 27, 1812. 

 Marshall, iv, 1080. Cooper, ii, 178. 



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