CAPTURE OF THE MACEDONlAK. . 481 
mounting 49 carriage guns, and carrying 306 men, became a 
prize to the U. S. frigate United States, Com. Stephen Deca- 
tur commander, after an action of an hour and a half. This 
was in lat. 29 deg. N. long. 29 deg. 30 min. W. .on the 25th 
of October, 1812, off the Western Islands. 
The Macedonian was a frigate of the largest class, two 
years old, four months out of dock, and reputed one of the 
best sailers in the British service, and being at the windward, 
had the advantage of engaging the United States at her own 
distance, which was so great, that for the first half hour the 
United States tnade no use of her carronades ; and, to the 
close of the action, she was never once within the complete 
effect of the United Slates' musketry and grape. But for this 
circumstance, and the unusual swell which was on at the 
time, the action had undoubtedly been much sooner finished. 
Captain Carden, on coming on board the United States as a 
prisoner, fell into a state of deep dejection, repeatedly observ- 
ing that he -was a ruined man, and that his mortification was 
intolerable. On finding, hovv-ever, that he had Capt. Dacres 
as a companion in defeat, his spirits revived. To Lieut. Wil- 
liam H. Allen, Commodore Decatur awarded particular no- 
tice in his official account of the engagement, imputing to his 
unremitted exertions in disciplining the crew the obvious su- 
periorit)'- of our gunnery, as exhibited in the result of the con- 
test ; and of every officer, seaman, and marine on board his 
ship, remarks, that their enthusiasm on discovering the ene- 
my, their steady conduct in battle, and the precision of their 
fire, could not be surpassed. 
The comparative loss of the parties must fill every one 
with astonishment. The Macedonian lost her mizen-mast, 
fore and main-tdp-masts, and main-3^ard; received 100 shot 
in her hull ; had thirty-six killed and sixty- seven wounded. 
Among the former, the boatswain, master's mate, and school- 
master ; of the latter, 1st and 3d lieutenant, a masters mate, 
and two midshipmen. The United States had only five kill- 
ed and six wounded. Lieut. Funk was of the former num- 
ber. So little was the United States damaged during the ac- 
tion, that in five minutes she was fully repaired for another. 
The security of her prize, however, requiring her company 
into port, she made for America, and on the 4th of December* 
conducted the Macedonian safe into New-London. It so hap- 
pened that the news of this third brilliant naval victory was 
received at Washington the very evening that had been there 
previously fixed upon for a naval ball, at which a large and 
41 
