Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-12-27
A NOTED FIGHT.
low THg UNITED STATES AND THE NAGEDO-
MAN NET
n, Display Of Courage On Both sides Was Re
marksbls-Picars Of the Terrible havoc
on the British yssssl--Deeaiurs
Manly Action.
n T. Tines

The fight between Tue On'1eN n-s-',L
frloate United States and the BRUSH
frlgate Macedonian is looked upon III
tbe American Navy IS one OF the great
est eunnery feats in the history OF the
service. The engagement took place
October 95, 1872, aud though an auer
~ many years past the records on tue
American side are well preserved at the
Nav DEPARTMENT. They are, In fact,
mpeh fuller than In the case OF moss re-
morris. Decatur taking the pains 20 hama
down for future use all the dement's OF
the exnerience be gained that DAY.
From the British side Of the light the
reeords are more or less Incomplete
Though much that was valuable mas
Seen learned in later years through the
waite letters written Oy the BRUSH
cSotain subsequent 70 the ARRAY.
Recently the Messrs. hnoedIerS nau
on exhibition in their gallery, mention
Of which has been made 10 these COL
umps. Davidson's battle piece repre-
senting the engagement at the moment
inst preyious 10 the hauling down OF
fbe Macedonian dag. IL was the ell
may OF the fight, for il was then that
no British men-Oi-war'S men lay dead,
diving or wounded on the Macedonian's
deck. ,.
Tho fight between the United States
and the Macedonian occurred at a point
some POO miles 20 the southwark ana
west OF the Azores Islands. The Mace
DOMAIN, Capt John Carder, Royal Navy
commanding, was on the outward
bound cruise 70 the West Indies. His
shin was brand-new frigate, fresh
from Portsmouth Dock yard. This
ward the Macedonian had left not more
tban two weeks previously. On the
morning of October 25 the British irig-
ate had about 800 men aboard, Her
batterv consisted Of thirty-eight car
ronades, with a pivot gun on the fore
castle and a small boat gun on the quar-
terdeck. Because OF this she earned
the title given her in America OF being
q forty-gun snip.
The crew of the Macedonian were Tor
the most part trained men-of-war's
men. There were some twenty I'M
dressed men aboard who had never seen
service on a war ship, but, aside from
This number, all hands had done duty
three years and more under the British
flag. Captain Garden always had the
greatest admiration for the MacedOn-
ian's crew, and IL was this very
reliance 10 the personnel under
him that caused that vancouver
IN the fight which lost him his
ship. Good men as the biuejackets Of
the Macedonian were, they were still
somewhat green In working together
when they met the United States.
Tue Macedonian had been hurried OF
from the Portsmouth yard, and now not
more than a couple OF weeks out with
out any opportunity for target practice
and with Only the training which came
from the daily exercise at quarters, the
NacedOnian's men went into the fight
without murmnr against the seasoned,
weil-Shaken-dUWn crew commanded by
Decatur.
The morning Of October %, 1912, was
logged aevard the Macedonian as open
ing clear aud cool, with heavy swell
running, the frigate standing along un-
der tOpsails, t0pgallaHt sails, and
courses. To was proposed TO give the
day % the men Ia the enjoyment OF
whatever sports they chose, and, TO
AAAU NlAUU W al tAN AAUAN hlN 10 ,
Capt Garden instructed the executive
officer 10 see TO a little extra allowance
OF grOg being issued. AT S:45 o'clock
ia the morning Capt. Garden was seated
ia his cabin engaged in reading when
he distinctly heard the call OF the look
out 30 the !OretODmaSt head call out:
"Sail ho." Without whiting to hear the
counter-hail Of the officer OF the deck,
Capt Garden sprang up his cabin CON-
paniOnWay and himself hailed the look
out: "Caa you make her Out?n
Cant make her out, sir" was the
reply.
Capt Garden took two or three turns
along the deck, and minute later sang
out:
Masthead, therew
"Sir" came the reply.
"Can you make out that sail?"
"She is sQuare-rigged vessel, Sir.'
"Here, Mr.. -" said Capt. Garden
% the officer beside him. "send a look
out to each masthead and an officer into
the top and keep a close eye on that
fellow" aud then q minute later came
the cry from the mainmaSt head:
The strangers q frigate, sir, and
bearing dswn this way"
'Can you make out bis rig?"
"He looks like a Yankee, Sir"
This last hail was sufficient. Capt.
Garden was now surrounded by bis ex-
ecutive and navigator and by two or
more Of the older officers, while on the
lee side OF the deck a knot OF junior
officers was assembled, all of them hav-
ing tumbled up from below on hearing
the Captains voice.
Turning 10 bis executive, Capt. Car
den said very quietly: Clear ship for
action, Sir, aud get the people to the
gunSw
Ia al instant the bOatSwain'S pipes
were ringing out their calls, and 800
lblueiackets were knocking down bulk
NheaGS, reeving of preventer braces,
u-wlftening down rigging, securing
'tne.tS, rigging boarding MEETINGS, I'M
'ut tbning ladders, piiing hammOcks here
'eaasf here bresstworks, and all the
slant vi enter into preparing
'hoIch rece4ie.
u Fet 3 Gra7edonian's men, though for
'aris' .BERT strange TO one another,
ur AM 70 man-Of-war duty not 10
nd log-N--time quickly. The Mac
ke3plA- ady for the fight in three
esllVf people then went TO the
a. roll Of the drums, The
C;gas y under foressil, fore,
->-S--d mizN<n-top sails, main elew
hauled CD, royal yards in the
and to2gallant sails furled.
foretOpEsllant Staysa.l, and
we're set. The strange frigate
distant about 1000 Yards and
American colors. Cap Car
ought he recognized the United
Mt was not sure. Both vessels
ually closing, with both wary.
tha Carkofn and aV-