The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-11-16
OLD-TIME NAVAL VICTORY
american Gunncrs Have Always Been
Good Marksmen.


IN minute with twelve-inch gun,
l'26O-pound shell on seven-miIe
range, are common.
1t has always been so. And lust 1Oo
years ago today-October Ok 1919
occurred one of the most striking IL
iustrations in the nations history of
that superiority-the defeat of the
british forty-nine gun frigate Mace
donian, by the American fftv-four
gun frlsate United States. 1t was.
peThaTs the most memorable naval
battle of our most memorable war.
The United States, commanded bv
stephen Decatur, of TripoIi farne
was cruising along the African coast
near the Canary Islands. October
rs 1912, was Sunday, and the crew
was preparing to muster for church
services.
Sail no." came the lookout's crv
from the cross-trees far aIoft.
A few minutes later and the strang-
er was made out as a British frigate.
The long, sonorous roll of the drum
mer's church call broke into the
sharp pitched beat of arms. Decatur
put about and warily approached his
rival.
captain Garden, Of the Macedonian,
mistook the United States for the Es-
sex, an inferior ship. Eight men of
his crew were impressed American
seamen. They asked to be excused
from fighting their countrymen. He
savagely ordered them back to their
gun stations.
The Americans went into the fight
confident Of victory. Jack Creamer
young cabin boy, went to Captain
Decatur and asked to have his name
inscribed on the muster roll before
the battle
"Why?" asked the captain.
so 1 can draw my share of the
prize money, sir" the boy replied.
Captain Garden planned the en-
gagement for the Essex. He opened
nre at long range, a mile in those
days. His shot fell short and De-
catur turned loose a broadside from
his heavy guns. A dozen or more
solid shot crashed into the Mace
donian, forceful tip to Garden of his
mistake.
First the Macedonian's mizzen mast
hU ho
main top ratified to the deck, the fall
ing debris burying a whole guns
crew
The United States was enveloped in
smoke from its own guns A contin-
ual stream of flame came from the
gun ports. Garden thought his enc
my was afire.
Seeing the enemy disabled, De-
catur drew out of range for repairs.
He took no chances to having a
couple of British seventy-four-gun
frigates finding him crippled Hope
came to the British. Al report spread
that an English sail had appeared.
About noon that hope was dis
PEELED. Decatur came back and ma
neuvered across the Macedonians
bow preparatory to a broadside and
diagonal fire that would sweep eyerv
piece of gear from the Englishman's
deck. Garden saw his plight and
struck his colors.
In the afternoon Decatur went
aboard to look at his prize. The
scene appalled, even his eye accus-
toned to carnage and blood. He
wrote in his report to congress:
Fragments of dead were scattered
in every direction. The decks were
slippery with blood and the cry Of
the wounded was one agonizing veil.
A scene SO horrible, Of my fellow
creatures, l assure you, deprived me
of very much of the pleasure of VIC
tory"
When Captain Garden formally Of
fered his sword, Decatur declined it.
NO sir" he said, Il cannot receive
the sword of a man who has so brave
ly defended his ship. But l will take
your hand"
Two of the eight impressed Ameri-
cans were part of the 104 dead and
dying men on the decks Of the Mace
DOMAIN. Some had been thrown over
board to stop their suffering. On the
United States only IL men had been
touched and more than half of those
were only slightly injured - Kansas
City Times
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