In the desperate hope of warding off defeat, Captain Garden now ordered his helm aport and directed that boarders be called.  The response was prompt, for the British sailor fights with unsurpassable heroism, but at the critical moment the forebrace was carried away, the ship was thrown into the wind and exposed to a raking fire.  The American instantly seized the advantage and swept the decks with murderous destructiveness.  In a brief time the Macedonian was completely disabled.  Her rigging was in tatters and splinters and her hull had been pierced by more than a hundred shot, many of which struck between wind and water.

[Illustration:  BATTLE BETWEEN THE “UNITED STATES” AND THE “MACEDONIAN.”]

Finally the American ceased firing and drew off to make the few repairs that were necessary.  During the lull Captain Carden called his surviving officers around him for council.  There was indeed but one thing to do, and it was agreed to surrender.  As the American was returning, therefore, to resume her appalling work the English colors were hauled down.  The victor lay to and lowered a boat, under charge of a lieutenant, who, as he climbed aboard, gave his name and that of the American 44-gun frigate as the United States, Captain Stephen Decatur.  The United States, whose crew numbered 478, had 5 killed and 7 wounded, while the 297 of the Macedonian lost 36 killed and 68 wounded.

So it was that the old friends settled the question over which they had argued many times.  When the English officer came aboard of the United States and offered his sword to Decatur the latter said:  “I cannot receive the sword of a man who has defended his ship with such bravery.”

The chivalrous nature of Decatur was shown in a private letter in which he wrote:  “One-half of the satisfaction arising from this victory is destroyed in seeing the mortification of poor Carden, who deserved success as much as we did who had the good fortune to obtain it.”  Everything possible was done to alleviate the sufferings of the prisoners.  The private property of the officers and seamen was returned or its equivalent in money.  In a letter from Captain Carden to Captain Decatur he expressed his feelings and added:  “I have much gratitude to express to you, my dear sir, for all your kindnesses, and all my officers feel it equally with myself.  If ever we should turn the tables we will endeavor, if possible, to improve on your unusual goodness.”

CHAPTER XIV.

Occasional American Defeats as Well as Victories—­Captain Decatur’s Misfortune—­The Chesapeake and Shannon.

You would gain a wrong impression if my account of the leading naval events in the War of 1812 were made up wholly of American victories.  It was inevitable that our gallant officers and men should meet with some defeats.  In order, therefore, to give as true an idea as possible of those times I shall devote this chapter to telling about some events which went the wrong way.