The Medallic History of the United States of America 1776-1876 Part 51

[_Capture of the Macedonian._]

STEPHa.n.u.s DECATUR NAVARCHUS, PUGNIS PLURIBUS, VICTOR. (_Stephen Decatur, a naval captain, conqueror in many battles._) Bust of Captain Decatur, in uniform, facing the right. FuRST. F. (_fecit_).

OCCIDIT SIGNUM HOSTILE SIDERA SURGUNT. (_The enemy's standard falls, the stars arise._) Naval action between the United States frigate United States, of forty-four guns, Captain Decatur, and the British frigate Macedonian, of forty-nine guns, Captain Carden; the United States, to leeward, is firing her port broadside; the Macedonian has lost her mizzenmast, her fore and main-topmasts, and her mainyard.

Exergue: INTER STA. UNI. NAV. AMERI. ET MACEDO. NAV. ANG. DIE XXV OCTOBRIS MDCCCXII. (_Inter United States navem Americanam et Macedonian navem Anglicanam, die 25 Octobris, 1812: Between the American vessel United States and the English vessel Macedonian, October 25, 1812._) On the platform, FuRST. F. (_fecit_).

STEPHEN DECATUR was born in Sinnepuxent, Worcester County, Maryland, January 5, 1779. He was appointed a midshipman, 1798; a lieutenant, 1799; served in the Mediterranean under Commodore Dale, 1801, and under Commodore Preble, 1803; and, while in command of the Intrepid, destroyed the Philadelphia, off Tripoli, February 15, 1804. For this gallant deed he was immediately promoted to the rank of captain. (p. 164) He commanded a division of gunboats under Preble in the subsequent attacks on Tripoli. On October 25, 1812, when in command of the frigate United States, he captured the British frigate Macedonian, Captain John Carden, for which action Congress gave him a vote of thanks and a gold medal. In January, 1815, he left New London as commodore, having his flag on the President, but was soon afterward captured by an English fleet. The same year he sailed for the Mediterranean in command of a squadron, and made treaties with Algiers, Tunis, and Tripoli. On his return home he became a member of the Naval Board. He was shot in a duel by Commodore Barron, at Bladensburg, Maryland, March 22, 1820, and died the same evening.

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ORIGINAL DOc.u.mENTS.[79]

[Footnote 79: The resolution of Congress voting this medal is given under No. 25, page 154.]

_Captain Decatur to the Secretary of the Navy._

To the Honourable United States ship United States, Paul HAMILTON, at Sea, October 30, 1812.

Secretary of the Navy, Washington, D. C.

Sir: I have the honour to inform you, that on the 25th instant, being in the lat.i.tude 29, N., longitude 29, 30', W., we fell in with, and, after an action of an hour and a half, captured His Britannic Majesty's ship Macedonian, commanded by Captain John Carden, and mounting 49 carriage guns (the odd gun shifting). She is a frigate of the largest cla.s.s, two years old, four months out of dock, and reputed one of the best sailors in the British service. The enemy being to windward, had the advantage of engaging us at his own distance, which was so great, that for the first half hour we did not use our carronades, and at no moment was he within the complete effect of our musketry or grape: to this circ.u.mstance and a heavy swell, which was on at the time, I ascribe the unusual length of the action.

The enthusiasm of every officer, seaman, and marine on board this ship, on discovering the enemy; their steady conduct in battle, and precision of their fire, could not be surpa.s.sed. Where all met my fullest expectations, it would be unjust for me to discriminate. Permit me, however, to recommend to your particular notice my first Lieutenant, William H. Allen. He has served with me upwards of five years, and to his unremitted exertions in disciplining the crew, is to be imputed the obvious superiority of our gunnery exhibited in the result of this contest.

Subjoined is a list of the killed and wounded on both sides. (p. 165) Our loss, compared with that of the enemy, will appear small.

Amongst our wounded, you will observe the name of Lieutenant Funk, who died in a few hours after the action: he was an officer of great gallantry and promise, and the service has sustained a severe loss in his death.

The Macedonian lost her mizzen-mast, fore and main-top-masts and main yard, and was much cut up in her hull. The damage sustained by this ship was not such as to render her return into port necessary, and had I not deemed it important that we should see our prize in, should have continued our cruize.

With the highest consideration, I am, yours, etc., Stephen DECATUR.

Killed 5 Wounded 7--1 since dead.

-- 12

MACEDONIAN.

Killed 36 Wounded 68 --- 104

No. 28. (p. 166) PLATE XXIX.

_December 29, 1812._

Gulielmus Bainbridge patria victisque laudatus. [Rx]. Pugnando.

CAPTAIN WILLIAM BAINBRIDGE.

[_Capture of the Java._]

GULIELMUS BAINBRIDGE PATRIA VICTISQUE LAUDATUS. (_William Bainbridge praised by his country and by the vanquished foe._) Bust of Captain Bainbridge, in uniform, facing the right; underneath, a star. FuRST.

F. (_fecit_).

PUGNANDO. (_In fighting._) The naval action is over. The British frigate Java, of forty-nine guns, Captain Lambert, is completely dismasted; while the United States frigate Const.i.tution, of forty-four guns, Captain Bainbridge, is but slightly damaged in her rigging.

Exergue: INTER CONST. NAV. AMERI. ET JAV. NAV. ANGL. DIE XXIX DECEM.

MDCCCXII. (_Inter Const.i.tution navem Americanam et Java navem, Anglicanam, die 29 Decembris, 1812: Between the American vessel Const.i.tution and the English vessel Java, December 29, 1812._) FuRST.

F. (_fecit_).

WILLIAM BAINBRIDGE was born in Princeton, New Jersey, May 7, 1774. He began life in the merchant service, but entered the navy as lieutenant in 1798, was master-commandant in 1799, and captain in 1800. With the frigate George Washington he went to Algiers, whence he conveyed an amba.s.sador to Constantinople, the George Washington being the first American vessel ever seen there. He commanded the Philadelphia when she was lost off Tripoli, November 1, 1803. After his return to the United States he did not serve again afloat till 1812, when he obtained the command of the Const.i.tution; and on December 29 of the same year he captured the British frigate Java, Captain Lambert, (p. 167) for which action Congress gave him a vote of thanks and a gold medal.

After the war he commanded twice in the Mediterranean, and after 1821 served on sh.o.r.e, commanding different navy yards, and was president of the Naval Board. He died in Philadelphia, July 28, 1833.

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ORIGINAL DOc.u.mENTS.

_Resolution of Congress Voting Medals to Captain Bainbridge, etc._

_Resolved unanimously by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress a.s.sembled_: That the President of the United States be, and he is hereby, requested to present to Captain William Bainbridge, of the frigate Const.i.tution, a gold medal, with suitable emblems and devices; and a silver medal,[80] with suitable emblems and devices, to each commissioned officer of the said frigate, in testimony of the high sense entertained by Congress of the gallantry, good conduct, and services of Captain Bainbridge, his officers, and crew, in the capture of the British frigate Java, after a brave and skillful combat.

[Footnote 80: The silver medals are copies of the one in gold given to Captain Bainbridge.]

Approved March 3, 1813.

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_Captain Bainbridge to the Secretary of the Navy._

To THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY, United States frigate Const.i.tution, Washington, D. C. St. Salvador, January 3d, 1813.

Sir: I have the honour to inform you that on the 29th ultimo, at 2 P.M., in south lat.i.tude 13, 06', and west longitude 39, ten leagues distance from the coast of Brazils, I fell in with and captured His Britannic Majesty's frigate Java, of 49 guns, and upwards of 400 men, commanded by Captain Lambert, a very distinguished officer. The action lasted one hour and fifty-five minutes, in which time the enemy was completely dismasted, not having a spar of any kind standing. The loss on board the Const.i.tution was 9 killed and 25 wounded, as per enclosed list.

The enemy had 60 killed and 101 wounded, certainly (among the latter, Captain Lambert, mortally), but by the enclosed letter, written on board the ship (by one of the officers of the Java), and accidentally found, it is evident that the enemy's wounded must have been much greater than as above stated, and who must have died of their wounds previously to their being removed. The letter states 60 killed and 170 wounded.

For further details of the action, I beg leave to refer you (p. 168) to the enclosed extracts from my journal. The Java had in addition to her own crew upwards of one hundred supernumerary officers and seamen, to join the British ships-of-war in the East Indies: also Lieutenant-General Hyslop, appointed to the command of Bombay, Major Walker and Captain Wood, of his staff, and Captain Marshall, master and commander in the British navy, going to the East Indies to take command of a sloop-of-war there.

Should I attempt to do justice, by representation, to the brave and good conduct of all my officers and crew, during the action, I should fail in the attempt; therefore, suffice it to say, that the whole of their conduct was such as to merit my highest encomiums. I beg leave to recommend the officers particularly to the notice of government, as also the unfortunate seamen who were wounded, and the families of those men who fell in the action.

The great distance from our own coast, and the perfect wreck we made the enemy's frigate, forbid every idea of attempting to take her to the United States; and not considering it prudent to trust her in a port of Brazils, particularly St. Salvador, I had no alternative but burning her, which I did on the 31st ultimo, after receiving all the prisoners and their baggage, which was very tedious work, only having one boat left (out of eight) and not one left on board the Java.

On blowing up the frigate Java, I proceeded to this place, where I have landed all the prisoners on their parole, to return to England and there remain until regularly exchanged, and not serve in their professional capacities in any place or in any manner whatever, against the United States of America, until the exchange shall be effected.

I have the honour to be, &c., W. BAINBRIDGE.

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_Extract from Captain Bainbridge's Journal, containing minutes of the action with the British frigate Java._