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MACEDONIAN
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(38) |
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Built in 1810, Woolwich.
Taken in 1812. |
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- 1810 Lord William FITZROY, 06/1810, Lisbon station.
After a court martial at Lisbon on 7 April 1811 Capt. FITZROY was dismissed the service for 'tyranny and oppression' by putting the master of the MACEDONIAN in irons.
The master was afterwards also dismissed the service for contempt towards his captain.
Capt. Hon. William WALDEGRAVE took over command.
(Capt. FITZROY was restored to his rank the following August.) - 1812 Capt. John Surman CARDEN.
MACEDONIAN was employed off the coast of Portugal and then inshore of the main squadron off the Basque Roads blockading Rochefort and on most days she was engaged with batteries, convoys and French frigates.
A French lugger was chased ashore within musket shot of the batteries near Ile d'Aix on 7 August 1812 and brought out by the boats under Lieut. George PECHELL.
Two enemy frigates attempted to recapture her the following morning but they retreated to their anchorage when MACEDONIAN approached.
Those responsible for accidentally firing a gun at long range received a severe reprimand from Capt. CARDEN. - On 25 October MACEDONIAN was steering N. W. about 1,000 miles west of the Canary Islands when, at daybreak, a sail was seen on the lee beam.
Capt. CARDEN immediately stood towards and soon made out a large American frigate.
After exchanging shots at long range for an hour a close action commenced.
The enemy's force was so superior that there could only be one end to the battle; after two hours and ten minutes with all her masts badly damaged, all the guns on the quarter-deck and forecastle disabled except for two and a great proportion of the crew killed or wounded, Capt. CARDAN was forced to surrender his ship.
His opponent was the UNITED STATES, built with the scantlings of a 74-gun ship and armed with thirty long 24-pounders on her main deck and twenty-two 42 pounder carronades and two long 24-pounders on her quarter-deck and forecastle. - At a muster on the 28th. it was determined that MACEDONIAN had lost 36 killed, 36 severely wounded, many of whom were unlikely to recover, and 32 slightly wounded.
Lieut. David HOPE was severely wounded in the leg, and later even more so in the head, and taken below but was soon back again on the deck.
Lieut. John BULFORD was also wounded but remained at his quarters.
Lieut. Samuel MOTTLEY and the master, Mr WALKER, were unwounded. - The prisoners were taken to New London were they were treated with great kindness by Com.
Decatur and his officers who returned all the private property taken in the ship.
They were taken by cartel to Bermuda where they faced a court martial on board SAN DOMINGO on 27 and 31 May 1813.
The "firmest and most determined courage and resolution" with which the officers and men of MACEDONIAN behaved throughout the action was praised and they were all honourably acquitted. - Many (all according to Com.
Decatur) of the crew of the UNITED STATES had served in the Royal Navy.
A quarter-master discovered his first cousin on board her, two seamen found brothers and an officer's servant, a young lad from London named William HEARNE, also found his brother.
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