s of terror, the British tars fought on doggedly,
cheering loudly as they worked their guns, but not knowing why they
cheered; for the officers, at least, could see how surely the battle
was going against them. When the "United States" drew away to repair
damages, the British officers held a consultation on the quarter-deck.
They could not but see that their position was hopeless; and, knowing
all further resistance to be folly, the flag was hauled down. To the
pride of the officers, the surrender was doubtless a severe blow. But
Sam Leech remarks pithily, that to him "it was a pleasing sight; for
he had seen fighting enough for one Sabbath,--more, indeed, than he
wished to see again on a week-day."

Decatur at once hailed, to learn the name of his prize, and then sent
off a boat with Lieut. Allen to take possession. He found the decks of
the ship in a fearful state. Many of the crew had found liquor, and
were drinking heavily. Others were throwing the dead into the sea,
carrying the wounded below, and sprinkling the deck with hot vinegar,
to remove the stains and odor of blood. The dead numbered forty-three,
and sixty-one were wounded. An eye-witness of the terrible spectacle
writes of it: "Fragments of the dead were distributed in every
direction, the decks covered with blood,--one continued, agonizing yell
of the unhappy wounded. A scene so horrible of my fellow-creatures, I
assure you, deprived me very much of the pleasure of victory." Yet,
with all this terrific destruction and loss of life on the
"Macedonian," the "United States" was but little injured; and her loss
amounted to but seven killed, and five wounded. Indeed, so slight was
the damage done to the American ship, that an hour's active work by
her sailors put her in trim for a second battle.

While Lieut. Allen was examining the muster-rolls of the "Macedonian,"
a sailor pushed his way toward the quarter-deck, and cried out that he
was an impressed American, and that he had seven mates aboard, all
pressed into the British service. They had all been forced to serve
against their country, and in the battle three had been killed. Just
before the battle began, they had begged to be sent below, but were
peremptorily ordered to stand by their guns, or expect to be treated
as mutineers. Now that the battle was over, the five who were left
alive begged to be taken into the crew of the "United States," which
was accordingly done.

After the "Macedonian" had been