formally taken possession of by
Lieut. Allen, the British officers were removed to the American ship.
Some of them were inclined to be very surly over their defeat, and by
words and actions showed their contempt for the Americans, whose
prisoners they were. In the first boat which went from the prize to
the victor was the first lieutenant of the "Macedonian." As he
clambered down the side of his vessel, he noticed that his baggage had
not been put in the boat which was to bear him to the American
frigate. Turning to Lieut. Allen, he said surlily,--

"You do not intend to send me away without my baggage?"

"I hope," responded Allen courteously, "that you do not take us for
privateersmen."

"I am sure I don't know by whom I have been taken," was the rude
reply, which so angered Allen that he peremptorily ordered the fellow
to take his place in the boat, and be silent.

Whatever may have been the demeanor of the British captives, they met
with nothing but the most considerate treatment from the American
officers. Capt. Carden, on his arrival upon the deck of the victorious
frigate, was received with the consideration due his rank and the
brave defence of his vessel. He was conducted at once to Decatur's
cabin, on entering which he took off his sword, and mutely held it out
for Decatur's acceptance. Decatur courteously refused to accept it,
saying, "Sir, I cannot take the sword of a man who has defended his
ship so bravely; but I will take your hand." As long as Carden and his
officers remained on the ship, they were treated with the greatest
consideration, and were allowed to retain all their personal property.
Every attempt was made to take away from them the bitter remembrance
of their defeat. The innate nobility of Decatur's nature is well shown
in a letter written to his wife a few days after the action. "One-half
of the satisfaction," he says, "a-rising 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." When
Carden left the ship, he thanked Decatur for his consideration, and
expressed a desire to do likewise by the Americans, should he ever be
able to turn the tables.

Amid the heat of battle and the excitement of success, Decatur did not
forget little Jack Creamer, the lately enrolled ship's boy. Shortly
after the close of the conflict, he sent for Jack to come to his
cabin. Soon a much abashed small boy stoo