ile sidera surgunt.

CAPTAIN STEPHEN DECATUR.

[_Capture of the Macedonian._]

STEPHANUS DECATUR NAVARCHUS, PUGNIS PLURIBUS, VICTOR. (_Stephen
Decatur, a naval captain, conqueror in many battles._) Bust of Captain
Decatur, in uniform, facing the right. FUeRST. 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, FUeRST. 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.

_____

ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS.[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,