Changes

At the end of some two months in home waters, the ''United States'' got underway from New Castle unexpectedly during a storm on 6 July when her cable parted. Since Barry had already received sailing orders, he let the ship move right on downriver. She emerged from the Delaware capes that night and sailed down the coast to Hampton Roads where she anchored on 22 July.

At the end of some two months in home waters, the ''United States'' got underway from New Castle unexpectedly during a storm on 6 July when her cable parted. Since Barry had already received sailing orders, he let the ship move right on downriver. She emerged from the Delaware capes that night and sailed down the coast to Hampton Roads where she anchored on 22 July.

After receiving a new bowsprit, the frigate got underway on 13 August in company with ''Insurgent''. Sometime after she got out to sea, the ships parted, and the ''United States'' sailed south along the Altantic coast to the mouth of the St. Mary's River. She then turned north and moved back up the seaboard and anchored off Newport, R.I., on 12 September. There, Barry received orders to wait for further instructions. When they arrived, they sent Barry and his ship across the Atlantic to Europe.

After receiving a new bowsprit, the frigate got underway on 13 August in company with ''Insurgent''. Sometime after she got out to sea, the ships parted, and the ''United States'' sailed south along the Atlantic coast to the mouth of the St. Mary's River. She then turned north and moved back up the seaboard and anchored off Newport, R.I., on 12 September. There, Barry received orders to wait for further instructions. When they arrived, they sent Barry and his ship across the Atlantic to Europe.

On 3 November 1799, ''United States'' sailed for France with American commissioners appointed by President [[John Adams]] to negotiate a settlement of the issues dividing the two erstwhile allies. She returned to New York in April 1800 and was laid up for repair of the damage she had suffered during a severe storm in the Bay of Biscay. In the fall, the frigate received orders to resume duty as flagship of the West Indies Squadron but—because a treaty of peace with France had been signed—she was recalled soon after shereached the Caribbean and returned to Chester, [[Pennsylvania]] on 28 April.

On 3 November 1799, ''United States'' sailed for France with American commissioners appointed by President [[John Adams]] to negotiate a settlement of the issues dividing the two erstwhile allies. She returned to New York in April 1800 and was laid up for repair of the damage she had suffered during a severe storm in the Bay of Biscay. In the fall, the frigate received orders to resume duty as flagship of the West Indies Squadron but—because a treaty of peace with France had been signed—she was recalled soon after shereached the Caribbean and returned to Chester, [[Pennsylvania]] on 28 April.

Both ships were immediately cleared for action and commenced maneuvers at 0900. Captain Carden elected not to risk crossing the bows of ''United States'' to rake her, but chose instead to haul closer to the wind on a parallel course with the American vessel. For his part, Decatur intended to engage ''Macedonian'' from fairly long range, where his 24-pounders would have the advantage over the 18-pounders of the British, and then move in for the kill.

Both ships were immediately cleared for action and commenced maneuvers at 0900. Captain Carden elected not to risk crossing the bows of ''United States'' to rake her, but chose instead to haul closer to the wind on a parallel course with the American vessel. For his part, Decatur intended to engage ''Macedonian'' from fairly long range, where his 24-pounders would have the advantage over the 18-pounders of the British, and then move in for the kill.

The actual battle developed according to Decatur's plan. ''United States'' began the action at 0920 by firing an inaccurate broadside at ''Macedonian''. This was answered immediately by the British vessel, bringing down a small spar of ''United States''. Decatur's next broadside had better luck, as it destroyed ''Macedonian's'' mizzen top mast, letting her driver gaff fall and so giving the advantage in maneuver to the American's frigate. ''United States'' next took up position off ''Macedonian's'' quarter and proceeded to riddle the hapless frigate methodically with shot. By noon, ''Macedonian'' was a dismasted hulk and was forced to surrender. She had suffered 104 casualties as against 12 in ''United States'', which emerged from the battle relatively unscathed.

The actual battle developed according to Decatur's plan. ''United States'' began the action at 0920 by firing an inaccurate broadside at ''Macedonian''. This was answered immediately by the British vessel, bringing down a small spar of ''United States''. Decatur's next broadside had better luck, as it destroyed ''Macedonia's'' mizzen top mast, letting her driver gaff fall and so giving the advantage in maneuver to the American's frigate. ''United States'' next took up position off ''Macedonia's'' quarter and proceeded to riddle the hapless frigate methodically with shot. By noon, ''Macedonian'' was a dismasted hulk and was forced to surrender. She had suffered 104 casualties as against 12 in ''United States'', which emerged from the battle relatively unscathed.

The two ships lay alongside each other for over two weeks while ''Macedonian'' was repaired sufficiently to sail. ''United States'' and her prize entered New York Harbor on 4 December amid tumultuous national jubilation over the spectacular victory. Wherever they went, Captain Decatur and his crew were lionized and received special praise from both Congress and President [[James Madison]]. ''Macedonian'' was subsequently purchased by the Navy, repaired, and had a long and honorable career under the American flag.

The two ships lay alongside each other for over two weeks while ''Macedonian'' was repaired sufficiently to sail. ''United States'' and her prize entered New York Harbor on 4 December amid tumultuous national jubilation over the spectacular victory. Wherever they went, Captain Decatur and his crew were lionized and received special praise from both Congress and President [[James Madison]]. ''Macedonian'' was subsequently purchased by the Navy, repaired, and had a long and honorable career under the American flag.

''United States'' was repaired at Norfolk in 1841 and was designated the new flagship of the Pacific Squadron in January 1842. She left Hampton Roads on 9 January, bound for the Pacific via Cape Horn. [[Herman Melville]], the future author of ''[[Moby Dick]]'', enlisted as an ordinary seaman on board United States at Honolulu, Hawaii, on 17 August 1843.

''United States'' was repaired at Norfolk in 1841 and was designated the new flagship of the Pacific Squadron in January 1842. She left Hampton Roads on 9 January, bound for the Pacific via Cape Horn. [[Herman Melville]], the future author of ''[[Moby Dick]]'', enlisted as an ordinary seaman on board United States at Honolulu, Hawaii, on 17 August 1843.

The vessel returned to the ''United States'' in 1844 and was placed out of commission at Boston on 14 October. She was recommissipned there on 18 May 1846 and was detailed to the African Squadron for duty helping to suppress the illicit slave trade. ''United States'' joined the Mediterranean Squadron in 1847 and served in European waters until ordered home late in 1848. She was decommissioned on 24 February 1849 and placed in ordinary at Norfolk.

The vessel returned to the ''United States'' in 1844 and was placed out of commission at Boston on 14 October. She was recommissioned there on 18 May 1846 and was detailed to the African Squadron for duty helping to suppress the illicit slave trade. ''United States'' joined the Mediterranean Squadron in 1847 and served in European waters until ordered home late in 1848. She was decommissioned on 24 February 1849 and placed in ordinary at Norfolk.

''United States'' rotted away at Norfolk until 20 April 1861 when the navy yard was captured by Confederate troops. Before leaving the yard, Union fire crews failed to burn the vessel along with other abandoned ships, thinking it unnecessary to destroy the decayed relic. The Confederates, pressed for vessels in any kind of condition, thought otherwise and, after pumping her out, commissioned the frigate CSS ''United States'', often called ''Confederate States'', on 29 April. On 15 June, she was ordered to be fitted out as a receiving ship and was provided with a deck battery of 19 guns for harbor defense.

''United States'' rotted away at Norfolk until 20 April 1861 when the navy yard was captured by Confederate troops. Before leaving the yard, Union fire crews failed to burn the vessel along with other abandoned ships, thinking it unnecessary to destroy the decayed relic. The Confederates, pressed for vessels in any kind of condition, thought otherwise and, after pumping her out, commissioned the frigate CSS ''United States'', often called ''Confederate States'', on 29 April. On 15 June, she was ordered to be fitted out as a receiving ship and was provided with a deck battery of 19 guns for harbor defense.

In this role, she served her new owners well but was ordered sunk in the Elizageth River, Virginia, to form an obstruction to Union vessels when the Confederates abandoned the navy yard in May 1862. Surprisingly, the ancient timbers of the frigate were found to be so strong and well-preserved as to ruin one whole box of axes when attempts were made to scuttle her, and it was necessary to bore through the hull from inside before she settled to the muddy bottom of the river.

In this role, she served her new owners well but was ordered sunk in the Elizabeth River, Virginia, to form an obstruction to Union vessels when the Confederates abandoned the navy yard in May 1862. Surprisingly, the ancient timbers of the frigate were found to be so strong and well-preserved as to ruin one whole box of axes when attempts were made to scuttle her, and it was necessary to bore through the hull from inside before she settled to the muddy bottom of the river.

Shortly after the destruction of ironclad ram ''Virginia'' on 11 May 1862 and the surrender of the Norfolk Navy Yard to Union troops, ''United States'' was raised and towed to the yard by federal authorities. She remained there until March 1864, when the Bureau of Construction and Repair decided to break her up and sell the wood. This work was delayed until late 1865, when the Bureau ordered on 18 December that the gallant old frigate be docked at Norfolk and immediately broken up.

Shortly after the destruction of ironclad ram ''Virginia'' on 11 May 1862 and the surrender of the Norfolk Navy Yard to Union troops, ''United States'' was raised and towed to the yard by federal authorities. She remained there until March 1864, when the Bureau of Construction and Repair decided to break her up and sell the wood. This work was delayed until late 1865, when the Bureau ordered on 18 December that the gallant old frigate be docked at Norfolk and immediately broken up.