Changes

==War of 1812==

==War of 1812==

The opportunity to settle the bet came sooner than either officer expected, as the United States declared war on [[Great Britain]] on 19 June 1812. ''United States'', the frigate ''Congress'', and the brig ''Argus'' joined Commodore John Rodgers' squadron at New York and put to sea immediately, cruising off the east coast until the end of August. The squadron again sailed on 8 October 1812, this time from Boston. Three days later, after capturing ''Mandarin'', ''United States'' parted company and continued to cruise eastward. At dawn on 25 October, five hundred miles south of the Azores, lookouts on board ''United States'' reported seeing a sail 12 miles to windward. As the ship rose over the horizon, Decatur made out the fine, familiar lines of ''Macedonian''.  

The opportunity to settle the bet came sooner than either officer expected, as the United States declared war on the [[United Kingdom]] on 19 June 1812. ''United States'', the frigate ''Congress'', and the brig ''Argus'' joined Commodore John Rodgers' squadron at New York and put to sea immediately, cruising off the east coast until the end of August. The squadron again sailed on 8 October 1812, this time from Boston. Three days later, after capturing ''Mandarin'', ''United States'' parted company and continued to cruise eastward. At dawn on 25 October, five hundred miles south of the Azores, lookouts on board ''United States'' reported seeing a sail 12 miles to windward. As the ship rose over the horizon, Decatur made out the fine, familiar lines of ''Macedonian''.  

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.