Thomas Buttersworth Jr. c.1813. Stephen Decatur was in command of the 44 gun frigate UNITED STATES when he took the 38 gun MACEDONIAN near the Canary Islands. This was the second victory that pitted the large US 44 gun frigates like the USS CONSTITUTION ( preserved in Boston) against the lighter British frigates. These victories served to boost American morale in the War of 1812 and set the tone for the American Navy. In this painting Buttersworth gives us two views of the same engagement, one showing the fight and the other the dismasted and captured MACEDONIAN.
USS UNITED STATES captures HMS MACEDONIAN, October 25, 1812
