The USS United States was one of the six commissioned ships under the Naval Act of 1794; in fact, it had the unique honor of being the first ship constructed under the Act. The USS United States, under the command of Stephen Decatur, sailed along the Atlantic from Boston in October 1812, looking for British vessels and warships. On October 25, the crew found its ideal target: the HMS Macedonian. The Macedonian, under the command of Captain John Surman Carden, was en route to the West Indies. Dec