Green, Roland J. ""It Isn't Every Day of the Week…""
Divergence: 1812 CE
What if: Decatur chose a different course for the second cruise for the U.S.S. United States, and instead of capturing the 36-gun Macedonian off Madeira in October defeated the 64-gun Africa near Bermuda in November.
Summary: Letters between two brothers detail a different War of 1812 in which the Americans enjoy somewhat greater naval success (disrupting British activities in the Napoleanic War) but also some important losses so that the end result remains a muddle.
Published: In Alternate Generals III (eds. Harry Turtledove and Roland J. Green), q.v.