Show I n nr I ro r Y K k 4 By ALFRED N THE lIE United States naval Hall lIall Hallof of Fame no name occupies a amore amore amore more more prominent niche than that of Stephen Decatur whose heroic and daring deeds Illumine the pages of American history and have ha been told In many a thrilling Illg tale Born in Maryl Maryland md in 17 1759 pur our hero was given n th the name nanie e bf of Stephen in honor Donor of ot his father Commodore n q e Stephen Decatur who not only p pIn played ayed an nil important par parIn part partIn In the War of oCtile the Revolution but in the war with France commanded tile the Dell carr lp t twenty te e A guns Suns and inv m ISOO was asin Iri command ofa of a squadron of thirteen vessels It was but natural that the tile boy should have a longing to follow in the footsteps s. s of l s father on whose ship he be made his first voyage Y When en his desire for a naval life became known to Commodore Com Commodore Corn Corn- Barry that officer secured a midshipman's warrant for him and started him on his adventurous ous oils and brilliant career He began his service when he was eighteen years old under Commodore Commodore Commodore Commo Commo- dore Barry on the frigate United States It It wason wason was wason on this ship that young Decatur became acquaint acquaint- a acquainted I ed with James Barron Barren then a a n. n lieutenant at whose hands handa he was to meet his death in a duel t twenty twenty- two years rears later Th The frigate United States was sent to the theW W Wont Watt at Indies and Decatur having made good was soon promoted by Commodore Barry to a lieutenancy provisionally and t the e appointment W was S confirmed by President t Adams A am on of his I f Decatur performed an act net of great bravery A member of the crew who could not could not v swim fell overboard and Decatur without a a. a moments moment's nt's hesitation Uon leaped t l after him and SQ supported supported sup sup- ported him until a ships ship's s 's b boat Jat c came l ime e to the rescue escue While his ship was temporarily in in the h harbor of I Ph Philadelphia Lieutenant Decatur was assigned to recruiting duty S Several of his hid men whom he had ei enlisted deserted and took service on an India Indra merchantman He demanded their surrender but the first officer not only refused t to deliver the I s. s deserters d s but grossly Insulted him Im Thereupon 1 J Decatur laid the matter be before o q his father a er who t told ld him to demand an apology and if It denied j the then then- r to send a challenge to fight light He acted accordingly accordingly ac- ac ac ac- accordingly cordingly and an apology being refused h he issued a challenge which was accepted Decatur Decatu told old his hIs friends that he be did not Intend to kill kUl the officer but would m merely r ly wo wound nd him in the hip The duelists met In a secluded spot on the banks of ot the Delaware Delaw re and exchanged shots Decatur escaped escaped s pec injury y kept l his ls word He winged Y Ig d 1 i hW nan in iri the exact spot where lie he had hild said be he would When the brief war with France was ended the navy nary was reduced but Decatur was retained with thirty-six thirty other lieutenants In 1801 he was assigned assigned assigned as as- signed to the Essex commanded by Capt William Bainbridge and while hIIe cruising In the Mediterranean the ship put Into the port of Barcelona for a brief anchorage The boats of the Essex while going to and from the shore at night were halted by the officers of a Spanish of war doing p police duty in the harbor Decatur called J Jon on the proper officer and presented a remon remon- str nce Being treated In a n most discourteous mariner manner he declared he would not let the matter drop The next day he visited the Spanish ship but was unable to find the officer who had ad Insulted him Upon taking his departure he left a message couched in very hostile language for the offending offending offend offend- ing Spaniard On reaching shore Decatur made madea a thorough search for him being determined to call can him to account The officer kept under cover until the Spanish general captain-general took a n hand Inthe in inthe the affair and with the aid of ot Captain Bainbridge prevented a duel In th the summer of or 1802 Decatur was promoted to first lieutenant and was assigned to duty on the frigate New York commanded by Barron Barren who had risen to a captaincy The ship sailed for forr the Mediterranean cruising In that sea for several months When war was de declared lared against tin thi Algerian pirates who were raiding American merchant vessels and demanding de large sums of money for Imm immunity which the United States refused to pay although other nations came across with the required tribute and thus bought the freedom r of the Mediterranean Decatur was given cora cora- mand of t a brig and sailed to Join the fleet at the scene of trouble was it I In Jin the harbor of Tripoli that Decatur Decatur- engaged in a most perilous adventure that made him world-famous world and caused his has name to be Indelibly written In the annals of or brave deeds The frigate Philadelphia running on a rock rock while in pursuit of ot a pirate vessel was captured by the enemy and Capt Copt William Bainbridge and the entire crew were were taken prisoners Captain Bainbridge managed to send from his prison an apparently insignificant letter to Commodore I Preble In the harbor of or Syracuse and Preble suspecting that it concealed a n matter matter of of im Importance or tance held it against the flame of a candle which exposed a a message written in lemon Juice 4 Captain Bainbridge suggested that a party of ot men under trusty officers be sent Into the harbor harbort of ot Tripoli and either retake t or burn hurn or blow u r up the Philadelphia which the pd pirates rates had 4 r repaired and manned for tor action Commodore Preble promptly n acted on th the suggestion sug sug- and Issued a call can for volunteers Decatur and other valorous officers at once offered toy to lead a party and cars carry y out the plan of attack Decatur however was given ghen the command owing to his priority and with seventy five five volunteers team rom his s ship the Siren embarked in a tilty tou ty-tou ty too f y J t at t r t f. f 1 L ketch f for r the the harbor of Tripoli This little vessel had captured been from the a few tew weeks previously by Decatur and had been renamed renamed renamed re re- re- re named the Intrepid With her Intrepid crew she proved true to her name She carried a large supply of ot combustibles explosives and cutlasses Under cover of r the of February 16 10 1804 the Intrepid was rowed directly to the Philadel- Philadel I phia and nod made tars fast De Decatur gave the order to board the vessel and his men climbed to the deck Th The Tr were taken takeI completely by surprIse surprise surprise sur sur- prise and were Yere mowed down one after the other by the Americans with their cutlasses es The onslaught onslaught onslaught on on- slaught was terrific and merciless More than twenty were killed at pf the be first attack Seef Seeing Seeli g resistance useless some of the survivors Jumped overboard and were drowned or killed by the Sirens Siren's boat crew rew who had followed in th the wake of the Intrepid Others hid in the dark recesses of the ship The capture of ot tho the PhIladelphia Philadelphia Phila PhIla- Philadelphia delphia was accomplished In ten minutes and ancl inless Inless in inless less than half halt an hour she was a mass of flames Decatur and his band of ot heroes escaped amid a shower of shot and shell from the shore batteries and r returned turned to Syracuse harbor two vo days after their audacious exploit Not one of or the fearl fearless ss ad adventurers was killed or wounded Nelson the distinguished English naval commander declared It the most daring act of the age Upon receiving C Commodore Preble's report and recommendations recommendations Hons congress rewarded Decatur Decatur- with a sword and a a captains captain's commission Six months after the destruction of the of-the the Philadelphia Phila PhIla- delphia Decatur In command of a fleet of gunboats gunboats gun gun- bo boats ts began a series of or five attacks on the Tripoli harbor and ana batteries One of ot the gunboats gunboats gunboats gun gun- boats in command of Decatur's brother James James Decatur engaged n a battle with a pirate pi pirate pirate pi- pi rate craft whose commander surrendered As the lieutenant was about to take tale possession the treacherous us captain shot him In the head and he fell back Into his boat dead Taking advantage antage of the stunning surprise and excitement excitement excitement excite excite- ment of the Americans the corsair rowed rapidly away Captain Decatur on hearing of ot what had happened happened happened hap hap- gave chase and soon oon overhauled the fugi fugitive fugitive fugi- fugi tive e boat He climbed on board with ten men and singled out the murderer of his brother He was a gigantic Turk but undaunted by his size and defiant attitude Decatur attacked him with all the vigor at his command and succeeded In killing him Thus did he quickly avenge the h murder murder murder mur mur- der of his brother a bright young man whom he lie dearly loved Following the Tripoli battles Decatur was placed in command of the frigate Constitution which became famous Old Ironsides as and Is being carefully preserved as a glorious memorial of ot the pioneer navy The next year Decatur sailed for home and in 1808 was promoted to commodore commodore commodore commo commo- dore and assigned to the frigate United States as his flagship on which he had made his Initial cruise In the service of his country In the War of ot 1812 Commodore Decatur captured captured cap cap- the British warship Macedonia after a most desperate battle and for this brill brilliant ant victory congress presented him him with a gold goldmedal medal In 1815 when In command of the President he encountered encountered en en- countered the Endymion off Long Island and a n fierce fight followed His ills men fell thick and fast kIlled fast killed and wounded his ships ship's spars and rigging were shot to pieces the vessel was almost dismantled finally her battery was silenced st The Endymion virtual defeated dro ed d out of or action when other British vessels vessel came up and prepared to put an end to the President by openIng open open- opening Ing fire tire Seeing that further fighting was suicidal Commodore Decatur surrendered to the British squadron squadron not not to the Endymion which had hud been severely pu punished lie He handed his sword to Commodore Commodore Com Com- Hayes who returned It at on once e as ns a token of his appreciation of Cf the gallant fight that the Presidents President's commander had made Decatur was paroled on the arrival of the British BrItIsh squadron at atthe atthe atthe the Bermudas as and w was s sent home A court of Inquiry Instead of criticising Decatur praised him and his officers and crew the the verdict l they were worthy of the highest commendation Five days after the peace with En ad was announced the United St States tes declared war the bey of t Algiers Alger whose pirates had captured an American merchant ship the Edwin and sold the crew as slaves In two fiercely contested battles with the enemy's navy wh whose se squadron outnumbered the can American fleet captured two of ot the best Algerian vessels and at once headed for the harbor of ot Algiers with the Intention of attacking the shore fortifications When the fleet come came in sight a messenger with a flag of ot truce Invited Decatur to come ashore to consider a treaty He lIe refused and Insisted that a treaty in compliance comI with his demands should be Immediately signed In less lesi than three hours It was signed sealed ana delivered de lie- delivered livered and the American prisoners together with indemnity for tho capture of tho Edwin and her cargo were Immediately handed over oyer A few weeks later the fleet sailed for Tripoli and Tunis both having violated their treaties and obligations of neutrality They quickly complied with the terms dictated by Decatur who received the acclaim of all Europe for breaking up the piracy that has been so boldly carried on by the Barbary states Soon after Decatur's return to the United States he was appointed a member of the board of navy commissioners his colleagues being Commodores Commodores Com Coni Rodgers and Porter It was at this time that the real reat trouble between Barron Barren and Decatur originated In 1807 1801 Barron Barren was In command of ot the Chesapeake peal peake e when she was ordered to heave to by the British war man Leopard to be sear searched hed for deserters the English claiming the right rIght- of search although there was no treaty to that effect Barren Barron Bar Bar- ron ren refused the demand but lt made the mistake of or not getting ready for tor action The Leopard fired fireda a broadside and continued firing for ten or fifteen minutes two Twenty-two shots struck the Chesapeake Chesapeake pea peake e kIllI killing or wounding twenty one me members lers of the crew Barron Barren himself lr was wounded The Chesapeake owing to and confusion con fusion was unable to fire more than one shot when Barron Barren lowered his flag Four men charged with being English deserters were taken over to the Leopard which then sailed away Barr Barren Barron was brought before a a court acourt court courtot of ot inquiry of ot which Decatur was a member Although the court found Barron Barren only partially to blame for forthe forthe forthe the surrender of his vessel It It sent sentenced him to five years' years suspension The finding as to Barrens Barren's Barrons Barron's narron's Bar Bar- nar- nar rons ron's personal conduct virtually acquitted him himot of ot cowardice in these words No transposition of ot the specifications or any other modification of ot the charges themselves will alter the opinion of ot the court as to the firmness and courage of Ir the accused the evidence being clear and tory His lIls sentence ce expired five fi months after tho the breaking out of ot the War of 1812 but Barron Barren who was in Europe did dd not re return urn to the United States until after the declaration of peace He then decided to apply for reinstatement but when his petition came before the commissioners Decatur refused to recommend favorable action The principal ground of his objection was that Barren Darron had not returned to take part in the war Barron who was reinstated took exception to certain remarks made by Decatur who refused to retract but did everything In his power to restore restore restore re re- re- re store the friendly feeling that had existed between between be be- tween them A long correspondence followed but Decatur stood firm In his replies to Barrens Barren's letters he persistently denied that he bore any animosity against him Between you and me Decatur wrote there never has been any personal personal personal per per- difference but I have entertained and do still entertain the opinion that your that y your ur conduct as asan asan asan an officer since the affair of ot the Chesapeake has been such as ought to forever bar your readmIssIon readmission read read- mission to the service This stinging rebuke sank deep into the heart of Barron who finally challenged Decatur They met on March 22 1820 at Bladensburg This small village In is the Immediate vicinity of Washington WashIngton Washington Wash Wash- ington was the scene of ot th the battle between the Americans and the British h In 1814 1811 and became berame a famous dueling ground Capt Jesse Elliott acted as second for Barron and Commodore BainbrIdge Bum Bum- bridge seconded Decatur Just before the duel Barron said to Decatur that he hoped to meet him himIn himIn |