US Naval Figures - Stephen Decatur

[kc]

Stephen Decatur

In some families, it would seem that chivalry runs in the blood. The Bayards, Bidles, and Decaturs, are born to a heroic destiny by the right of inheritance. When we meet with their names in history, we feel assured of what is to follow; and their most daring feats hardly excite an emotion of surprise. Among the many members of his family distinguished for their bravery, the most celebrated is the subject of this memoir.
Commodore Decatur was of French descent, by the male line. His grandfather was a native of La Rochelle, in France, and married a lady of Rhode Island. His father, Stephen Decatur, was born in Newport, Rhode Island, and when a very young man, removed to Philadelphia, where he married the daughter of an Irish gentleman by the name of Pine. He was bred to the sea, and commanded a merchant vessel out of port of Philadelphia, until the establishment of the navy, when he was appointed to command the Delaware sloop of war. He continued in her until the frigate Philadelphia was built, when the command of that ship was given him at the particular request of the merchants, who had built her by subscription. In this situation he remained until peace was made with France, when he resigned his commission, and retired to his residence, a few miles from Philadelphia, where he resided until his death, which happened in November 1808.
His son Stephen Decatur the late Commodore was born on the 5th January 1779, on the eastern shore of Maryland, whither his parents had retired, while the British were in possession of Philadelphia. They returned to that city when he was a few months old, and he was their educated and brought up.
He entered the navy in March 1798, as midshipman, and joined the frigate United States, under the command of Commodore Barry, who had obtained the warrant for him. He continued for some time with that officer, and was promoted to the rank of lieutenant. The United States at that time required some repairs, and not wishing to remain in port, he requested an order to join the brig Norfolk, and then bound to the Spanish Main. He performed one cruise in her, as first lieutenant, and on his return to port, resumed his station onboard the united States, where he remained until peace was concluded with France.
He was then ordered to the Essex, as first lieutenant, and sailed with Commodore Dale’s squadron to the Mediterranean. On the return of that squadron, he was ordered to the New York, one of the second Mediterranean squadron, under the command of Commodore Morris.
When he returned to the United States, he was ordered to take command of the Argus, and proceed in her to join Commodore Preble’s squadron, then in the Mediterranean, and on his arrival there, to resign the command of the Argus to Lieutenant Hull, and take the schooner Enterprise, and then commanded by that office. After making that exchange, he proceeded to Syracuse, where the squadron was to rendezvous. On his arrival at that port he was informed of the fate of the frigate Philadelphia, which had run aground on the Barbary Coast, and fallen into the hands of the Tripolitans. The idea immediately presented itself to his mind of attempting her recapture of destruction. On Commodore Preble’s arrival a few days afterwards, he proposed to him a plan for the purpose, and volunteered his services to execute it. The wary mind of that veteran officer at first disapproved of an enterprise so full of peril; but the risks and difficulties that surrounded it, only stimulated the ardour of Decatur, and imparted to it an air of adventure, fascinating to his youthful imagination.
The consent of the Commodore having been obtained, lieutenant Decatur selected for the expedition a ketch (the Intrepid) which he had captured a few weeks before from the enemy, and manned her with seventy volunteers, chiefly from his own crew. He sailed from Syracuse on the 3rd of February 1804, accompanied by the United States brig Syren, Lieutenant Stewart, who was to aid his boats, and to receive the crew of the ketch, in case it should be found expedient to use her as a fire ship.
After fifteen days of very tempestuous weather, they arrived at the harbour of Tripoli, a little before sunset. It had been arranged between lieutenants Decatur and Stewart, that the ketch should enter the harbour about ten o’clock that night, attended by the boats of the Syren. On arriving off the harbour, the Syren in consequence of a change of wind, had been thrown six of eight miles without the Intrepid. The wind at this time was fair, but fast declining, and Lieutenant Decatur apprehended that should he wait for the Syren’s boats to come up, it might be fatal to the enterprise, as they could not remain longer on the coast, their provisions being nearly exhausted. For these reasons he determined to adventure into the harbour alone, which he did about eight o’clock.
An idea may be formed of the extreme hazard of the enterprise from the situation of the frigate. She was moored with half gunshot of the Bashaw’s castle, and of the principal battery. Two of the enemy’s cruisers lay within two cables length, on the starboard quarter, and their gunboats with half gunshot, on the starboard bow. All the guns of the frigate were mounted and laded. Such were the immediate perils that our hero ventured to encounter with a single ketch, besides the other dangers that abound in a strongly fortified harbour.
Although from the entrance to the place where the frigate lay, was only three miles, yet in consequence of the lightness of the wind, they did not get within hail of her until eleven o’clock. When they had approached within two hundred yards, they were hailed and ordered to anchor, or they would be fired into. Lieutenant Decatur ordered a Maltese pilot, who was onboard, the ketch, to answer that they had lost their anchors in a gale of wind on the coast, and therefore, could not comply with their request. By this time it had become perfectly calm, and they were about fifty yards from the frigate. Lieutenant Decatur ordered a small boat that was alongside of the ketch, to take a rope and make it fast to the frigate’s fore chains. This being done, they began to warp the ketch alongside. It was not until this moment that the enemy suspected the character of their visitor, and great confusion immediately ensued. This enabled our adventurers to get alongside to the frigate, when Decatur immediately sprang aboard, followed by Mr Charles Morris, midshipman. These two were nearly a minute on deck, before their companions could succeed in mounting the side. Fortunately, the Turks had not sufficiently recovered from their surprise to take advantage of this delay. They were crowded together on the quarterdeck, perfectly astonished and aghast, without any attempt to oppose the assailing party. As soon as a sufficient number of our men had gained the deck to form a front equal to that of the enemy, they rushed in upon them. The Turks stood the assault for a short time, and were completely overpowered. About twenty were killed on the spot, many jumped overboard and the rest flew to the main deck, whither they were pursued and driven to the hold.

[kc]

After entire possession had been gained of the ship, and everything prepared to set fire to her, a number of launches were seen rowing about the harbour. This determined Lieutenant Decatur to remain onboard the frigate, from whence a better defence could be made than from onboard the ketch. The enemy had already commenced firing on them from their batteries and castle, and from two corsairs that were lying near. Perceiving that the launches did not attempt to approach, he ordered the ship should be set on fire, which was done, at the same time, in different parts. As soon as this was done, they left her; and such was the rapidity of the flames, that it was with the utmost difficulty they preserved the ketch. As this critical moment a most propitious breeze sprang up, blowing directly out of the harbour, which in a few moments, carried them out of reach of the enemy’s guns, and they made good their retreat without the loss of a single man, and with but four wounded.
For this gallant and romantic achievement, Lieutenant Decatur was promoted to the rank of post captain, there being at that time no intermediate grade. This promotion was peculiarly gratifying to him, insomuch as it was done with the consent of the officers over whose heads he was raised.
In the ensuing spring, it being determined to make an attack upon Tripoli, Commodore Preble obtained from the King of Naples the loan of six gunboats and two bombards, which he formed into two divisions, and gave the command of one of them to Captain Decatur, the other to Lieutenant Somers. The squadron sailed from Syracuse, consisting of the frigate Constitution, the brig Syren, the schooners Nautilus and Vixen, and the gunboats.
Having arrived on the coast of Barbary, they were for some days prevented from making the attack, by adverse wind and weather. At length, on the morning of the 3rd of August, the weather being favourable, the signal was made from the Commodore’s ship to prepare for action, the light vessels towing the gunboats to windward. At nine o’clock, the signal was given for bombarding the enemy’s vessels and the town.
The gunboats were cast off, and advanced in a line ahead, led on by Captain Decatur, and covered by the frigate Constitution, and the brigs and schooners.
The enemy’s gunboats were moored along the harbour under the batteries and within musket shot. Their sails had been taken from them, and they were ordered to sink, rather than abandon their position. They were aided and covered likewise, by a brig of sixteen, and s schooner of ten guns.
Before entering into close action, Captain Decatur went alongside each of his boats, and ordered them to unship their bowsprits and follow him, as it was his intention to board the enemy’s boats.
Lieutenant James Decatur commanded one of the boats belonging to Commodore Preble’s division, but being farther to windward that the rest of his division, he joined and took orders from his brother.
When Captain Decatur, who was in the leading boat, came within range of the fire from the batteries a heavy fire was opened upon him from them ad the gunboats. He returned their fire, and continued advancing until he came in contact with the boats. At this time Commodore Preble seeing Decatur advancing nearer that he thought prudent, ordered the signal to be made for a retreat, but it was found that in making out the signals for the boats, the one for a retreat had been omitted.
The enemy’s boats had about forty men each of ours an equal number, twenty-seven of whom were Americans, and thirteen Neapolitans. Decatur on boarding the enemy was instantly followed by his countrymen, but the Neapolitans remained behind. The Turks did not sustain the combat hand to hand, with that firmness they had obtained a reputation for. In ten minutes the deck was cleared. Eight of them sought refuge in the hold, and of the rest some fell in the deck, and others jumped into the sea. Only three of the Americans were wounded.
As Decatur was about to proceed out with his prize, the boat which had been commanded by his brother, came under his stern, and the men informed him that they had engaged and captured one of the enemy; but that her commander, after surrendering, had treacherously shot Lieutenant James Decatur and pushed off with the boat, and was then making for the harbour.
The feelings of the gallant Decatur, on receiving this intelligence, may be more easily imagined than described. Every consideration of prudence and safety was lost in his eagerness to punish so dastardly an act, and to revenge the death of a brother so basely murdered. He pushed witin the enemy’s line with his single boat, and having succeeded in getting alongside of the retreating foe, boarded her at the head of eleven men, who were all the Americans he had left. The fate of this contest was extremely doubtful for about twenty minutes. All these Americans, except four, were now severely wounded. Decatur singled out the commander as the peculiar object of his vengeance. The Turk was armed with an espontoon, Decatur with a cutlass; in attempting to cut off the head of the weapon, his sword struck on the iron, and broke off close to the hilt. The Turk at this moment, made a push, which slightly wounded him in the right arm and breast. He immediately seized the spear, and closed with him. A fierce struggle ensued, and both fell, Decatur uppermost. By this time the Turk had drawn a dagger from his belt, and was about to plunge it into the body of his foe, when Decatur caught his arm, and shot him with a pistol, which he drew from his pocket. During the time they were struggling on the deck, the crews rushed to aid their commanders, and a most sanguinary conflict took place, insomuch that when Decatur had despatched his adversary, it was with the utmost difficulty he could extricate himself from the killed and wounded that had fallen around him.
It is with no common feelings of admiration that we record an instance of heroic courage, and loyal self-devotion on the part of a common sailor.
During the early part of Decatur’s struggle with the Turk, he was assailed in the rear by one of the enemy, who had just taken a blow to his head which must have been fatal; at this fearful juncture, a noble hearted tar, who had been so badly wounded as to lose the use of his hands, seeing no other means of saving his commander, rushed between him and the uplifted sabre, and received the blow on his own head, which fractured his skull. We have to pause and honour great actions in humble life because they speak well for human nature. Men of rank and station in society often do gallant deeds, in a manner from necessity. Their conspicuous station obliged them to do so, or their eagerness for glory urges them on; but an act like this we have mentioned, so desperate, yet so disinterested, done by an obscure un-ambitious individual, a poor sailor can spring from nothing but nobleness of soul. We are happy to add that this generous fellow survived, and long after received a pension from government.

[kc]

Decatur succeeded in getting with both his prizes to the squadron, and the next day received the highest commendation in a general order, from Commodore Preble. When that able officer was superseded in the command of the squadron, he gave the Constitution to Captain Decatur, who had some time before received his commission. From that ship he was removed to the Congress, and returned home in her, when peace was concluded in Tripoli. On his return to the Unites States, he was employed in superintending gunboats, until the affair of the Chesapeake, when he was ordered to supersede Commodore Barron in the command of that ship. When the United States was again put in commission, he was removed from the Chesapeake to that frigate.
The last war with Great Britain afforded Commodore Decatur another opportunity of adding to the laurels, which he had already won. On the 25th of October 1812, in latitude 29, N, longitude 29, 30, W, he fell in with His Britannic Majesty’s ship Macedonian, mounting forty-nine carriage guns, (the odd gun shifting.) She was a frigate of the largest class, two years old, four months out of dock, and reputed one of the best sailors in the British service. The action we have already described in our notice of Captain Allen, and it is only necessary here to remark, that after lasting an hour and a half, in consequence of the enemy being to windward, and having the advantage of engaging at his own distance, it terminated in the capture of the Macedonian. The British ship lost her mizenmast, fore and main-top-masts, and main yard and was much cut up in her hull. The damage sustained by the United States was not so much as to render her return into port necessary, and had commodore Decatur not deemed it important to see his prize in, he would have continued the cruise.
The prize was carried into New York harbour and equipped as an American frigate. The whole country hailed the name of the gallant victor with enthusiastic admiration. Congress and several of the State Legislature voted him costly presents, as testimonials of their high sense of his services.
In 1813 he attempted to gain the sea from New York, with the United States, Macedonian, and Hornet, through Long Island sound; but a British squadron of superior force, compelled him to run into the Thames river, in Connecticut, and he lay off New London for several months, unable to run to sea. Impatient of being thus cooped up within sight of the ocean, yet unable to reach it, he sent a challenge to Sir Thomas M Hardy, commander of the blockading squadron, offering to meet two British frigates with two of his own. But the offer was rejected, and the frigates were at length dismantled. Decatur returned to New York, took command of a squadron for the East Indies, and put to sea in the President, January 14th 1815. By some mistake on the part of the pilot, the ship grounded on the bar in going out. She struck heavily for an hour and a half, greatly injuring her sailing thereby. The next morning Decatur discovered the British squadron to be in pursuit, consisting of the Majestic Razee, the Endymion, Tenedos and Pomona frigates, and a brig. The Endymion was soon perceived to be the fastest ship, and on this fact, the American commander projected a plan of escape so bold and daring, that if successful, would have raised him to the summit of naval renown. He designed to lead the Endymion from her companions, board with all his crew, destroy or abandon the President, and escape in his prize.; But the enemy suspected the ruse, and carefully avoided it, by keeping the advantage of his position. Satisfied that he would throw the Endymion out of the combat before the other ships could aid her, Decatur tacked about and made battle, crippled the enemy, silenced her battery, and then pursued his course as before. But by this time the other ships had approached and opened their fire on the President. Escape was impossible. To strive against the squadron with his single vessel, would have been an unjustifiable risk of the lives of his men. Nothing was left, therefore but to strike colours, and surrender to the British commander.
Soon after this action, Decatur returned to the United States, and was immediately despatched to the Mediterranean, to chastise the Algerians for their ravages upon our commerce, which the war with Great Britain had furnished them so favourable an opportunity of committing.
He captured an Algerian frigate bearing forty-nine guns, and a brig of twenty-two guns; and on the 22nd June 1815, arrived before Algiers, and demanded an instant treaty. He demanded that all yearly tribute, or ransom for prisoners, should be relinquished; that all property taken from Americans should be restored or paid for; that all Americans now in slavery should be liberated, and none ever again held as slaves. The Algerian negotiator demurred on the point of relinquishing tribute, contending that it might be employed as a precedent by the powers of Europe, and proves destructive to the Day. “Even a little powder,” said he “might prove satisfactory.” “If,” replied Decatur, “you insist upon receiving powder as tribute, you must expect to receive ball with it.” The Algerian government negotiated in forty-eight hours, and granted to Americans immunities and privileges never before obtained by a Christian power from any Barbary State.
Decatur obtained redress in a similarly summary manner at Tunis and Tripoli and having thus fulfilled his commission, he returned home in the autumn of the same year.
At a subsequent period he was created Navy Commissioner, and made his residence in the city of Washington, at Kalorama, formerly occupied by Joel Barlow.
We now approach, with painful emotions, the last sad act of Decatur’s life, which resulted in an untimely and lamenated death. In October 1819, certain expressions said to have been used by Commodore Decatur, disrespectful to Commodore Barron, led to a correspondence between these two officers. The keen sarcasm of Decatur heightened and affront, and though both parties reprobated duelling, yet this controversy terminated most unhappily in a duel. The meeting took place at Bladensburg, on the morning of the 22nd of March 1820. Both were wounded at the first fire. The wound of Barron was dangerous that of Decatur, mortal. The unfortunate officer was conveyed to his distracted wife, at Washington, and died the same evening. An immense concourse, consisting of nearly the whole male population of Washington and the adjacent country; most of the officers of government members of congress, and foreign Ministers resident there attended his remains to the grave.
Decatur was the favourite of the navy. Since the heroic epoch of the Revolution, no commander has won a more brilliant reputation. In bravery, he had no superior; in native intellectual abilities, few equals. He was beloved by all who enjoyed the advantage of his personal acquaintance, and his popularity with those over whom he was placed in command was unbounded. After his first grand exploit at Tripoli, no success of his valour ever excited surprise. The most daring achievements were regarded as matter of course whatever he led. Would to Heaven that the gratitude of his country, as evinced towards his family had been as unmeasured as its confidence in himself!