IV
THE “UNITED STATES” AND THE “MACEDONIAN”
[October 25th, 1812]
MEDAL PRESENTED BY CONGRESS TO CAPTAIN STEPHEN DECATUR
“Then quickly met our nation’s eyes
The noblest sight in nature—
A first-rate frigate as a prize
Brought home by brave Decatur.”
—Old Song.
Eighty-four years ago, throughout the country, the name Decatur was toasted at every table, was sung from the forecastle to the drawing-room, from the way-side tavern to the stage of the city playhouse. Today, written or spoken, it stands out like a watchword, reminiscent of the days of brave gallantry and daring enterprise at sea.
Those writers who have been tempted by their Americanism and pride to take up the navy as a field have repeated over and over again, more than likely, everything that could be said about Stephen Decatur.
On his father’s side he was of French descent, as his name shows, his grandfather being a native of La Rochelle in France, and his grandmother an American lady from Rhode Island. He was named after his father, Stephen Decatur, who was born at Newport, but who had at an early age removed to Philadelphia, where he had married the beautiful Miss Pine.
On the establishment of an American navy he was appointed to the Delaware, sloop of war. This was after he had commanded one or two merchant vessels and had proved himself a seaman. When the frigate Philadelphia was built by subscriptions of loyal-hearted merchants, the command of her was tendered to the elder Decatur by the particular request of the subscribers. The value of inheritance could not be shown more strongly than by looking at the career of the son born to him on the 5th of January, 1779. At the time of the birth of Stephen Decatur, Jr., his parents were residing on the eastern shore of Maryland during the days the British were in possession of the town of Philadelphia. After the evacuation of that place they returned, and here their son was educated with the idea of making a sailor of him from the very first.
Young Decatur entered the navy in March, 1798, and joined the frigate United States, commanded by Commodore John Barry, who, by-the-way, was instrumental in securing the appointment for him. It was not long before he was promoted to be a lieutenant, and made a cruise on the Spanish Main on the brig Norfolk during the war against the French cruisers. Returning after the peace was concluded with France, he was ordered to the Essex as first lieutenant, and sailed with Commodore Dale’s squadron to the Mediterranean. This trip he made twice more, for on the return of that squadron he was ordered to the New York under Commodore Morris, who took the same station. After a short stay Decatur returned to the United States, and soon afterwards he was given his first command, the brig Argus, and with her proceeded to join Commodore Preble’s squadron, and was transferred to the command of the schooner Enterprise, exchanging vessels with Lieutenant Isaac Hull. The story of the capture and blowing up of the frigate Philadelphia, which under Captain Bainbridge had run ashore and been taken by the Tripolitans, has been described times without number. There is not space to write about it here. It is a tale in itself. But after the success of Decatur’s attempt, in which he overcame obstacles apparently insurmountable, the eyes of the country were turned upon him, and the great things that he afterwards accomplished were predicted.