The whole five were by this time so much impressed by the pluck and persistence of the young fellow that they made ample apology for having misjudged him.
It is because of the spirit which Somers showed on this occasion that several writers of American history have expressed the belief that, on finding the ketch Intrepid caught by the Tripolitans when he was taking her into the harbor, he did deliberately fire her magazine. He was of the nature that would rather die than fail. What a pity it was that he did not live to command a ship in the next war!
Commodore Perry once stood up to face an antagonist, a Captain Heath, whom he had offended—but Perry and his second, Stephen Decatur, were agreed that Heath had had just cause of offence, and Perry refused to fire. The trouble was compromised after Heath had fired once.
Last of all was the duel that ended Decatur’s life—unquestionably the most famous duel known to the annals of the navy, and one that created almost as much stir in the nation as that between Hamilton and Burr. Moreover, it is one that should not fade from memory, for the one reason, if for no other, that it came as a direct result of the attack of the British frigate Leopard upon the American frigate Chesapeake, in time of peace, for the purpose of taking three impressed American seamen that had escaped from their slavery in the British navy.
Commodore James Barron, as the reader will remember, was suspended from the navy because he had gone to sea with his ship unprepared for action, although the British officers at Norfolk had been very free in making threats. In the course of years it became Decatur’s duty, as one of the Naval Commissioners, to decide on the advisability of restoring Barron to active service. Barron had continually protested that his punishment was “cruel and unmerited,” and had made many attempts to get into active service, but Decatur was unable to approve of all that Barron had done. Decatur distinctly “disclaimed all personal enmity toward him,” but said frankly that “he entertained and did still entertain the opinion that his conduct, since that affair, had been such as ought forever to bar his readmission into the service.” Barron had remained out of the United States during all the War of 1812, although the term for which he was suspended was but five years. It was this, added to Barron’s failure to have the Chesapeake ready for a fight, that influenced Decatur.
The correspondence between Barron and Decatur on the subject of Barron’s readmission began in June, 1819, and ended in February, 1820. Barron’s last letter to Decatur was dated at Norfolk, January 16, 1820. It said:
Sir: Your letter of the 20th ultimo I have received. In it you say that you have now to inform me that you shall pay no further attention to any communications that I may make to you other than a direct call to the field; in answer to which I have only to reply that whenever you will consent to meet me on fair and equal grounds, that is, such as two honorable men may consider just and proper, you are at liberty to view this as that call. The whole tenor of your conduct to me justifies this course of proceeding on my part. As for your charges and remarks, I regard them not—particularly your sympathy. You know not such a feeling. I cannot be suspected of making the attempt to excite it.
I am, sir, yours, etc., James Barron.
To this Decatur replied on January 24th as follows:
Sir: I have received your communication of the 16th, and am at a loss to know what your intention is. If you intend it as a challenge, I accept it, and refer you to my friend, Commodore Bainbridge, who is fully authorized to make any arrangement he pleases as regards weapons, mode or distance.