Your obedient servant, Stephen Decatur.
On March 22, 1820, they met at Bladensburg, near Washington. Decatur was accompanied by Commodore Bainbridge and Barron by Captain Elliott, who, perhaps because his own conduct in the face of the enemy had been assailed, was a strong partisan of Barron.
Henry Austin, in an interesting account of this duel, says that Bladensburg was chosen as the site of the duel by Decatur because it was “near the city of Washington,” where Decatur was then living, and the “inconvenience of a man lying wounded at a distance from his own home.” Pistols were the weapons chosen. The following letter describing the event is by one who saw the duel:
Washington, Wednesday, March 22, 1820.
This morning, agreeably to his request, I attended Commodore Bainbridge in a carriage to the Capitol Hill, where I ordered breakfast at Beale’s Hotel for three persons. At the moment it was ready, Commodore Decatur, having walked from his own house, arrived and partook of it with us. As soon as it was over he proceeded in our carriage toward Bladensburg. At breakfast he mentioned that he had a paper with him which he wished to sign (meaning his will) but that it required three witnesses, and as it would not do to call in any person for that purpose, he would defer it until we arrived on the ground. He was quite cheerful and did not appear to have any desire to take the life of his antagonist; indeed, he declared that he should be very sorry to do so. On arriving at a valley, half a mile short of Bladensburg, we halted, and found Captain Elliott standing in the road on the brow of the hill beyond us. Commodore Bainbridge and myself walked up and gave him the necessary information, when he returned to the village. In a short time Commodore Barron, Captain Elliott, his second, and Mr. Latimer arrived on the ground, which was measured (eight long strides) and marked by Commodore Bainbridge nearly north and south, and the seconds proceeded to load. Commodore Bainbridge won the choice of stands, and his friend chose that to the north, being a few inches lower than the other.
On taking their stands, Commodore Bainbridge told them to observe that he should give the words quick, “Present; one, two, three;” and that they were not, at their peril, to fire before the word “one” nor after the word “three” was pronounced. Commodore Barron asked him if he had any objections to pronouncing the words as he intended to give them. He said that he had not, and did so.
Commodore Barron, about this moment, observed to his antagonist that he hoped, on meeting in another world, they would be better friends than they had been in this; to which Commodore Decatur merely replied, “I have never been your enemy, sir.” Nothing further passed between them previous to firing. Soon after Commodore Bainbridge cautioned them to be ready, crossed over to the left of his friend, and gave the words of command precisely as before; and at the word “two” they both fired so nearly together that but one report was heard.
They both fell nearly at the same instant. Commodore Decatur was raised and supported a short distance and sank down near to where Commodore Barron lay; and both of them appeared to think themselves mortally wounded. Commodore Barron declared that everything had been conducted in the most honorable manner and told Commodore Decatur that he forgave him from the bottom of his heart. Soon after this, a number of gentlemen coming up, I went after our carriage and assisted in getting him into it; when leaving him under the care of several of his intimate friends, Commodore Bainbridge and myself left the grounds, and, as before agreed upon, embarked on board the tender of the Columbus at the Navy Yard.
It is due to Commodore Bainbridge to observe, that he expressed his determination to lessen the danger to each, by giving the words quick, with a hope that both might miss and that then their quarrel might be amicably settled.—Samuel Hambleton.
Austin says that “after being shot, Decatur stood for a moment erect, but was observed by Dr. Treditt, as subsequently communicated to Dr. Washington, the other doctor, to press his hand to his right side. He then fell, the ball having passed through his abdomen. He remarked, ‘I am mortally wounded. At least, I believe so, and wish that I had fallen in defence of my country.’”