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SOUTHERN RECORDER. VOL. I. MILLEDGEVILLE, TUESDAY, MAY 16, 1820. No. 14. PUBLISHED WEEKLY, (on Tuesdays) BY S. GRJLYTL.d.YD fy R. M ORME, at three dollars, in advance, or FOUR DOLLARS AT THE EXPIRATION OF THE YEAR. (J"j* Advertisements conspicuously inser ted at the customary rates. COMMODORE STEPHEN DECATUR. FROM THE NATIONAL REGISTER. Mr. Elliot,—The true character of a man is to be found in the actions of his life. The memory of the late Com. Stephen Decatur is dear to Americans ; but there are not many of his country men, l believe, who, in a moment, can recollect all the heroic circumstances connected with his fame. Many years have elapsed since he first commenced the career of glory ; and the particulars of his renown, as in the case of other ce lebrated men, have been, more or less, comprehended and mingled in the gene ral lustre of his reputation. The pre sent appears to me a suitable time to re call to the minds of the American people the principal incidents in the life of that brave and accomplished gentleman ; and, with that view, 1 pray you to insert in your gazette, the following Biographical Sketch, which appeared in the Analec- tic Magazine for June, 1813. I have endeavoured to fill up the outline, by bringing down the narrative of the ma gazine to the period of the fatal duel, i believe that you will agree with me, sir, that it is easier to deprive the nation of such an officer than to supply his place. c* Com. Stephen Decatur is of French descent by the male line. His grand father was a native of La Rochelle, in France, and married a lady of Rhode- Island His father, Stephen Decatur, was born in Newport (Rhode-lsland) and when a very young man removed to Phi ladelphia, where he married the daugh ter of an Irish gentleman by the name of Pine. He was bred to the sea, and commanded a merchant vessel out of the port of Philadelphia until the establish ment of the navy, when he was appoint ed to the command of the Delaware sloop of war. He continued in her un til the frigate Philadelphia was built, when the command of that ship was giv en to him, at the particular request of the merchants, who built her by sub scription. 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 Phila delphia, where he resided until his death, which happened in November, 1808. His son, Stephen Decatur, the present commodore, was born on the 6th Janua ry, 1779, on the eastern shore of Mary land, whither his parents had retired, whilst the British were in possession of Philadelphia. They returned to that city when he was a few months old, and he was there educated and brought up. He entered the navy in March, 1793, as midshipman, and joined the frigate United States, under the command of commodore Barry, who had obtained the warrant Cor him. He continued for some time with that officer, and was pro moted to the rank of lieutenant. The United States at that time required some repairs, and, not wishing to remain in E ort, he requested ah order to join the rig Norfolk, then bound to the Spanish Main. He performed one cruise in her, as first lieutenant, and on his return to port, resumed his station Ih board of 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 com modore Dale’s squadron to the Mediter ranean. On the return of that squad ron he was ordered to the New-York, one of the second Mediterranean squad ron, under the command of commodore Morris. When he returned to the U. States he was ordered to take the command of the Argus, and proceed in her to join Commodore Preble’s squadron, then in the Mediterranean, ami on his arrival there to resign the command of the Argus to lieutenant Hull, and take the schooner Pntcrprize, then commanded by that officer. After making that exchange he proceeded to Syracuse, where the squad ron was to rendezvous. On his arrival at that port, he was informed of the fate ot the frigate Philadelphia, which had ran aground on the Barbary coast, and ™len into the hands of the Tripolitans. 1 he idea immediately presented itself to his mind, of attempting her recapture 0r ( J est ruction. On Commodore Preble’s arr ival, a few days afterwards, he pro P°9ed to him a plan for the purpose, and volunteered his services to execute it. he Wa ry mind of that veteran officer « nV ^approved °f nn enterprise so 1 of peril; but the risks and difficult , es “'at surrounded it only stimulated e ardent Decatur, and imparted to it * n ' i ' r . of adventure fascinating to his »ful imagination. jj e consent of the commodore hav * e ° n °' ,ta * ne< L lieutenant Decatur e ected for the expedition a ketch (the Intrepid) which he had captured a few weeks before from the enemy, and man ned her with seventy volunteers, chiefly from his own crew. He sailed from Sy racuse on the 3d February, 1804, ac- conuMwed by the United States’ brig Syiflplieut. Stewart, who was to aid witWfc 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 very tempestuous weather, they arrived at the harbour of Tripoli a little before sunset. It had been arranged between lieutenants De catur and Stewart, that the ketch should enter the harbor about ten o’clock that night, attended by the boats of the Sy ren. On arriving off the harbour, the Syren, in consequence of a change of wind, had been thrown six or eight miles without the Intrepid. The wind at this time was fair, but fast declining, & lieut. Decatur apprehended that, should he wait for the Syren’s boats to come up, it •might be too late to make the attack that night. Such delay might be fatal to the enterprize, as they could not remain longer on the coast, their provisions be ing nearly exhausted. For these rea sons he determined to adventure into the harbor alone, which he did about 8 o’clock. An idea may be formed of the extreme hazard of this enterprise from the situa tion ofthe frigate. She was moored with in half gun shot of the Bashaw’s Castle, and of the principal battery. Two of the enemy’s cruizers lay within two ca bles’ length, on the starboard quarter, and their gun boats within half gun shot on the starboard bow. All the guns of the frigates were mounted and loaded. Such were the immediate perils that our hero ventured to encounter with a single ketch, beside the other dangers that abound in a strongly fortified har bor. Although from the entrance, to the place where the frigate lay was only 3 miles, yet inconsequence of the, lightness of the wind they did not get within hail of her until eleven o’clock. When they had approached within 200 yards, they were hailed and ordered to anchor, or they would be tired into. Lieutenant Decatur ordered a Maltese, pilot, who was on hoard the ketch, to answer that they had lost their anchor 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 fri gate. Lieut. Decatur ordered a small boat that was alongside of the ketch, to take a rope and make it fast to the fri gate’s fore chains. This being done they began to warp the ketch alongside.— It was not until this moment that the en emy suspected the cuaracter of their vi sitor, and great confusion immediately ensued. This enabled our adventurers to get alongside of the frigate, when De catur immediately sprang .aboard, follow ed by Mr. Charles Morris,* midshipman. These two were nearly a minute on the deck, before their companions could suc ceed in mounting the side. Fortunately, the Turks had not sufficiently recover ed from their surprise to take advan tage of this delay. They were crowded together on the quarter deck, perfectly astonished and aghast, without making any attempt to oppose the assailing par ty. As a sufficient number of our men had gained the deck, to form a front e- qual to that of the enemy, they rushed in upon them. The Turks stood the as sault but a short time, and were com pletely overpowered. About twenty were killed on the spot, many jumped overboard, and the rest fled to the main deck, whither they were pursued and driven to the hold. After entire possession had been gain ed ofthe ship, and every thing prepared to set fire to her, a number of launches were seen rowing about the harbor.— This determined lieutenant Decatur to . emain in the frigate, from whence a bet ter defence could be made than from on board the ketch. The enemy had al ready commenced firing upon them from their batteries and castle, and from two corsairs that were laying near. Per ceiving that the launches did not attempt to approach, he ordered that the ship should be set on fire, which was done, at the same time, in different parts.— As soon as this was completely effected they left her, and such was the rapidity ofthe flumes, that it was with the utmost difficulty they preserved the ketch At this critical moment a most propitious breeze sprang up, blowing directly out of the harbor, which, in a few minutes, carried them beyond the reach of the enemy’s guns, and they made good their retreat without the Joss of a single man, and with but four wounded. For this gallant and romantic achieve ment, Lieutenant Decatur was promo ted to the rank of post captain, there be ing at that time no intermediate grade. This promotion was particularly gratify ing to him, inasmuch as it was done with the consent of the officers over whose heads he was raised. In the ensuing spring, it being deter i * Now Captain Morris of the Adam;. mined to make an attack upon Tripoli, Commodore Preble obtained from the King of Naples the loan of six gun boats, and two bombards, which he formed iuto two divisions, and gave the command of one of them to Capt. Decatur, the other to Lieut. Somers. The squadron sailed from Syracuse, consisting of the frigate Constitution, the brig Syren, the schoon ers Nautilus & Vixen, and the gun boats. Having arrived on the coast of Barba ry, they were for some days prevented from making the attack, by adverse wind and weather; at length, on the morning of the 3d of August, the weather being favorable, the signal was made from the commodore’s ship to prepare for action, the light vessels towing the gun boats to windward. At 9 o’clock the signal was made for bombarding the town and the enemy’s vessels. The gun boats were cast off, and advanced in a line ahead, led on by Capt. Decatur, and covered by the frigate Constitution, and the brigs and schooners. The enemy’s gun boats were moored along the mouth of the har bor under the batteries, and within mus ket 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 16, and a schooner of ten guns. Before entering into close action, cap tain 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.— Lieut. James Decatur commanded one of the boats belonging to Lieut. Somers’ division, but being further to windward than the rest of bis division, he joined & took orders from his brother. When Capt. 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 and from the gun bouts. He returned their fire, and continued advancing until he came in contact with the boats. At this time, Commodore Preble, seeing Decatur ap proaching nearer than he thought pru dent, ordered the signal to be made for a retreat; but it was found that in mak ing out the signals for the boats, the one for a retreat had been omitted. The e- nemy’s boats had about forty men each ; ours an equal number, twenty-seven of whom were Americans, and thirteen Ne apolitans. Decatur, on boarding the e- nemy, wa9 instantly followed by his countrymen, hut the Neapolitans remain ed behind. The Turks did not sustain the combat, hand to hand, with that firm ness 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 on the deck, &. 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 informed him that they had engaged and captured one ofthe enemy, but that her commander, after surren dering, had treacherously shot Lieuten ant James Decatur, and pushed off with the boat, and was then making for the harbor. The feelings of the gallant Decatur, on receiving this intelligence, may more easily be imagined than described. Eve ry consideration of prudence and safety was lost in his eagerness to punish so dastardly an act, &. to revenge the death of a brother so basely murdered. He pushed within the enemy’s line with his single boat, and having succeeded in get ting 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 extreme ly doubtful for twenty minutes. All the Americans except four were now severe ly 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 wea pon his sword struck on the iron and broke close to the hilt. The Turk at this moment made a push, which slight ly wounded him in the right arm and breast. He immediately seized the spear and closed with him. A fierce struggle ensued, aiid both fell. Decatur upper most. By this time the Turk had drawn a dagger from his belt, and was about to plunge it in the body of his foe, when Decatur caught his arm,, and shot him with a pistol, which he had taken from his pocket. During the time they were struggling on the deck, the crews rushed to the aid of their commanders, and a most sanguinary conflict took place, in somuch, that when Decatur had des patched his adversary, it was with the greatest difficulty he could extricate him- self from the killed and wounded that had fallen around him. It is with no common feeling of admi ration that we record an instance of he roic 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 rear by one of the enemy, who had just aimed a blow at his head with his sabre, that must have been fatal: at this fearful juncture a noble hearted tar, who hud been so badly wounded as to lose the use of his hands, seeing no other means of saving his commander, rushed between him hi the uplifted sabre, and received the blow on his own head, which fractured his scull. We love to pause & honor great actions in humble life, because they speak well for human nature. Men of rank and station in society often do .gal lant deeds, in a manner from necessity. Their conspicuous situation obliges them to do so, or their eagerness for glory urges them on ; but an act like this we have mentioned, so desperate, yet so dis interested ; done by an obscure, unam bitious individual, u poor sailor, can spring from nothing but innate noble ness of soul. We are happy to add that this generous fellow survived, and now receives a pension from government. Decatur succeeded in getting with both of his prizes to the squadron, and the next day received the highest com mendation, in u general order, from Com. Preble. When that able officer was superseded in the command of the squadron, he gave the Constitution to Capt. Decatur, who had, some time be fore, received his commission.* From that ship he was removed to the Con gress, and returned home in her when peace was concluded with Tripoli. On his return to the United States, he was employed in superintending gun boats, until the affair ofthe Chesapeake, when he was ordered to supercede Com. Bar- ion in the command of that ship, since which period he has had the command of the southern squadron. When the United States was again put in commis sion, he wa3 removed from the Chesa peake to that frigate. The foregoing particulars were fur nished us by a friend, as materials from which to form a biography ; but wc were so well pleased with the simplicity, con ciseness and modesty of the narration, that we resolved to lay it before our readers with merely a few trivial altera tions. The present war with Great-Britain has given Commodore Decatur another opportunity of adding to the laurels he had already won. On the 26th October, 1812, in lat. 29, N. long. 29. 30, W. he fell in with his Britannic Majesty’s ship Macedonian, mounting 49 carriage guns. This was one of the finest frigates in the British navy, and commanded by Capt. John S. Carden, one of the ablest offi cers. She was in prime order, 2 yeare old, and but four months out of dock.— The enemy being to windward, had the advantage of choosing his own distance ; and, supposing the United States to be the Essex, (which only mounts carro- uades,) kept at first at long shot, and did not at any moment come within the com plete effect of the musketry and grape. After the frigates had come to close ac tion, the battle was terminated in a very short period, by the enemy’s surrender. The whole engagement lasted for an hour and a half, being prolonged by the dis tance at which the early part of it was foeght, and by a heavy swell of the sea. The superior gunnery of the Americans was apparent in this, as in all our other actions. The Macedonian lost her mi- zen-mast, fore and main top-masts, and main yard, and was much cut up in the hull. Her loss was thirty-six killed, and sixty-eight wounded. The damage of the United States was comparatively tri vial, four killed and seven wounded ; and she suffered so little in her hull and rigging, that she might have continued her cruise, hud not Commodore Decatur thought it important to convoy his prize, into port, liis reception of Capt. Car den on hoard of the United States was truly characteristic. On presenting his sword, Dec»tur observed that he could not think of taking the sword of an offi cer who had defended his ship so gallant ly, hut he should he happy to take him by the hand. We are sorry to observe that Captain Carden has not been ingenuous in his account of this affair. He mentions that, after an hour’s action the enemy brac ed and came to the wind, and l was then enabled to bring her to close action."— Now, on the contrary, we have it from the very best authority, that the U. Stales was close hauled to the wind, and her commander was extremely anxious to come to close quarters. There are o- ther parts of Captain Carden’s official letter that are exceptionable, hut we shall pass them over without comment. It is natural for a proud and gallant mind to writhe under humiliation, and to en deavour to palliate the disgrace of de feat ; but a truly magnanimous spirit would scorn to do it at the expense of a brave and generous foe. Captain Car' den must know that he had it in his pow'' er to close with the United States when ever he pleased, and that there was no movement on the part of Com. Decatur to prevent it. Wc again repeat, that it is with regret we notice any instance of disingenuousness in an officer whose ge neral character we admire, and whose 1 deportment at all times to our country nieu has been such as to entitle him to the highest good will. It is not one of the least circumstan ces of Com. Decatur’s good fortune, or rather good management, that he con voyed his prize, in her shattered condi tion, across a vast extent of ocean, swar ■ning with foes, and conducted her tri umphantly into port; thus placing im mediately before the eyes of his coun trvmen, a noble trophy of his own skill, and of national prowess. Such has been the brilliant career of this naval hero. In private life his for tune has been equally propitious. Ho nored by his country, beloved by his friends, and blessed by the affections of an amiable and elegant woman.t He is now in the very prime of life, pleasing in his person, of an intelligent and inte resting countenance, and an eye in whose mild and brilliant lustre, spirit, enter prize and urbanity are happily blended. His deportment is manly and unassuming; and his manners peculiarly gentle and engaging ; uniting the polish of the gen tleman with the frank simplicity of the sailor. It is with the most perfect de light thnt we have noticed our naval offi cers, on returning from the gallant n- chievements which are the universal to pics of national pride Si exultation, sink ing at once into unostentatious and quiet citizens. No vain-glorious boastings, no puerile gasconades, are ever heard from their lips ; of their enemy they always speak with courtesy & respect; of their own exploits with unaffected modesty & frankness. With the aspiring ardour of truly brave spirits they pay hut little re gard to the past; their whole souls seem stretched towards the future. 1 nto such hands we confide, without apprehension or reserve, our national interests and ho nor ; to this handful of gallant w'orthies is allotted the proud destiny of. founding the naval fame of the nation, and of thus having their names inseparably connect ed with the glory of their country-^ Thus far the Biographical Sketch of the Analectic Magazine. In January, 1015, a cruise to the East Indies was determined upon by go vernment, with a squadron under the or ders of Commodore Decatur, who then commanded the frigate President, lying it New-York. In attempting to put to sea in the face of a British naval force, consisting of the Majestic razee, and the frigates Endymion, Tencdos, and Po mona, the President, through the negli gence of the pilot, Btruck upon the bar of that port, in consequence of which her ballast shifted, and the swiftness of her sailing was impaired. Commodore Decatur, nevertheless, from the course of the wind, was, in some measure, com pelled to proceed, lie fell in with the British squadron, which gave chase ; and the Endymion sailing faster than the Pre sident, came up with and engaged her.- This English frigate, however, was bea ten off, and would have been inevitably captured, had not the remainder of the squadron got up, and overpowered the Americans. Commodore Decatur, who was wounded in the engagement, would not deliver his sword to the captain of the Endymion, and surrendered it only to the commander of the British squad ron, every vessel of which was near, and two within striking distance of the President when she yielded. For some time it was insisted that the Endymion alone had made the capture ; but an of ficial advertisement iu the English news papers, notifying a distribution of prize- money, on account of the frigate Presi dent, among the officers and crews of all the ships of the capturing squadron, prov ed that this was a vain-glorious boast. A highly respectable court martial, upon the return of Capt. Decatur to the United States, not only acquitted him of all blame for the loss of his ship, but praised his bravery and good conduct in exalted terms of expression. No circumstance further illustrates the biography of Decatur until after the close of the war with Great Britain, when a fleet, consisting of the Guerriere, Con stellation and Macedonian frigates, the Onturio and Epervier brigs, and four schooners, was despatched to the coait of Barbary under his command, to punish the Barbarians for some violations of the laws of nations, in respect to the citizens of the United States of America. War was declared against the Barbary Pow ers, March 2, 1815. Decatur sailed from New-York, May 20,1816, and arrived at Gibraltar in 26 days, where be learned that the Alge rine squadron had been out into the At lantic, and had probably returned into the Mediterranean—upon which they proceeded without delay for Algiers, ie hopes of intercepting the enemy before he could reach that port. On the 7th of June, he captured the Algerine frigate Mazauda, after a running fight of 25 mi nutes. The Algerine admiral (Hammi- da) was killed in the action by a cannoa ball. Two days nfterwards the squad ron took a brig of 22 guns, and arrived at Algiers on the 28th of June. A trea ty was formed with the Dey, upon the basis laid down by the American commis sioners, by which an end was put to any claim of tribute from the United States, under any pretext whatever. From Al giers he proceeded to Tripoli and Tu nis, and obtained an indemnity in money for suffering American vessels to be ta ken out of their harbours by the Brit ish, during the late war, without impe diment—and in the former place, he ef fected the release of ten captives, two Danes and eight Neapolitans ; ttie latter of whom he landed at Messina. He join ed Com. Buinbridge at Gibraltar, sailed for the United States in the Guerriere, and arrived the following November. Congress having, on the 7th of Feb'ry 1816, enacted a law, authorizing the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, to appoint three officers ofthe Navy, whose rank should not be below a post captain, to consti tute a Board of Commissioners for the Navy of the United States, Com. Deca tur, on his return from the Mediterrane an, was selected by President Madison as one of these. He was in the vigilant and satisfactory exercise of the duties of this office, when he was challenged to single combat, with pistols, by Commo dore James Barron, formerly of the fri gate Chesapeake, & was mortally wound ed at the first fire. He was immediate ly conveyed to the city of Washington, from Bladeusburgh, the scene of thus bloody catastrophe, and died at his own residence on the night of the 22d March, 1820, in excruciating pain, but with manly firmness, amidst a vast circle of friends, great numbers of whom crowd ed to his dwelling on the first news of his disaster. His remains were deposi ted, on the 24th of the same month, ia the vault of Kalorama, the well known seat of the late J oel Barlow, esq. whence, we understand, the corpse will be even tually removed to Philadelphia, for final interment. The funeral was accompa nied with military honors, and the con course of citizens and strangers in atten dance, was the most numerous ever known on any similar occasion ia the dis trict of Columbia. * It was dated tbe 16th February, 1804, the day on which he destroyed the Philadelphia.— He also received a vote of thanks sad a ttvord for that achievement. i Some years since, Commodore Decatur was married to Miss Wheeler, of Norfolk, a lady ce lebrated for her accomplishments, and at that time a reigning belle in Virginia. t Tile frigates United States and Macedonian are both lying in the port of New-York, hi are easily compurcd with each other. They have been measured, and the following are tbe re suits: United States. Macedonian. Length of deck, 176 ft. 166 ft. Breadth of beam. 43 ft. 48 8 in. Tonnage, 1405 1325 Each vessel has 15 ports on a side, on the main deck ; the first carries 24 and the latter 16 pounders thereon. The carronades of each, on the quarter deck and fore-eastle, are of tbe like calibre; and the only further difference is, that the United Slates had five more of them. It is false that our frigates carry 441b. aarronades they have only 32’s. The gallant conduct of Com. Decatur, in cap luring the Macedonian, has been rewarded by numerous tokens of public gratitude. He has received a vote of thanks and medal from Coir gress; a vote of thanks and sword from the state of Virginia ; a vote of thanks from Mary land ; a vote of thanks and sword from Penn sylvania ; a sword from the city of Philadel phia ; a vote of thanks from Massachusetts; a Vote of thanks from the state of NeW-York; the freedom of the city of New-York, and has been elected an honorary member of the Cincinnati Society of that State. Public dinners have becu given him, and various (Rhor satarlftmiuealf. If we may be permitted to form ad opinion from what we see, and especially from what we hear, we should be fully convinced, that the deficiency in the du ties on imported merchandize will be considerably larger than the Committee of Ways and Means have supposed. At least when the accounts are made up on the duties arising from the imports made this spring, we have not a doubt they will, fall far short of these for the last year.—A What tbe East India merchandize may produce, we do not know, not having heard a comparison drawn, but upon European, and purticulaly British goods, by several experienced merchants we have been in formed, that the quantity imported this spring, does not amount to half, probably not to more than one third, of that bro’f during the last corresponding season of the year. We take it for granted, that the experience of New York will forma good ground of calculation with regard to the importations of our other trading ports. If so, there must necessarily be a great deficiency in the treasury accounts for this period.—AT. Y. Daily Adv. BRUTAL AFFAIR. In Wayne couDty, on the 13tb inst. Richard Hors, was murdered, by stabe in several parts of his body, and being cut open with a knife, so that his entrails were exposed to view, by James Yates, who immediately, escaped but has, w» are glad to state, been apprehended, through the vigilance of the sheriff of that county, and one or two other per sons. On his being arrested, he stated, as we are informed, that he had btou aided by Henry Summerville (in wKfh house it occured) in executing the above horrible deed.—Summerville we under stand, has also been arrested and com mitted to the gaol in Camden county—a where they both are to remain to stand their trial at the next Superior court (hr i Wayne county.—Darien Gat. 24(ft unit