The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1813-06-24

FROM THE AsALEcrrc MAGAZINE.
BIOGRAPHY OF
COMMODORE DECATUR.

Com. Stephen Decatur is of French des-
cent, by the male line. His grandtather was
a native OF La Rochelle, in France, and mar
ried lady Of Rhode Islood. Ills father,
Stephen Decatur, wa. born in Newport,
(Rhodc -Issnd,) and when very young man
removed 10 Philadelphia, where he married
the daughter of an Irish gentleman by the
name of Pine. He was bred 20 the sea, and
commanded merchant vessel out of The port
Of Philadelphia until the establishment o! the
navy, when he was appointed to command the
Delaware sloop OF war. Nc continued in her
until the friga,e Philadelphia was built, when
the COMMAND Of that ship was given TO him,
at the particular request OF the merchants
who had built her by subscription. In this
situation he remained until peace Was nude
with France, when he resigned his commits
sion, ard retired to his residence few miles
from Philadelphia, where he resided until his
death, which happened in November, 1908.
His son, Stephen Decatur, the present
coru nlodore, was born ON the 5lh Of January,
1879, on the eastern shore Of Maryland,
whittier his parents had retired, whilst the Bri-
tish were in possession of Philadelphia. They
returned TO that city when he was few
months old, and he was thcrc educated and
brought up.
He entered the navy in March, 1893, as
riGshipman, and Joined the trigau 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,
then bound to the Spanish main. He per-
formed one cruize in her as 6Ist lieutenant,
and on his return to port resumed his station
on board Of the United States, where he re.
manned until peace was concluded with France.
He was then ordered to the Essex as first
lieutenant, and sailed with commodore Dale's
squadron 10 the Mediterranean. On the re-
turn Of that squadron he was ordered to the
New.York, ane of the seccnd Mediterranean
squadron, Vnder the command OF Commo-
dore Morris.
When he returned to the United States he
vas ordered to take command Of the Argus,
and proceed in her to Join Commodore Pre-.
blc's squadron, then in the Mediterranean,
ond ON his arrival there 10 resign tho COM
mand Of the Argus 10 Lieutenant Hull, and
take the schooner Enterprise, then comman-
dcd by that officer. After making that ex.
change he proceeded to Syracuse, where the
SQUADRON was to rendezvous. On his ar
rival at that port he was Informed of
the fate Of the frigatc Philadelphia, which
had run aground on the Barbary coats, and
fallen into the hands Of the Tripolitans. The
idea Immediately presented itself to his mind
of a''-mpting her rc.capturc or destruction.
On ,mmodorc Preble's arrival, few days
afterwards, he proposed 20 him plan for the
purpose, and volunteered his services to ex-
ccute it. The wary mind of that veteran of
Scer at FIRST disapproved of an enterprise so
full Of peril but the risks and difficulties
that surrounded it only stimulated the ardor
Of Decatur, and impaired to i, an air of ad-
venture, fascinating 10 his youthful imagiaa.
ton.
Tho consent Of the commodore having
been obtained, Lieutenant Decatur selected
Cor the expedition a ketch Qhe In,repid)
which he had captured few weeks before
from the enemy, and manned her with sev.
en,y volunteers, chiefly from his own crew.
He sailed from Syracuse on the Cd February,
1904, accompanied by the L. ). brig Syrcn,
lieutenant Stewart, who was TO aid with has
boats, and TO receive the crew of the kctch,
in case il should be found cxpedien, to use
her as a fire ship.
After fifteen DAYS Of very ;empss,uous
weather, they arrived at the harbor of Tripo-
Il little before sunset Ii had been arrang-
ed between Lieu,snants Decatur and Stewart,
that the kctch should enter thc harbor about
ten o'clock that night, attended by the boats
Of the Syrcn. On arriving off the harbor,
the Syren, N consequence Of change Of
wind, had been thrown six or eight miles
without the Intrepid. The wind at this time
was fair. bu, fast declining, sud Lieutenant
Decatur apprchended tha:, should he wsi,
for the Syren's boats to come up, it nigh. be
too late TO make the attack that night. Such
delay might be fatal to the enterprize, as
they could not remain longer or the coast,
their provisions being nearly exhausted. For
these reasons he determined TO venture in
to the harbor alone, which he did about eight
-