The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1851-05-17
coMmoDoREs BARRON AND DEcA-
TUR.


IL is now nearly forty -four years since the
American Frgate CheAapes,k e, carrying Tim
~ eight guns, sailed from Hampton Roads,
under the command of Capt. james Barron.
The attack made upon the Chesapeake by
the British frinaGs I.e-'-toA ~ nHtlons--and
the circumstances that led TO il, are too well
known 10 need recital here.
The conduct Of Barron in not fighting che
LyopArd-a ship OF vastly superior force
when unexpectedly attacked although the
Consequences might have been fatal TO the
Chesapeake, was universally ccnsured by the
American people A court of inquiry was
FIRST hold, who passed ccnsure upon his
conduct, A court martial was then called, up
ON which Commodorv Decatur was dcmiivd
as ono Of its members Having previously
formed All opinion uniavor.l'l' 10 Barron he
declined serving. Tho Secretary Of tho Ma
y,,yutTI- t-eEetess-Is1sss, ssI.d LA Iak liis
scat as a member OF the Court. After an in
vcstigation of two weeks Il was decided that
Barron was guilty ofncglect Of duty and un-
oficcriikc conduct in not clearing his ship
/ ior action ON the probability Of an engage
ment He was sentenced 10 be suspended from
all command in the Navy and from all pay
and emoluments for term Of Eve years.--
Barron imputed the severity OF this sentence
in great measure, TO Decatur When the
period of his suspension expired, Feb. s, 1873,
the country being at war with Epgland hs
solicited employment in our service; not be-
ing encouraged, by the Secretary Of the Navy
he remained in France until the close of the
war On his return To the United States,t the
Columbus, ship of the line, -, was about
! seiss eas in commission, he Ae1lin applied ioi
a command, considering himself entitled, from
the seniority of his commission 10 n prcce'
dence over BainbriIge, who had been named
as her commander. Commodore Decatur
having an untavorable opinion Of his talents
and being at the time member of the boarC
n of navy commissioners, resisted his clAim,au'
j. as Barron charged, was the cause Of his excln
n sion.
o This mattcr gave rise 10 correspondence
remarkable for nothing but ice asPeEity an
r want OF decorum the subject rested, howev
n er, until Oct 1919, when Barron commences
y second correspondence. Seveaal letter
q passed between them, whom Decatur hnsf
J. remark ed, "tha, he should pay no further al
q tentiqn 70 any communication Barron nigh
W make TO him, other than a call to the field
g Barron Immediately challenged him, an
on the 22d day of March, 1920, they fougt
.e at Bladensburg. Bainbridge was the secon
r of Decatur; Capt. Elliot was thu second o
,e Barron. They fought At eight PAGES with pi
10 tolls, and at the first fire both were wounde'
~ 4-eetss. through the abdomen fseaa the %
Ic fects of which be died at half past ten o'eloc
a the same night Barron was wounded in u
IN right hip, the ball glancing from the bon
n; which probably saved his life. Decatur wi
~ carried in the arms Of Commodore Rodge
II, to his own ho,fse, ia what is called Preside
in square, in Washington city. A crowd OF ci
e. iEens assembled about his house, rs soon as.
in was known that he was in a.dying condition
II and the President, who was to have throw
,s- open his house the samo evening for publ
IL roccutiun,- Fslatpoaed !, until after the obs
., qnies OF Conimodorg Bccasar~ere PerieE'tC
,rt Congress heing in session, both houses n
,f iourned on the day Of the intGrnaerat- ~ithe
yet entering on any business. On the gath, J
ng funeral was attended by the President, liea