The Savannah morning news., 1902-10-12
FEATURES OF
DECATUR COUNTY
And the Men Whose Names Are Household
Words There.
BY ]. H. ESTILL.

NOD in honor of Stephen Decatur,
nd cambridge, it's county seat, for
william cambridge, two distinguished
oeoars of the navy who were asso-
oiatad in many brilliant and historic
ocbievements. The story of the lives
- these heroes reads like a romance.
ord It is TO the credit of the state that
natriotic Legislature recognized the
etness of uniting their names when
having off the new county.
ctenben Decatur was born in Mary
land January 5, 177s His father was
cant. Stephen Decatur, a master in the
merchant service, who afterwards be-
carne an officer in the navy of the Rev.
ol,,t;on. When the United States
found if necessary to organize a navy
for protection against the privateers of
tho French republic, the senior Decatur
re-entered the service of his country.
Prlvateers and pirates made the in
let's Of Florida, and the smaller harbors
If the West Indies, their rendezvous,
from whence they issued forth to prey
upon American commerce. Vessels
were destroyed, and pirates. to hide one
crime. committed another and a worse
one Captives, if men, were weighted
with cannon balls and made to walk
the plank" and women were passed
from cabin to forecastle, and thence to
death. Capt Decatur pursued those /
bighwayrnen of the sea with unrelent- |
ing vigor and made their dreadful |
calling one of more danger than profit. |
II was the son and nameSake of that |
Decatur who made the name famous.
Young Decatur entered the navy at an
early age, and saw mis- first service |
under Commodore cambridge. The |
latter was a captive when Decatur, |
ren a lieutenant in Commodore Rich |
ard Dale's fleet on a night in Febru- |
ary, 1904, entered the harmon of Tripoll !
in d ketch, and destroyed the captive /
American frigate Philadelphia, which ,
was lying under the guns of the de-
fences of the city.
The Philadelphia, under Capt. Balm /
bridge, while chasing two piratical
crafts ran on .a4-reef -off4-the Ahasbof,-f
and in that helpless condition, was at !
tackled by the pirates and though
bravely defended, was captured to-
gether with her officers and crew. The
Philadelphia was gotten off the rocks
and lowed into harbor by her captors,
and there rentted and made a formid-
able war vessel.
In their prison Commodore Balm
bridge and his brave compa-
trots heard the terrific explosion,
when Decatur destroyed the frigate,
but they knew not of the brave deed
until later when they were subjected
to greater sufferings and indignities
Il because of the exploit of their fellow
countryman. For his gallantry De-
catur was raised to the rank of cap
tain. and received the thanks of Con-
gress. The famous Admiral Nelson
said of Decatur's exploit that it was
the most daring act of the age"
In the last war between Great Brit
ain and this country, Decatur COM
handing the frigate United States, on
Oct. %, 1872 captured the British fri
gate Macedonian. In 1915 Commodores
Decatur and cambridge commanded
TWO squadrons that were sent against
me Barbary pirates, and made the
Dey Of Algiers, who had been captur-
ing merchantmen and enslaving their
crews and passengers sue for peace and
release without ransom, all Christian
prisoners. Similar treaties were made
with Tunis and Tripoli, and the reign
OF the Barbary pirates was at an end.
mere was great rejoicing throughout
me civilized world when the success
VI the American expedition became
AloWn. Every Christian nation, eX-
cepung Great Britain, had paid trib-
ute 10 the pirates of the Mediterra-
mean Sea. Their so-called war vessels
captured merchant ships, enslaved
nose aboard of them, who, if they
we're women, were made inmates of
t sle, harems of lustful Turks. 1t is
uncut to realize that only eighty
oeseh years ago such a state of affairs
s existed Great Britain paid no tribute.
put her ships sailed the seas without
r ,roIestat1on. 1t is asserted that that
b aIIn people encouraged the Bar
oaIy pirates in order to hamper the
''ilinerce of other nations.
commodore Decatur lost his life in
T uuei with Commodore James Barron.
I Ine uuel was the outcome of what is
Alo"n as the Affair of the Chesa-
The reader of history will re-
fneIhper that Great Britain, in it's eff
~ " 10 secure men for its navy, claim
the right to search ships of other
natons for British subjects. Ameri-
sa am vessels were stopped on the high
,r oS and members of their crews i'm
diseu INTO the British navy. This
~ egdrd for the rights of citizens Of
1872 states caused tne war OIL
Inc greatest of these outrages,
tb"ssyer' was that committed upon
g. Tlgate Chesapeake, commanded by
of,tIlnodore James Barron. This man.
ill., "ar sailed from Hampton Roads to
% ,e me Mediterranean squadron June
w. 19O', and when three hours at sea
rs nailed by the British man-of-war
roD para of Admiral Berkeley's squad
boaA boat from the British vessel
nande eq the Chesapeake and de-
h he that the crew should
tba mustered, claiming that among
isb .ueh were deserters from the Brit
r.. NaaVy' Commodore Barron replied
eyoou us crew could not be mustered
ths ~ at the proper time. and denied
de-. llsht of the British Admiral to or
the search of an American ship. On
sass return of her boat with the mes
CSeso the Leopard opened fire on the
sbot dpeake. which, after firing one
N The struck her flag. 1t appeared that
vi,b 'herlcan war vessel had left por:
4 pect;,n er decks in confusion, not ex-
n ish nas night, especially with a Brit
was lan-of-war. as the United States
z, AZ peace with Great Britain. The
Chess OF the Leopard searched the
A. %opeake and took away three of
n "' whom they claimed to be de-