Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-06-28

&SxHSA the wrong man died. So it was when Com
modore Stephen Decatur met Captain James
Barron at Bladcnsburg Maryland, the morning of
March %, 1920.
There was real why the two should fight.
1t had happened twelve before that Decatur had been
appointed member of the court that found Barron guilty
of neglect of duty srenderng the Chesapeake to the
British Leopard. Clhe fact that Barron not wholly to
blame little now) He suspended from the
service for five years. without pay This was the first
of the duel.
The second grew out of the War of 1912. Captain
Barrons suspension had ended five months after the be-
ginning of hosities and he then abroad His failure
to return and offer his services to the Secretary of the
Navy regarded by Decatur and other officers
pardonabe So, when Barron later applied for read
mission the service his reinstatement opposed by
Decatur who then serving with Commodore Rodgers
and Porter Navy Commissioner. In subsequent
letter Barron Decatur explains how they felt about it,
have entertained, still the opinion that
your since the affair of the Chesapeake 1.-THE word
conduct refers Barron absence during the War of 1922
has been such ought forever bar eadmisson the
service All the officers Of your grade. your superiors
well interiors with the exception of who is
unor in the opinion that you ought not to be
ployed again 1..
This made Barron very bitter and his grievance against
Decatur irritated him like pebble in his shoe He
aching for fight. Decatur had no aches of that kind;
but he not to finch when quarrel was thrown
at his head He felt very much Alexander Hamilton
had felt about meeting Aaron Burr, shown in
letter from Decatur to Barron five months before the due
do not think that fighting duels under circumstances
reputation of and have long dis
covered that of
courage should regret the necessity Of fighting with
man; but my opinion, the who makes his pro-
liberty decline invitation from
who is far degraded as to be beneath his notice.
At the end Of the letter he inserted singer to the
effect that if Barron eager for fight he had
missed some fine chances in the War of 1872
The duel correspondence along from June II 1870
February 6, 1920, with Decatur trying avoid meeting
and the time shonor himself an officer and
gentleman Barrons letters do their memory little
credit In of them he insisted that Decatur had cha
lenged him and thereby given him the choice Of weapons
When Decaturs patience had all oozed out, he sent
Barron letter in which he said, "I fight it be of
your seeking" and in closing he said that he would
pay attention to any further communication except
direct call to the field. Baron's reply was vague and
contradictory Decatur answered by writing this "f you
intended it challenge, accept
About this time Barron became ill; but he recovered
The details then arranged by Captain Jesse Elliott
Barron's second and Captain William cambridge, rep
resenting Decatur.
But before they fight it is well for take backward
look at the ccarcut shadow which the tall graceful figure
of Stephen Decatur had cast American naval history
His had begun in 1898 mishipman on the old
frigate Constitution. He then handsome lad of nine
teen with his whole heart in his work Then as always he
very popular officer. Merit brought him within
year to Licuenants grade, and his efficiency so
marked in the brief trouble with France that when Con-
grcss retired most of the navys officers in 1901 Decatur
retained
Within three years from the day he entered the service
Decatur in his second This time it was with the
insocnt Pasa Of Tripol of the rascals never
hung Lieutenant Decatur went out in the Essex; but