Evening star., 1939-05-18
Decatur-Barron Duel
Episodes Related al
Historical Society
Allen Clark, President,
Urges Decatur House
Be Preserved by U. S.

The duel between Commodores
Stephen Decatur and James Barron
on March %, 1920. at Bladensburg
Md, in which the former was IA
tally wounded, was described last
night in an address by Allen G..
Clark, president of the Columbia
Historical Society at meeting of
the society in the Mayhower Hotel.
Mr.. Clark told Of events in the
lives of the two early American
naval officers. He related how
Commodore Barron, as commander
of the frigate Chesapeake, was sus-
pended from the Navy for five years
as the result of a charge he meg
lected to clear his ship for action"
against the British, and how the
commodore received seven wounds
in the encounter.
Subsequently, Mr.. Clark said,
Barron held to the belief that De-
catur was responsible by his Navy
Commissionership in securing the
rejection of his reinstatement by the
Secretary of the Navy. This, Mr..
Clark said, Commodore Decatur
confirmed in letter of October 81,
1919, to Commodore Barron.
Decatur indulged in frequent and
free conversation about Barron and
his conduct" Mr.. Clark said. He
then told of correspondence between
the two officers and events which
led up to the duel.
Decatur Won Choice.
OF the duel Mr.. Clark said, in
part:
The time was 9 o'clock. The
ground was measured, eight, long
strides, nearly north and south.
cambridge Commodore William
cambridge, Decatur's second won
the choice of stand and Decatur
chose the north position nearer the
brook and few inches lower. The
seconds loaded the pistols. The prin-
clpals took their positions. Balm
bridge informed them he would
pronounce Present, one, two, three
AT the word two Mr.. Clark
said, both fired and so closely that
but one report was heard. Barron
reeled and fell. He was shot in
the right thigh. Decature momen-
tarily stood, pressed his hand to
his right side and fell. He was
shot through the abdomen. Where
upon Commodore Decatur said, "I
am mortally wounded, at least,
believe so, and I wish I had fallen
in defense of my country" related
the speaker.
Forgiven BY Barron.
Mr.. Clark said Commodore Bar
ron, who also thought himself NOR
tally wounded, told Commodore De-
catur he forgave him from the bot
tom of his heart"
Mr.. Clark said, Commodore Bar
ron had superintendent at the
Naval asylum in Philadelphia and
there directed the attentions to Gen.
Lafayette" He was transferred In
October. 1924, to the Norfolk sta
ton, Mr.. Clark said. and was in
vited with other naval notables to
the fete at Yorktown in honor of
Gen. Lafayette.
In 1928 Commodore Barron was
ordered to the Guerriere, the flag
ship of the Pacific squadron, but
requested that the order be revoked
which was done, Mr. Clark added.
After finishing his address Mr..
Clark urged that the Decatur House.
the home of Commodore Decatur, off
Lafayette square, be preserved by
the Government.
Brief addresses were delivered by
John Clagett Proctor and Clifford
K. Bergman. Vocal selections were
sung by the Victoria quartet, COM
posed of Miss Helen L. Wolfe, Mrs.
Fannie Shreve Heartsill, Mrs. Rose
S. Mack and Miss Marie Koontz.
Richard Taber was accompanist.
Mrs. Bessie Wilmarth Calm acted
as secretary at the meeting in the
absence of Miss Maud Burr Nor
ris, secretary, who failed to attend,
due to Illness.