Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1952-04-06
The Historic Decotur-Borron Duel

Stephen Decatur purchased a
building lot and erected the old
jackson place building in 1919.
just as you see it today. Though
an ordinary structure in appear
ance. yet it is from designs drawn
by that distinguished achitect.
Benjamin H. Latrobe. who early
came here as one of the architects
of the Capitol Building, and who
used his spare time in designing
structures, among which were ST.
Johns Church, at Sixteenth and
H streets; the Van Ness mansion.
which formerly stood on Seven
tenth street between B and c
streets NV, and the home of the
first Mayor of Washington. Robert
Brent, at Brentwood.
The Decatur house was the first
residence to be erected on what
was originally called the Presi-
dents Square. and was later
named Lafayette Square. st.
Johns Church, in the form Of a
Greek cross. with its Stucco walls.
finished with a lantern and a
cupola, the first structure of any
description erected on this square,
preceded the Decatur house by
only four years. But the Decatur
house was erected only a few
months in advance of the dwell
ing at IA Jackson place, built by
DR.. Thomas Ewell, and also of
much historic interest.
Decatur had only a short while
to live in his new home, for it was
destined he should be carried
from here a corpse just one short
year later, following his fatal duel
at Bladensburg with Commodore
James Barron, March %, 1920.
A Case of misunderstanding.
The second war with the mother
country was brewing for some
time, and even here in Washing
ton a number of years before it
took place, militia companies were
being formed and drilled. The
affair that did much to stimulate
the filling of the Districts quota,
under the provisions of the militia
law. strange to say. stirred re-
sentiment into a real hatred.
Decatur's argument and conten-
ton was that he Ought not to be
received again into the naval
service; that there was not en-
ployment enough for all the Off
GERS who had faithfully discharged
their duty to their country in the
hour of trial; and that it would
be doing an act of injustice to
employ him to the exclusion of
any Of them"
His further statement that he
believed he was performing a
duty he owed to the service, and
that he was contributing to the
preservation of its responsibility, d"
no doubt contributed toward
bringing on the Bladensburg af-
fair.
The Argument Opened.
There was never any question
IN the mind Of any one, except
perhaps Commodore Barron, as to
the worthy motives of Decatur.
He expressed no enmity toward
the former and only spoke in the
interest Of the service upon which
he had reflected so much glory.
Barron. however, did not consider
it in this light. and on the 18th
Of June, 1919. opened the argu-
ment by addressing to Decatur
the following note:
HAMPTON. VA. June IL, 1919.
"Sir: have been informed in
Norfolk that you have said that
~ you could insult me with i'm
punity or words to that effect.
If you have said so, you will, no
> doubt, avow it, and I shall ex-
pect to hear from you.
Il am. sir, your obedient
&C., servant.
JAMES BARRON"
Five days later Decatur replied
to Barron:
WASHINGTON, June II, 1919.
"Sir: I have received your
communication of the 18th in
slant. Before you could have
been entitled to the information
you should have asked Of me,
you should have given up the
name OF your informer. That
frankness which ought to char
acterize our profession required
1t. shall not, however, refuse
to answer you on that account,
but shall be as candid in my
communication to you as your
letter or the case will warrant.
whatever I may have
thought. or said. in the very
frequent and free conversations
I have had respecting you and
your conduct, I feel a thorough
conviction that I never have
been guilty of so much egotism
as to say that I could insult
you Cor any other mani with
impunity.'
STEPHEN DECATUR"
Terms of Duel.
This answer did not quite sui
BARRON and after further CORE.