USS Decatur ( 1839 ) USS " Decatur " was a sloop - of - war in the United States Navy during the mid - 19th century . She was commissioned to protect American interests in the South Atlantic Ocean , including the interception of ships involved in the African slave trade . " Decatur " served in both the Mexican - American War and the American Civil War . The sloop - of - war was named in honor of Commodore Stephen Decatur ( 1779 – 1820 ) , one of the United States Navy ' s greatest heroes and leaders of the first two decades of the 19th Century . Launched in 1839 at the New York Navy Yard . " Decatur " , a large sloop of 566 tons , was built in 1838 and 1839 at New York Navy Yard . She was outfitted with heavy guns and manned by a crew of 150 officers and enlisted men . South Atlantic Ocean operations . Commanded by Commander H . W . Ogden , she sailed from New York 16 March 1840 for duty with the Brazil Squadron , returning to Norfolk , Virginia 28 February 1843 . Her second cruise , from 5 August 1843 to 3 January 1845 was with the African Squadron for the suppression of the slave trade . She was placed in ordinary during 1845 and 1846 . Mexican - American War operations . " Decatur " sailed from Hampton Roads , Virginia 1 March 1847 , and after a brief stay at the Pensacola Navy Yard , arrived off Castle Juan de Uloa , Mexico , 14 April , for duty in the Mexican - American War . Although she was too large to ascend the Tuxpan River , 14 of her officers and 118 men accompanied Commodore Matthew C . Perry ' s expedition to attack Tuxpan . She also furnished 8 officers and 104 men for the capture of Tabasco from 14 to 16 June . She continued to cruise in Mexican waters until 2 September when she sailed for Boston , Massachusetts , arriving 12 November . Atlantic Ocean operations . Rejoining the African Squadron , " Decatur " cruised on the northwest coast of Africa on the lookout for slave ship s and protecting U . S . interests from 2 February 1848 to 15 November 1849 . After a period in ordinary she sailed from Portsmouth , New Hampshire , for duty with the Home Squadron , cruising off the Atlantic Coast and in the Caribbean until arriving at Boston 21 August 1852 where she was decommissioned for repairs . Recommissioned 12 July 1853 " Decatur " joined a Special Squadron to guard the fishing interests of American citizens in North Atlantic Ocean waters , returning to Boston in September to prepare for distant service . After searching for the missing merchant ship " San Francisco " in the Caribbean in January and February 1854 , she sailed from Norfolk 16 June to join the Pacific Squadron . Pacific Ocean operations . After a stormy transit of the Straits of Magellan , she called at Valparaíso , Chile , arriving 15 January 1855 , then visited Honolulu from 28 March to 23 June . Sailing on to Washington Territory , " Decatur " entered the Strait of Juan de Fuca 19 July . On her way to Seattle , on 7 December 1864 , Decatur ran aground on rocks at Restoration Point , Bainbridge Island , Washington Territory . Had she not righted herself with the incoming tide , the fate of Seattle might have turned out very differently . " Decatur " remained in the Pacific Northwest to deter Native American outbreaks , providing support to the settlers in the Battle of Seattle ( 26 January 1856 ) ( Decatur Senior High School in Federal Way , Washington was named after her to honor this defense ) . She cruised to San Francisco , California between 2 August and 27 September 1855 for supplies . On 13 June 1856 , she arrived at Mare Island Navy Yard for repairs , and on 8 January 1857 , sailed for Panama , touching at Central American ports for the protection of U . S . interests . She sailed 3 June to Nicaragua to evacuate U . S . citizens connected with the filibustering expedition of William Walker to Panama , where she arrived 5 August . She cruised off Panama , Peru , and Chile until 23 March 1859 when she was ordered to return to Mare Island . Civil War service . She was decommissioned at Mare Island 20 June 1859 and remained in ordinary until March 1863 when she was fitted as a defensive floating battery and stationed off San Francisco . Final decommissioning . She was sold at Mare Island 17 August 1865 .