Thomas Macdonough, Jr. (December 31, 1783 – November 10, 1825) was a United States Navy officer noted for his roles in the First Barbary War and the War of 1812 . He was the son of a revolutionary officer, Thomas Macdonough, Sr. who lived near Middletown, Delaware . He was the sixth child from a family of ten siblings and was raised in the countryside. He entered naval life at an early age, receiving a midshipman's commission at the age of sixteen.
152-782: Serving with Stephen Decatur at Tripoli, he was a member of "Preble's Boys", a select group of U.S. naval officers who served under the command of Commodore Preble during the First Barbary War . Macdonough achieved fame during the War of 1812 , commanding the American naval forces that overpowered a British squadron at the Battle of Lake Champlain , part of the larger Battle of Plattsburgh , which helped lead to an end to that war. Major Thomas Macdonough Sr., Captain Thomas Macdonough's father, lived at
304-703: A frigate of 44 guns and later transported Hon. G.W. Campbell to the Court of St. Petersburg in Russia stopping in ports in England, Elsineur and Copenhagen along the way. In April Macdonough was stricken with tuberculosis but he still remained on duty for as long as possible. After returning to America later in the year, he was given command of USS Ohio a ship of the line , bearing 74 guns under construction in New York harbor. From 1818 to 1823 Macdonough served as her captain. In
456-483: A midshipman aboard United States , under Barry's command. Barry was a veteran and hero of the Revolutionary War and was Decatur's good friend and mentor. Decatur accepted the appointment on May 1. During his early naval career Decatur learned the arts of naval war under Barry, and also James Barron , both of whom took a liking to Decatur. To ensure his son's success in his naval career, the senior Decatur hired
608-511: A 38-gun frigate, along with command of all gunboats at Norfolk. Chesapeake had just returned to Norfolk after repairs to damage incurred during the Chesapeake – Leopard affair. Barron had just been relieved of command following his court martial over the incident. Decatur was a member of that court martial, which had found Barron guilty of "unpreparedness", barring him from command for five years. Consequently, Barron's previous orders to sail for
760-624: A 38-gun frigate, commanded by William Bainbridge . Macdonough was aboard this ship when it captured the Moroccan ship Mirboka on August 26, 1803. Shortly before Philadelphia ran aground and was consequently captured by the Tripolitans, Macdonough had gone ashore on leave. He was reassigned on October 31 to the 12-gun sloop USS Enterprise under the command of Lieutenant Stephen Decatur . Macdonough volunteered to join Decatur's successful raid into
912-474: A British cannon off its mount, crushing and killing Downie. Through use of anchor and cable tactics , Macdonough in command of Saratoga was able to swing his ship around the undamaged side of the British flagship, gaining firepower superiority over the British squadron. As the poorly and hurriedly equipped Confiance with its inexperienced crew attempted the same tactic, Macdonough seized the opportunity and fired
1064-420: A Challenge, to or from, an Enemy's vessel." The next day Hardy gave answer to Decatur's proposal and agreed to have Statira engage Macedonian "as they are sister ships, carrying the same number of guns, and weight of metal." After further deliberation Decatur wanted assurance that Macedonian would not be recaptured should the ship emerge victorious, as he suspected it would be. After several communications it
1216-435: A brig is the aft one. To improve maneuverability, the mainmast carries a ( gaff rigged ) fore-and-aft sail. Brig sails are named after the masts to which they are attached: the mainsail ; above that the main topsail ; above that the main topgallant sail ; and occasionally a very small sail, called the royal , is above that. Behind the main sail there is a small fore-and-aft sail called the spanker or boom mainsail (it
1368-456: A broadside, severely damaging Confiance and forcing its surrender. Having removed Confiance from action, the American forces captured or destroyed the remaining larger ships in the squadron. Both commanders would have seen the parallels of Macdonough's anchorage on Lake Champlain to that of the French under Vice Admiral Francois-Paul Brueys , opposing British Rear Admiral Sir Horatio Nelson , at
1520-656: A close, America had a renewed appreciation for the value of a navy. By 1801 the American Navy consisted of 42 naval vessels, three of which were USS President , Constellation and USS Chesapeake . The first war against the Barbary States was in response to the frequent piracy of American vessels in the Mediterranean Sea and the capture and enslavement of American crews for huge ransoms. President Jefferson , known for his aversion to standing armies and
1672-480: A commission with the United States Navy with the assistance of Senator Latimer from the state of Delaware. Macdonough was a tall, dignified man with a commanding character which suited him well for military service. He was a devoutly religious man of Episcopal faith, as were his parents and greater family. He was known to adhere to a set of steadfast principles in his personal and military life. Before joining
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#17328759554041824-422: A complicated arrangement of cordage named the " running rigging ". This is opposed to the standing rigging which is fixed, and keeps mast and other objects rigid. A brig is "generally built on a larger scale than a schooner , and may approach the magnitude of a full-sized, three-masted ship ." Brigs vary in length between 75 and 165 ft (23 and 50 m) with tonnages up to 480. A notable exception being
1976-590: A farm referred to as " The Trap " (also spelled 'Trapp'), in the county of New Castle, Delaware . He received a contemporary education here but it remains uncertain if he attended any sort of formal schools or was taught by family members or a tutor. He was a major in the Continental Army . Macdonough's great-grandfather, also named Thomas Macdonough, lived in Ireland in the Salmon Leap district not far from Dublin . He
2128-493: A funeral and military ceremony that was conducted by Preble, Stephen Decatur saw his brother's remains committed to the depths of the Mediterranean. When a good number of days passed without the reinforcements of ships promised by President Jefferson , the attack on Tripoli was renewed by Preble on August 24. As the days passed, Tripoli showed no signs of surrender, which now prompted Preble to devise another plan. Intrepid ,
2280-407: A heavy frigate with 44 guns. This was the same vessel that he supervised the building of while employed at Gurney and Smith, and the same ship, then under the command of John Barry , on which he had commenced his naval career as midshipman in 1798. The frigate had just been commissioned and was outfitted and supplied for service at sea. After taking command of United States , now the rallying point of
2432-519: A legitimate prize of war , and given a new name, USS Intrepid . On October 31, 1803, Philadelphia , under the command of Commodore William Bainbridge , ran aground on an uncharted reef (known as Kaliusa reef) near Tripoli's harbor. After desperate and failed attempts to refloat the ship, she was subsequently captured and her crew imprisoned by Tripolitan forces. After coming up with an elaborate plan, Decatur sailed for Tripoli with 80 volunteers (most of them being U.S. Marines) intending to enter
2584-611: A national hero in his own lifetime, becoming the first post– Revolutionary War hero. His name and legacy, like that of John Paul Jones , became identified with the United States Navy. Decatur was born on January 5, 1779, in Sinepuxent, Maryland , to Stephen Decatur Sr. , a merchant captain and later an officer in the young American navy during the American Revolution , and his wife Ann (Pine) Decatur. The family of Decatur
2736-506: A personal confrontation with a British officer which resulted in Decatur returning to the United States. There he took temporary command of the newly built 18-gun brig USS Argus which he sailed to Gibraltar, relinquishing command of the ship upon arrival to Lieutenant Isaac Hull . In exchange Decatur was given command of Enterprise , a 12-gun schooner . On December 23, 1803, Enterprise and USS Constitution confronted
2888-488: A plan that would simply use U.S. naval vessels as barriers guarding their entrances, but the unpopular plan never materialized. Three days after the United States declared war against Britain, a squadron under the command of Commodore John Rodgers in President , along with Commodore Stephen Decatur of United States , Argus , Essex and Hornet , departed from the harbor at New York City. As soon as Rodgers received news of
3040-469: A powerful British squadron on patrol and under the command of Sir Thomas Masterman Hardy . Hardy's squadron, which emerged from behind Montauk Point , consisted of the ships of the line HMS Ramillies and HMS Valiant along with the frigates HMS Acasta and HMS Orpheus . Realizing his only chance for escape was to set a course for New London , Decatur was forced to flee and take refuge at that port where they were blockaded until
3192-520: A squadron consisting of the frigate Constitution , the brigs Syren , Argus and Scourge , and the schooners Nautilus , Vixen and Enterprise , towing gunboats and ketches. For the coming attack Preble borrowed six gunboats from King Ferdinand I of the Two Sicilies who was also at war with Tripoli. Light vessels with shallow drafts were needed to make their way about in the shallow and confined waters of Tripoli's harbor. Making their way into
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#17328759554043344-404: A strong current that prevented them from maintaining their heading and position, giving the advantage to British forces, resulting in their capture. The loss of the two and only American vessels on the lake gave undisputed control of this strategic waterway to the British. This prompted Macdonough to begin the construction of the corvette Saratoga and new sloop Eagle and several gunboats at
3496-542: A talent for drawing ships and designing and building ship models and when time allowed would also pursue this hobby. Once the United States won its independence and no longer had the protection of Britain, it was faced with the task of protecting its own ships and interests. There were few American ships capable of defending the American coastline, much less of protecting merchant ships at sea and abroad. The few warships that were available were converted into merchant ships. The French in particular were outraged that America
3648-529: A thorough education from Murray in seamanship, navigation, gunnery, and other nautical sciences towards improving his service as a junior officer. Aboard Constellation in January 1802, Macdonough served with distinction in naval operations against Tripoli during the First Barbary War . This was the same ship that his brother James had served on a few years earlier. In 1803, Navy Secretary Robert Smith selected Macdonough to serve aboard USS Philadelphia ,
3800-462: A tutor, Talbot Hamilton, a former officer of the Royal Navy , to instruct his son in navigational and nautical sciences. While serving aboard United States Decatur received what was the equivalent to formal naval training not only from Hamilton but through active service aboard a commissioned ship, which is something that distinguished the young midshipman from many of his contemporaries. He also had
3952-502: A year as a midshipman aboard the frigate United States . While United States was undergoing repairs Decatur received orders to remain in Philadelphia to recruit and assemble a crew for the vessel. While there, the chief mate of an Indiaman , using foul language, made several derogatory remarks about Decatur and the U.S. Navy, apparently because he had lost some of his crew to Decatur's recruiting efforts. Decatur remained calm and left
4104-418: Is a fleet of over 500 colliers trading to London alone. Other ports and coastal communities were also served by colliers trading to Britain's coal ports. In the first half of the 19th century, the vast majority were rigged as brigs, and that rig was retained for longer in the northeast of England. In sailing , a full-rigged brig is a vessel with two square rigged masts (fore and main). The main mast of
4256-401: Is somewhat similar to the main sail of a schooner ). On the foremast is a similar sail, called the trysail . Attached to the respective yards of square-rigged ships are smaller spars, which can be extended, thus lengthening the yard, thus receiving an additional sailing wing on each side. These are called studding sails , and are used with fair and light wind only. The wings are named after
4408-489: The American Revolutionary War ; he brought the younger Stephen into the world of ships and sailing early on. Shortly after attending college, Decatur followed in his father's footsteps and joined the U.S. Navy at age 19 as a midshipman . Decatur supervised the construction of several U.S. naval vessels, one of which he later commanded. Promoted at age 25, he is the youngest man to reach the rank of captain in
4560-509: The Azores , lookouts on board reported seeing a sail 12 miles to windward. As the ship slowly rose over the horizon, Captain Decatur made out the fine, familiar lines of HMS Macedonian , a British frigate bearing 38 guns. Macedonian and United States had been berthed next to one another in 1810, in port at Norfolk, Virginia. The British captain John Carden bet a fur beaver hat that if
4712-660: The Barbary pirates . Arriving at Gibraltar , Commodore Dale learned that Tripoli had already declared war upon the United States. At this time there were two Tripolitan warships of sizable consequence berthed in Gibraltar's harbour, but their captains claimed that they had no knowledge of the war. Dale assumed they were about to embark on the Atlantic to prey on American merchant ships. With orders to sail for Algiers , Tunis and Tripoli, Dale ordered that Philadelphia be left behind to guard
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4864-520: The Battle of the Nile in Aboukir Bay on August 1, 1798. A study of Nelson's battles was part of the professional knowledge expected of naval commanders. But Macdonough did all that Brueys did not. He expected to take advantage of the prevailing winds on Lake Champlain that constrained Downie's axis of approach. "Because nearly every circumstance that worked to Nelson's advantage proved disadvantageous to Downie,
5016-462: The War of 1812 . Intended to avoid war, the Embargo Act only compounded matters that led to war. Finally on June 18, 1812, the United States declared war on Great Britain. By 1814 Britain had committed nearly 100 warships along the American coast and other points. Consequently, the war was fought mostly in the naval theater where Decatur and other naval officers played major roles in the success of
5168-433: The classic studies prosaic and life at the university disagreeable, and at the age of 17, with his heart and mind set on ships and the sea, discontinued his studies there. Though his parents were not pleased with his decision, they continued to be supportive of him. Through his father's influence, Stephen gained employment at the shipbuilding firm of Gurney and Smith, business associates of his father, acting as supervisor to
5320-512: The ' Act to provide for a Naval Armament ' on March 27, 1794. The act provided for the commissioning of six frigates for the Navy. It was promptly signed by George Washington that same day. There was much opposition to the bill, and it was amended and allowed to pass with the condition that work on the proposed ships would stop in the event that peace with the Pasha of Algiers was obtained. Construction of
5472-402: The 17th century, one of the most famous periods for the brig was during the 19th century when they were involved in famous naval battles such as the Battle of Lake Erie . In the early 19th century the brig was a standard cargo ship. It was seen as "fast and well sailing", but required a large crew to handle its rigging. Brigs were seen as more manoeuvrable than schooners. James Cook requested
5624-436: The 65-mile journey to Otter Creek until May 14. Upon arrival, Pring situated his squadron in the lake just off Otter Creek with eight galleys and a bomb sloop , preventing the American forces' passage north and to the sea. For one hour, Commander Pring maintained a heavy fire. However, Macdonough had learned of the attack beforehand from his observers on land and had prepared a defense in anticipation of this likely event. Using
5776-427: The Atlantic to the United States. After undergoing routine repairs at New York, United States was part of a small squadron that included the newly captured USS Macedonian (formerly HMS Macedonian ) and the sloop of war Hornet . On May 24, 1813, the squadron departed New York. On that same night United States was struck by lightning which shattered its main mast. By June 1, Decatur's squadron encountered
5928-485: The Barbary wars was limited to gunboat actions and the capture and destruction of Philadelphia . He had yet to experience a ship-to-ship action, being on a vessel that was receiving broadsides, surrounded by dead and wounded men. Regardless of this lack in experience, Macdonough well understood that defending and holding Plattsburgh, thus not allowing General Macomb's troops to be surrounded by British forces on land and water,
6080-562: The Battle of Lake Champlain is sometimes called the False Nile " by British sources. The British naval historian William Laird Clowes regarded Macdonough's False Nile victory as "a most notable feat, one which, on the whole, surpassed that of any other captain of either navy in this war." Clowes echoed Roosevelt's view, "The British sailors on the lakes were as good as our own, but no better. None of their commanders compare with Macdonough." After
6232-741: The British West Indies Squadron composed of razee HMS Majestic bearing 56 guns, under the command of Captain John Hayes , along with the frigates HMS Endymion , bearing 40 guns, commanded by Captain Henry Hope , HMS Pomone , bearing 38 guns, commanded by Captain John Richard Lumley , and HMS Tenedos , bearing 38 guns, commanded by Captain Hyde Parker . Decatur had made arrangements for "pilot boats" to mark
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6384-734: The British blockade at the Chesapeake Bay until 1814. Requesting transfer to a more active front, Macdonough was assigned the command of a squadron of gunboats defending Portland, Maine . His stay there was brief when he received new orders from Secretary of the Navy Hamilton . Macdonough was reassigned to Burlington, Vermont to command U.S. naval forces in Lake Champlain in October 1812. Taking leave from his assignment at Lake Champlain, Macdonough married Lucy Anne Shaler on December 12, 1812, at
6536-468: The British ship Melampus who had enlisted in the American Navy through Lieutenant Arthur Sinclair , who was recruiting crew members for Chesapeake , which was at this time in Washington being outfitted for its coming voyage to the Mediterranean. Since the recruiting party was not under the command of Decatur, he refused to intervene. Sinclair also declined to take any action, claiming that he did not have
6688-536: The British ships HMS Bellona and HMS Triumph were lightening their ballasts to prepare for a blockade at Norfolk. During this segment of his life, Decatur's father, Stephen Decatur Sr., died in November 1808 at the age of 57, with his mother's death following the next year. Both parents were buried at St. Peter's Church in Philadelphia. In May 1810, Decatur was appointed commander of United States ,
6840-405: The British squadron away from the coast, but by the next day the storm had subsided, allowing the British fleet to take up positions to the northwest in anticipation of the American fleet trying to escape. The next day President emerged from the west, and Decatur attempted to break through the blockade alone in President and make for the appointed rendezvous at Tristan da Cunha , but encountered
6992-435: The British squadron. After enduring four hours of battle, Smith was finally forced into surrendering. On July 24, 1813, Macdonough was promoted to the rank of master commandant . When the war began in 1812, there were only two American naval vessels on Lake Champlain , Growler and Eagle , each carrying ten guns with a crew of fifty. On June 3, 1813, the two vessels were pursuing a British gunboat but were caught up in
7144-521: The British, Macdonough's victory forced the British forces to retire to Canada, the actions of which left no grounds for any claims by the British for any territory when the Ghent peace conference convened on December 24. For his success in forcing the retreat of Prevost into Canada, Macdonough was duly promoted to the rank of captain. He was also awarded the Congressional Gold Medal at this time. He
7296-636: The Christ Church in Middletown by Bishop Abraham Jarvis. On June 2, 1813, Macdonough sent Lieutenant Sidney Smith with USS Growler , along with Sailing Master Loomis with USS Eagle , to guard against British advances at the Canada–US border at the Richelieu River . The impatient Smith sailed into British waters, an action which was contrary to his orders, and at once found himself overpowered by
7448-608: The Episcopal Academy. Decatur came to love the sea and sailing in a roundabout manner. When Stephen was eight years old, he developed a severe case of whooping cough . In those days, a supposed tonic for this condition was exposure to the salt air of the sea. It was decided that Stephen Jr. would accompany his father aboard a merchant ship on his next voyage to Europe. Sailing across the Atlantic and back proved to be an effective remedy, and Decatur came home completely recovered. In
7600-488: The Mediterranean in the merchant brig USS Edwin . The day before his death, in the presence of Dr. Turk, Macdonough drew up and signed a will leaving a small sum of money to his servant, his wife having died several months beforehand. On November 10, 1825, Thomas Macdonough died aboard ship while it was passing Gibraltar . Macdonough's body was returned to the United States and was buried in Middletown, Connecticut . He
7752-578: The Mediterranean were canceled and Chesapeake was instead assigned to Commodore Decatur, with a squadron of gunboats, to patrol the New England coast enforcing the Embargo Act throughout 1809. Unable to command, Barron left the country for Copenhagen and remained there through the War of 1812. Before Decatur assumed command of Chesapeake he learned from observers, and then informed the Navy Secretary, that
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#17328759554047904-687: The Navy Benjamin Stoddert recommending to President Jefferson that Decatur be promoted to captain. Decatur was promoted to captain with the date of rank February 16, 1804. He was promoted to captain at the age twenty-five, largely for his daring capture and destruction of Philadelphia in Tripoli's harbor , making him the youngest man ever to hold the rank. On September 10, 1804, Barron arrived at Tripoli with two ships, President and Constellation , whereupon Commodore Preble relinquished command of his blockading squadron to him. Before returning to
8056-523: The Navy Robert Smith gave him orders to supervise the building of four gunboats at Newport, Rhode Island, and four others in Connecticut of which he would later take command. Having drawn many illustrations of and designed and built many models of ships, along with having experience as a ship builder and designer from when he was employed at Gurney and Smith in 1797 while overseeing the construction of
8208-481: The Navy, Thomas, Jr., for unknown reasons, changed the spelling of his last name from "McDonough" to "Macdonough. On May 27, 1800, at the age of sixteen, Macdonough secured a warrant and served as a midshipman aboard the 24-gun USS Ganges , a corvette class ship, converted over from a merchantman vessel and outfitted as a man-of-war . Under the command of Captain John Mullowny, Ganges then set sail for
8360-494: The Pasha of Tripoli that peace was his only viable alternative. Because Preble's rank was not high enough for this command John Adams also brought the news that he would have to surrender command to Barron. The fighting between the squadrons and the bombarding of Tripoli lasted three hours, with Preble's squadrons emerging victorious. However, success and promotion were overshadowed by an unfortunate turn of events for Decatur. During
8512-543: The Richelieu River into Lake Champlain. Upon encountering Macdonough's squadron waiting in Plattsburgh harbor, Downie immediately attacked, achieving the upper hand early in the battle, largely because of the great firepower of the 36-gun British flagship HMS Confiance . As the battle unfolded, the British squadron incurred considerable damage from close-range cannon fire. In the process an American cannon shot blasted
8664-482: The Tripolitan ketch Mastico sailing under Turkish colors , armed with only two guns and sailing without passports on her way to Constantinople from Tripoli. On board were a small number of Tripolitan soldiers. After a brief engagement Decatur and his crew captured the ship, killing or wounding the few men defending the vessel. After its capture the small ship was taken to Syracuse , condemned by Commodore Preble as
8816-456: The Tripolitan vessels. In September 1802, Decatur transferred to the 36-gun frigate USS New York as 1st Lieutenant under Commodore James Barron. While en route to Tripoli the five-ship squadron to which New York was attached encountered gale-force winds, lasting more than a week, which forced the squadron to put up in Malta . While there Decatur and another American officer were involved in
8968-562: The United States he sailed to Malta in Constitution on September 14, so it could be caulked and refitted. From there he sailed to Syracuse in Argus , where on September 24 he ordered Decatur to sail this vessel back to Malta to take command of Constitution . From here Decatur sailed Constitution back to Tripoli to join Constellation and Congress , the blockading force stationed there now under
9120-453: The United States' efforts during this time. Upon the onset of the war President James Madison ordered several naval vessels to be dispatched to patrol the American coastline. The U.S. flagships President , Essex and the Hornet were joined in lower New York harbor by United States commanded by Decatur, Congress , and Argus . Secretary of State James Monroe had originally considered
9272-545: The West Indies to patrol its waters looking for French privateers and men-of-war . During the months that followed 25 armed enemy craft were captured or destroyed. With orders to rendezvous with merchantmen bound for America, Norfolk continued on to Cartagena (Colombia) with orders to escort the ships back to the United States, protecting them from pirates and privateers. Decatur transferred back to United States by June 1800; with extra guns and sails and improved structure,
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#17328759554049424-509: The West Indies. During operations there she captured three French merchant ships between May and September. When hostilities between the United States and France had finally ended the following year on October 20, 1801, Macdonough was assigned to USS Constellation , a 38-gun frigate. Commanded by Alexander Murray , Constellation was about to embark on its mission in the Mediterranean sea. While serving aboard Constellation he received
9576-521: The anti-Christian barbarians on the African coast in one night than all the European states had done for a long period of time." Upon his return to Syracuse, Decatur resumed command of Enterprise . With the significant victory achieved with the burning of Philadelphia , Preble now had reason to believe that bringing Tripoli to peaceful terms was in sight. Preble planned another attack on Tripoli and amassed
9728-529: The attacking vessels; Decatur's ship was struck with a 24-pound shot through her hull above the waterline. Before the battle ended USS John Adams , commanded by Isaac Chauncey , arrived on the scene. On board the vessel were official documents promoting Decatur to the rank of captain . John Adams also brought news that, upon the loss of the frigate Philadelphia , the government was sending four additional frigates, President , Congress , Constellation and Essex , to Tripoli with enough force to convince
9880-513: The authority or any such orders from a superior officer. The matter was then referred to the British minister at Washington, a Mr. Erskine, who in turn referred the matter to the Navy Department through Barron, demanding that the three deserters be surrendered to British authority. It was soon discovered that the deserters were American citizens who had been impressed into the Royal Navy, and since
10032-532: The battle, Macdonough returned to the British officers their swords. Captain Pring wrote: I have much satisfaction in making you acquainted with the humane treatment the wounded have received from Commodore Macdonough; they were immediately removed to his own hospital on Crab Island, and furnished with every requisite. His generous and polite attention to myself, the officers, and men, will ever hereafter be gratefully remembered. Upon wresting control of Lake Champlain from
10184-416: The berthed Philadelphia he encountered a light wind that made his approach tedious. He had to casually position his ship close enough to Philadelphia to allow his men to board while not creating any suspicion. When the two vessels were finally close enough, Catalano obtained permission for Decatur to tie Intrepid to the captured Philadelphia . Decatur surprised the few Tripolitans on board when he shouted
10336-423: The burning vessel in Tripoli's harbor and set sail for the open sea, barely escaping in the confusion. With the cover of night helping to obscure the enemy gunfire, Intrepid and Syren made their way back to Syracuse, arriving February 18. After learning of Decatur's detachment's daring capture and destruction of Philadelphia without suffering a single fatality, British Vice Admiral Lord Horatio Nelson , who at
10488-473: The captain of a British merchantman that was en route to India. At the beginning of the War of 1812 American naval forces were very small, allowing the British to make many advances into the Great Lakes and northern New York waterways . The roles played by commanders like Oliver Hazard Perry at Lake Erie and Isaac Chauncey at Lake Ontario and Thomas Macdonough at Lake Champlain all proved vital to
10640-407: The chief mate instead accepted Decatur's challenge and secured a location for the duel. Decatur, being an expert shot with a pistol, told his friend Lieutenant Charles Stewart that he believed his opponent not to be as able and he would thus endeavor to only wound his opponent in the hip, which is exactly how the duel turned out. The honor and courage of both duelists having been satisfied, the matter
10792-430: The command of Barron. On November 6, he relinquished command of Constitution to Commodore John Rodgers , his senior, in exchange for the smaller vessel Congress . In need of new sails and other repairs Rodgers sailed Constitution to Lisbon on November 27, where it remained for approximately six weeks. On March 8, 1806, Decatur married Susan Wheeler, the daughter of Luke Wheeler, the mayor of Norfolk, Virginia . She
10944-421: The commander and most of the crew along with capturing the Tripolitan ship. After winning promotion to Lieutenant for his participation in the raid on Philadelphia , Macdonough served aboard the 18-gun brig USS Syren , the same vessel assisting Intrepid at Tripoli. Assisting Isaac Hull , he then supervised the construction of several gunboats in Middletown, Connecticut . In January 1806, Macdonough
11096-441: The commander when he boarded a Tripolitan ship that had pretended to be surrendering. After catching up with and pulling alongside the ship involved, Decatur was the first to board the enemy vessel with Midshipman Macdonough at his heels along with nine volunteer crew members. Decatur, Macdonough and the rest of the crew were outnumbered 5 to 1 but were determined, organized and kept their form, fighting furiously side by side, killing
11248-521: The conversion of the schooner HMS Grenfell to a brig, with the justification of the better control that he would have with a brig versus a schooner. The ability to stop the ship quickly (by backing sails) was particularly important for a vessel doing survey work. The windward ability of brigs (which depends as much on hull shape as the rig) could be comparable to or better than contemporary schooners. The author and naval officer Frederick Marryat characterised brigs as having superior windward performance to
11400-451: The corsair captain, the man responsible for James' mortal wound, and immediately engaged the man. He was a large and formidable man in Muslim garb, and armed with a boarding pike he thrust his weapon at Decatur's chest. Armed with a cutlass Decatur deflected the lunge, breaking his own weapon at the hilt. During the fight Decatur was almost killed by another Tripolitan crew member, but his life
11552-515: The days following young Stephen's return, he was jubilant about his adventure on the high sea and spoke of wanting to go sailing often. His parents had different aspirations, especially his mother who had hopes that Stephen would one day become an Episcopal clergyman, and tried to discourage the eight-year-old from such jaunty ambitions, fearing such would distract Stephen from his studies. Decatur attended Woodbury Academy in Woodbury, New Jersey . At
11704-725: The declaration of war, fearing that the order to confine naval ships to port would be reconsidered by Congress, he and his squadron departed New York bay within the hour. The squadron patrolled the waters off the American Upper East Coast until the end of August, their first objective being a British fleet reported to have recently departed from the West Indies. Rodgers' squadron again sailed on October 8, 1812, this time from Boston, Massachusetts. Three days later, after capturing Mandarin , Decatur separated from Rodgers and his squadron and with United States continued to cruise eastward. At dawn on October 25, five hundred miles south of
11856-705: The direction of his father, Decatur attended the Episcopal Academy , at the time an all-boys school that specialized in Latin, mathematics, and religion; however, Decatur had not applied himself adequately, and barely graduated from the academy. He then enrolled for one year at the University of Pennsylvania in 1795, where he better applied himself and focused on his studies. At the university, Decatur met and became friends with Charles Stewart and Richard Somers , who would later become naval officers themselves. Decatur found
12008-459: The early construction of the frigate United States . He was serving on board this vessel as a midshipman when it was launched on May 10, 1797, under the command of Commodore John Barry . In the years leading up to the Quasi-War , an undeclared naval war with the revolutionary French Republic ( France ) involving disputes over U.S. trading and shipping with Britain, the U.S. Congress passed
12160-527: The end of the war. Decatur attempted to sneak out of New London harbor at night in an effort to elude the British blockading squadron. On the evening of December 18, while attempting to leave the Thames River , Decatur saw blue lights burning near the mouth of the river in sight of the British blockaders. Decatur was furious, believing that various residents had set the signals to betray his plans. He abandoned
12312-402: The existing American treaty with Britain only pertained to criminal fugitives of justice, not deserters in the military, Barron accordingly also refused to turn them over. Soon thereafter Chesapeake left Norfolk, and after stopping briefly at Washington for further preparations, set sail for the Mediterranean on June 22. In little time she was pursued by HMS Leopard , which at the time
12464-679: The fall of 1822 Macdonough toured western New York State visiting Niagara Falls and then battling the rapids sailed down the St. Lawrence River to Quebec in a batteaux After submitting several requests for active sea duty, Macdonough received command of the 44-gun frigate USS Constitution in 1824. However, his health continued to worsen. On October 14, 1825, Macdonough had to relieve himself of his command. On October 14 he turned command of Constitution over to Captain Daniel T. Patterson at Gibraltar. Intending to return to New York, Macdonough departed
12616-473: The famous designer Colin Mudie 's 'Little Brigs' ( TS Bob Allen and TS Caroline Allen) , which are only 30 ft (9 m) long and weigh only 8 tonnes. Historically, most brigs were made of wood, although some later brigs were built with hulls and masts of steel or iron. A brig made of pine in the 19th century was designed to last for about twenty years (many lasted longer). The word brig has been used in
12768-450: The fighting Decatur's younger brother, James Decatur , in command of a gunboat, was mortally wounded by a Tripolitan captain during the boarding of a vessel feigning surrender. Midshipman Brown, who was next in command after James, managed to break away from the ambushing vessel and immediately approached Decatur's gunboat bringing the news of his brother's fatal injury. Decatur had just captured his first Tripolitan vessel and upon receiving
12920-458: The first Secretary of the Navy. Stoddert immediately ordered his senior commanders to "subdue, seize and take any armed vessel or vessels sailing under the authority or pretense of authority, from the French Republic." At this time, America was not even ranked with European naval forces. On May 22, 1799, Decatur was promoted to lieutenant by President John Adams after serving for more than
13072-473: The flagship of his new squadron, along with Hornet , a sloop bearing 20 guns, USS Peacock bearing 22 and USS Tom Bowline bearing 12 guns. In January 1815, Decatur's squadron was assigned a mission in the East Indies . However, the British had established a strict blockade in the squadron's port of New York, therefore restricting any cruises. On January 14, a severe snowstorm developed, forcing
13224-469: The fleet of English West-Indiamen. On August 31, Decatur sailed United States to Boston. On October 8, he sailed a second cruise with Rodgers' squadron. The desire for expansion into the Northwest Territory , the capture and impressment of American citizens into the Royal Navy along with British alliance with, and recruitment of, American Indian tribes against America, were all events that led into
13376-668: The fore-and-aft rigged brigantine was "that the sails, being smaller and more numerous, are more easily managed, and require fewer men or 'hands' to work them." The variant was so popular that the term brig came to exclusively signify a ship with this type of rigging. By the 17th century the British Royal Navy defined "brig" as having two square rigged masts. Brigs were used as small warships carrying about 10 to 18 guns. Due to their speed and maneuverability they were popular among pirates (though they were rare among American and Caribbean pirates). While their use stretches back before
13528-507: The frigate United States , Decatur was a natural choice for this new position. Decatur and his wife Susan lived together all through this period. After overseeing the completion of gunboats, Decatur returned to Norfolk in March 1807 and was given command of the Naval Yard at Gosport . While commissioned there he received a letter from the residing British consul to turn over three deserters from
13680-462: The greater range of the guns aboard United States , Decatur and his crew got off seventy broadsides, with Macedonian only getting off thirty, and consequently emerged from the battle relatively unscathed. Macedonian had no option but surrender, and thus was taken as a prize by Decatur. Eager to present the nation with a prize, Decatur and his crew spent two weeks repairing and refitting the captured British frigate to prepare it for its journey across
13832-459: The guns of his ships, he had them landed on shore at the mouth of Otter Creek. Macdonough constructed an artillery battery with which he repelled the attack and drove the Royal Navy back to Isle Aux Noix in Canadian waters by autumn. With the way now clear, Macdonough's squadron sailed out of Otter Creek and made its way to Plattsburgh, New York , where it anchored just off shore in anticipation of
13984-401: The harbor of Tripoli. On February 6, 1804, they succeeded in burning and destroying Philadelphia . Having just served on Philadelphia , Macdonough's familiarity made his role in the operation a crucial one. For his heroic actions he was promoted to acting lieutenant. Macdonough also accompanied Decatur when they hunted down the murderer of Decatur's brother, James Decatur , who was killed by
14136-502: The harbor personnel in Arabic that their ship had lost its anchors during a recent storm and was seeking refuge at Tripoli for repairs. By 9:30 p.m. Decatur's ship was within 200 yards of Philadelphia , whose lower yards were now resting on the deck with her foremast missing, as Bainbridge had ordered it cut away and had also jettisoned some of her guns in a futile effort to refloat the ship by lightening her load. As Decatur approached
14288-433: The harbor with Intrepid without suspicion to board and set ablaze the frigate Philadelphia , denying its use to the corsairs. USS Syren , commanded by Lieutenant Charles Stewart , accompanied Intrepid to provide supporting fire during and after the assault. Before entering the harbor eight sailors from Syren boarded Intrepid , including Thomas Macdonough , who had recently served aboard Philadelphia and knew
14440-506: The harbor, Decatur decided to write a letter to Captain Thomas Hardy offering to negotiate a resolution of the situation at a prearranged meeting. He proposed that matched ships from either side meet and, in effect, have a duel, to settle their otherwise idle situation. The letter was sent under a flag of truce but was in violation of orders, as after the loss of Chesapeake , Navy Secretary Jones forbade commanders from "giving or receiving
14592-413: The heart, but while wrestling the arm of his adversary, Decatur managed to take hold of his pistol and fired a shot point-blank , immediately killing his formidable foe. When the fighting was over, 21 Tripolitans were dead with only three taken alive. Later James Decatur was taken aboard Constitution where he was joined by his brother Stephen, who stayed with him until he had died. The next day, after
14744-467: The history of the United States Navy. He served under three presidents and played a major role in the early development of the U.S. Navy. In almost every theater of operation, Decatur's service was characterized by acts of heroism and exceptional performance. His service in the U.S. Navy took him through both Barbary Wars in North Africa, the Quasi-War with France, and the War of 1812 with Britain. He
14896-555: The latter part of the 19th century. In commercial use, they were gradually replaced by fore-and-aft rigged vessels such as schooners , as owners sought to reduce crew costs by having rigs that could be handled by fewer men. In Royal Navy use, brigs were retained for training use when the battle fleets consisted almost entirely of iron-hulled steamships. Brigs were prominent in the coastal coal trade of British waters. 4,395 voyages to London with coal were recorded in 1795. With an average of eight or nine trips per year for one vessel, that
15048-477: The naval effort on the lakes that was largely responsible for preserving American territory during that war. Assigned to USS Constellation , as First Lieutenant , Macdonough returned to active service just prior to the outbreak of the war in June 1812. The ship at this time was being outfitted and supplied in Washington, DC, for its next mission, but was still months away from being ready. Moreover, it did not escape from
15200-425: The navy, acted contrary to such sentiment and began his presidency by sending U.S. naval forces to fight the Barbary states rather than continue paying huge annual tributes to the petty North African kingdoms. On May 13, 1801, at the beginning of the war, Decatur was assigned duty aboard the frigate USS Essex to serve as the first lieutenant. Essex , bearing 32 guns, was commanded by William Bainbridge and
15352-506: The news turned command of his captured prize over to Lieutenant Jonathan Thorn and immediately set out to avenge his brother's treacherous injury. After catching up with and pulling alongside the Tripolitan ship, Decatur was the first to board the enemy vessel with Midshipman Macdonough at his heels along with nine volunteer crew members. Decatur and his crew were outnumbered 5 to 1 but were organized and kept their form, fighting furiously side by side. Decatur had little trouble singling out
15504-459: The next and inevitable British advance. By late August 1814, approximately 10,000 British troops under the command of George Prevost had assembled near Montreal at the Canada–US border. Many of these soldiers were well-trained, regular troops who served under Wellington, already battle hardened from their recent defeat of Napoleon in Europe. Macdonough had little naval combat experience. His service in
15656-451: The opportunity to capture or destroy the vessels being built. Having learned of Macdonough's ship building activity, the British constructed a heavily armed brig and five large gunboats at 'Isle Aux Noix' over the winter. As Macdonough had predicted, British forces attempted to navigate the lake. Because of unfavorable winds, the British commander Daniel Pring , whose forces were based at Isle Aux Noix in upper Lake Champlain, didn't complete
15808-450: The order "board!", signaling to the hidden crew below to emerge and storm the captured ship. Without losing a single man, Decatur and 60 of his men, dressed as Maltese sailors or Arab seamen and armed with swords and boarding pikes , boarded and reclaimed Philadelphia in less than 10 minutes, killing at least 20 of the Tripolitan crew, capturing one wounded crewman, and forcing the rest to flee by jumping overboard. Only one of Decatur's men
15960-428: The past as an abbreviation of brigantine (which is the name for a two-masted vessel with foremast fully square rigged and her mainmast rigged with both a fore-and-aft mainsail, square topsails and possibly topgallant sails). The brig actually developed as a variant of the brigantine. Re-rigging a brigantine with two square-rigged masts instead of one gave it greater sailing power. The square-rigged brig's advantage over
16112-435: The pilot Salvatore Catalano , who spoke Arabic . The boarding party remained hidden below in position, prepared to board the captured Philadelphia . The men were divided into several groups, each assigned to secure given areas of the ship, with the additional explicit instruction of refraining from the use of firearms unless it proved absolutely necessary. As Decatur's ship came closer to Philadelphia , Catalano called out to
16264-506: The plan went awry, exploding prior to arriving at its target, killing all aboard. The siege of the harbor and Tripoli, with the momentous capture of the fortress of Derna by US Marines ("the shores of Tripoli") proved successful and ultimately caused the Bashaw of Tripoli to consider surrender and the return of American prisoners held captive, including Commodore Bainbridge of Philadelphia , who had been held prisoner since October 1803 when that ship
16416-455: The project and returned to New London. In a letter to the Navy Secretary, dated December 20, Decatur charged that traitors in the New London area were in collusion with the British to capture United States , Hornet and Macedonian . The allegations of treason soon became public, causing controversy and debate among New London residents and others over the matter. A congressional investigation
16568-537: The refurbished ship made her way down the Delaware River. Aboard the ship at this time were Decatur's former classmates Lieutenant Charles Stewart and Midshipman Richard Somers , along with Lieutenant James Barron. Following the Quasi-War, the U.S. Navy underwent a significant reduction of active ships and officers; Decatur was one of the few selected to remain commissioned. By the time hostilities with France came to
16720-401: The sails to which they are fastened, i.e. the main studding sails, main top studding sails, and the main top gallant studding sails, etc. A brig's foremast is smaller than the main mast. The fore mast holds a fore sail, fore top sail, fore top gallant sail, and fore royal. Between the fore mast and the bowsprit are the fore staysail , jib , and flying jib . All the yards are manipulated by
16872-427: The same ship that captured Philadelphia , was loaded with barrels of gunpowder and other ordnance and sent sailing into a group of Tripolitan vessels defending the harbor, commanded by Lieutenant Richard Somers, with Midshipman Henry Wadsworth and eleven volunteers. The plan was to place the ketch amidst the Tripolitan ships, light the fuzes, and evacuate to ships awaiting their return at the harbor entrance, but somehow
17024-413: The scene without further incident. When he related the matter to his father, however, Captain Decatur stressed that the honor of the family and of the Navy had been insulted and that his son should return and challenge the chief mate to a duel. Stephen's friend and shipmate, Lieutenant Somers, was sent ahead with a letter from Decatur asking if an apology could be obtained from the man. Refusing to apologize,
17176-413: The schooners of that time. Marryat is considered, by maritime historians, to be an authoritative source on such matters. A brig's square-rig also had the advantage over a fore-and-aft–rigged vessel when travelling offshore, in the trade winds, where vessels sailed down wind for extended distances and where "the danger of a sudden jibe was the large schooner-captain's nightmare". This trait later led to
17328-476: The ship was berthed there, Commodore Barry received orders to prepare for a voyage to transport two U.S. envoys to Spain and on December 3 sailed on United States for Lisbon via England. During the crossing the ship encountered gale force winds, and at their insistence, the two envoys were dropped off at the nearest port in England. Upon returning home and arriving on the Delaware River on April 3, 1800, it
17480-485: The ship's layout intimately. Decatur established a close friendship with Macdonough and became his mentor during the course of their careers. On February 16, 1804, at seven o'clock in the evening under the dim light of a waxing crescent moon, Intrepid slowly sailed into Tripoli harbor. Decatur's vessel was made to look like a common merchant ship from Malta and was outfitted with British colours . To further avoid suspicion, on board were five Sicilian volunteers including
17632-513: The shipyard in Otter Creek at Vergennes, Vermont . While construction was underway, Ticonderoga , a schooner, was being converted to a warship carrying seventeen guns. In 1814 the ice covering Lake Champlain, which usually lasted well into May, began melting and breaking up early in April. Macdonough feared that the British, who he assumed by now knew of the ship construction going on there, would use
17784-501: The six new American frigates was progressing slowly when, because of a peace accord with Algiers in March 1796, work was halted. After some debate and at the insistence of President Washington, Congress passed an act on April 20, 1796, allowing the construction and funding to continue, but only on the three ships nearest to completion at the time: USS United States , USS Constellation and USS Constitution . In 1798, John Barry obtained Decatur's appointment as
17936-574: The time of the Civil War he is the greatest figure in our naval history. Stephen Decatur Commodore Stephen Decatur Jr. ( / d ɪ ˈ k eɪ t ər / ; January 5, 1779 – March 22, 1820) was a United States Navy officer. He was born on the eastern shore of Maryland in Worcester County . His father, Stephen Decatur Sr. , was a commodore in the Continental Navy during
18088-687: The time was blockading the French port at Toulon , is said to have stated it was "the most bold and daring act of the Age." Decatur's exploit made him an immediate national hero in the US. Appreciation for the efforts of Preble and Decatur was not limited to their peers and countrymen. At Naples , Decatur was praised and dubbed "Terror of the Foe" by the local media. Upon hearing the news of their victory in Tripoli, Pope Pius VII publicly declared that "the United States, though in their infancy, had done more to humble and humiliate
18240-400: The town and shore batteries, while the ropes securing the ship burned off, allowing the vessel to drift into the rocks at the western entrance of the harbor. While Intrepid was under fire from the Tripolitans who were now gathering along the shore and in small boats, the larger Syren was nearby providing covering fire at the Tripolitan shore batteries and gunboats. Decatur and his men left
18392-435: The two ever met in battle, Macedonian would emerge victorious. However, the engagement in a heavy swell proved otherwise as United States pounded Macedonian into a dismasted wreck from long range. During the engagement Decatur was standing on a box of shot when he was knocked down almost unconscious when a flying splinter struck him in the chest. Wounded, he soon recovered and was on his feet in command again. Because of
18544-423: The victory. He forced the British to engage at a disadvantage by his excellent choice of position; and he prepared beforehand for every possible contingency. His personal prowess had already been shown at the cost of the rovers of Tripoli, and in this action he helped fight the guns as ably as the best sailor. His skill, seamanship, quick eye, readiness of resource, and indomitable pluck, are beyond all praise. Down to
18696-417: The way for clear passage out to sea, but due to a plotting error the pilot boats took up the wrong positions and consequently President was accidentally run aground. Brig A brig is a type of sailing vessel defined by its rig: two masts which are both square-rigged . Brigs originated in the second half of the 18th century and were a common type of smaller merchant vessel or warship from then until
18848-407: The west end of Tripoli harbor, they began bombarding Tripoli on August 3, 1804. Preble divided his gunboats into two divisions, putting Decatur in command of the second division. At 1:30 Preble raised his signal flag to begin the attack on Tripoli. It was elaborate and well planned with brigs, schooners and bomb ketches coming into the attack at various stages. The Tripolitan pasha , Murad Reis ,
19000-645: The young American Navy, Decatur sailed to most of the naval ports on the eastern seaboard and was well received at each stop. On May 21, 1811, he sailed United States from Norfolk along with USS Hornet on assignment to patrol the coast, returning to Norfolk on November 23 of that year. In 1812 he sailed with Argus and Congress but were soon recalled upon receiving news about the outbreak of war with Britain. There Decatur joined Captain John Rodgers , commander of President and his squadron. On this cruise Rodgers failed to accomplish his mission of intercepting
19152-659: Was also awarded by the State of New York a thousand acres of land in Cayuga county, with another hundred acres awarded to him from the State of Vermont, making the once modest commodore a wealthy man. Macdonough relieved Isaac Hull of command of the Portsmouth Navy Yard on July 1, 1815. In command there for three years, he returned to the Mediterranean Squadron in 1818 and was appointed commander of USS Guerriere ,
19304-461: Was ascertained that neither side could trust the other and so the proposal floundered, never coming to fruition. In May 1814, Decatur transferred his commodore's pennant to President , a frigate with 44 guns. By December 1, 1814, Secretary of the Navy William Jones , a staunch proponent of coastal defense, appointed Decatur to lead a four-ship squadron comprising President , which would be
19456-512: Was at the center of Washington society in the early 19th century. He became an affluent member of Washington society and counted James Monroe and other Washington dignitaries among his personal friends. In 1820, Decatur's career came to an early end when he was killed in a duel with Commodore James Barron after he refused to retract remarks he had made about Barron's conduct in the Chesapeake – Leopard affair in 1807. Decatur had emerged as
19608-403: Was attached to Commodore Richard Dale 's squadron which also included USS Philadelphia , President and USS Enterprise . Departing for the Mediterranean on June 1, this squadron was the first American naval squadron to cross the Atlantic. On July 1, after encountering and being forestalled by adverse winds, the squadron sailed into the Mediterranean with the mission to confront
19760-490: Was called while Decatur made efforts to discover who was responsible but was unsuccessful. Whether the signals were given by a British spy or an American citizen remains uncertain. Democratic-Republicans (the then-future Democratic Party ) immediately blamed the Federalists who were adamantly against the war from the beginning, and so here earned themselves the name "Blue-light Federalists" . Unable to get his squadron out of
19912-432: Was captured after running aground near Tripoli harbor. On June 4, 1805, the Bashaw of Tripoli finally surrendered and signed a peace treaty with the United States. Shortly after his recapture and destruction of Philadelphia , Decatur was given command of the frigate Constitution , a post he held from October 28 to November 9, 1804. Upon the day of Decatur's return with Intrepid , Commodore Preble wrote to Secretary of
20064-508: Was discovered that United States had incurred damage from the storms she had weathered at sea. Consequently, the vessel was taken up the Delaware to Chester, Pennsylvania , for repairs. Not wanting to remain with United States during the months of repairs and outfitting, Decatur obtained a transfer to the brig USS Norfolk under the command of Thomas Calvert. In May the Norfolk sailed to
20216-453: Was expecting the attack and had his own gunboats lined up and waiting at various locations within the harbor. Throughout the month of August 1804 Preble used these gunboats to launch a series of furious attacks on Tripoli, forcing the residents to flee into the countryside. During this time, Decatur in command of the gunboats captured three Tripolitan gunboats and sank three others. The Tripolitans also inflicted considerable damage on some of
20368-423: Was first confronted with the matter. The incident soon came to be referred to as the Chesapeake – Leopard affair , an event whose controversy would lead to a duel between Barron and Decatur some years later, as Decatur served on Barron's court-martial and later was one of the most outspoken critics of the questionable handling of Chesapeake . On June 26, 1807, Decatur was appointed to command Chesapeake ,
20520-566: Was given command of a squadron of gunboats stationed in the Chesapeake Bay at Norfolk, Virginia, the home of his future wife, Susan Wheeler. He had long requested such an assignment; however, one of his colleagues believed that his request was also motivated by a desire to be close to Wheeler. While stationed here Decatur took the opportunity to court Miss Wheeler, whom he would soon marry that year. After their marriage in March, Decatur lived with his wife's family in Norfolk until June when Secretary of
20672-435: Was laid to rest alongside his wife Ann Shaler, a lady of a prominent family in Middletown, she having died just a few months earlier. Macdonough in this battle won a higher fame than any other commander of the war, British or American. He had a decidedly superior force to contend against, the officers and men of the two sides being about on a par in every respect; and it was solely owing to his foresight and resource that we won
20824-461: Was not prepared to do battle and was unable to return fire. Inside twenty minutes, three of her crew were killed and eighteen wounded. Barron struck the ship's colors and surrendered his ship, whereupon she was boarded and the alleged deserters were taken into British custody. News of the incident soon reached President Jefferson, the Department of the Navy and Decatur, who was outraged, was the one who
20976-430: Was of French descent on Stephen's father's side, while his mother's family was of English and Irish ancestry. His parents had arrived from Philadelphia just three months before Stephen was born, fleeing the city during the American Revolutionary War due to its occupation by British forces. They later returned to the same residence they had once left in Philadelphia and Decatur grew up there, eventually graduating from
21128-570: Was of the Protestant faith and succeeding generations were connected with the Episcopal Church in the United States, Thomas Macdonough Jr. was born in a small town near Odessa , which later was named MacDonough, Delaware , in his honor. He was employed in Middletown as a clerk upon the return of his brother James, who lost a leg in a naval battle with a French vessel in 1799 during the Quasi-War with France. Shortly after, Macdonough requested
21280-422: Was once pursued by Vice President Aaron Burr and Jérôme Bonaparte , brother to Napoleon , both of whom she turned down. For several months after their marriage the couple resided with Susan's parents in Norfolk, after which Stephen received orders sending him to Newport to supervise the building of gunboats. The couple never had children during their fourteen years of marriage. In the spring of 1806, Decatur
21432-453: Was part of a British squadron in Lynnhaven Bay . Upon closing with Chesapeake , Barron was hailed by the captain of Leopard and informed of a demand from Vice-Admiral Humphreys that Chesapeake be searched for deserters. Barron found the demand extraordinarily bold. When he refused to surrender any of his crew, Leopard soon opened fire on Chesapeake . Having just put to sea, Chesapeake
21584-523: Was placed in charge of the several gunboats there. In Middletown Macdonough met his future wife, Ann Shaler. With the repeal of the Embargo Act, the role of the navy became less active, with a fifth of its officers away on furlough at half pay. Macdonough remained in Middleton for only eight months before requesting a furlough in June 1810. From 1810 to 1812, Macdonough took a leave of absence for two years as
21736-491: Was promoted to a commission of Lieutenant. As commander of the 18-gun USS Wasp , Macdonough served patrolling waters near Great Britain and various points in the Mediterranean. He returned to America and enforced the Embargo Act , and the Atlantic blockade, from 1807 and 1808. In 1809, he served with Captain Smith aboard USS Essex , but later requested reassignment. Macdonough returned to Middletown, Connecticut, and
21888-559: Was renowned for his natural ability to lead and for his genuine concern for the seamen under his command. Decatur's naval victories in all three conflicts helped to establish the United States Navy as a rising power. During this period he served aboard and commanded many naval vessels and ultimately became a member of the Board of Navy Commissioners . He built, in 1818, a large home in Washington known as Decatur House on Lafayette Square , and
22040-482: Was resolved without a fatality. By July 1, 1799, United States had been refitted and repaired and commenced its mission to patrol the South Atlantic coast and West Indies in search of French ships which were preying on American merchant vessels. After completing this mission the ship was taken to Norfolk, Virginia , for minor repairs, and then set sail for Newport, Rhode Island , arriving on September 12. While
22192-402: Was slightly wounded by a sabre blade. There was hope that the small boarding crew could launch the captured ship, but the vessel was in no condition to set sail for the open sea. Decatur soon realized that the small Intrepid could not tow the larger and heavier warship out of the harbor. Commodore Preble's order to Decatur was to destroy Philadelphia where she berthed as a last resort, if she
22344-418: Was spared by the already wounded Daniel Frazier , a crewman who threw himself over Decatur just in time, receiving a blow intended for Decatur to his own head; Frazier's act of heroism later got wrongly attributed to Reuben James . The struggle continued, with the Tripolitan captain, being larger and stronger than Decatur, gaining the upper hand. Armed with a dagger the Tripolitan attempted to stab Decatur in
22496-464: Was still involved in trading with Britain, a country with whom they were at war, and because of American refusal to pay a debt that was owed to the French crown, which had just been overthrown by the newly established French Republic. As a result, France began intercepting American ships that were involved in trading with Britain. This provocation prompted President Adams to appoint Benjamin Stoddert as
22648-418: Was unseaworthy. With the ship secure, Decatur's crew began placing combustibles about Philadelphia with orders to set her ablaze. After making sure the fire was large enough to sustain itself, Decatur ordered his men to abandon the ship and was the last man to leave. As the flames intensified, the guns aboard Philadelphia , all loaded and ready for battle, became heated and began discharging, some firing into
22800-460: Was vital to winning the war. On September 3, Prevost's army crossed the border and marched into northern New York State, advancing on Plattsburgh . The city was held by General Macomb with less than 2,000 regular troops, with the support of the New York militia, under the command of General Mooers and the Vermont volunteers, under the command of General Strong. However, Prevost who had arrived in earnest
22952-512: Was well known for her beauty and intelligence among Norfolk and Washington society. They had met at a dinner and ball held by the mayor for a Tunisian ambassador who was in the United States negotiating peace terms for his country's recent defeat at Tunis under the silent guns of John Rodgers and Decatur. Before marrying Susan, Decatur had already vowed to serve in the U.S. Navy and maintained that to abandon his service to his country for personal reasons would make him unworthy of her hand. Susan
23104-584: Was yet aware of enemy strength and positions and refused to march on the city itself without adequate naval support to divert the American forces. A squadron under the command of Commodore George Downie sailed southward into the open lake to engage the American squadron commanded by Macdonough. In anticipation of the British squadron, Macdonough strategically positioned and anchored his ships a short distance off shore from Plattsburgh and made further preparations for Downie's advance. On September 11, Downie's forces departed from Isle-aux-Noix and sailed southward along
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