University of Virginia Library

41. CHAPTER XLI.
A NAVAL BALL.

Among the naval heroes who were now at the
seat of government, were Hull, Morris, and Stewart;
the latter commanding the Constellation,
which had been undergoing repairs at the navy
yard, and was nearly ready for sea. Although
Stewart had not yet signalized himself in the war
with England, he was not destitute of naval renown.

During the rupture with France he had distinguished
himself in several little brilliant affairs
on the West-India station, while commanding the
Enterprise, a schooner of twelve guns.

When the American government found it necessary
to chastise the insolence of the Tripolitans,
the Mediterranean became a theatre of naval enterprise.
Stewart commanded the Syren in Preble's
squadron, and performed many valuable
and hazardous services for his country. During
the blockade of Tripoli, he captured a Maltese
brig of twelve guns, and a Greek ship, for attempting
to enter the harbor; and afterwards led
the attack against two of the enemy's forts, westward
of the town, which were silenced and completely
demolished, without the loss of a single
American. In the first bombardment of Tripoli,
on the third day of August, one thousand eight hundred
and four, Stewart rendered himself conspicuous
by his heroic conduct. It was on the occasion
of this splendid victory that the pope is said
to have exclaimed—“the Americans have done
more for Christendom in one battle, than all Europe
in a century.”

In a few days after this affair Stewart received
a commission of master and commander, and in
every subsequent operation against the enemy
proved himself worthy of the promotion.

On the commencement of hostilities with England,
he had been appointed to the command of
the Constellation, which required so much repair,
that the greatest exertion and industry had now
been exercised for several months, under the superintendance
of Stewart, to render her competent
for service.

On the twenty-sixth day of November, however,
her repairs were completed, and she was
only waiting for a few additional hands to proceed
to sea. Arrangements had been previously
made by her polite commander for giving on that
day a splendid entertainment on board the frigate,
to terminate with a grand ball, to which several
hundred ladies and gentlemen were specially invited.
The President of the United States, heads
of departments, and most of the members of congress,
were present on the occasion; besides Hull,
Morris, and many other naval officers.

In return for this fanciful and brilliant aquatic
fete, the principal citizens of Washington determined
to treat the gallant Stewart with a Naval
Ball on shore, and the evening of the eighth of
December had been pitched upon for that purpose,
when our hero arrived in the city and was
immediately honored with a card of invitation.

The preparations and arrangements for this
fete exhibited a taste and splendor befitting the
occasion. The rooms were fancifully decorated
with appropriate ornaments, interspersed with
nautical emblems, national banners, and trophies
of naval victory. The colors of the Guerriere and
Alert were displayed on the walls, beneath the
festoons of “striped bunting” suspended from the
cornices. Nothing had been omitted on the part
of the managers that could please the eye, exhilarate
the fancy, or gratify the taste.

But an unexpected zest awaited this entertainment,
calculated to elevate the usual serene glow
of festive joy, to a paroxysm of enthusiastic rapture.
Towards evening, while many an ardent
fancy was enjoying in anticipation the promised
pleasures of the approaching scene, private letters

from New-York announced the glorious news
of another Naval Victory, which a printed handbill
(issued from the press of the Intelligencer)
soon circulated through the city, amid the most
lively demonstrations of joy. The sum of this
vivifying intelligence was this—“Commodore
Decatur, of the frigate United States, had captured
and brought into port, the British frigate Macedonian,
after an action of seventeen minutes; and
that lieutenant Hamilton, son to the secretary of
the navy, was on his way to the seat of government
with the official account of the engagement.”

Every face that entered the ball-room was
dressed in smiles—every bosom bounded with
delight, and the sprightly dancers seemed to
“tread on air.” A large and very respectable
company soon assembled, among whom were the
first characters in the nation; the beauty, taste,
fashion, and virtue, of Columbia District, were
here concentred in one festive mansion. All
was joy and gaiety, such as could scarcely admit
of augmentation; and yet it was destined to be
increased.

About nine o'clock, as our hero was engaged
in conversation with the amiable sisters of lieutenant
Hamilton, whom he was felicitating on the
safety of their gallant brother, and the pleasure
of a speedy meeting, a rumor ran through the assembly
that the young hero had already arrived,
bearing the colors of the Macedonian and dispatches
from his commodore to the secretary.

The effect was electrical. “He is come!”
reiterated the affectionate sisters--“He is come!”
exclaimed the delighted father—the tears of a
doating mother expressed her silent joy. The
gentlemen rushed out of the room and crowded

down the stairs to meet the herald of victory,
who was received with loud acclamations and
repeated huzzas; every shout vibrated through
some tender bosoms in the festive hall. The
crowd are now heard reascending the stairs—
eyes glisten—bosoms palpitate; they enter the
hall, and young Hamilton flies into the extended
arms of a fond father, mother, sisters! It was a
scene more easily conceived than described.

The hall, as before intimated, was decorated
with the trophies of naval victory—the colors of
the Guerriere and the Alert, displayed on the
walls, roused the proud feelings of patriotism, and
had revived in every mind the recollection of the
bravery which won them. The flag of the Macedonian
alone was wanting to complete the
group. It was now produced, and borne into the
hall by Hull, Stewart and others, amid the loud
acclamations of the company, and greeted with
national music from the band. The amusements
of the evening were suspended from the arrival
of Hamilton, until the fervor of the moment had
in some degree subsided. Mutual gratulations
went round the room; a general expression of
the tribute due to skill and valor, involuntarily
broke from the lips of all; and the smile of beauty,
the meed of valor, was liberally bestowed on
the brave defenders of their country's rights.
Subsequently at the supper table, a toast was given
by one of the managers---“Commodore Decatur
and the officers and crew of the frigate United
States”---and received with the greatest enthusiasm,
and repeated plaudits.

The following is a copy of the despatches
which young Hamilton delivered to his father:

In the above affair there were but five Americans
killed and seven wounded, while the British
suffered a loss of thirty-six killed and sixty-eight
wounded!

In a letter to his father, George gave a detailed
account of all the foregoing circumstances, and
then proceeded in the following manner:

“So much for Carden's confidence in his own
experience, and in the superiority of the Macedonian.
“Experience is a dear school;” but in
no other, it seems, would this gentleman become
convinced of his error. The largest frigate in
the British navy, has been dismasted and compelled
to surrender, with one third of her crew
killed and wounded, by an American frigate which
Carden (in my hearing in Norfolk) pronounced
inferior to his own ship; adding, that “from experience
he felt satisfied he could take the United
States with the Macedonian!”[2] What a
gratification will this news be to Aylwin!

“But even Americans are astonished at the
unparalleled effects of Decatur's fire. His ship
was literally enveloped in flames, which drew repeated
shouts from the British, who supposed her
to be actually on fire. When the Macedonian
struck, she had nothing standing but her fore and
main masts, and fore-yard. The fore and main
masts were badly wounded, and every spar, even
to the smallest, cut. She received nearly one
hundred shots in her hull, several of which were
between wind and water. All her boats were
rendered useless, excepting a small one, which
was veered out astern before the action commenced.
But, so little was the United States impaired,
that in five minutes after she had possession
of the Macedonian, she was completely ready for
another action.

“When captain Carden came on board the
United States to present his sword to commodore
Decatur, the commodore said—“Sir, I cannot receive
the sword of a man who has so bravely defended
his ship, but I will receive your hand.”
You can easily imagine what must have been the
impression produced by this noble reception of a
vanquished enemy.

“I have been favored with the perusal of a letter
from an officer of the United States to his
friend, from which I copy the following:

“After securing our prisoners, I was sent on
board the prize to assist in fitting her out, which
we did in a few days, under jury masts. I assure
you, the scene she exhibited just after the action
was distressing to humanity; fragments of the
dead were distributed in every direction—the
decks covered with blood—one continued agonizing
yell of the unhappy wounded victims; a

scene so horrible of my fellow-creatures, I assure
you, deprived me very much of the pleasure of
victory.”

“I have seen an extract from the muster-roll
found on board the Macedonian, after her capture,
from which it appears that there were seven
impressed Americans on board of that frigate at the
time of the action, who were compelled to fight
against their own countrymen! Two of them
(John Card and John Wallis[3] ) were killed in the
contest! and another (William Thompson) had
been drowned at sea while compelled to assist in
boarding a vessel of his own country! As these
men were O'Hara's shipmates, you will not fail to
communicate their melancholy fate to him—if he
has yet arrived.

“Decatur now stands pre-eminent among the
Champions of Naval Freedom, for he has not only
conquered the enemy, but added a valuable
ship to our rising navy. This victory, however,
was not wanting to stamp him a hero. The fame
he acquired in the Mediterranean during the war
with Tripoli is an inheritance of which nothing
can deprive him; even a defeat, instead of the
recent victory, would (like a spot in the sun) have
been lost in the unfaded splendor of his former
achievements. Perhaps you may have forgotten
the event to which I allude, and therefore I will
briefly relate the circumstances attending it.

“The Philadelphia frigate, commanded by
Bainbridge, in chasing the Tripolitans, ran
aground in or near the harbor of Tripoli, and
fell into the hands of the enemy. As soon as
Decatur (then a lieutenant) heard of the unfortu

nate event, the idea immediately presented itself
to his mind of attempting her recapture or destruction;
and, with some difficulty, he obtained
the permission of commodore Preble to undertake
the daring enterprise. Having selected for
the expedition a ketch (the Intrepid) which he
had captured from the enemy a few weeks before,
and having manned her with seventy volunteers,
chiefly from his own crew, he sailed from Syracuse
for the harbor of Tripoli, accompanied by
the Syren, commanded by the gallant Stewart,
(on whose account the late ball was given) who
was to aid with his boats, and to receive the crew
of the ketch, in case it should be found expedient
to use her as a fire-ship.[4]

“After fifteen days of very tempestuous weather,
they arrived at the harbor of Tripoli, a little
before sunset. It had been arranged between
Decatur and Stewart, that the ketch should enter
the harbor about ten o'clock that night, attended
by the boats of the Syren. On arriving
off the harbor, the Syren, in consequence of a
change of wind, had been thrown six or eight
miles without the Intrepid. The wind at this time
was fair, but fast declining, and Decatur apprehended
that, should he wait for the Syren's boats
to come up, it might be too late to make the attack
that night. Such delay might be fatal to the
enterprise, as they could not remain long on the
coast, their provisions being nearly exhausted.
For these reasons he determined to venture into
the harbor alone, which he did at about eight
o'clock.

“An idea may be formed of the extreme hazard
of this enterprise from the situation of the

frigate. She was moored within half gun-shot of
the bashaw's castle, and of the principal battery.
Two of the enemy's cruisers lay within two cables'
length, on the starboard quarter, and their
gun-boats within half gun-shot on the starboard
bow. All the guns of the frigate were mounted
and loaded. Such were the immediate perils
which this hero ventured to encounter with a single
ketch, beside the other dangers that abound
in a strongly fortified harbor.

“Although from the entrance to where the frigate
lay was only three miles, yet, in consequence
of the lightness of the wind, they did not
get within hail of her until eleven o'clock. When
they had approached within two hundred yards,
they were hailed and ordered to anchor, or they
would be fired into. Decatur ordered a Maltese
pilot, who was on board the ketch, to answer that
they had lost their anchors in a gale of wind on
the coast, and, therefore, could not comply with
their request. By this time it had become perfectly
calm, and they were about fifty yards from
the frigate. Decatur ordered a small boat that
was alongside of the ketch, to take a rope, and
make it fast to the frigate's fore chains. This being
done, they began to warp the ketch alongside.
It was not until this moment that the enemy suspected
the character of their visitor, and great
confusion immediately ensued. This enabled
the adventurers to get alongside of the frigate,
when Decatur immediately sprang aboard, followed
by midshipman Morris, (who, you know,
was wounded in the action with the Guerriere and
now commands the Adams.) These two were
nearly a minute on deck, before their companions
could succeed in mounting the side. Fortunately

the Turks were not sufficiently recovered from
their surprise to take advantage of this delay.
They were crowded together on the quarter-deck,
perfectly astonished and aghast, without making
any attempt to oppose the assailing party. As
soon as a sufficient number of Americans had
gained the deck, to form a front equal to that of
the enemy, they rushed in upon them. The
Turks stood the assault but a short time, and were
completely overpowered. About twenty were
killed on the spot, many jumped overboard, and
the rest fled to the main deck, whither they were
pursued and driven to the hold.

“After entire possession had been gained of
the ship, and every thing prepared to set fire to
her, a number of launches were seen rowing
round the harbor. This determined Decatur to
remain in the frigate, from whence a better defence
could be made than from on board the ketch.
The enemy had already commenced firing upon
them from their batteries and castle, and from two
corsairs that were lying near. Perceiving that
the launches did not attempt to approach, he ordered
that the ship should be set on fire, which
was done, at the same time, in different parts.
As soon as this was completely effected, they left
her; and such was the rapidity of the flames,
that it was with the utmost difficulty they preserved
the ketch. At this critical moment a
most propitious breeze sprang up, blowing directly
out of the harbor, which, in a few minutes,
carried them beyond the reach of the
enemy's guns, and they made good their retreat
without the loss of a single man, and with but
four wounded.

“For this gallant and romantic achievement,
lieutenant Decatur was promoted to the rank of
post-captain, there being, at that time, no intermediate
grade. This promotion was particularly
gratifying to him, inasmuch as it was done with
the consent of the officers over whose heads he
was raised.

“In the bombardment of Tripoli, on the ensuing
spring, Decatur commanded one of the divisions
of gun-boats, and captured one of the
enemy's boats by boarding. As he was about
to proceed out with his prize, a boat which had
been commanded by his brother came under his
stern, and informed him, that they had engaged
and captured one of the enemy; but that her
commander, after surrendering, had treacherously
shot his brother, and pushed off with the boat,
and was then making for the harbor.

“The feelings of the gallant Decatur, on receiving
this intelligence, may more easily be
imagined than described. Every consideration
of prudence and safety, was lost in his eagerness
to punish so dastardly an act, and to revenge the
death of a brother so basely murdered? He
pushed within the enemy's line with his single
boat, and having succeeded in getting alongside
of the retreating foe, boarded her at the head of
eleven men, who were all the Americans he had
left.

“The fate of this contest was extremely doubtful
for twenty minutes. All the Americans except
four were now severely wounded. Decatur
singled out the commander, as the peculiar
object of his vengeance. The Turk was armed
with an espontoon, Decatur with a cutlass; in attempting
to cut off the head of the weapon, his

sword struck on the iron, and broke close to the
hilt. The Turk at this moment made a push,
which slightly wounded him in the right arm and
breast. He immediately seized the spear and
closed with him. A fierce struggle ensued, and
both fell, Decatur uppermost. By this time, the
Turk had drawn a dagger from his belt, and was
about to plunge it in the body of his foe, when
Decatur caught his arm, and shot him with a pistol,
which he had taken from his pocket. During
the time they were struggling on the deck, the
crews rushed to the aid of their commanders,
and a most sanguinary conflict took place, insomuch,
that when Decatur had dispatched his
adversary, it was with the greatest difficulty he
could extricate himself from the killed and
wounded that had fallen around him.

“During the early part of the struggle, Decatur
was assailed in the rear by one of the enemy,
who had just aimed a blow at his head with his
sabre, that must have been fatal. At this fearful
juncture, a noble-hearted tar, who had been so
badly wounded as to lose the use of his hands,
seeing no other means of saving his commander,
rushed between him and the uplifted sabre, and
received the blow on his own head, which fractured
his scull. The generous fellow survived, and
now receives a pension from government.

“Decatur succeeded in getting with both of
his prizes to the squadron, and on the next day
received the highest commendation, in a general
order, from commodore Preble.

“Such are the achievements by which this gallant
officer had rendered himself immortal, previous
to the capture of the Macedonian. May
he long live to enjoy his well-merited honors.”