Part 17
Commodore Decatur died the same evening. In the enjoyment of his country’s highest regard and confidence, he added his before unsullied name to the list of victims who died slaves to “an affair of honor.” His remains were temporarily deposited in the family vault of Colonel Bomford, at Kalarama, where they remained until 1846, when they were re-interred with appropriate ceremonies in the churchyard of St. Peter’s, in Philadelphia, and rest by the side of those of his father and family.
The lid of the coffin was removed when it was brought out of the vault at Washington, in the hope that the noble features of the dead hero were still perfect, but the friends who so anxiously sought this gratification, had to undergo a sad disappointment. Every lineament of the fine face was gone--nothing remained save the skeleton and a few remnants of the clothes.
The original coffin is now enclosed in a new one of black walnut, a silver shield on the top of which bears the following touching inscription:--“Here lie the remains of Commodore Stephen Decatur, of the United States Navy, who departed this life in the city of Washington, on the twentieth day of March, 1820, aged forty-two years. His public services are recorded in the annals of his country--his private virtues in the hearts of his friends--and above all, in her heart who was for fourteen years the happy partner of his life, and the delighted witness of his exalted worth; and who can with truth inscribe upon this humble tablet, that he possessed every virtue of which the human character is susceptible, and each carried to its highest perfection. Columbia mourn! For time, which soothes the grief of individuals, will only render you more sensible of the irreparable loss you have sustained.”
DESCRIPTION OF THE MEDAL.
OCCASION.--Capture of the British frigate Macedonian.
DEVICE.--A bust of Captain Decatur.
LEGEND.--Stephanus Decatur Navarchus pugnis pluribus victor.
REVERSE.--Two ships engaged; the topmasts of one shot away, the other with a few shot only in her sails.
LEGEND.--Occidit signum hostile sidera surgunt.
EXERGUE.--Inter sta. uni. nav. Amer. et Macedo. nav. Ang. die 25th Octobris, 1812.
COMMODORE BAINBRIDGE.
William Bainbridge, of the American navy, was born at Princeton, New Jersey, on the 7th of May, 1774. He was the son of Dr. Absalom Bainbridge, a respectable physician of that town. His education was limited to the usual branches of an English school, with a pretty good knowledge of the French language.
His first setting out in life was in a counting-house in New York. Thence he removed to Philadelphia, and was for some time employed as clerk in a mercantile house in that city. Some of his biographers say he was sent in some capacity to sea, by the house in which he was employed; others, that, tired of a mercantile life, he wished to try the sea. Be that as it may, he sailed as mate of the ship Hope, on a voyage to Holland, during which voyage he saved the life of his captain, who was seized by a mutinous crew with the intention of throwing him overboard. On his return home, he was offered the command of a merchant vessel in the Dutch trade which he accepted, being then but nineteen years of age. In this and other trading vessels he remained until 1798, when he entered the naval service of the United States as lieutenant. His first cruise in the American service, was to the West Indies, in command of the schooner Retaliation, of fourteen guns, which unfortunately was captured by two French frigates and carried into Guadaloupe; after remaining there a short time, he, with his vessel, was permitted to return to the United States. In 1799, he again sailed to the West Indies in the brig Norfolk, eighteen guns, with the commission of master commandant. During this cruise he was more fortunate, for he captured several merchant vessels, and a privateer, destroyed a number of barges, and compelled another privateer of sixteen guns to run ashore. He also gave protection to our merchants trading in those seas. In 1800, Bainbridge was promoted to the rank of captain, and sailed in the frigate George Washington, with presents to the Dey of Algiers. On his arrival there, he was anxiously solicited to convey an ambassador with presents from the Dey to the Grand Seignior, at Constantinople. To this he reluctantly consented, and the sight of an American frigate struck the wondering Turks with astonishment. They were unable to comprehend where this country, called the New World, was situated, but being pleased with a visit from such a stranger, they gave Captain Bainbridge a most cordial welcome, treating him with the greatest respect. The Algerine ambassador was, on the contrary, repelled with indignity by the pacha, his presents refused, and he not permitted to land, on account of the depredations on the commerce of nations in amity with the Porte, committed by the Dey.
Captain Bainbridge, accompanied by Dr. Clarke, the celebrated traveler, and many other persons of distinction, proceeded to the Black Sea in his long boat, where he had the honor of displaying “the star-spangled banner” for the first time. On his return to Constantinople, he gave a splendid entertainment on board his frigate, and beheld, among his distinguished guests, natives of the four quarters of the globe mingled together at the same table. This visit to Constantinople opened the way to subsequent negotiations and friendly intercourse, besides leaving a favorable impression of the American character. On the return of Bainbridge to Algiers, he found that war had been declared against France, and that the French consul and citizens had been ordered to leave forthwith. To save them from captivity he received them all on board his ship, and landed them at Alicant, on his return to Philadelphia, where he arrived in April, 1801. In the following June, he was ordered again to the Mediterranean, to protect our commerce against the Tripolitans. After remaining there a year, he returned in 1802; and in July, 1803, sailed to join the squadron under Commodore Preble.
This voyage he sailed in the frigate Philadelphia, which had been built by the merchants of that city, and by them presented to the government.
An able historian has described the loss of this beautiful ship in the following lines: “While Commodore Preble was engaged in negotiation, Captain Bainbridge proceeded to blockade Tripoli with the Philadelphia and Vixen. Being informed that a Tripolitan cruiser had escaped from the port, the Vixen was ordered to cruise off Cape Bon, in quest of her. After her departure, the Philadelphia was driven from her cruising ground by strong westerly gales; but the wind coming round to the eastward, she was returning to her station, when a strange ship was discovered in shore, and running for the harbor of Tripoli. The Philadelphia gave chase, and when about four knots, she ran upon a reef of rocks which were unknown to our navigators in that sea. This unfortunate event occurred on the morning of the 31st of October. Every exertion was made to float the ship by throwing overboard the guns and anchors, starting the water, and cutting away the fore-mast, but to no purpose. The gun boats came out of the harbor and fired upon her, but so long as she kept an upright position, they were kept off by the few guns which could be brought to bear upon them. At length she turned upon her side, and could no longer be defended; the magazine was drowned, every article of value was thrown overboard, the ship skuttled, the pumps choked, and all this being accomplished, the colors were struck at five o’clock in the afternoon. The officers and crew were plundered of everything valuable on their persons, before they reached the shore, but were afterwards kindly treated by the pacha, until Decatur burnt the Philadelphia, after which they were closely confined in the castle, through fear of their escape. On a treaty being concluded, by which the pacha was to receive sixty thousand dollars, they were liberated.” From this period till the declaration of war in 1812, Captain Bainbridge was occasionally employed in the public service, either in the navy yards or at sea.
At the commencement of the war, Captain Bainbridge was appointed to the command of the Constellation frigate; he was thence transferred to the Constitution, on the arrival of that ship at Boston, after the capture of the Guerriere. His destination was a cruise to the West Indies in company with the sloop-of-war Hornet, Captain Lawrence. Having parted with the Hornet on the coast of Brazil, he fell in with the Java, a British frigate of forty-nine guns, commanded by Captain Lambert, with a crew of more than four hundred men, and upwards of one hundred officers and men, intended for ships on the East India station, together with a lieutenant-general and suite of the British army. The ships were separated from each other about half a mile, when the action commenced, but they gradually approached each other until the jib boom of the Java came in contact with the mizzen rigging of the Constitution. The contest, which lasted nearly two hours, only terminated when the last spar of the Java had gone by the board.
After the British frigate had struck, the Constitution wore and reefed top-sails. One of the only two remaining boats out of eight, was then hoisted out, and Lieutenant Parker, of the Constitution, was sent to take possession of the frigate. She proved to be his Britannic majesty’s frigate Java, rating thirty-eight, but carrying forty-nine guns. She was manned by upwards of four hundred men, and was commanded by Captain Lambert, a very distinguished naval officer, who was mortally wounded. The Constitution had nine men killed, and twenty-five wounded. The Java had sixty killed and one hundred and one wounded. But, by a letter written on board the Constitution, by one of the officers of the Java, and accidentally found, it is evident her loss must have been much greater. He states it to have been sixty killed, and one hundred and seventy wounded.
The Java had her own full complement of men, and upwards of one hundred supernumeraries, for British ships in the East Indies. Her force, in number of men, at the commencement of the action, was probably much greater than the officers of the Constitution were enabled to ascertain. Her officers were extremely cautious about concealing the number of her crew. By her quarter-bill she had one man more stationed at each gun than the Constitution.
The Java was an important ship. She was fitted out in the most complete manner to carry Lieutenant-General Hyslop and staff to Bombay, of which place he had been appointed governor, and several naval officers for different vessels in the East Indies. She had dispatches for St. Helena, the Cape of Good Hope, and for every British settlement in the India and Chinese seas. She had copper on board for a seventy-four, and for two brigs, building at Bombay, and a number of other valuable articles.
The great distance from the United States, and the disabled state of the Java, forebade the idea of attempting to bring her to the United States. No alternative was therefore left, but to burn her, which was done, after the prisoners and their property were removed to the Constitution. They were all landed at St. Salvador and parolled.
The commander of the Java, Captain Lambert, died soon after he was put on shore. Commodore Bainbridge was received by his countrymen, on his return to the United States, with every demonstration of joy and esteem that his gallant exploit merited.
The Congress of the United States voted fifty thousand dollars, and their thanks to Commodore Bainbridge, his officers, and crew. They likewise ordered a gold medal (_see_ Plate X.,) to be presented to him, and silver ones to each of his officers, in token of their esteem. The citizens of Philadelphia presented him with an elegant piece of plate, and the common council of New York voted to him the freedom of their city, in a gold box; and ordered that his portrait be obtained, and placed in the gallery of portraits belonging to the city. The Constitution now became an object of national pride, and having seen so much service, with so little injury, during her numerous encounters, that she acquired the popular _sobriquet_ of “Old Ironsides.” At the conclusion of the war, Commodore Bainbridge went again to the Mediterranean, in command of the Columbus, seventy-four, which was the last of his services at sea. He commanded for several years, at the different naval stations, till his health became infirm, when he retired to Philadelphia, and breathed his last on the 27th of July, 1833.
DESCRIPTION OF THE MEDAL.
OCCASION.--Capture of the British frigate Java.
DEVICE.--A bust of Captain Bainbridge.
LEGEND.--Gulielmus Bainbridge patria victisque laudatus.
REVERSE.--A ship with three stumps only of her masts standing; the American ship with but a few shot holes in her sails.
LEGEND.--Pugnando.
EXERGUE.--Inter Const. nav. Ameri. et Java nav. Angl. 29th December, 1812.
OLIVER HAZARD PERRY.
The hero of the following memoir was born in Newport, Rhode Island, August, 1785. His father, who also was in the service of the United States, anxious that his son should lead a seafaring life, obtained for him a commission as midshipman on board of the sloop-of-war General Greene, in 1798, at a time when our commercial difficulties with France caused much excitement. Perry soon after joined the squadron for the Mediterranean.
He served during the Tripolitan war, and though debarred, by his extreme youth, from an opportunity of distinguishing himself, he acquired by his conduct the regard and esteem of his superior officers and the affection of his associates. Being at all times willing to be instructed, and most anxious to excel, he became very early in life an accomplished officer and navigator. In 1810 he was commissioned as lieutenant commandant in the schooner Revenge, attached to the squadron of Commodore Rogers, on Long Island Sound, to prevent infractions of the embargo laws. During his command of this vessel, a circumstance occurred which first tried the character of our young hero, though in the end it proved of advantage to him. The Revenge was wrecked in a fog near Stonington, but by the intrepidity of Perry, the crew, guns, and much other property were saved. He immediately demanded a court of inquiry into his conduct, which acquitted him of all blame, and reported, that the preservation of so much property was owing solely to his coolness and energy. The Secretary of the Navy wrote a letter to Lieutenant Perry, complimenting his admirable conduct under such trying circumstances.
In 1812 he was advanced to be master-commandant; and in 1813 he was appointed to the command of the squadron on Lake Erie. Early in August of that year, he crossed the bar with his squadron, and was soon on the deep waters of the lake. The enemy, who were nearly all the time in sight, did not molest him, although they were strictly watching his movements. More than once he cruised in sight of the enemy while at anchor, and offered battle; but the challenge was not accepted. On the 10th of September, at sunrise, the American squadron discovered the enemy making towards them. Perry’s force was two twenty-gun brigs and several smaller vessels, carrying in all fifty-four guns, and manned with six hundred men. The British force was superior both in guns and men. About eleven o’clock, A. M., the British were formed in a line for battle, but the wind veering round, Perry bore down upon them as he chose. The commander of the Lawrence led, from whose mast-head were displayed the last words of the gallant Captain Lawrence, who fell in the action between the Chesapeake and Shannon, “Don’t give up the ship!” An able historian thus relates the conduct of our hero during this most exciting battle:--“At a few minutes before twelve o’clock the British commenced their fire, and some damage was done to the Lawrence before Perry could make his guns to bear upon the enemy; at length he opened his battery and stood the force of the enemy’s fire for two hours. The other part of his fleet not coming to his assistance, and the Lawrence becoming unmanageable, her decks strewed with dead and her guns dismounted, Perry conceived a most bold and daring design, which he put in execution. Giving the command of the Lawrence to Lieutenant Yarnall, he, with his flag under his arm, jumped into his boat, and amidst a shower of shot from the enemy, made his way to the Niagara, the second ship of his squadron. He went off from the Lawrence standing up in his boat supporting his flag, until his seamen seized him with affectionate violence and pulled him down to a seat. His flag was soon seen flying from the mast-head of the Niagara, and in this moment of extreme peril our hero was as calm as he was adventurous. He soon brought his ship in a position to break the line of the enemy, giving two of their ships a raking fire with his starboard guns, pouring a broadside into a schooner from his larboard tier, and brought his ship alongside the British commodore. The effect of his terrific fire soon silenced the enemy’s battery; when bringing up the small American vessels, the contest was decided, having lasted nearly three hours. The enemy was not entirely subdued, but all his vessels were taken and brought to the American side of the lake. Commodore Barclay, commander of the British squadron, was a man of no ordinary fame; he had gained laurels at the battle of Trafalgar and other memorable battles by sea, where Englishmen had bled and won the victory; but this day his experience did not avail him--he was forced to yield. The loss was great on both sides, but much more severe on the British. They had two hundred killed and wounded, the Americans about one hundred and twenty-three.”
Commodore Barclay lost his remaining hand in the fight; the other had been shot off in some previous battle. This victory has given Perry a permanent place in the history of his country, and his merit is greatly enhanced by the reflection, that, whilst no victory was ever more decidedly the result of the skill and valor of the commander, this was the first action of the kind he had ever seen.
In testimony of his merit, Commodore Perry received the thanks of Congress and a medal, (_see_ Plate XI.,) and the like marks of honor from the senate of Pennsylvania. At the conclusion of the war Commodore Perry was appointed to the command of the Java, a frigate of the first class, and dispatched with Commodore Decatur to the Mediterranean, to chastise the Dey of Algiers, who, during the war with Great Britain, had plundered our commerce, and taken several of our small vessels. Perry shortly after returned to the United States, and the Java was laid up at Newport, in the middle of winter. The following anecdote is related of him:--“Information was hastily brought to him that a merchant vessel was on a reef, about five or six miles from that place, and that the crew were still on the wreck, at the mercy of the winds and waves. He manned his barge and said to his rowers, ‘Come, my boys, we are going to the relief of shipwrecked seamen, pull away.’ They returned him a look of fearless determination, which seemed to say, where you go, we will go. The vessel had gone to pieces, but eleven men were on her quarter-deck, which had separated from the hull of the vessel, and was floating as a raft on the billows. This act may not be thought to belong to the class of heroic deeds by some, who are attracted only by the blaze of military glory; but the great mass of his countrymen declared that he was as deserving of the civic as of the naval crown.” In 1819 Commodore Perry received the command of a squadron destined for the West India station, for the capture of pirates who swarmed on those seas. This was a most important command, and required the utmost vigilance and energy; but he was not long to enjoy such an honorable post, for the yellow fever was raging in the squadron, and of this disease he died on the 23d of August, 1820, in the thirty-fifth year of his age.
The remains of Commodore Perry were brought to his native country and interred at Newport, where a handsome monument has been erected by an appropriation from the legislature of Rhode Island. Every tribute of national grief was paid to his memory in the United States. Congress made a liberal provision for his family, including his mother, who was leaning on him for support. Commodore Perry married early in life the accomplished daughter of Doctor Mason, of Newport, who made him a devoted and affectionate wife. He was a man of splendid talents, blended with a kind and tender heart; of superior tact in his profession, and every way fitted for the position Providence intended him to fill.
DESCRIPTION OF THE MEDAL.
OCCASION.--Victory on Lake Erie.
DEVICE.--A bust of Commodore Perry.
LEGEND.--Oliverus H. Perry, princeps stagno Eriensi classim totam contudit.
REVERSE.--A fleet closely engaged.
LEGEND.--Viam invenit virtus aut facit.
EXERGUE.--Inter class. Ameri. et Brit. Die 10th Sept. 1813.
COMMODORE ELLIOTT.
Jesse Duncan Elliott was born in Maryland, on the 14th of July, 1780. His father, Robert Elliott, was unfortunately killed by the Indians in the year 1794, near the Muskingum river, while transacting business for the army of the United States. The following resolution was passed by Congress on this melancholy event. “Be it enacted,” &c., “that the sum of two thousand dollars be allowed to the widow of Robert Elliott, who was killed by a party of hostile Indians while he was conducting the necessary supplies for the army commanded by Major-General Wayne, in the year 1794,” &c. &c. Until the year 1804, Jesse Elliott was engaged in prosecuting his studies at Carlisle, Pennsylvania, when he was appointed a midshipman in the navy, and ordered on board the United States frigate Essex. The United States being then engaged in a war with the Barbary powers, the above-mentioned frigate was ordered to cruise in the Mediterranean.