DECATUR -- When Corner Springs first applied to have its own post office in early 1880s, the people had no idea the new town name would turn out to be that of a legendary naval hero of the late 18th and early 19th century.
The settlers originally referred to their town as Corner Springs, but when they applied for a post office in 1882, postal authorities rejected the name Corner Springs. Everard Mitchell, who was leading the effort to obtain a post office, suggested that the community be named Mitchell, but that application was also refused. Mitchell then proposed that the community be named for Stephen Decatur, a hero of the War of 1812 who had relatives in the area. Postal authorities agreed to that suggestion, and the name became official in 1883. It was also around that time that John Allensworth opened one of the first stores in Decatur. A few years later, in 1895, Arthur Tallman began a city newspaper, the "Decatur Advance."
But who was Stephen Decatur, the town's namesake?
Stephen Decatur's exploits as a navy midshipmen, lieutenant, captain and commodore remain an integral part of early American history. He served on 15 ships during his 23-year career. His commands included the Argus, Enterprise, Chesapeake, President, Constitution, Guerriere, Intrepid and the United States. Of all these ships, Decatur spent most of his career on one, the 44 gun frigate USS United States. From supervising her construction in 1797 to her launch a year later, his flag ship, the United States, would take her place in history alongside her legendary captain and commodore.
Decatur's legacy today spans across the United States. There are 46 towns, seven counties and five streets that bear his name in one form or another.
In 1839 a frigate was the first naval vessel to be christened the USS Decatur. In all, five ships, four destroyers and one guided missile cruiser still in service today, have sailed under the USS Decatur nomenclature.
Decatur's portrait has appeared on the 1878-1880 $20 silver certificate series and a 1937 two-cent stamp.
Decatur's unwavering service to his country helped to define the modern navy and its role in the defense of the United States. This two-part series will explore the life and untimely death of a true American war hero. Part 1 deals with the birth and early childhood, as well as Decatur's early navy career, including the Quasi War with France and the First Barbary War.
Decatur was born on Jan. 5, 1779, in Sinepuxent, M.D., to Stephen Sr. and Ann Pine Decatur. Decatur's father was a revolutionary war captain and later commodore in the fledgling U.S. Navy. His father commanded a small fleet of merchant ships after the war. This would play an important role in the young Decatur's life.
When, at the age of 8, the young Decatur developed a severe case of whooping cough, the only known cure at the time was direct contact with salt air. At this point, the elder Decatur took his son on one of his merchant trips across the Atlantic. When they returned to Maryland, the younger Decatur was completely cured. However, the sounds of wind blowing through the rigging and the bellowing of the sail imprinted the love of the sea in the youngster. Once he returned to America, all he wanted to be in life was a sailor and someday follow in his father's footsteps, something he did just nine years later.
In 1797, Decatur, through his father's influence, obtained his first job working for Gurney and Smith, noted shipbuilders at the time, overseeing the construction of the U.S. navy frigate, United States. He would get his chance to sail on board this ship the following year.
Decatur received an appointment as a midshipman in 1798. John Berry, a noted Revolutionary War hero, obtained the appointment from Congress for his young protégé. Decatur accepted the appointment on May 1, 1798, and soon set sail aboard the USS United States under Commodore Berry's watchful eyes.
The first action Decatur experienced while serving on the United States was during the Quasi-War. This conflict was an undeclared war with France over America's trade agreements with Britain and an unpaid debt to the French crown. As a result, France intercepted any American ships involved in trade with Britain, a country with which France was at war at the time. On May 22, 1799, President John Adams promoted Decatur to lieutenant. Decatur supervised the refitting and repairs and, recruiting a new crew of the United States, soon set sail on July 1, 1799, for patrol duty in the southern Atlantic and West Indies. When her mission was complete, the United States returned to Newport, Rhode Island, for minor repairs.
Decatur briefly served on brig USS Norfolk before returning to the United States in June, 1800. By this time the conflict was over. Shortly thereafter, congress decided to reduce the size of its navy. Decatur was one of few naval officers selected to continue his commission. Fortunately for Decatur and his fellow officers, congress soon regretted that action when the United States entered the first Barbary War.
The North African states of Algeria, Tripoli and Tunis were capturing American ships and holding their crews for high ransom. President Thomas Jefferson ordered the navy to fight these states rather than continuing to pay the ransoms. Decatur was given command of the frigate USS Essex and set sail on May 13, 1801, for the Barbary Coast of Africa.
It was in this conflict that Decatur distinguished himself as a true naval hero. On Dec. 23, 1803, aboard the 12 gun schooner Enterprise, his crew successfully captured the Tripolitan ketch Masico en route to Constantinople with a small number of Tripolitan soldiers on board. The Masico was declared a prize of war and later renamed the USS Intrepid. The capture of this ship would soon play a major role in one of the most important missions of Decatur's career.
On October 31, 1803, the frigate USS Philadelphia ran aground near the harbor entrance to Tripoli. Her captain, William Bainbridge, and his crew were captured and imprisoned. Fearing the ship would be repaired and used against the U.S., Decatur came up with a bold plan to retake the ship and bring her home for repairs.
Decatur set sail with 80 volunteers aboard the Intrepid bound for Tripoli. While on the way, Decatur had his sailors refit the ship to look like a Malta trading ship. The Intrepid was accompanied by the USS Syren, commanded by one of Decatur's friends, Lieutenant Charles Stewart. Upon reaching the entrance to the harbor at Tripoli, the Intrepid broke away from the Syren, which stayed outside the harbor for support during the operation. Decatur managed to tie up next to the Philadelphia, claiming his ship lost the rudder. Decatur and 60 of his men dressed as Maltese and Arab sailors boarded the ship. Armed with only swords and boarding pikes, Decatur recaptured the Philadelphia with only one sailor slightly wounded. He tied the small Intrepid to the Philadelphia in hopes of re-floating the vessel but to no avail. His only option was to burn the American ship, thus denying the Tripolians a prize. Decatur's men set fire bombs throughout the ship, setting the Philadelphia on fire. Once Decatur was satisfied that the ship would continue to burn, he was the last man off. As the Intrepid made her escape, Decatur and his men turned and watched the USS Philadelphia, once the flag ship of the American fleet, burn and eventually sink. His mission completed, Decatur returned to the United States to a hero's welcome.
General News on 09/09/2015