DECATUR COUNTY. 203 



commodore's permission to engage in a very dangerous enter- 

 prise, wiiich was, either to re-capture or destroy tiie frigate 

 Philadelphia as she lay in the harbour. He accomplished his 

 design without the loss of a single man. For this gallant 

 action, Congress voted him their thanks and a sword, and pro- 

 moted him to the rank of Post Captain. In the following 

 spring he had the command of a division of vessels destined 

 for an attack upon Tripoli. On this occasion, he displayed a 

 bravery unsurpassed in the annals of warfare. In the engage- 

 ment, a Turk had killed his brother, Lieutenant James Decatur. 

 Upon learning this, he determined to avenge his death, and 

 singled out the commander of the Turkish boats. 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 Decatur. He im- 

 mediately seized the spear. A fierce struggle ensued, and both 

 fell. By this time the Turk had drawn a dagger from his 

 belt, and was about to plunge it into the body of his foe, when 

 Decatur caught him by his arm, and shot him with a pistol 

 which he had taken from his pocket. When Commodore Pre- 

 ble retired from the command of the squadron, Decatur took 

 the command of the Constitution. From this ship he was re- 

 moved to the Congress, and peace being made with Tripoli, he 

 returned to the United States. The war of 1812 gave Decatur 

 frequent opportunities of displaying his gallantry. On the 25th 

 of October, 1812, he captured the Macedonian, one of the best 

 ships in the English navy. The whole country resounded with 

 his name, and every city vied with each other in doing him 

 honour. After the war with England had ended, a squadron 

 under his command was despatched to Algiers, to demand 

 satisfaction for many injuries committed upon the commerce 

 of the United States. He arrived before Algiers, June 22, 

 1815, and in a very laconic manner demanded a treaty. With 

 some reluctance, the Day consented to one item of the pro- 

 posed treaty, which was the relinquishment of all annual tri- 

 bute or ransom for prisoners. "Even a little powder," the 

 negotiator said, " would answer." " If," replied Decatur, " you 

 insist upon receiving powder as tribute, you must expect to 



