Our Country, Right Or Wrong: The Life of Stephen Decatur, the U.S. Navy's Most Illustrious Commander, Volume 1Blazing sea fights and undercurrents of intrigue: these are among the compelling ingredients of a biography that brings to life the most illustrious and formidable figure of the United States Navy. His name is carried by more than two dozen towns and cities. Here at last is a full exploration of Stephen Decatur's complex character. Reckless in youth, cool yet audacious in combat, loved by those who sailed under his command yet plotted against by rivals in the race for glory, Decatur is brought to life in this enthralling sea story. Decatur's heroism became widespread news in 1804 when, sent to reclaim a captured U.S. vessel from Tripoli in the Barbary Wars, he ordered his men to set fire to the captured vessel and proceed to attack the sailors of the Tripoli fleet in hand-to-hand combat. His brilliance continued through the War of 1812, after which he was promoted to the highest naval rank of Commodore. Decatur not only proved dauntless on the quarterdeck but amazingly effective in Mediterranean diplomacy. His spectacular dealings with Islamic powers presaged America's twenty-first century involvement in the region. Readers will also learn the identity of the woman he forsook for a sophisticated beauty, pursued by suitors as varied as Napoleon Bonaparte's nephew and Aaron Burr. Through freshly discovered documents, many official, some intensely personal, biographer Leonard Guttridge traces the elements that sped Decatur inexorably into the shadow of murder. Here, at last, is the full story of the man who raised one of the most memorable toasts in the history of American celebrations, when he declared in 1816 "Our country! In her intercourse with foreign nations may she always be in the right; but our country, right or wrong!" |
Contents
Preface | 7 |
Blazing Frigate | 9 |
The Midshipman | 21 |
The First Duels | 35 |
To the Mediterranean | 43 |
Loss of the Philadelphia | 55 |
Bloodshed Off the Barbary Coast | 67 |
Stephen and Susan | 81 |
Chesapeake and Leopard | 93 |
Barrons Trial | 105 |
Shall Satisfy the World | 163 |
The Mediterranean Factor | 185 |
Acknowledgments | 279 |
Other editions - View all
Our Country, Right Or Wrong: The Life of Stephen Decatur, the U.S. Navy's ... Leonard F. Guttridge No preview available - 2006 |
Common terms and phrases
Algiers Allen American anchor attack Bainbridge's Barbary Bashaw blockaded boat Boston brig British broadsides Captain Carden catur Chesapeake Chesapeake-Leopard affair Chesapeake's command Commodore Commodore Barron Congress consul court of inquiry court-martial crew Decatur wrote deck duel duty Edward Preble Elliott Endymion enemy father fire flag flagship frigate frigate's glory Guerrière gunboats guns Hamilton Hampton Roads harbor heard honor hope Hull Intrepid James Barron Jesse Jesse Elliott John Rodgers ketch Leopard letter Lieutenant Littleton Tazewell Macedonian marine Mashouda Mediterranean Midshipman Morris naval officers Navy Department Navy Yard Navy's never Norfolk ordered Perry Perry's Philadelphia pistol port Porter Preble President prize money quarterdeck returned sailed schooner seamen Secretary Crowninshield sent Shaler ship ship's shot sloop squadron Stephen Decatur surrender Susan Decatur Susan Wheeler tion told took Tripoli Tripolitan U.S. Naval Academy U.S. Navy United vessel warships Washington wife William Bainbridge words wounded York
Popular passages
Page 304 - Our country! In her intercourse with foreign nations may she always be in the right; but our country, right or wrong.