Beschreibung:

DECATUR, STEPHEN, Commodore, U.S. Navy. Autograph letter book SIGNED IN TWELVE PLACES, containing 12 letters from Decatur to Secretary of the Navy Benjamin W. Crowninshield, written on board the British Navy vessels Endymion , and Narcissa , "at Sea," and from New York, various dates from 18 January to 5 May 1815. 58 pages, 8vo, written in ink in a notebook bound in contemporary quarter sheep and marbled paper boards, the binding rubbed, modern half green morocco clamshell case, the first page inscribed by Decatur "Letter Book 1815." DECATUR'S VIVID DESCRIPTION OF THE DEFEAT AND CAPTURE OF HIS SHIP, THE "PRESIDENT" BY THE BRITISH NAVY A very important naval record in which Decatur reports in considerable detail to the Secretary of War on the historic engagement of January 14 which resulted in the capture of his warship the President (although, ironically, the Treaty of Ghent, which ended hostilities, had been signed on 24 December 1814). In his first letter, Decatur is a prisoner of war aboard the British blockade ship Endymion . [18 January 1815:] It is his "painful duty" to detail "the particular causes which preceded & led to the capture of the late U.S. Frigate President by a Squadron of H[er] B[rittanic] M[ajesty's] Ships...." The vessel had left New York on the night of 14 January hoping to evade the British blockade, but "owing to some mistake of the Pilot's the Ship in proceeding to Sea grounded on the Bar," damaging her rudder. When she was freed, the next morning, "we shaped our course along the shore of Long Island for 50 miles," but were sighted and immediately pursued by five blockading British warships: the Majestic (56 guns), Endymion (40), Pomone (38) and Tenedos (38). The President gradually outdistanced all but the Endymion which "commenced a fire with her bow guns which we returned from our Stern"; a fierce cannonade ensued and although the British ship suffered severe damage, the rest of the warships soon arrived on the scene: "The Pomone had opened her fire on the Larboard bow...the other about two cables length astern taking a raking position...." Surrounded, "with about 1/5 of my Crew killed or wounded, my ship cripled & a more than four fold force apposed to me, without a chance of escape left, I deemed it my duty to surrender. It is with emotions of pride I bear testimony to the gallantry & steadiness of every Officer & man I had the honor to command on this occasion..." [15 February l815:] Decatur gives a detailed description of the battle damage to the british ship, the Endymion , speculates that her casualties must have been "very great," and furnishes a list of 23 Americans killed and 56 wounded on the President . The American captives were taken to Bermuda, and Decatur provides detailed information on the arrivals and departures of the English men-of-war and troop transports there, including the news that "The day after my arrival...the...Frigate arrived from N. Orleans bringing the intelligence of their [the British army's] defeat [in the Battle of New Orleans on 8 January]...Genls. Peckenham and Gibbs killed...." Decatur is soon officially paroled and returned by a British ship to New London on February 22 (one letter is written from there), then travels to New York. [10 March l815:] Decatur urges Crowninshield to appoint a Court of Inquiry to look into his conduct in the loss of the President . He mentions a minor wound he received in the action and adds certain details on the battle, explaining that when firing ceased the Endymion was "left motionless & unmanageable until she had bent new sails, rose new rigging & fished her spars." Decatur's sword, he explains, "was delivered to Capt. Hays of the Majestic , the Senior Officer of the Squadron on his Qr. Deck which he with great politness immediately returned..." [31 March 1815:] "...The British navy have lost reputation this war..." Decatur then explains his desire to command a vessel in the Mediterranean squadron, which is being formed sin