[Rarebooks] fs: "My Country, Right or Wrong..."

[Joslin Hall Rare Books, ABAA]

Decatur, Stephen, & James Barron. "CORRESPONDENCE, BETWEEN THE LATE
COMMODORE STEPHEN DECATUR AND COMMODORE JAMES BARRON, which led to the
unfortunate meeting of the twenty-second of March"

Washington; Gales & Seaton: 1820. Published by friends of Decatur "to
place the subject in its true light".

Dashing, promising Stephen Decatur, hero of Tripoli, hero of the War of
1812, the toast of Washington, originator of the phrase "my country, right
or wrong"... but given to quarreling and dueling, now suddenly dead after
a duel with a former friend.

The duel had its origins in 1807 when Barron commanded the 'Chesapeake'
and was said to have failed to prepare her for an encounter with a British
frigate. Barron was court-martialed and suspended from the Service for
five years -Decatur, his friend, sat on the Court Martial Board. Barron
did not return to America when his five years were up, and sat out the War
of 1812, only returning to America in 1818. Barron pleaded that he had
been broke and unable to return, but Decatur questioned his former
friend's conduct and opposed the reinstatement in the Service.

Letters were exchanged, of which this pamphlet reprints the penultimate
portion of the correspondence, beginning with a short note from Barron-
"Sir: I have been informed that you have said that you could insult me
with impunity, or words to that effect". The final chapter was not far
off.

Much younger than Barron, Decatur allowed a distance of only eight paces
between them at the duel, out of respect for his opponents failing
eyesight, and he declared he would not shoot to kill. Decatur wounded
Barron in the thigh, but Barron killed Decatur with his first shot. It is
said that 80 percent of Washington, DC attended Decatur's funeral,
including the President and the Supreme Court.

Softcover. 5.5"x8.5", 26 pages, lacks rear wrapper, front cover partially
detached; light soil and browning, some tips chipped, 2" by 3/4" chip from
gutter of the last page, slightly affecting two letters; appears to have
been bound into and then removed from a larger compilation. [02501]
$150.00


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