Across Troubled Waters

"Look, she's off to the starboard of the Bashaw's castle there. We should turn in toward her in another half mile."

Decatur, who was standing on the port side of the mast, started to come around when James continued, "Lieutenant, a pistol won't be half as effective in waking the Tripolitans as seeing that uniform of yours."

Decatur resumed his previous position by the mast. He then told James that in this, his first fight against Barbary, he would wear the uniform of an American naval officer, even if it cost him his life. "This is the moment when these sons of bitches will see what American military men are like if we are angered. Rest assured, I will not give us away. I intend to remain directly behind the mast until we are abreast of the Philadelphia."

He was equally insistent that he would lead the boarding. "That is the obligation of an officer. We are entitled, as gentlemen, to respect and obedience. A consequent duty is thereby imposed on us. That is to lead, and to lead I shall."

A quarter mile away from the huge dark mass resting in the water that was the Philadelphia, Decatur whispered to his men to come up on deck. Half of them carried, in addition to sword, cutlass or pike, a three-inch piece of sperm candle and a charred wick soaked in turpentine. Some of them had straw stuck down their waists, while others carried oil soaked shavings.

There was no sign of life or light or activity aboard the Philadelphia.

"If this is Allah's world," James whispered to Decatur, "He must be annoyed at His people. Lieutenant, we are in luck. No stars, no moon, low clouds. Yes, Allah has abandoned these heathen bastards. He's joined with us. Get you and your men ready."

He was interrupted just 200 feet from the Philadelphia by a call from the watch on the frigate. James answered; he had lost his anchor, and needed to tie up alongside until dawn; else they might foul up another ship's anchor line. Did they have permission?

At 150 feet, he kept up the calling. The Maltese merchant, outside the harbor? It was the Transfer, was waiting until morning, but his own men wanted to get ashore. Did they have permission to tie alongside?

One hundred feet!

"Boarders to the lee side!" Decatur whispered the command.

Then one of the watch spotted the Lieutenant!

"Americans, you are Americans," he shouted almost in disbelief.

Cathcart shouted back an Arabic curse, "Pig of the bedouin dung gatherer, do I sound like an American?"

Fifty feet! The watch hesitated a moment, taken aback by Cathcart's invective, yelled in Arabic. Then, he saw the boarders clinging to the ship's side like so many clustered bees.

"Yes, yes," he shouted, "Americans, they are Americans!"

Bang! The Intrepid scraped the bow of the Philadelphia.

"Boarders away," Decatur shouted, as he hauled himself up over the side of the frigate, followed by some forty sailors and eight marines. They were met on the deck by only a dozen Tripolitans; Murad had not seen fit to totally man his prize until he could sally forth next spring. The fighting, though, was surprisingly intense, the Arabs evidencing no desire to surrender to the western devils, while the Americans were giving no quarter to those who had taken their comrades as hostages.

"Now," Decatur yelled to no one in particular, "we avenge the Philadelphia. No mercy!" Three of the Tripolitans jumped overboard while seven were killed. One American, Reuben James, lost his life to a scimitar, directed at the chest of Lieutenant Decatur. He had stepped between his Captain and the onrushing Arab, taking the cut across his waist.

Decatur held the seaman in his arms and wept openly as Reuben's life ebbed away.

It was over quickly, without a shot fired. Then it was the task of the firemen, who for almost twenty minutes ran below decks, throwing straw and shavings everywhere. Cathcart came aboard with this latter group, and made his way to Decatur, who was standing on the quarterdeck, exorting his men to haste. Already, they could see movement along the shore and activity in the Bashaw's fortress castle.

"They have 150 guns up there men, I want to be twenty miles out at sea before they fire one of them. Goddamn, hurry men," Decatur shouted!

"Congratulations, Lieutenant," James said as he reached Decatur. A magnificent exploit. You should be very proud." He looked about him at this beautiful ship about to be destroyed.

"I will be prouder still when we have done with this, Mr. Cathcart. I feel like I am killing one of my own sons, somewhat akin to Abraham in the Bible; but God's will be done."

Then, it struck Cathcart like a thunderbolt.

"Why do it?" he asked.

"Do what, Mr. Cathcart?" Decatur said irritably.

"Why destroy her? Why burn her?"

"What in hell are you saying? That's what we came here for, you damned fool."

James restrained himself. "Wait, I know that. But you took the ship. It is ours again. Why not sail her out? You can do it. I'll pilot for you. You have the necessary men to make sail. Lieutenant, we can bring the Philadelphia back to her own country."

"Are you mad? Decatur looked at him. "They'll be out here after us in no time. What if we are caught? Do you want sixty three more captured hostages, yourself included?"

James persisted, "Look, we've got a good wind. Siren is out there to intercept them. We have some guns. We can fight our way out if we have to. And once we clear the reef, they can never catch us. Don't you see what it will mean; we can destroy her, sure, and that in itself is a tremendous feat. I have already told you that you and your men are all heroes. I sincerely mean it! But, to take the Philadelphia back; to reclaim what is ours is to show the whole world that we Americans will stop at nothing to get back what belongs to us. The whole damned world will think twice before it ever disrespects us or our properties again. Don't you see what it means to our country's honor?"

"Mr. Cathcart," Decatur answered, unswerved by James' plea, "you are a civilian; I am an officer in the United States Navy. I have been given an order by my Commodore to seize and burn this ship. An order mind you! I intend to carry out that order to the best of my ability, regardless of any sentiment you or I or the whole world may express. That is the very crux of the military, sir, to order and to carry out orders!"

"But can't you innovate? Are you simply a puppet? The opportunity is here and now! Seize it!"