Decatur and Somers

In Short

Molly Elliot Seawell’s 1894 naval adventure follows Stephen Decatur and Richard Somers from their early days as promising midshipmen aboard American warships to their high-seas heroics in the Tripolitan War. Bound by a deep personal loyalty, the fiery Decatur and the steady, resolute Somers face off against foreign blockades, British impressment attempts, and pirate fleets. Through daring stealth missions and perilous hand-to-hand combat, their shared sense of duty shapes the fledgling United States Navy. It endures as a vivid portrait of early American naval tradition, duty, and tragic heroism.

The Story

The narrative opens in June 1798 along the serene Delaware Bay, where midshipmen Stephen Decatur and Richard Somers begin their naval service aboard the frigate United States under Commodore John Barry. The two young men quickly stand out from their peers. Decatur possesses a brilliant, eager mind, taking meticulous notes on seamanship under the ship's rail, while Somers earns the nickname "Old Reliable" for his unwavering composure and steady judgment. When Somers is selected as master's mate of the hold, Decatur playfully tackles his friend in celebration, establishing a warm, brotherly camaraderie that defines their relationship.

During cruises in the West Indies, the young officers gain practical experience pursuing elusive French privateers. As the U.S. Navy expands to confront the Barbary pirates in the Mediterranean, both men are promoted to command their own vessels—Decatur taking the Enterprise (and later the Argus) and Somers commanding the Nautilus. In the Mediterranean, they face immediate tensions, including a sharp standoff at Gibraltar with a British line-of-battle ship attempting to press a crewman who claims American protection.

The war intensifies dramatically when the frigate Philadelphia runs aground off Tripoli and is captured, its crew imprisoned in the Bashaw's castle. Determined to prevent the pirates from using the heavy warship against American forces, Decatur conceives a perilous plan to sneak into Tripoli harbor and destroy her. Sailing a captured Mediterranean ketch renamed the Intrepid, Decatur leads a stealth boarding party under the dark of night. They overpower the Tripolitan guard, set the vessel ablaze, and escape under the heavy fire of shore batteries without losing a single man, a feat that wins Decatur international renown.

The campaign culminates in a series of direct, violent bombardments against Tripoli’s forts and gunboat fleets in August 1804. Decatur and Somers lead opposing divisions of gunboats in furious hand-to-hand battles. Decatur's brother, James, is treacherously killed after accepting a surrender, driving Decatur to avenge him in a fierce sword duel aboard an enemy craft. To break the enemy's spirit once and for all, Somers volunteers for a hazardous night mission: navigating the powder-laden Intrepid into the harbor as a floating bomb to explode among the enemy fleet. Accompanied by Lieutenant Wadsworth and a crew that includes young midshipman "Pickle" Israel—who stowed away to join the effort—Somers sails into the murky night. Before reaching its target, the ketch suddenly explodes, killing everyone on board. Years later, Decatur visits the quiet graves of his companion and crew, remembering the unmatched devotion of his closest friend.

How It Unfolds

The voyage begins Midshipmen Decatur and Somers learn the ropes of seamanship aboard the frigate United States in Delaware Bay. Their contrasting temperaments instantly complement one another, earning the admiration of Commodore Barry.

Tensions at Gibraltar Now serving in the Mediterranean against Tripolitan pirates, Decatur protects an American crewman from impressment by a British warship. The diplomatic standoff showcases the courage and tactical maturity of the young officers.

Disaster at Tripoli News arrives that the frigate Philadelphia has run aground and fallen into Tripolitan hands. The loss mortifies the fleet, setting the stage for a daring retaliation.

The raid on the Philadelphia Decatur pilots the disguised ketch Intrepid into Tripoli harbor under the cover of night. He and his crew board the captured frigate, clear the deck of defenders, and torch the ship before slipping away safely.

Fierce gunboat battles During the August 1804 assault on Tripoli, Somers and Decatur lead small gunboat divisions against overwhelming numbers. Tragic news of his brother's murder drives Decatur into a desperate, victorious duel against a Barbary captain.

The final sacrifice Somers takes command of the Intrepid, packed with gunpowder, to detonate it inside the enemy harbor. The vessel unexpectedly explodes before reaching its destination, taking the lives of Somers, his officers, and his crew.

A solemn remembrance Years later, Decatur stands before the simple graves of Somers and his comrades. He reflects on their shared youth, their selfless service, and the enduring bond of their friendship.

The People

• Stephen Decatur wants to win honor for his nation and excel in naval warfare. His impetuous, brilliant nature propels him into daring actions, though his hot temper occasionally requires tempering. His devotion to his country is matched only by his deep affection for Somers, whose loss marks him forever.
• Richard Somers seeks to serve his country with quiet, unshakeable competence. Modest and steady, he lacks Decatur’s flamboyant style but possesses a deep, resolute courage. His loyalty to his friend and his willingness to undertake the ultimate risk drive him to lead the perilous final mission into Tripoli harbor.
• Pickle Israel wants to prove his bravery despite his tiny stature and fourteen years of age. Eager to earn Decatur's approval, his youthful zeal leads him to stow away aboard the fatal Intrepid mission, where he meets his end alongside his commanders.
• Commodore Preble ("Old Pepper") wants to crush the Barbary pirates without conceding to ransom demands. Strict, demanding, and fiercely devoted to discipline, he expects absolute devotion from his young officers while harboring deep respect for their bravery.

In Its Own Voice

Before they ever command ships of their own, Decatur and Somers display an intense dedication to mastering their craft from their very first days at sea:

“There’s a very good manual of seamanship written under the starboard rail, and Decatur and Somers may be seen every day, when they are not on duty, putting their heads together and studying it out.”

Before embarking on his fatal mission with the powder-filled Intrepid, Somers writes a final note to his closest friend:

“To other men I may express my affection, and ask their forgiveness for any injury I may have done them; but between you and me there is nothing to forgive—only the remembrance of our brotherhood, ever since we were young and innocent boys.”

Standing years later near the tiny grave of young midshipman Israel, Decatur reflects on the boy's short, brave life:

“You lived purely and died bravely. Your life, though brief, was glorious.”

What It's Really About

Underneath its seafaring adventure, Decatur and Somers explores the nature of true brotherhood and the personal costs of national service. It examines how contrasting personalities—Decatur's fiery brilliance and Somers's grounded stability—can merge into a formidable partnership. The narrative meditates on duty, asking what drives young men to risk everything for an infant navy on distant shores. It portrays bravery not as the absence of fear or a search for glory, but as a steadfast refusal to abandon one's post or one's companions. Ultimately, the story highlights how character is forged through quiet preparation long before it is tested in the heat of battle.

Why Read It Today

Decatur and Somers offers a warm, spirited entry into early American naval history that will appeal to readers who enjoy classic nautical fiction and tales of military camaraderie. Molly Elliot Seawell writes with crisp precision and a heartfelt admiration for her historical subjects, crafting a story that balances tactical shipboard action with genuine emotional resonance.

The book moves at a lively pace, though modern readers should anticipate the late-nineteenth-century literary style. The prose occasionally adopts a romanticized tone toward war and early American expansionism, and comic relief moments involve period-typical rendered dialects—such as Irish sailor Moriarity’s heavily accented dialogue—that reflect the writing conventions of 1894.

What stays with you after closing the book is not just the gunpowder smoke or the dramatic midnight raids, but the profound emotional core centered on Decatur and Somers's friendship. The tragic fate of the Intrepid gives the narrative a poignant gravity, reminding us that behind every historical victory lie individual lives given in quiet, unyielding devotion.

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