The editor, enjoying a portion of his vacation last summer in St. George’s, the old capital of Bermuda, happened to stroll through the cemetery known as “God’s Acre,” surrounding St. Peter’s Church, said to be the most ancient English Church site in the western world, and ran across an old, weather beaten, horizontally-placed tombstone. It immediately attracted his attention, as it marked the grave of a young midshipman of the United States Navy, who lost his life in the War of 1812. The tombstone appears in the photograph on opposite page, and has been printed through the courtesy of Mr. W. S. Cooper, photographer of St. George’s, Bermuda. It has the following inscription:
IN MEMORY OF RICHARD SUTHERLAND DALE Eldest Son of Commodore Richard Dale of Philadelphia in the U. S. of America and Midshipman in the U. S. Navy
He departed this Life at St George’s, Bermuda, on the 22nd day of February, A D. 1815, aged 20 years I month & 17 days.
He lost his right leg in an engagement between the U. S. Frigate President and a squadron of his Brittanick Majesty’s Ships of War on the 15th of January, A. D. 1815.
His confinement caused a severe complaint in his back which in a short time Terminated his life.
This Stone Records the tribute Of his parents’ gratitude To those inhabitants of St. George’s Whose generous and tender sympathy Prompted the kindest attentions To their son while living,
And honored him,
When dead
Thinking the matter might be of interest to the readers of the Proceedings, Professor Allan F. Westcott, of the editorial staff, has prepared the following notes:
The engagement mentioned in the inscription was the famous action which followed the attempt of the President, under Captain Stephen Decatur, to run the British blockade off the port of New York. At daybreak of January 15, 1815, about sixty-five miles off Sandy Hook, the President was sighted by the British blockading squadron, consisting of the ship of the line Majestic and the frigates Pomone, Tenedos, and Endymion. The pursuit of the President lasted until five p. m., when the leading enemy frigate, the Endymion, far ahead of the rest, had come within close range. Decatur then turned and engaged. The running action with the Endymion continued for two and a half hours, at the end of which the guns of the British vessel were silenced and her rigging severely injured.
In the darkness Decatur now hoped to make good his escape, but a clearing of the sky at 11:30 p. M. revealed the two fresh ships Pomone and Tenedos, which had been able to keep in touch. The President then surrendered, having suffered a loss of twenty-four killed and fifty-six wounded. Three of her five lieutenants were killed. There was some foolish argument later as to whether the President was taken in a single ship action or by a squadron, but this was settled by the British Admiral Cochrane, who bluntly remarked, “The President was completely mobbed.” (Maclay; History of the Navy, LL, 92.)
The prize was taken to the Bermudas, and here Midshipman Dale died from the effects of his wound. He had served nearly three years in the Navy, having entered as a midshipman, together with his younger brother, on June 18, 1812.
His father, Commodore Richard Dale, U. S. N. (1756-1826), was a Virginian by birth, able lieutenant under Paul Jones in the Bonhomme Richard, and in 1794 fifth in rank among the six captains assigned to command the new frigates then building. It was in the President as flagship that the father sailed in command of the first expedition sent against the Barbary corsairs in 1801-1802.