Introduction by Frederick C. Leiner. During his distinguished fifty-seven year naval career, Charles Morris was instrumental in bringing the fledgling U.S. Navy through its early trials and in plotting a course to the greatness that would follow. In 1804 he was at Stephen Decatur's side during the fabled burning of the captured Philadelphia in Tripoli Harbor. During the War of 1812, he was second in command to Isaac Hull when Constitution defeated...