During the Quasi-War 21 year old Lieutenant Andrew Sterret summarily executed a man whom he accused of cowardice and desertion under fire. Sterret was serving aboard the USS Constellation. On February 9, 1799 the Constellation attacked the French ship L'Insurgente. Sterret command a division of gun crews. One of the members of his gun crew became terrified and abandoned his post, running to hide. Sterret chased the man down and killed him. He would later write a letter to his brother describing the incident:

“One fellow I was obliged to run through the body with my sword, and so put an end to a coward. You must not think this strange, for we would put a man to death for even looking pale on board this ship.” [Emphasis in original.]

Source: Toll, Ian W. Six Frigates: The Epic History of the Founding of the U.S. Navy